28 September 2005

This happened a few summers ago





While DH was building a garage in the back yard a pair of robins built a nest in the rafters. He tried to work on the other side of the building so as not to disturb him. But they didn't seem to mind him around at all. Even after the baby hatched. (One egg didn't make it-I didn't want to mention it until the M twins were out of danger.) Boy, that baby was loud. I had previously believed that baby birds were noisy to get the parent's attention and thus the food ahead of their siblings. Wrong!! That baby sounded like a nest full. It was something to see the parents take care of the nest and the baby. Both of them brought food and took turns being on guard. The best part was when the mama pushed the baby out to a branch. There he sat for a couple days having song-bird lessons. She brought a berry to feed him if he "talked right". She sat beside him and said "ch-e-e-p chirp chirp chirp". The poor baby would try to copy her but could only get out a small "peep". After several times of her demonstrating what to do and him getting it wrong, he finally managed a "peep PEEP", and she gave him the berry. After she flew off he sat on the branch quietly practicing his chirping. I know it sounds amazing but this is exactly how it happened. I think she was hiding him from other birds because she never approached the branch directly. She would climb up the trunk to him. Also, no more squawking. He stayed pretty quiet and still - except for a little peep practicing. After a couple days on the branch she took him for a flying lesson. I would have expected that to have a couple false starts but she just took off to the sky and he followed. They soared away and never came back. Do all baby robins do that? Or, is ours just advanced?

19 September 2005

Sweet and Sour Gluten


Since I recently sent Mama Bird my recipe for gluten (that's 밀 고 기 for those of you in the Korean blogosphere) I decided to show a pic of some I recently did up for a potluck. Personally I don't even much like the stuff. I'd much prefer 두부 (that's "tofu" for those of you not in the Korean blogosphere) for a vegetarian protein alternative. But, I have to admit, when I send it off to one of Jeanne's vegan get-togethers, not a bite of it comes home. Folks can't seem to get enough of it. They call me up at home and ask for it. So, get busy Mama Bird. I know you have some vegetarian social obligations to attend. Do NOT bother trying this on the OC. Guarantee he won't like it either.

17 September 2005

The Harvest Moon

Happy Korean Thanksgiving



We went to my sister-in-law's tonight for a family gathering to celebrate Chuseok or, Korean Thanksgiving. It corresponds with the Harvest Moon.

For anyone interested in learning more about the Harvest Moon. http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2000/ast11sep_2.htm

Special thanks to the blog of Space Nakji for this address to "Chuseok".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuseok

The picture is of some of the traditional food we had tonight. That is my arm in the photo. I asked MyungJa what I could do to help. She suggested I put out serving chopsticks and right then was when Jason snapped the pic.

15 September 2005

Almost purple



For some reason our backyard grapes aren't getting ripe as fast as normal this year. But, enough of this purple blogging. You know, it's supposed to be the color of insanity.

Crazy purple!

(But, those grapes should be purpler by now. Something's wrong-dreadfully wrong)

I did NOT escape. I am on a DAY PASS!

14 September 2005

More Purple



This purple rock somehow managed to travel home with me from the Death Valley trip that has been previously posted about on this blog (see archives). I had never seen a purple rock. Now I can almost believe purple mountains exist-as in "for purple mountain magesty" etc. We didn't see any purple mountains.

10 September 2005

The Color purple




OK, here are some pics from our adventures today that I took. I know they are just weeds but I am really taken with these purplish plants.

A Walk in the Desert






It was a perfect day for walking. Not too cloudy and not too sunny. Blue skies get a little old around here. A few clouds are really appreciated. For two reasons: keeps too much sun from getting all over the body and in the eyes, and, the patches of sun and shadow bring out a subtle difference in the desert colors which is fascinating due to it's very rarity. We ended up taking two walks in the desert hills near our home. Since I am a sucker for desert flowers the DH took many photos with his camera. I took pics with mine too but will have to post them later since it is now re-charging. Take a good look at that last yellow flower (sorry, don't know their names). When he was taking that picture a bee got rustled up. The cheeky thing showed it's disturbance by buzzing at both our heads-one after another, in turn. He wasn't posing for a photo op either. I regret to say that I took a swat at him with my hat but missed. Regret that I took a swing, not the miss. Let him be. It's his flower anyway. The wildlife has had to find ever distant back-country since the neighborhoods are being built up further and further into the desert, encroaching on their territory. We used to see deer up there all the time and once I got within 30 feet of a coyote. Scared him good. We see less owls, eagles and hawks than previous years. Of course, there is a bright side. Less rattlers and black widows too!

07 September 2005

More Cousins



These little cuties are my grandnieces. They are 4 year old cousins. They visited us during the labor day weekend.