Linear view vs. Masonry View

Best Fishing Trip Ever!

I Agree!
What a Catch!
Jillian, Justin, Bob, Josh
Justin, Josh, Jillian, Me
Sunset

My friend Jillian and I were invited out bay fishing last weekend. Truthfully, Josh, Justin, and Bob may have been really great guys but they were horrible fishermen. The only thing we caught was a small blue crab, which was carefully and promptly returned to the water. With plenty of sunshine, fun people, and great music we managed to have an amazing time. I would gladly go out on another not-fishing, fishing trip again soon!

Thanks, guys!

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Visiting LC

I recently zipped up to Oregon to visit my best friend Lisa. We headed out to the coast for some much needed relaxing girl time. We were pleasantly surprised as the weather cooperated (mostly). The mild temperatures combined with a minus tide made exploring along the coastline an absolute pleasure. As an added bonus I was able to hang out with my Lincoln City friends (and made a few new ones). Reminded me of all that I loved about living on the Oregon coast last year.

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Life Span

Note the contrast between these Four-pennant Dragonflies, (Brachymesia gravida). One appears young and healthy while the other looks old and worn. Neither one was willing to share their section of the pond. After dashing out to chase off interlopers they would return to their respective perches. Just another busy day at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge…

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Sadly, It’s Only Fiction

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Any Pac-12 basketball fan will agree with that first sentence. Though Bill Walton has some serious chops as a basketball player (and I share his love for the Grateful Dead), his rambling tangents during the games he’s announcing for ESPN are enough to drive anyone mad. To the point that I prefer to listen to my University of Arizona Wildcats radio announcers while watching the game with the TV muted.

So color me intrigued when I ran across this review of James Kirkland’s new book, “The Bill Walton Mysteries, Friend of the Devil” in the Willamette Week. The book got a pretty darn good review so I’ve added it to my reading list. Sounds like a great book for a day at the beach!

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Ripe

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Mustang Grapes (Vitis mustangensis), Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, Tivoli, Texas July 2019

A couple months back I stumbled across some green Mustang Grapes and it made me so very curious to taste them once they ripened. Well, I finally got my wish a couple weeks back. The plump fruit was juicy and mildly sweet though the skin was quite tart. I employed a technique I learned as a kid when eating Concord grapes off the vines in our yard; I popped the entire globe in my mouth, sucked out the tender flesh, and spit out the skin (so not only were the grapes delicious, they were fun to eat, too).

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Fuzzy Friends

I met these two fine young males at Aransas National Wildlife Refuge a couple weeks ago. I’m basing my super-scientific age guesstimate on the fact that they are near the end of their antler growing period and only have small racks.

In case you didn’t know, antler growth is controlled by photoperiod (length of day) and typically starts in March. Testosterone levels begin to rise in August, as the days grow shorter, which signals the end of antler growing (just in time for mating season).

Did you know that antlers are the fastest growing tissue among mammals? In just 120 days they can grow over 200 inches. That incredible spurt requires excellent nutrition which is provided by the vascular tissue (aka velvet). As the antlers harden, the velvet is shed, becoming a highly nutritious snack scavenged by all manner of wildlife.

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