Birdfeeding
6/19/25 01:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny and mild. It rained yesterday.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- We went out for a while and saw the library wildflower meadow, Fox Ridge, and the Charleston Food Forest.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I refilled the thistle feeder that was half empty.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I sowed 5 pots with yellow raspberries.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I picked up sticks from the south side of the driveway and dumped them in the firepit.
Lots of fireflies are coming out. :D
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I picked up sticks from the North side of the driveway and dumped them in the firepit.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. I've seen a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- We went out for a while and saw the library wildflower meadow, Fox Ridge, and the Charleston Food Forest.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I refilled the thistle feeder that was half empty.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I sowed 5 pots with yellow raspberries.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I did more work around the patio.
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I picked up sticks from the south side of the driveway and dumped them in the firepit.
Lots of fireflies are coming out. :D
EDIT 6/19/25 -- I picked up sticks from the North side of the driveway and dumped them in the firepit.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Wildlife
6/19/25 01:16 pmysabetwordsmithNew butterfly species wows scientists: 'This discovery reveals a lineage shaped by 40,000 years of evolutionary solitude'
The Satyrium semiluna, or half-moon hairstreak, is a small gray butterfly that looks like a moth at first glance. The wildflower lovers are widespread across North America, from the Sagebrush steppe to the montane meadows of the Rocky Mountains.
But tucked away in the southeastern corner of Alberta, Canada, another colony of butterflies flaps across the Blakiston Fan landform of Waterton Lakes National Park.
Until now, they were thought to be a subpopulation of half-moon hairstreaks — until scientists made a phenomenal discovery: They were a new species of butterfly that had hidden in plain sight for centuries.
The researchers, who recently published their findings in the scientific journal ZooKeys, defined the new species as Satyrium curiosolus.
The Satyrium semiluna, or half-moon hairstreak, is a small gray butterfly that looks like a moth at first glance. The wildflower lovers are widespread across North America, from the Sagebrush steppe to the montane meadows of the Rocky Mountains.
But tucked away in the southeastern corner of Alberta, Canada, another colony of butterflies flaps across the Blakiston Fan landform of Waterton Lakes National Park.
Until now, they were thought to be a subpopulation of half-moon hairstreaks — until scientists made a phenomenal discovery: They were a new species of butterfly that had hidden in plain sight for centuries.
The researchers, who recently published their findings in the scientific journal ZooKeys, defined the new species as Satyrium curiosolus.
Birdfeeding
6/18/25 08:57 pmysabetwordsmithToday was warm and muggy. It stormed midday, then cleared up somewhat later.
I fed the birds.
I put out water for the birds.
At dusk, loads of fireflies are coming out. :D I've seen at least one bat too.
I fed the birds.
I put out water for the birds.
At dusk, loads of fireflies are coming out. :D I've seen at least one bat too.
Cuddle Party
6/18/25 12:36 amysabetwordsmithEveryone needs contact comfort sometimes. Not everyone has ample opportunities for this in facetime. So here is a chance for a cuddle party in cyberspace. Virtual cuddling can help people feel better.
We have a cuddle room that comes with fort cushions, fort frames, sheets for draping, and a weighted blanket. A nest full of colorful egg pillows sits in one corner. There is a basket of grooming brushes, hairbrushes, and styling combs. A bin holds textured pillows. There is a big basket of craft supplies along with art markers, coloring pages, and blank paper. The kitchen has a popcorn machine. Labels are available to mark dietary needs, recipe ingredients, and level of spiciness. Here is the bathroom, open to everyone. There is a lawn tent and an outdoor hot tub. Bathers should post a sign for nude or clothed activity. Come snuggle up!
For the upcoming 4th of July, enjoy some of my previous posts about fireworks. Watch a video of fireworks going off and fireworks fail.
( Read more... )
We have a cuddle room that comes with fort cushions, fort frames, sheets for draping, and a weighted blanket. A nest full of colorful egg pillows sits in one corner. There is a basket of grooming brushes, hairbrushes, and styling combs. A bin holds textured pillows. There is a big basket of craft supplies along with art markers, coloring pages, and blank paper. The kitchen has a popcorn machine. Labels are available to mark dietary needs, recipe ingredients, and level of spiciness. Here is the bathroom, open to everyone. There is a lawn tent and an outdoor hot tub. Bathers should post a sign for nude or clothed activity. Come snuggle up!
For the upcoming 4th of July, enjoy some of my previous posts about fireworks. Watch a video of fireworks going off and fireworks fail.
( Read more... )
Today's Smoothie
6/17/25 10:31 pmysabetwordsmithToday we made a smoothie with:
1 cup Brown Cow vanilla yogurt
about 1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh seedless watermelon chunks
1 frozen banana
about 2/3 cup frozen strawberries
1 teaspoon lime juice
The result is bright pink and a little thicker with the frozen banana, with a notable watermelon flavor. This is a definite improvement over the previous version and I quite like it. \o/
1 cup Brown Cow vanilla yogurt
about 1 to 1 1/2 cups fresh seedless watermelon chunks
1 frozen banana
about 2/3 cup frozen strawberries
1 teaspoon lime juice
The result is bright pink and a little thicker with the frozen banana, with a notable watermelon flavor. This is a definite improvement over the previous version and I quite like it. \o/
Where do migratory birds have their home?
6/17/25 05:43 pmysabetwordsmithWhere do migratory birds have their home?
Below are just three screenshots from a series of 16 photos on the Instagram account of somadifusa (Laura Ortiz), of murals she and the tattoo artist Azul Luna (Instagram account azulunailustra) painted in Bogota, Colombia.
I'm captivated by these images both of traveling swallows, some bearing backpacks and baskets, some with shells on their back like hermit crabs, and of hearts that are also nests, or that morph into shells, or sprout flowers and eyes. "Home is where the heart is," or the heart makes the home.
( Read more... )
Below are just three screenshots from a series of 16 photos on the Instagram account of somadifusa (Laura Ortiz), of murals she and the tattoo artist Azul Luna (Instagram account azulunailustra) painted in Bogota, Colombia.
I'm captivated by these images both of traveling swallows, some bearing backpacks and baskets, some with shells on their back like hermit crabs, and of hearts that are also nests, or that morph into shells, or sprout flowers and eyes. "Home is where the heart is," or the heart makes the home.
( Read more... )
Birdfeeding
6/17/25 03:07 pmysabetwordsmithToday is partly sunny, steamy, and hot.
I fed the birds. Sparrows and house finches have been all over the feeders today.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I checked the grass patch by the garden shed. Something had eaten about half the seedling clover. :/ So I sowed more Bee Lawn Mix, watered that, and watered the recently planted wild indigo.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
My wildflower garden is swarming with baby praying mantises, at least two hatches. I've seen a tiny brown one and a slightly larger green one. :D
I've seen a mourning dove in the forest garden.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I picked a bag of mulberries along the street and in the savanna.
Fireflies are coming out.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I trimmed low-hanging branches in the house yard.
I hauled a large branch to the ritual meadow and broke it up for the firepit.
My partner Doug has mowed the ritual meadow.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
I fed the birds. Sparrows and house finches have been all over the feeders today.
I put out water for the birds.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I checked the grass patch by the garden shed. Something had eaten about half the seedling clover. :/ So I sowed more Bee Lawn Mix, watered that, and watered the recently planted wild indigo.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I took some pictures around the yard.
My wildflower garden is swarming with baby praying mantises, at least two hatches. I've seen a tiny brown one and a slightly larger green one. :D
I've seen a mourning dove in the forest garden.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I did a bit of work around the patio.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I picked a bag of mulberries along the street and in the savanna.
Fireflies are coming out.
EDIT 6/17/25 -- I trimmed low-hanging branches in the house yard.
I hauled a large branch to the ritual meadow and broke it up for the firepit.
My partner Doug has mowed the ritual meadow.
As it is getting dark, I am done for the night.
Photos: Thrifted Paintings
6/17/25 05:11 amysabetwordsmithI found these three paintings at the Thrift'n'Sip Indoor Rummage Sale. There is a seascape, a forest, and a flower garden with a birdbath.
( Read more... )
( Read more... )
The Great Farting Oxygen Event
6/17/25 12:02 amysabetwordsmithThis is the earliest mass extinction we know of on Earth, and it may well have been the worst. However, it usually doesn't appear on the standard lists of major mass extinctions.
Currently we are in the Anthropocene, whether people want to admit it or not. We are also in the midst of the Anthropocene Extinction, whether people want to admit it or not. See the insect apocalypse, amphibian apocalypse, and bird apocalypse.
Despite these grim statistics, humanity is not the most destructive species the Earth has ever known. That honor goes to whatever organism first discovered fire, harnessed the power of the Sun, and farted so much oxygen that almost everything else died.
Currently we are in the Anthropocene, whether people want to admit it or not. We are also in the midst of the Anthropocene Extinction, whether people want to admit it or not. See the insect apocalypse, amphibian apocalypse, and bird apocalypse.
Despite these grim statistics, humanity is not the most destructive species the Earth has ever known. That honor goes to whatever organism first discovered fire, harnessed the power of the Sun, and farted so much oxygen that almost everything else died.
Conservation
6/16/25 05:25 pmysabetwordsmithThis 5-star island paradise doubles as a sea turtle rescue
In Malaysia, five islands form Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a glittery turquoise oasis filled with coral reefs, parrotfish, seahorses, and green sea turtles.
Gaya, the largest of the five islands, is also home to the Gaya Island Resort: a luxury 5-star retreat nestled in an ancient rainforest that boasts stunning sea views, swim-up pools, and a spa village hidden amongst the mangroves.
But when guests have free time — between relaxing on massage tables and eating teppanyaki, shabu-shabu, and nabe — the resort challenges visitors to partake in local marine conservation efforts.
Ecotourism is a good way to get people involved, and maybe they'll want to stay involved.
In Malaysia, five islands form Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a glittery turquoise oasis filled with coral reefs, parrotfish, seahorses, and green sea turtles.
Gaya, the largest of the five islands, is also home to the Gaya Island Resort: a luxury 5-star retreat nestled in an ancient rainforest that boasts stunning sea views, swim-up pools, and a spa village hidden amongst the mangroves.
But when guests have free time — between relaxing on massage tables and eating teppanyaki, shabu-shabu, and nabe — the resort challenges visitors to partake in local marine conservation efforts.
Ecotourism is a good way to get people involved, and maybe they'll want to stay involved.
Remigration vs. Refoulement
6/16/25 05:14 pmysabetwordsmithI've seen a lot of vocabulary abuse recently.
Remigration is the voluntary return to country of origin. If it's not voluntary, it's not remigration. This term covers things like freed slaves moving from America to Africa, or Syrian refugees going back to Syria now that some of them deem it safe. We need this term for such purposes, which right now means defending it from people who use it wrongly.
Refoulement is the forcible movement of refugees from the place they fled to back to the dangerous place they fled from. This is what the American government has done many times, such as sending boats full of Jewish refugees back to Nazi-infested Europe during World War II or the current transfer of refugees back to their country of origin. Call it what it is and cite the historic comparisons, where we've got evidence of people dying because of it.
( Read more... )
Remigration is the voluntary return to country of origin. If it's not voluntary, it's not remigration. This term covers things like freed slaves moving from America to Africa, or Syrian refugees going back to Syria now that some of them deem it safe. We need this term for such purposes, which right now means defending it from people who use it wrongly.
Refoulement is the forcible movement of refugees from the place they fled to back to the dangerous place they fled from. This is what the American government has done many times, such as sending boats full of Jewish refugees back to Nazi-infested Europe during World War II or the current transfer of refugees back to their country of origin. Call it what it is and cite the historic comparisons, where we've got evidence of people dying because of it.
( Read more... )
New Communities
6/16/25 04:29 pmysabetwordsmith![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
everykindofcraft Created on 2025-06-12 23:43:59 (#4232910), last updated 2025-06-16 (41 minutes ago)
I know there are many crafters on Dreamwidth but it seems nothing devoted to it has been updated in eons or has no admin or both. So I decided to open
everykindofcraft for what it says in the name. A community where people can share their projects, either in process or completed, as well as ask for assistance with craft-related things.[Found via
yourlibrarian]Monday Update 6-16-25
6/16/25 01:32 pmysabetwordsmithThese are some posts from the later part of last week in case you missed them:
Reverse Benchmarking
Recipe: "Pretzel Bread Grilled Cheese Sandwiches"
Worldbuilding
Today's Smoothie
Listen to "The Singing, Ringing Tree"
Poetry Fishbowl Themes for Late 2025
Read "Time Off"
Poem: "Fatherhood Is Support"
Poem: "Born and Found and Made"
Poem: "The Way a River Is Made"
Read "A Change in a New World"
Birdfeeding
Poem: "Strange Angels"
Poem: "Meant to Get Dirty"
Poem: "Where We All Meet"
Recipe: "Santorini Stir-Fry with Chicken and Patty Pan Squash"
Today's Adventures
Conservation
Birdfeeding
Creative Jam
Philosophical Questions: Avoidable
Today's Adventures
New Communities
Russian Losses
New Crowdfunding Project: "Take Us North"
Birdfeeding
Politics
Follow Friday 6-13-24: Hetalia
Insect Apocalypse
Sunshine Revival
Books
Birdfeeding
Hobbies: Ceramics
Photos: Dark Gardening
Birdfeeding
Moment of Silence: Brian Wilson
Insect Apocalypse
Hard Things
"Not a Destination, But a Process" has 139 comments. "The Democratic Armada of the Caribbean" has 89 comments.
summerofthe69 is now open! You can see the calendar here and the initial theme is "First Time 69: Everyone has to start somewhere."
"In the Heart of the Hidden Garden" belongs to the Antimatter and Stalwart Stan thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. It needs $86 to be fully funded. Lawrence shows Stan around the campus at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
The weather has been warm and wet here. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, two mourning doves, a male cardinal, a catbird, a phoebe, a skunk, a fox squirrel, and at least 2 probably 3 bats. I've heard a red-bellied woodpecker but didn't see it. Privet, dogwood, and mock orange are done blooming. Privet and mock orange are winding down. Zucchini has flower buds. Currently blooming: dandelions, honeysuckle, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, wild strawberries, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, impatiens, oxalis, moss rose, yarrow, red coreopsis, anise hyssop, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, Asiatic lilies, cucumber, astilbe, daylilies, snowball bush, yellow squash. 'Chocolate Sprinkles' tomatoes are starting to show color. Blackberries, and tomatoes have green fruit. Wild strawberries, mulberries, and black raspberries are ripe.
Reverse Benchmarking
Recipe: "Pretzel Bread Grilled Cheese Sandwiches"
Worldbuilding
Today's Smoothie
Listen to "The Singing, Ringing Tree"
Poetry Fishbowl Themes for Late 2025
Read "Time Off"
Poem: "Fatherhood Is Support"
Poem: "Born and Found and Made"
Poem: "The Way a River Is Made"
Read "A Change in a New World"
Birdfeeding
Poem: "Strange Angels"
Poem: "Meant to Get Dirty"
Poem: "Where We All Meet"
Recipe: "Santorini Stir-Fry with Chicken and Patty Pan Squash"
Today's Adventures
Conservation
Birdfeeding
Creative Jam
Philosophical Questions: Avoidable
Today's Adventures
New Communities
Russian Losses
New Crowdfunding Project: "Take Us North"
Birdfeeding
Politics
Follow Friday 6-13-24: Hetalia
Insect Apocalypse
Sunshine Revival
Books
Birdfeeding
Hobbies: Ceramics
Photos: Dark Gardening
Birdfeeding
Moment of Silence: Brian Wilson
Insect Apocalypse
Hard Things
"Not a Destination, But a Process" has 139 comments. "The Democratic Armada of the Caribbean" has 89 comments.
summerofthe69 is now open! You can see the calendar here and the initial theme is "First Time 69: Everyone has to start somewhere.""In the Heart of the Hidden Garden" belongs to the Antimatter and Stalwart Stan thread of the Polychrome Heroics series. It needs $86 to be fully funded. Lawrence shows Stan around the campus at the University of Nebraska-Omaha.
The weather has been warm and wet here. Seen at the birdfeeders this week: a mixed flock of sparrows and house finches, two mourning doves, a male cardinal, a catbird, a phoebe, a skunk, a fox squirrel, and at least 2 probably 3 bats. I've heard a red-bellied woodpecker but didn't see it. Privet, dogwood, and mock orange are done blooming. Privet and mock orange are winding down. Zucchini has flower buds. Currently blooming: dandelions, honeysuckle, pansies, violas, marigolds, petunias, red salvia, wild strawberries, verbena, lantana, sweet alyssum, zinnias, snapdragons, blue lobelia, perennial pinks, impatiens, oxalis, moss rose, yarrow, red coreopsis, anise hyssop, firecracker plant, tomatoes, tomatillos, Asiatic lilies, cucumber, astilbe, daylilies, snowball bush, yellow squash. 'Chocolate Sprinkles' tomatoes are starting to show color. Blackberries, and tomatoes have green fruit. Wild strawberries, mulberries, and black raspberries are ripe.