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Since I got a Twitter  shout out from the author of Zoomoods: A volunteer’s eye view of the Minnesota zoo, I decided I better get blogging!  My passion for green really translates into a passion for nature more than an interest in green technology and such.  Being around plants or animals transports me away from the worries of human life to a world not made with words.  I like words, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes, the verbal part of my brain needs a rest.  What IS the world of green and fur?  Is it pure mathematics?  Physics?   Chemistry?  What form do tiger thoughts take if they aren’t made out of words?  The natural world is a playground I never tire of!

The following pelican encounter in Florida this summer took me wonderfully by surprise.  I’ve always loved to watch units of pelicans skim across the gulf waters in perfect formation, so when I drifted out of the St. Petersburg Pier building and caught a  glimpse of some pelicans coming in to land on a post, I cautiously approached for a close up view.  I gradually got closer….and closer…..and even closer, much to my delight!  Wow, these guys were friendly!

Upon closest encounter, however, I noticed something was missing.  This guy/gal had only one foot.

And then I wished there had been a common language between us, some words to explain the adventure or tragedy of the missing foot.  Perhaps this one had been nursed by humans, hence the friendliness to this woman with a camera.  But maybe with no words, there was no strong memory of whatever mishap had befallen.  This one just seemed happy to be alive, to preen some feathers, hang out with a pal, and smile for some pictures.

Autumn here in the American Mid-West has been lingering wonderfully.  We haven’t even had a killing frost yet.  My days are mixed with substitute teaching and writing my masters thesis on sustainability activism.  I like the combination of being out and around and then having days at home to write and think and enjoy the sun streaming in my apartment balcony door.  Do you have favorite places to enjoy the sun in your current abode?

Just this quick pic for now, more to come about this local gem in Chattanooga, TN!

Another goal for the vacation ( I know, I know, people who have goals for vacation are a little weird!) was to eat some southern food, and I have to say, I hit the jack pot on BBQ!  The first was sampled at Ole Planters restaurant in Hannibal, MO.  It was very tender pork, quite sweet, and melted in your mouth.  Another choice was catfish in a sandwich, and the rhubarb berry pie with real whipped cream?  Yum!

In case you hadn’t guessed, I’m trying to psyche myself up to eat more veggies this week.  I had this a while ago: Romaine lettuce with bosc pear slices, ranch and toasted pumpkin seeds, pork tenderloin and carmelized brussel sprouts.  I got the idea for the sprouts from some other blog I think.  Carmelizing something involves butter and sugar and way more heat than I would believe either could tolerate….a very interesting experience!  I think I’ll try carmelized onions next! As for the salad, it didn’t taste as wonderful as I’d hoped.  What’s your favorite salad combination?  I’m open for ideas!

ps  Oh, I almost forgot to mention the sweet potato…a veggie that tastes like dessert!

Several people have mentioned feeling a craving for more healthy food after the holiday sugar rush!  This was my supper about a month ago: flounder topped with Italian bread crumbs, sauteed zuchinni, a salad of mache, tomatoes, and cucumber topped with Wishbone Robusto Italian dressing and a few Kashi fire roasted vegetable crackers.  I like my crackers to have a lot of crunch, and these taste interesting while having some whole grain and fiber in them.  A lot of people don’t think much of zuchinni, but if you don’t over cook it, and you season it with some dried oregano and lots of coarsely ground black pepper, each bite can help your taste for something pure green and gardenish grow with every bite!  Speaking of green, mache is supposed to be the new up and coming salad green, according to this, or at least someone is hoping it will.  I remember trying to grow this from seed one year and not having much luck, so when I saw it at the West Ames HyVee, I decided this was my chance to give it a taste.  It’s a very small, tender leaf, more sweet like Boston lettuce.  It’s also called Lamb’s lettuce…again….soft, sweet…..and actually, not enough punch for my salad.  I’m not quite an arugula person, that’s a little too strong for me, at least as a lone green, but if you like your lettuce to stand up and talk to you at all, you might not like mache.  On the other hand, it is supposed to be loaded with vitamins, so it might be worth mixing in with some Romaine lettuce next time.

Anyway, hope this encourages you to try something new, eat something green, create a feast for your eyes, and think about spring!

Ok, it’s -17 F here this morning….ACTUAL temperature.  With the windchill, it’s something like 30 below.  I think it’s going to be a nesting day….maybe I’ll have to have a beach party or something.   I wish I was tiny enough to join kitty under the lamp…at least she can close her eyes and pretend she is at the beach!

I woke up about 4:30 this morning without the alarm and when I opened my blinds, I couldn’t believe the moon was right outside my window….round buttery keeper of the night, it was so beautiful!  What a way to start the day!

Gosh I love holidays, especially when I don’t have to do all the work.  That probably sounds really bad, but it’s meant to convey how happy I was at Thanksgiving this year.  Back in Indiana, I exhausted myself with trying to make holidays work.  As I get older, I really enjoy slipping off to the side and just watching.  What a treat!  Maybe my parents felt that way about my holidays…if so, then it was worth it!  But…this year my sister had the bulk of the holiday burden at her house, and I  loved watching things get cleaned up and arranged for a house full of company.  I especially loved watching her pull out all sorts of wonderful serving dishes  and silverware to set this beautiful table!

I absolutley LOVE photographs, because they help me remember and relive happy occasions.  So, well……Thanksgiving was wonderful, and while getting ready for the next holiday…I’ll relive some Thanksgiving holiday here!

This is probably my favorite photo of the holiday.  Friday night we went downtown Peoria for the Yule Walk.  One stop had the balloon man, and my nephew’s daughter who is at the perfectly magical age of 4 1/2, asked for a Rudolph balloon sculptured head thingie.  I loved seeing the evening through her eyes!  Being Rudolph was absolutely divine!

Ok, slow connection this morning and I’ve got to get out the door to work.  More to come!