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Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day



Roadside memorial in Williamsburg, Va

Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 31 in 2010). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in the military service. First enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (it is celebrated near the day of reunification after the Civil War), it was expanded after World War I.

Friday, May 28, 2010

SkyWatch Friday



This is the old Belmont Park wooden roller coaster in Mission Beach, San Diego, CA. The original Belmont Park was so much fun back in the day. I remember having a few birthday parties there and the rides were so much better than the new park. This coaster, The Giant Dipper, opened to the public on the 4th of July, 1925. It was a bit risky to ride back in the 70's, when I would go, as many would say that it would jump the track. I remember my first ride on it, so scared that it would jump the track as my neighbor told me it did, and I would be killed, but I still had to take the chance and ride it, over and over!

The rest of the park was eventually torn down but the coaster was saved and restored in 1989. I've ridden it since the restoration, but still prefer the old Belmont Park!

To see skies from all over the world, visit SKYLEY!

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Snow-San Diego Style



While Nick was in San Diego a few weeks back, he took a short trek up to the mountains and was surprised to see snow on the ground still! Yes, contrary to what many believe, San Diego DOES get snow! When the Laguna Mountains get snow, everyone around San Diego County load up their chains and sleds and head up to the mountains to play. The roadsides are jam packed with cars. San Diego is one of the few places that you can go to the snow and play then head to the beach, all in one day!

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Robertos Taco Shop




Ask any transplanted San Diegan what they miss most about San Diego and 9 times out of 10 the answer will be "taco shops". Nick was in San Diego a few weeks back and I won't lie, mostly he went for a carne asada burrito fix. This picture is of Robertos Taco Shop, one of the more popular taco shop chains around town.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

With Warmer Weather...



The snakes come out. We spotted this Black Rat Snake at Craig Creek a couple of weeks ago. Nick was bothering him so he took off inside of a tree. Later, Nick found him dangling upside down from a vine hanging down inside the tree. That would have been a cool picture except for my batteries died and by the time I got over there anyway, the snake had already went back up inside the tree again.

I've featured many Black Rat Snakes on this blog in the past and you can catch up on them HERE

Monday, May 10, 2010

Bleeding Heart Dove



Yesterday we went to the Mill Mountain Zoo. It's a small zoo but we had a great time. One of the most unusual things I saw was the Bleeding Heart Dove. Doesn't it really look like he's been injured? I wish I could have gotten a better picture of him but the fencing wasn't helping.

Some Bleeding Heart Dove info:

Scientific name: Gallicolumba luzonica and criniger

Country: Philippines

Continent: Asia

Diet: Fruits - frugivore, seeds - granivore, insects - insectivore

Food & feeding: Omnivore

Habitats: Tropical rainforest

Conservation status: The Luzon bleeding heart dove is near threatened. The Mindanao bleeding heart dove is vulnerable.

Relatives: Imperial pigeon, turtle dove, dodo

Description: The name 'bleeding-heart' comes from the patch of red on the breast of these birds. Otherwise they are grey above and paler buff below. Bleeding-heart doves live only in the Philippines. Many thousands of years ago there would have been just one species but rising seas levels isolated several populations, each on a different island group. These isolated populations evolved gradually into five separate species, all of which live in forested areas. Two of the five species live on moderately large islands and have evolved further into separate sub-species, divided by different environmental conditions.

Lifestyle: The scientific name gives us a good idea: Galli means chicken and columba means dove. This is a dove that spends much of its time as a chicken does, on the ground among the dead leaves, looking for food. Generally they live in dense forest.

Family & friends: Bleeding-heart doves spend most of the time in a flock that moves through their forest environment on the look-out for food.

Keeping in touch: Like other doves and pigeons, these birds stay in touch with other flock members by a series of coos. Males also woo females using a series of coos.

Growing up: The Luzon bleeding heart dove lays two eggs, which hatch after about fourteen days. Like other pigeons and doves, for the first few days the chicks are fed a rich milky fluid that the adult bird produces in its crop (the first part of the digestive system). Then, after a few days the chicks graduate to solid food such as fruits and seeds.

Pigeons and doves drink in a different way to other birds: they submerge their beak in water, suck the water up and swallow, without the need to raise the head between sips.

Conservation news: Habitat conservation is a priority but it will also be necessary to bring some of the three other species of bleeding heart doves (Negros, Sulu and Mindoro) into captivity, to prevent their extinction. Recently the first captive population of Negros Bleeding Heart Doves has been established in the Philippines.

Only two of the five species of bleeding heart doves are held in captivity in Europe at present: the Luzon and the Mindanao. The European breeding programmes for these species are coordinated by Bristol Zoo Gardens. They are being managed to provide a self-sustaining captive population and to develop important care and breeding techniques for use in the Philippines.

Identifying the areas where Negros bleeding heart doves are found and the numbers that are left is the next step needed to secure this species in the wild. Once sites have been selected with the local community, the area will be protected to ensure the survival of the species in that area.

The areas where the bleeding heart dove lives also contain many other birds unique to these islands, all of which have been threatened by deforestation. In addition, some are threatened by hunting and illegal collection for the pet trade. By highlighting the plight of the bleeding heart dove, conservationists work to save the habitat for all the species in the area.

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day!




Of all the rights of women, the greatest is to be a mother.
by: Lin Yutang, Chinese writer

Thursday, May 6, 2010

I Heart You




Ashlyn and I are always on the lookout for heart shaped rocks. I found this one at Craig Creek the other day. You can see how it was once one rock and broke into two and made this cute little heart :)

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Rope Swing



Someone left a couple of ropes tied to the trees and Christian, Nick and Ashlyn (she only tried once, epic fail!) had fun jumping into the creek. It's a little too tricky for Braden and Dalton to try since you have to climb up into the tree and dodge a rock when you jump in. I didn't try as the water is still too cold for me! Maybe by September I'll get in lol...

Monday, May 3, 2010

Lazy Sunday on the River



Sunday afternoon we packed up the kids, cooler and grill and spent the day at Craig Creek again. I took you there on Easter Sunday. Look at the changes in just a short month!