¿Hablas español? Solo un poco. Pero quiero apender más. MLB and I are volunteering as teachers in an English As A Second Language (ESL) class sponsored by our church. We inherited a class comprised of adult students primarily from Mexico. Since they are all native Spanish speakers, we are trying to improve our fluency in… Continue reading Learning Spanish to Teach English
There’s never an ophiologist around when you need one
Alert Gazette readers will recall our encounter with a cottonmouth (aka water moccasin) last fall. Then, a couple of months ago we discovered a four-foot-long blotched water snake [Update: which I now know is more correctly known as a plain-bellied water snake] in our courtyard. The latter encounter taught me that distinguishing between the poisonous… Continue reading There’s never an ophiologist around when you need one
Web Weaving Weirdos
I’ll fight a bear, but I don’t like spiders. I’m not a fan of those. — J. J. Watt I’m an unabashed arachnophobe. Spiders are not just creepy; they’re intentionally malevolent. God created spiders because snakes weren’t sufficient to remind us that we live in a fallen world. Spiders are the only creatures that… Continue reading Web Weaving Weirdos
Wildlife Update
It’s been awhile since I provided a wildlife update. But, first, here’s a squirrel (turn up the sound to get the full effect): Your browser does not support HTML5 video. That’s the noise a squirrel makes when its annoyed or angry. I couldn’t discern what caused this one’s panties to get in a wad, but… Continue reading Wildlife Update
Ambient Bias Lighting for Your TV: A Review of the Halo
So, I’m kind of a sucker for Best Buy‘s Deal of the Day. It’s not so much that the prices are that low — although sometimes, for some items, they really are — but they often draw my attention to products that I might not ever consider buying, or even know about. I’ve been known… Continue reading Ambient Bias Lighting for Your TV: A Review of the Halo
Clash of Species – Woodpeckers vs Snakes
Earlier this spring, an oak tree across the street from our house attracted the attention of a pair of golden-fronted woodpeckers*. The tree’s trunk has a hollowed-out place about twenty feet off the ground and the opening faces our front windows; I can see it from my usual seat in the living room. Since April,… Continue reading Clash of Species – Woodpeckers vs Snakes
A little blog housekeeping…
I’ve been meaning to do this for about a year and I finally made time for it. But first, here’s a yawning possum: My blog post categories were in great need of reorganizing. What are “categories,” you ask? They’re those links that following the words “Posted in:” underneath the title of each article I put… Continue reading A little blog housekeeping…
Of Turtles and Eggs
MLB and I were walking to the mailbox this morning when we spotted a big turtle in the shade of a tree about 25 feet from the street (and about that same distance from the creek that I presume is its home). It wasn’t moving, which was odd, so we walked over to investigate. It… Continue reading Of Turtles and Eggs
Signs. And wonders.
Me, blogging Hiya. Happy Cinco de Mayo. I would have written that en español, but I’ve been informed by some people with too much time on their hands that it’s not really a generally-observed Mexican holiday, but only an excuse to eat tacos and guacamole, and drink Coronas and margaritas. To which I respectfully respond:… Continue reading Signs. And wonders.
Snake Mistake
“Eric…come quick!” I was sitting in the office late yesterday afternoon when I heard MLB‘s overly excited summons from somewhere in the middle of the house. I ran out to find her staring out the living room windows at something in the front courtyard. “Oh, man. That’s a water moccasin. Keep an eye on him… Continue reading Snake Mistake