The Honey Melon from the Small Garden - Food 53

We have a Honey Melon by accident in our small garden. It is actually "a garbage garden" as a place to throw waste foods. 

Image 01 - A honey Melon.

We mainly tossed scraps (chop scraps) of fruit and vegetable into our small "garbage" garden.

After a while, surprisingly, we found a honey melon, also well known as honeydew. It then grows well.

As I know, there are two varieties of honey melon:

1) Yellow inside

2) Red inside.

We love the yellow one, it is because of its flavor is like honey sweet.

Image 02 - Yellow Honey melon.

Have you tasted Honey melon?

# Previous postings:

- Recognizing Faces and Ramachandran Case – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 16

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A Box Turtle Passig through our House - Nature 176

 The little tortoise (Box turtle) come to visit us a couple days ago. We offered some carrots and water.

Image 01 - A tortoise passing through.

She didn’t seem too interested. She enjoyed a bit of sunshine on the balcony and then wandered off.

The Box turtles are native to our state. In nature, they consume:

- insects (caterpillars, grasshoppers etc)

- mollusk (snails and slugs)

- earthworms.

- small animals.

Actually, the box turtles may consume vegetation and fruit as well.

Image 02 - Another box turtle.

Do you know about box turtle?

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The Sunset over the Sky was Breathtaking

 Few days ago, we saw the sunset over the sky. It was breathtaking. So grateful. God's creation.

Image - First photo.

Yes, there is a sunset every day, but beauty like this is rare. This view feels like a real treat to me.

We may observe God's other amazing artworks over the sky, both in the morning and at night, that are:

- great sunrises

- and moon rises

We love seeing the moonrise over the beach. It’s magical when the moon slowly climbs above the ocean horizon.

Image 02 - A beautiful sunset

Image 03 - An amazing view

Do you love watching the sunset?

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Two Peacock in the Front Door - Nature 175

Two visitors came by the front door: a male and a female peacock. Maybe they are lovers on the run.

Image 01 - Two visitors in front door.

Not sure where these came from; they could be from:

- a neighbor, as a pet

- a zoo.

We would check with the zoo to see if they are missing of these birds, a bit of a distance for them though.

Yes, a peacock is a beautiful bird but extremely loud. As we know, they don't like cold weather.

So, they are enjoying living in our areas, a warmer temperature state.

Image 02 - A male peacock.

Has a peacock ever visited your house?

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Passing by the Santa Spider

We noticed something interesting when we drive to downtown recently. We love seeing "the Santa Spider."

Image 01 - The Santa Spider.

We then stop at a nearby parking lot. We walk and observe this seasonal spider quite closely. 

It is a kind of carnival season (such as Mardi Gras). It has been another fun season that has brought us joy.

When passing at different days, we saw different dresses:

- Santa dress

- Crown dress

- and dress with a hat.

Image 02 - Spider without specific dress.

Image 03 - Spider with a hat

Image 04 - A Crown spider.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

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- The Rainbow Before Evening : Blending in Pretty Well on the Satsuma Tree - Nature 139

The Mississippi River

 Mississippi River is one of the longest rivers in the USA, and even in the world with length of 2340 miles (3766 km). 

Image 01 - A ridge crosses the river.

Dates back hundreds of years, the river blends with a richness of: 

- history

- music 

- and culture.

 Steamboat is the "main" transportation during Mark Twain eras (1880's). before the Civil War.  

Nowadays, in the Mississippi river, we may observe the riverboats and other commercial activities.

Image 02 - A river boat.

Other commercial activities include the transportation of goods, fishing, kayaking and cruising.

 

Image 03 - Painting of bridge by local artist.

Have you visited the Mississippi River?

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Breeding of Silkie Chicken is Fascinating - Nature 174

The people who have Silkie Chickens make them as a great pet, since they are sweet and docile.

Image 01- A silkie Chicken

Some other fascinating things of Silkie chicken as a great pet are:

- a fancy appearance

- they may be able for caring and raising other breeding.

- nice to all family members, include children

- calm and quiet.

- and just need a small space.

Unfortunately, they are prone to being bullied by more aggressive breeds so tend to be loners when in a mixed flock.

Image 02 - A lonely chicken

Our friend has other breeding chickens with one white Silkie chicken. The white one got pecked and pushed away from food by the others.

Image 03 - Other breeding chickens

One night a possum got in the coop and the next morning the white one was dead and dragged out of the coop.

Image 04 - Can't mix with other breeding.

Do you know of white Silkie chicken breeding?

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The River at Nearby Area - Nature 173

 We have at several rivers and streams around our neighborhood. We just try to walk around to one of them.

Image 01 - A boat on the river.

The river is quite natural, with almost no pollution. What can the river and the area around it offers to visitors?

Some of the offers are:

- stunning views of wildlife

- watching boats and jet skis

- enjoy a peaceful moment by the water.

- even cast a line for some great fishing

- and chances for kayaking.

Image 02 - Signs to the river and pond

Image 03 - River's side

Image 04 - Calm water

Do you have rivers around your areas.

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The Dirt Dauber on a Fig Tree - Nature 172

We saw this kind of insect when we were picking figs last season. We believe it is an insect called as Dirt Dauber. 

Image 01 - Dirt Dauber on the fig's leaves.

It's scary looking for many people. However, this wasp is common in our southern state, Louisiana. 

The insect has other common names such as:

- a black and yellow mud dauber.

- a dirt dinner

- a mud dauber

- a mud wasp

- a blue mud dauber

Image 02 - Fig fruit, ripe

Several sources reported that Dirt Daubers no harm to the leaves and trees, they just consume other insects live around there.

Image 03 - A dirt dauber, walking on.

Do you know about this insect?

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Blooming of Kalanchoe blossfeldiana - Nature 171

In our areas, Kalanchoe blossfeldiana has blooming time in the late winter or early spring, around December or early February to March.

Image 01 - Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, blooming.

We know this flower with other common names, just some:

- Christmas Kalanchoe

- Florist Kalanchoe

- Window Kalanchoe

- Madagascar Kalanchoe

- and Flaming Katy

We might wonder why the flower blooming during late winter while temperature "little bit lower." even in our southern area.

Image 02 - Kalanchoe sp in the corner

It is because the flower needs longer darkness or short-day light to bloom.

Image 03 - Flower indoor.

Do you know about this flower?

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The Volunteer Sunflowers from Birdseed - Nature 170

In some seasons, especially from Spring to Fall, we have volunteer sunflowers and (wild) flowers in our backyard. 

Image 01 - A beautiful sunflower.

As we might know, there are certain critters that plant wildflowers include sunflowers from birdseed on the backyards. 

We observed some wild animals that responsible to do "this business." Just three of them are:

- squirrels

- birds

- and raccoons

In addition to 3 of animals, wind and rain might play important roles as well.

Image 02 - A raccoon on the lawn

Image 03 - A squirrel plays on yard

Image 04 - Finches on birdfeeder

Image 05 - Another sunflower.

Do you have Volunteer Sunflowers from Birdseed?

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