Are Oak Trees Good for Firewood? - Nature 41

When electric blackout due to winter storms, I know some of my neighbors use woods for heating.

Image 1- Cut woods for free

However, I don’t know how many people use firewood in my neighborhood, city or state.

No state law to regulate cutting tree and using it for firewood as long as the trees belong to individual.

It is prohibited or at least need permission to cut down a tree in the state or federal conservation areas.

Sure, there are local ordinances to protect specific trees.

Image 2- A little tree in public area

Image 3- The commercial firewood

The specific trees to be protected may include:

- historic trees
- heritage trees

An Oak is not included as a protected tree in our state, hence, commonly used as firewood.

Some of our neighbors familiar with woods of red oak, it is because the woods are considered strong, hence, it is believed to produce the best heat.

Do you ever use firewood?

# Previous postings:

- When do Pine Trees of our Neighborhood Produce Nuts? - Nature 9
- Could Positive Thinking Lead to Live Longer? - Healthy Life 6
- Family Saga and Meaning to be a Good Person – Part 2 - Reading 1
- Summer, be aware with Traveler's Diarrhea – Healthy Life 7

Simple Homemade Coconut Oil glazed Beef Jerky – Part 2 - Food 24

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Simple Homemade Coconut Oil glazed Beef Jerky – Part 1- Food 24

Image 1- Homemade beef jerky

Then I pounded and cut the slices of beef, glazed the slices with the virgin coconut oil.

Next step, quick dehydrating. I heat them on the skillet until the side look brown then turned to another side.

Do it again and again, until both sides of beef slices look brown.

In a bigger bowl, I mixed sliced red onions, sliced jalapenos, and sliced green tomatoes, then I stirred them with virgin coconut oil.

Image 2- Tomatoes, illustration only

Image 3- Virgin coconut oil in the jar.

Afterwards, I added the sliced meat from the skillet into the bowl, mixed all together.

The final step, I took a photo (photo above, please see Imge 1) of my cooking before they're gone :)

What do you think about my quick and simple beef jerky?

I would like to say this is a special beef jerky because I like the taste of this virgin coconut oil.

# Previous postings:

- When do Pine Trees of our Neighborhood Produce Nuts? - Nature 9
- Could Positive Thinking Lead to Live Longer? - Healthy Life 6
- Family Saga and Meaning to be a Good Person – Part 2 - Reading 1
- Summer, be aware with Traveler's Diarrhea – Healthy Life 7

Sweet Tangerine at Backyard – Food 26

We have grown two Tangerine trees in our backyard. Luckily one grow well, and provides us with fresh fruit every year.

Image 1- Tangerine fruit on the branches

Another tree died at very young age, about 3 years old when it starts to produce “little” fruit. It died due to diseases; we guessed caused by fungi diseases several years ago.

Many of our neighbors have Tangerine, they grow the fruit either in front yards or backyards

Tangerine is seasonal fruit, start to ripe from October to early January in our neighborhood, and even in our state, Louisiana. 

Image 2- Some fruit on branches

In case of our Tangerine, we may pick the fruit about this time or second week of October.

Image 3- A fruit, ready to be picked.

Then, the fruit starts to fall down one by one in late November or early December when temperature dropping.

Image 4- Raccoon is one of critters consumes our fruit

Fruit may not reach January of next year. We are lucky enough if we found one or two fruit on branches in the cold month.

Unfortunately, we have at least two critters as competitors to consume our fruit, they are:

- raccoon
- and squirrels

Finally, have you tasted Tangerine?

# Previous postings:

- Wild Animals and Birds in my Backyard – Nature 8a
- Flash Flood at my Neighborhood - Nature 8b
- First Important Step to Know Mental Illness - Healthy Life 5
- Family Saga and Meaning to be a Good Person – Part 1 - Reading 1

Canadian Geese Live Permanently in Neighborhood – Part 1- Science 23

Yes, a Canadian goose is one of migratory birds, they visit our city when freezing temperature happen in the North of America, include Canada.

Fig 01- A Lonely Canadian geese

However, at least, since 10 years ago, I saw several of them stay all seasons, hence, it could be mean that these geese live “permanently.”

We find this critter in the lakes, especially urban lakes of our state or cities, and even at our neighborhood.

I just wonder that why some geese have chosen to live in the southern states such as Louisiana, Alabama Texas or Florida?

Image 2- Canadian geese hang out at our neighborhood

Image 3- Ducklings feel comfort

Temporary answer that they might be able to adjust to warmer temperature or other reasons.

As reported by “digbr” (2016), some reasonable reasons are:

- availability of food
- decent habitats
- many lakes and ponds are available for nesting during breeding seasons.
- less predators
- migration makes geese stress.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Can Six Dolar Drug Kill Covid 19 Virus? - Healthy Life 3
- Hot Summer in the USA – Temperature above 40 Celsius degree – Nature 6
- Which One Has Vitamin C more - Red Bell Pepper or Orange? - Healthy Life 4
- Alligator in the Nearby Neighborhood - Nature 7

Fruits with flavored chia in cups – Part 1 – Food 25

Del Monte and Dole are very familiar brands for either fresh or packaged fruits or vegetables.

Image 1 - Fruits and chia seeds in easy-to-carry cups

For tidbits fruits on the go, I prefer Dole. The most I like is tidbit tropical fruits in small plastic cups.

What I do?

I empty the cup into the glass and add some ice. This is my way keep hydrate in the cool weather

When I picked what I need to fill the Food Bank, I also bought fruits, either in the cans or in the cups.

Image 2- Grape, just for illustration

I saw the bigger package of chunk fruits in the dark black packages with contrast color of fruits.

Image 3- Two cups of fruit and Chia

There is a series of Del Monte Fruits and Chia. The size available is 2 - 7 oz.cups.

The price depends on cup sizes and number of cups in the wraps or in the boxes (big number of cups):

+ US$ 2.78 for two cups of 7 OZ size.
+ Sure, we will have a good deal if we buy 1 box with more than 24 cups.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Can Scientists Create Glowing Plants? - Science 4
- White Azaleas in the City Garden – Nature 5
- The Amphibians Near Extinct due to Fungus Disease – Science 5
- What is Coronasomnia? - Healthy Life 2

Note: We consume packages or can foods during emergency times such as during storm, hurricane seasons

Watching the Bluebird Broods Playing Around – Nature 40

As you might know that bluebirds are common bird, we may spot easily in our backyard.

Image 1- Little broods playing at yard.

I have at least two posted about bluebird in respect to birdhouse and incubation periods:

- Size of Bluebirds Birdhouse at the Backyard – Nature 31
- 8 Eggs of Bluebird for Incubation – Nature 33

After hatching, about 3 weeks (17 to 20 days), little chicks may be able to fly out from their nesting box.

Ability to fly, off course depends on many factors.

Image 2- Eggs of bluebird in the nest

Image 3- Baby bluebirds getting start to flight

One important factor is foods. The quality and availability of food for broods will make their stronger and then quick to fly.

Based on own observation, the developments of bluebird chicks from just hatching to 5 weeks old are following:

- about 10 days old, one or two chicks able to sway out
- about 12 to 14 days, chicks are able to do unstable flight
- after 20 days, they are able to fly to nearby branches
- after 5 weeks, they are to be independent young bluebirds

I love to watch when the chicks learn the first fly. Amazing!

# Previous postings:

- Snowy Owl Re-Appearing after Hiding for 130 years – Nature 3
- Paris in the Eyes of Vincent Van Gogh - Art 1
- How Many Animals Are Expected to Extinct by 2050? - Nature 4
- Rediscovering of Rare Blue Bee in Florida in 2020 – Science 3

The SHIELD is a New Hope to Protect Our Brain – Part 1 - Alzheimer's 10

The NBC TODAY released a short video about a new hope to against Alzheimer's disease.

Image 1- Hummus, one of Mediterranean cuisine

A background of the message in the video is the sadness of a longtime journalist.

He has to write down everything because of the impairment of his short memory. Everything can be gone in 30 seconds. He can't remember them.

He was diagnosed Alzheimer's since 9 years ago. His mother dead from this disease, and now, his son fear of it.

This video reminds me to a friend of mine, she is also a bit worry about her dad since her dad was diagnosed probably has Alzheimer's.

Image 2- Just at neighborhood

Image 3- Wreath for Christmas

She said her dad is still okay, his forgetfulness is still in “normal”. She said her dad taking dexa (dexamethasone).

Dexa is for inflammation.

Inflammation, that is what Dr in video TODAY mention about. He compares the images between the brain severe with Alzheimer's and the healthy brain.

In the brain with Alzheimer's disease, there is inflammation that cause tangles and plaques. No current medicines can cure Alzheimer’s. They only help lessen symptoms for a limited time. Inflammation is a new target.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- A Tropical Plant Called Pineapple – Food 1
- A chocolate as a Gift for Valentine’s Day
- Russian Covid 19 Vaccine Advantages – Science 2
- Snow Storm in Our City Baton Rouge – Nature 2