Life Around OakMeadows - August, 2018

Angie encounters an armadillo. 

Birds

White-faced Ibis

Barn Swallows 

Cardinals 

Grackles 

Mockingbirds 

Hummingbirds 

Blue Jays

Crow

Caracara

Cattle Egrets

Black Vulture

Kildeer

Starling 

Whistling Ducks 

Chickadees 

White-winged Doves

Turkey Vultures

Insects

Little Sulphur 

Queens

Monarchs (very few)

Giant Swallowtail 

Longtailed Skipper 

Sachem 

Cloudless Sulphur 

Black Swallowtail 

Red Admiral

Eastern Pondhawk 

Blue Darter 

Other

Raccoons 

Squirrels 

Armadillo 

Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Haupt

Mozart’s Starling by Lyanda Haupt 

Wonderful book about human/natural world interactions, It was fresh and well-written.mixing stories of her experience raising a starling with historical material about Mozart's starling, scientific information about birds, and reflections on the nature of pets and our interactions with wild things. And yes, Mozart did have a pet tame starling that flew around in his home, adding to what was a joyful blend of chaos, commotion, and brilliant composition. Parallels and observations are made to and with the author's own beloved tame starling, Carmen. A good read. (Haupt has posted videos of Carmen on Facebook.)

August Poetry

The birth of August is upon us, as the fair haired sun rises in the sky
With songs of the cicada unwinding, the sand hill Cranes sail by
The heat is hovering all around us, we feel heavy in it's grip
To break free from it's bonds, from it's clutches we must rip
Shade gives little relief, to this melting, bending soul
A river full of water, is not enough to quench this foe
Only darkness breaks the curse, that the day could not hide
Relief is but short...and that too must subside
For August is just arriving, her journey's just begun
It's only just beginning; her moment in the sun 

🔥Resistance. Every. Day🔥

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Called Rep. Pete Olson and Senators Cornyn and Cruz:

I’m calling today about the national housing crisis due to rising rents. Millions of Americans are paying as much as 70 percent of their income for rent and the construction of affordable housing has stalled. I’m asking you to co-sponsor the bipartisan Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (H.R. 1661/S. 548), which stimulates housing construction and availability.

Thank You note: Thank you for your pledge to refuse corporate PAC campaign donations. Thank you for placing the voices of your constituents above corporate influence.

Addresses:

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI): 170 Westminster St, Ste. 200, Providence RI 02903

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT): 1 Church St, 3rd Fl, Burlington VT 05401

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Sent email to Rep. Pete Olson and Senators Cornyn and Cruz:

I am concerned about the Farm Bill now in conference committee. The Senate version that passed with strong support strengthened SNAP to provide critical nutrition to elders, people with disabilities, and low-income families. I’m asking that you only support a bill that maintains the Senate provisions. I want my tax dollar to help feed hungry families.

Thank you note to Senator Richard Burr (R-NC):

Thank you for your unequivocal acknowledgement that covert social media interference in American elections by foreign countries, as took place in the 2016 presidential election, is a threat to all Americans and the sacred integrity of free and fair elections. Thank you for your leadership.

Address: Russell Senate Office Building, 217 Constitution Ave NE, Washington, DC 20510

Thank you for your pledgeto refuse corporate PAC campaign donations. Thank you for placing the voices of your constituents above corporate influence.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA): 2400 JFK Federal Building, 15 New Sudbury St, Boston MA 02203

Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA): 915 Second Ave, Ste 3206, Seattle, WA 98174

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Thank You note to Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA):

Thank you for working on sentencing reform that has bipartisan support. Fair sentencing benefits low-level nonviolent offenders, taxpayers, and society overall. Thank you for your leadership.

Address: 721 Federal Building, 210 Walnut Street, Des Moines, IA 50309

Thank you notes to:

Thank you for your pledge to refuse corporate PAC campaign donations. Thank you for placing the voices of your constituents above corporate influence.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY): Leo W. O’Brien Federal Office Building, 11A Clinton Ave, Room 821, Albany NY 12207

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ): One Gateway Center, 23rd Fl, Newark NJ 07102

🔥Resistance. Every. Day.🔥

Thank you notes to:

Rep. John Sarbanes (D-MD): 44 Calvert St, Ste 349, Annapolis MD 21401

Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA): 1904 3rd Ave, Ste 510, Seattle WA 98101

Rep. Jared Polis (D-CO): 1220 S. College Ave, Fort Collins CO 80525

Thank you for your pledge to refuse corporate PAC campaign donations. Thank you for placing the voices of your constituents above corporate influence.

August Thoughts

Wear the old coat and buy the new book.

Austin Phelps

August Poetry

From the great trees the locusts cry
In quavering ecstatic duo-a boy
Shouts a wild call-a mourning dove
In the blue distance sobs-the wind
Wanders by, heavy with odors
Of corn and wheat and melon vines;
The trees tremble with delirious joy as the breeze
Greets them, one by one-now the oak
Now the great sycamore, now the elm.

And the locusts in brazen chorus, cry
Like stricken things, and the ring-dove's note
Sobs on in the dim distance. 

September Menu

September Menu

1. Bacon Sandwiches, Oven Fries

2. Slow Cooker Chicken

3. Baked Fish, Carrots/Thyme, Coleslaw 

4. Chicken - Spaghetti Casserole 

5. Steak, GMP, GB

6. Leftovers

7. Out

8. Macaroni and Cheese, Corn, Salad

9. Schwan’s 

10. Tuna Salad

11. Oven BBQ Chicken, Beans, Coleslaw 

12. HB Pie

13. Leftovers

14. Out

15. Scrambled Eggs, Schwan’s Sausage and Potatoes 

16. Slow Cooker Beef

17. Baked Fish, Potatoes, Coleslaw 

18. Chicken Tenders, Carrots/Thyme, Corn

19. Pizza

20. Leftovers 

21. Out

22. CB Hash, CSC

23. Veggie Soup

24. Fried Shrimp, FF, Coleslaw 

25. Schwan’s 

26. Spaghetti and Meatballs

27. Leftovers 

28. Out 

29. St. Wieners, Corn

30. Pork, Sweet Potatoes, Spinach