Info Burung Kicauan

Though he swore it wasn't a caption, I loved this one from cyberthrush:
I hope I die one day just like my dear old grandaddy, quickly and peacefully in my sleep... and not screaming hysterically like the 25 passengers of the bus he was driving at the time.

Jason, from OpposableChums said...All entreaties in hopes of convincing Lorenzo to leave his baguette at home for the trip to sit amongst the Silver-back gorillas were sadly fruitless, and with regrettably gruesome consequences.

Janet Creamer said..."Well, I was told Bill will show us more warblers than you can shake a stick at."

bpadgett said... I *said*, "Speak SOFTLY!!"

Thanks to everyone for your enthusiastic participation. I wish I had participation ribbons for all of you because you're ALL winners in my book (which just came out, by the way!). [smooth, huh?]

For the record, the be-hatted guy with the walking stick in the front of the shot is Scott, a regular at the New River Birding Festival. He hand-makes those walking sticks and they are really functional works of art.

After the beatdown at Target on Sunday we had a brief respite at the tea shop before heading over to the farmer's market for some more aggravated mayhem.  I swear the moon's over Jupiter in the seventh sign of Adam and Eve (or however that stuff goes) because I cannot seem to catch a break lately. Try to imagine me darting in and out of booths whilst trying to simultaneously protect my achilles tendons from rampant carts and patrons who use shoving for free samples as a way to avoid making Sunday breakfast.  It was not a pretty sight. Thankfully on one of my booth escapes I came face to table with a pile of peppers that smelled divine.  There was a moment of respite amidst the chaos as we oohed and ahhed over their pretty colors and selected some to take home.

Cut to two hours later (when toothpicks held our eyes open) as we relaxed wrist deep in Queso Fundido.  It's the perfect fall snack and ideal for football Gossip Girl.  Speaking of which did you catch that episode tonight?? Looks like it.is.ON this season!  Anyway, I decided to share a fave Queso recipe with you as cool weather and a return to regular programming are upon us.  Enjoy!

Queso Fundido with Avocado & Chips
Ingredients
1C     Manchego cheese
1/2C  Farmers cheese
1t ea   salt, pepper, paprika
1 red  jalapeño sliced
1/2     bunch green onion sliced
1/4     bunch cilantro leaves
1/2 ea avocado diced
3T      milk

Method
Gather all ingredients.  You can use any cheese, but you have to make sure it's not a hard cheese or it will harden once it cools after being removed from the oven.


Grate the Manchego, crumble the Farmer's cheese, slice the jalapeño, green onion and cilantro.


 In a mixing bowl, combine cheeses, salt, pepper, paprika, half the jalapeño and half the green onion.


Once mixed, transfer to a baking dish, and pour approximately 3T of milk over top.


Bake in 400 degree oven for 15 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Let cool for about a minute before garnishing with avocado, cilantro, and the remainder of green onion and red jalapeño.

This summer I've spent a bit of time shooting high-definition video. I am a rank beginner and learning as I go, but it's been an incredibly fun new hobby.

So here is a handful of five-second snippets from the hours of video I've shot (most of which is undeniably deletable). I am saving a few choice clips for later sharing here and elsewhere, though it's tempting to let it all out at once.

I think my dream job would be to be the person who gets to film those "Charles Kuralt nature moments." No voice over, no on-screen graphics—just the imagery and natural sounds of some amazing phenomena: birds, animals, plants, or landscape. I remember his segments so clearly from the CBS Sunday Morning television show.

I hope you like my little montage of clips. There's lots more to come. Thanks for watching.

With the exception of Sunday morning, my weekend was pretty much perfect.  Fall has definitely arrived here at the beach and it was so nice to huddle under the covers, drink hot tea and take walks in oversized sweaters and leggings.  I went to bed on Saturday evening really excited to wake up on Sunday morning and check out the release of Tucker for Target at a local store.

Instead I walked in at 8:10AM and was greeted by a stampede of women who had been possessed by wild animals.  Within moments I witnessed an older woman, shopping for her daughter, have an item ripped from her grasp while she stood there stunned.  At that point I knew it was on.  I managed to find ONE item left in my size and entered the fitting room only to find a group of approximately 5 rabid hyenas who had literally stripped the entire Tucker section of almost every single item.  The Target girls were not prepared for this display of ill-behavior and were clearly mortified as several of us late by 10 minute arrivers requested only to try on an item or two, while the others flat out refused to share anything as they snickered holding a full size run of XS - XL in all but two items.  It was absolutely disgusting to see mid-20's through mid 40's women behave like that.  So much that I turned and walked out.

I ended up visiting a total of 5 Target stores where I eventually managed to find several items in my size and, thanks to my first couple of experiences, was particularly sensitive to leave a full size run on the racks for others!!!  (Are you reading this all of you in Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach?? UGH!).  While the morning left me weary, I am pleased with the items I did find.  My most favorite by far is the Persian Bomber Jacket.  When we walked up the street to grab a bite tonight I seized the cool evening as my first opportunity to wear it.

Suffice it to say this is not the post I had planned.  It is currently 10:40pm, I am barely completing my work day *yeah.  get there.  because I know I haven't*, and feel as though I could spontaneously combust at any moment.   Given my frazzled mood I've decided to go completely off the edge and match my current state of mind to a set of pictures we took while visiting Canada.  Next week posts will go back to normal.  Until then buckle up because you're about to take a trip to crazyville!!

Even if you've only been reading a week you know I grew up on the Prairies in Canada.  While visiting my brother and his family last week we ended up at some mall (Alberta = home of the mall) where on one end was a line outside of Coach that had to have at least 100 people in it, while maybe 200 yards *okay metres* away stood the biggest outdoorsy retailer that took the slogan "bringing the outdoors in" to a whole new level.  Tape your jaw shut and come along - it was only 150,000 sq. ft!  And yes that was 4 zeros, not 3.

You still with me?  This place was packed to the gills with Americans and Canadians who had driven for MILES to take it in.  We're talking mountain climbing equipment, boats, fishing gear, coffee cups, ear plugs, hunting paraphernalia *let's not get into a crazy debate mmmmkay?*,  winter gloves, camo sweats (which I almost purchased don't judge), rubber boots for subzero temps, tents galore, all terrain vehicles that cost as much as my car, and so much more.  It's all a blur.  A 150,000 sq. ft blur.  I vaguely recall some dimwit trying to tell me he was going to "pay cash" for some cruiser boat thing that was over $50K.  To which the smart aleck in me replied, "Why don't you just pay $240/month for the next 25 years like the sign suggests?" before shooting him a dirty and stomping off.  Hehe.  Not impressed buddy!

I was not in LA Toto!

These pictures are the perfect summary to an absolutely hellish return to reality.  Next week I will try to come back to la-la land or at least a brighter version of reality including daily posts.  Imagine that.  In the meantime thank you to everyone who has stuck with my blog while I've been away.  I appreciate your support and look forward to catching up with all of you.  

Have a terrific weekend everyone.  Yippppeeeeeeee!!