Bird hall

Thursday 4 July 2013

The coolest part of this random stuffed bird display is that it is glass on both sides, allowing for a feathery glimpse into the classroom behind.

Prairie-squirrel

Monday 25 June 2012

For our last day in Saskatchwan, here's a photo of a thirteen-striped groundsquirrel.

Saskatchewan carnival!

Thursday 14 June 2012

Ryan and I arrived in Saskatchewan today, home for a family visit. We strolled over to the carnival setting up in the parking lot across the way. There were dozens of trucks and campers all lined up at the edge; most were painted with circus and festival scenes. I particularly loved this one - a modern day wagon painted with an old-fashioned one.

The real Shyla

Wednesday 6 June 2012

So, that cat we're cat-sitting? Yeah, she's crazy. She's a rescue cat, and came away with a few neuroses. Every now and then she needs some time to herself to tear out giant chunks of her hair. She has been checked out and there's nothing much to do about it. And really, if she's a sweet and wonderful cat who survived her abuse with only this one tick? Not bad.

Shyla

Monday 4 June 2012

We're cat-sitting for a little while. Here's Shyla, taking an afternoon nap.

Heron love

Friday 6 April 2012

I'm still hoping for a better shot of the herons than this.

The herons return

Monday 26 March 2012

At the end of our street you can find the world's largest Great Blue Heronry. (Yes, that's a word.) They're just starting to build their nests (by the dozens) and mate. Let me tell you, that is not a good place to park under just now.

Suckers

Friday 23 March 2012

Ryan and I finally went to the Vancouver aquarium today, something we've been long wanting to do. Since we both have student cards right now, and Ryan had the day off, and it was gorgeous and sunny, it was a perfect day. We had a great time, and definitely got our money's worth.

The crows' dishes

Sunday 11 March 2012

I've been meaning to put up a photo of this for a while now. Here in the closed-off Second Beach swimming pool are the shells of all the mussels that the local crows have eaten over the winter. They grab them out of the sand, fly high up in the air, and drop them onto the concrete, cracking open the shells. Then they swoop down and enjoy some shellfish! Crows are incredible intelligent birds, and I rather like both that there are so many of them around here, and that they are an important symbol of Vancouver.

Midnight Jay

Saturday 10 March 2012

Went hiking up in Squamish today, where I met this very patient jay. It is a Stellar's jay, and is BC's provincial bird. I prefer our friend M's name for it though: the Midnight jay.

Boundary Bay Bald Eagle

Saturday 7 January 2012

Ryan and I went down to Boundary Bay to see the snowy owls today. Every five or six years the lemming supply on which they feed goes through a natural decrease, and they come winter in Vancouver. We saw three of them (they're white on the brown marsh, and so rather easy to spot) but none of my photos turned out well. So, here's a bald eagle instead - we saw about a dozen of them.

Waiting

Friday 28 October 2011

There are nearly always dogs tied up outside the grocery store waiting for their owners. It's nice - I like stopping to say hello.

Lost dove

Friday 7 October 2011

You know you live in a yuppie neighborhood when . . . .

To Mimi

Monday 3 October 2011

All the public benches here have little plaques that you can buy and dedicate to a loved one. Most of them are sweet little obituaries, with poems and sayings, and some are quite creative. This one along English Bay always seems to catch my eye - it's the only one I've seen dedicated to a dog!

Lost Lagoon

Thursday 29 September 2011

I needed a break from my studies today, so I took a little walk in Stanley Park. As I was lining up the shot, the swans came gliding in, exactly as if cued.

New bees

Saturday 29 May 2010

Here is Boyana's aunt, catching a swarm of wild bees. They were all gathered on the tree branch, so she rubbed the inside of that basket thing with lemon verbena, which they love. You hit the branch with a stick, the bees are dislodged and fall into the basket. They stay in there, I guess, until you put them into the hive.

We spent the day helping them gather honey from Boyana's grandmother's hives, which was both interesting and very informative.

Scorpion

Saturday 15 May 2010

Look what we found in the bathroom!

Harran camel

Friday 30 April 2010

This is outside the town of Harran, which is one of the oldest continuously inhabited towns in the world.

The field there is full of stones, you might be able to see, remnants of the great capital city that used to sprawl here. (Today it is a very very small village.) We've seen fields like this in several parts of Turkey, and it is always odd to think that a huge, bustling metropolis used to cover a space that is now full of goats and camels. History seeps into every corner of this country.

Holy carp, Batman!

Thursday 29 April 2010

The most famous sight in Urfa - the pool of holy carp.

Local legend has it that Abraham was sentenced to be burnt to death for destroying pagan idols. However, when they went to burn him, Abraham was thrown into the air and landed in a bed of roses. The fire was all turned into water and the coals into fish.

These are the descendants of those fish, supposedly, and are considered sacred.

Gulhane Park

Monday 5 April 2010

We saw many interesting and old things today in Tokapi Palace, and part of me thought I should put up a photo of the royal splendor we saw.

But I just loved this photo so much, taken at the park next door.