Memorial Day - 2021

 In Remembrance

A Salute: photo by Cliff Hutson

Thinking of those who served and never came back at all.

Observing the Phrase

A Path to Enlightenment 

A flute without holes is not a flute.

A donut without a hole is a danish.

- Ty Webb

California Ground Squirrel

California Ground Squirrel

  Spermophilus beecheyi: photo by Cliff Hutson

I spotted this ground squirrel munching away in a wildflower meadow, surrounded by pink Clarkia and Birds-eye Gilia. While they are said to avoid thick chaparral and deep woods, it is the most widespread squirrel in California and the only one one to be found around the edges of chaparral. As with many other species of both plants and animals, human disturbances such as road cuts, trails, and housing developments have allowed Spermophilus beecheyi to expand its range. 

They forage on more or less open ground, but can and will climb bushes and trees.  As one might expect, they live in burrows which can be 5-200 feet long. The young are born in March or April. My field guide says that they remain underground for six weeks. This seems to be born out by the fact that I usually start seeing little ones around this time each year. They stick close to the opening, but seem to enjoy games of tag and wrestling. Most adult ground squirrels estivate in July and August. I can not say that I blame them, when the temps get in to triple digits I tend to get kind of torpid myself.

National Shrimp Day

It's back!

Once again, May 10 is, among other things, National Shrimp Day.

Shrimp Cocktail: photo by Cliff Hutson

Shrimp Facts

Type of Food: Seafood

Produced From: Decapod crustaceans

Total Calories: 99 (one serving, 99 grams)

Total Fat: 0.3 grams (one serving, 99 grams)

Total Protein: 24 grams (one serving, 99 grams)

Total Carbohydrates: 0.2 grams (one serving, 99 grams)

Shrimp Noodle Bowl: photo by Cliff Hutson

Shrimp is also a good source of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, in addition to astaxanthin, which may have a variety of health benefits.

Fiesta Shrimp Bowl: photo by Cliff Huston

Some say that shrimp is the most popular seafood in America; and seems to be a hit worldwide as well.

Shrimp Tacos: photo by Cliff Hutson

A search of "shrimp" in my food photography files seems to bear out the hypothesis that I am doing my share when it comes to consumption. I hasten to point out that I try to be judicious in my purchases. 

Reading Log: April 2021

 

 The books that I finished reading in April 2021

April 2021 Books: photo by Cliff Hutson

"Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents," Isabel Wilkerson 

"Underland: A Deep Time Journey," Robert Macfarlane 

"Black, White, and The Grey," Mashama Bailey and John O. Morisano

"An Indigenous People's History of the United States," Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

"The Reindeer Chronicles," Judith D. Schwartz 

"Dirt: The Erosion of Civilization," David R. Montgomery