When I got to work yesterday morning, I found this box of chocolates waiting for me at my door. So what if it was accompanied by a long list of edits to the 30-page program I’m working on with the coworker? Whether it was a bribe or not, the chocolate was definitely appreciated later in the day.
As far as weather goes, yesterday couldn’t have been any more perfect. It started off with a gorgeous sunrise, followed by a sunny day in the low 80s. That’s what I call perfection!
Here in the Midwest, we’re finally getting some relief from about a month of 90-100+ degree temps. With the lower temperatures, naturally, comes storms. Unfortunately damage was done to some homes in the area, but our apartment complex didn’t suffer any damage besides this fallen tree.
Yesterday I helped out with a photography project for the upcoming Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event in Kansas City. One of my coworkers brought her adorable daughters to work for a mini photo shoot. I pray that my job at the American Cancer Society will eventually lead us to a world where these girls will never have to worry about cancer.
This weekend left no room for sleep. Friday night, despite all of Jerod’s homework, we made time to go to the {free!} Gladstone, Mo. Theatre in the Park to watch Thoroughly Modern Millie. We had never seen that show before, or been to the Gladstone amphitheater, so it was a fun new experience. Jerod had to work Saturday morning at 6 a.m., and I got up shortly after him to get stuff done around the house. When I woke up, I saw just one baby barn swallow left on our patio. He flew away later that morning. I hope the little guys are doing ok out on their own now. Later in the day we drove down to my parents’ to stay with them for a night. Sunday morning we were up at 5:30 for the Cider Mill Century bicycle ride. Since we’ve been training for runs lately, this is probably the only organized bike ride we’ll do all season. We averaged about 14.5 mph for 50 miles, which wasn’t too bad considering our lack of time on the bike this summer.
I learned about this zoom photography effect on digital-photography-school.com yesterday, so I thought I’d try it out. It’s all done on camera, not in Photoshop. What do you think?
When I left for work yesterday morning, I was a little worried about Nemo, the aptly named runt of the baby barn swallows living on our patio. He had managed to get out of the nest and was lying on the concrete. I put him back in the nest with the others, but he was having trouble even standing. I hoped he was just “playing dead.” But when I returned that evening, I could tell immediately that he hadn’t survived the day. I don’t know if he was injured from falling out of the nest, or if he was just too small, and mama bird only fed the stronger ones. Either way, I felt horrible. When I removed his body from the nest, the strongest baby – the one that flew into the pond – flew off. His mom followed him, so I hope he was strong enough to survive on his own. The fifth bird was nowhere to be found. After having a proper burial (hey, I even buried my pet fish as a child), we found the missing baby bird laying dead just off the edge of the patio. He must have died a day or two before without us realizing it. The two that remain in the nest are getting stronger and stronger, and I bet they’ll fly off soon. I guess 3 out of 5 is pretty good odds in nature, but I still wish I could have saved them all.
Ok, to try and make a long story short, we’ve “rescued” the baby barn swallows about four times since my previous post. Maybe we should just let nature take its course, but I can’t watch as the babies tumble out of their nest and sit helplessly on our concrete patio, unable to fly. So yesterday evening I made them a nest on the patio with a beach towel, because 4 of the 5 babies were back on the ground. Without Jerod’s help, there was no way I could put them back in their nest.
In an attempt to get the little guys in their new nest, the biggest one took off … toward the pond. I chased after him and watched as he landed right in the middle of the pond – head first. I watched in horror thinking I’d killed this innocent creature, but after many long seconds he started flopping across the water in the opposite direction. He finally made it to a rock just off shore, and I contemplated if I should just leave him be. Then I realized he wouldn’t have a chance without his matured wings or mother. So I walked around the pond and contemplated again what to do. I could use the glove, but if I didn’t get a firm grip he’d jump back in the water. So I reached out and grabbed him in with my bare hand, wrapped him in a small towel, and took him back to my patio and put him in the “nest” with the rest of the birds.
As of this morning, all 4 were still in the new nest, and mama bird had been flying by with pre-digested food for them. They get so excited every time she comes! This photo is much cuter than the one I’d previously taken … so I’m sharing yet another barn swallow photo with you today. And possibly again tomorrow.
For the past few months I’ve been partaking in Meatless Mondays, where I go at least one day a week without meat. Although I’m still far from being a vegetarian, I have a hard time with humans raising animals just to slaughter and eat them, especially if they are mistreated. Meatless Mondays has helped me think outside the box in regards to menu options. Not only do I eat more meatless meals, but I more frequently buy beef from local farmers, organic chicken, and free range chicken eggs. Last night we made a delicious new eggplant spaghetti recipe. Below is the recipe from kraftrecipes.com. If you have any easy, meatless meals that you love, feel free to share!
Eggplant Spaghetti with Fresh Mozzarella
What You Need
1 small eggplant (about 3 cups), cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup olive oil
5 plum tomatoes, chopped
1-1/2 cups sliced zucchini
1 Tbsp. balsamic vinegar
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 lb. spaghetti, cooked
1 pkg. (9 oz.) fresh mozzarella cheese balls (we used less and it was plenty)
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil (we didn’t use the fresh stuff)
Make It
COOK and stir eggplant, onion and garlic in hot oil in large skillet on medium heat 10 min.
STIR in tomatoes, zucchini, vinegar, salt and pepper; continue cooking 10 min. or until vegetables are tender and sauce is thickened, stirring occasionally. Place in large serving bowl.
ADD hot spaghetti, mozzarella cheese and basil; toss lightly.
Yesterday morning I went outside to water my flowers, and a few seconds later I was frantically waking Jerod up. One of our baby barn swallows had fallen about 12 feet out of its nest onto our concrete patio. Since it wasn’t moving I was sure it didn’t survive, but when I got closer I saw that he was still breathing. So Jerod very willingly crawled out of bed, grabbed some flip-flops, work gloves, and a step-ladder, and we coaxed the baby into his hands to return it to the nest. It took quite a while to figure out how to pick it up and slide it into the nest without harming it, but a few minutes later the mamma bird was back at the nest, and all the babies were chirping away like nothing happened.
Photographic Rhodes 