The Google Ads... SAP?

While attempting to make my blog look more exciting, I enabled the google ad-thingy on this blog. For some reason, the SAP "socially alienated person" anti-smoking ad seems to find itself on my page every day.

How does google decide where this "SAP" ad goes, pray tell? I am a smoker. My mom is a smoker. My sister is a smoker. Most of the people I know are smokers.

The only reason a smoker might tend to find herself "socially alienated" these days is on account of all the nonsensical legislation prohibiting smoking from virtually every known location.

When at a restaurant, for instance, smokers must now rush outside to hide whilst smoking. At which point, the "socially alienated person" is prone to bumping into other smokers conducting similar activities.

So while it may be argued that smokers' habits could potentially alienate them from the non-smokers, it opens up a whole new universe of pals-- other smokers. Many times I have met very nice people whose acquaintance I would never have made had I not been sneaking a smoke. Many entertaining, informative, and inspirational conversations have I had with my comrade smokers.

Smoking is not good for one's health. This is true. But many of us smoke. And when we smoke, as now must, in a location far AWAY from the non-smokers, rather than feeling a sense of social alienation, it has become a sure fire way to meet new people.

"FLYNN" Earrings

The "FLYNN" earrings are made with Bone Batik beads from Africa, copper Bali spacers, niobium french wires, Vintage Chocolate Patina chain, miyuki beads and yummy Swarovski Crystals in mint alabaster.

Part of my Rustic Fall Collection! See them here.

Northern Flicker

I do not see these guys too frequently, but this morning, a Northern Flicker was taking a drink at the coyote-depleted water tub. Hopefully, he ate a whole bunch of icky bugs while he was in the area!

"Legs"

"Legs" began showing up in broad daylight-- at 14:00 or earlier. Sometimes he is with a female. Both are malnourished, shabby and appear to be in poor health. Coyotes are not big water drinkers, but Legs shows up pretty regularly each day to empty the bird-water tub.

Coyote Update

I have not really posted too many of my coyote photos. The pair which I usually photograph, the "friendly" duo of "Yoat" and "Baby, have not been seen as of late. This may be owing to the fact that I need to replace my outside lighting and cannot see them in the pitch blackness of night... or it may be that they have chosen to make their home elsewhere.

Yoat and Baby are pictured above, with Baby (the blue-eyed vixen) shown atop her pal "Yoat" (the most beautiful coyote in these here parts). I have loads of pictures of this duo, as they are not shy and have always cared less whether I am nearby. For over a year, they have walked around the property day or night, and other than an occasional run-in with interlopers, they have pretty much been steady residents.

In past weeks, however, I have not seen them and there are other coyotes who appear to be living here.

Hmmmm....

While outside attempting to photograph my new Fall earrings, I thought I saw something odd... and upon further inspection discovered what appeared to be a writhing ooey-gooey worm-ball! Ok, so they are not really worms, but more like caterpillars.

Something must have hatched or metamorphosed or landed in the pinion sapling... just not something you see every day. And that's a GOOD thing. YUCK!

If You Pour It... They Will Come

I know very little about Grosbeaks. Not sure we even had them in Florida! Over the past few years, I have noticed the random specimen every once in a while, usually in the late Summer. They are always super shy and somewhat illusive.

This year, however, there seems to be an abundance of these chubby lil' fellers. Maybe it's their strangely shaped heads or the fact that they are more colorful than the average bird in these here parts, but I think they are pretty cool. One thing I can say for certain is that these guys LOVE WATER.

Ok. It's the desert, and if you stick some water outside in a bowl, chances are you will see some bird action...but these guys are pretty much always in or near the water, more so than the other species. And they are not just there to drink. Even when it is pouring rain, they splash around and enjoy repeated plunges into the water. Very cute!