In November as we sit and watch the trees lose their leaves and the first snow falls it’s time to remember events on 11 November 1918. The armistice papers marking the end of World War I were signed at 5 in the morning and took effect at 11 am. I learned this poem, by aContinue reading “Armistice Day, Remembrance Day, Veteran’s Day”
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United States Marine Corps anniversary
Today is the 250th anniversary of the USMC. The reason that this is important to me is because of my father who was a marine in the South Pacific during World War II. My father in 1945 after coming back from the South Pacific. My fathers journey 1942-1945. My father with a “pack howitzer” inContinue reading “United States Marine Corps anniversary”
A poem by Martin Niemöller
In November, 2016 I was concerned about the fascist takeover of the U.S. presidency. I thought that things were going to get very bad. Well, they did, but in 2020 the fascist regime ended – at least that is what we all thought. In November, 2024 the fascists took over not only the presidency, butContinue reading “A poem by Martin Niemöller”
Ruth versus Ohtani
Over the past couple of years people have been talking about how Shohei Ohtani is the greatest baseball player of all time. Well, frankly he pales when compared to Babe Ruth. Let’s start with looking at their batting statistics through the age of 30. Here are the statistics for Ohtani. He has 280 home runs,Continue reading “Ruth versus Ohtani”
Getting the garden ready for winter
Most of the plants are out. We got 8-9 butternut squash in recently and the kale will go all winter. The last of the herbs are in, mostly rosemary and thyme, although thyme is still going strong. I’ve left the rosemary in the ground and covered with leaves and a large pot. If it makesContinue reading “Getting the garden ready for winter”
Brazil – Flowers, Ferns and Trees
Brazilian jacaranda – a tree that we saw almost daily. Brilliant lamium – a pretty little plant that was abundant along the roads in and near Ubatuba. One of the Heliconia. Not quite sure which one it is, but it sure was pretty. Kohleria hirsuta, a nice flowering plant near the lodge in Ubatuba. MistletoeContinue reading “Brazil – Flowers, Ferns and Trees”
Brazil – orchids
Whenever we travel we are always on the lookout for orchids. Typically we are finding terrestrial orchids in Michigan. But once you are in the tropics epiphytic orchids are the norm. Many of the lodges that I visited in Brazil brought orchids in and had them in trees for guests to see. Here are aContinue reading “Brazil – orchids”
Dia de los Muertos and insects
I have been intrigued with Dia de los Muertos since I first leaned about it in the 1970s. This celebration is the perfect mix of ancient Mexican beliefs and Christian beliefs. One year in the early 1990s I was at Palenque, Mexico for the celebration and it was amazing. But now, thinking about death theContinue reading “Dia de los Muertos and insects”
Brazil: Birds, Food and People
I’m sitting here writing this on Halloween in Ann Arbor, but thinking about the last days in Brazil which was two weeks ago. Surucua Tanager. on our final day of birding before heading back to the USA. Sayaca Tanager. White-winged Becard. Fawn-breasted Tanager. Golden-crowned Warbler. Pinnated Bittern – our last bird of the trip. OverContinue reading “Brazil: Birds, Food and People”
Ubatuba, Brazil: Day-3
Here’s a Black-collared Hawk from a few days earlier. It got a red-bellied piranha as an afternoon snack. Golden-chevroned Tanager at the feeders at the lodge. Green-headed Tanager. Black-chinned Gnateater on the boardwalk trail at our lodge. After doing the boardwalk trail we headed off to another site that was extremely birdy. Blackish Rail, upContinue reading “Ubatuba, Brazil: Day-3”
Michael's Place 