Archive for the ‘Just For Fun’ Category

I kinda forgot to mention that I was asked to be one of the “featured blogs” at Nature Blog Network a few weeks ago. Many fine blogs have been interviewed at Nature Blog Network, and I felt honored to have been asked to participate. For any friends, blogging buddies, or family members who have not read my “feature,” please go on over to Nature Blog Network and have a look.

Thanks to everyone who has stopped by for one or for many visits. I hope you’ve enjoyed the thoughts and photos as much as I have enjoyed sharing them.

What do you see?

I haven’t yet mentioned the weekend I spent with my sister in Austin, TX, where we visited a park along the San Gabriel River. That was the weekend of 9/19/09 – the big International Coastal Cleanup Day. I’ll have more about that later, after I attend a few more cleanups before the end of October. Meanwhile, I’ve traveled to several places in a short period of time and am brimming with images and thoughts to share.  Now I’m in Riverside, Missouri, looking forward to tromping the trails at several parks and a nearby wildlife refuge. I’ll keep this short, and offer one of my favorite kinds of images to ponder.

In this image I first see a human hand, grasping something between thumb and index finger. Then my mind’s eye morphs the aged tree limb into a turtle head. What do you see? Enjoy.

Sometimes I see things in photos that aren’t really there…but I have fun with the illusion. Sometimes I take a really bad picture that I decide to keep because it’s fun in a way I hadn’t expected. I have 3 such gems for you – enjoy!

What do you see? Read the rest of this entry »

I am pleased to announce the opening of the Birder’s Lounge Online Store! Our initial offering is a selection of bird-themed coffee mugs.

I want to focus first on the importance of choosing Shade-grown, Organic, & Fair-Trade certified coffees. Shade-grown coffee comes from plants that grow under the canopy of larger trees. This is the coffee plant’s natural habitat, and these habitats support all kinds of wildlife, including birds. Out of the 600 species of North American birds, 340 are neotropical migrants. This means that more than half of the birds we love here in North America are dependent on habitats like those of traditional coffee plantations.¹

Organic coffee is grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Fair-Trade certified coffee means that the coffee beans are purchased from farmers at a fair price, enabling them to continue growing coffee beans in environmentally sound ways. It also helps these farmers compete with the coffee growers who cut down entire forests in order to speed the growth of coffee plants, to the detriment of the environment and all of the creatures who depend on the forest habitat.

Another bonus for purchasing only shade/organic/fair coffee is that they taste better!

I have sampled coffees from several roasters who exclusively offer shade/organic/fair coffees. Let me say this, I’d take that job any day! The very best roaster I found is Grounds for Change. Their commitment to providing only the best shade/organic/fair coffees is unrivaled in my estimation. They won the taste test, hands down!

You can learn much, much more about all of this at a blog that I subscribe to, Coffee & Conservation.

I hope you will enjoy a sumptuous cup of coffee from Grounds for Change, in a Birder’s Lounge coffee mug!