Hooded Orioles

Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus) male perched on the twig of a Cape Honeysuckle (Tecomaria capensis, a native of southern Africa). Rancho Bernardo, California; March 2023.

The Hooded Orioles (Icterus cucullatus) have arrived in Southern California, which is in their breeding range. We’ve heard their chatty sounds for a week or two around our backyard now and on Friday, I finally managed to get a good picture of the couple (albeit individually) as it was coming through for some nectar snacks. πŸ™‚

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Kumquat 2023

A slice of buttered toast with home-made Jumquat jam on a wooden plate; March 2023.

First taste of our kumquat jam, freshly made in March 2023. Shuwen did all the hard work, harvesting, slicing the kumquat and removing the seeds. All I had to do was follow a recipe (link; she said this requires German precisionπŸ˜…), give it an occasional stir, and fill it into jars at the end.

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Field Rotation β€” Tiefflug

Maybe it’s odd to have a chill-out/downbeat track in my “songs to play loud” selection… but there’s something about Field Rotation’s “Tiefflug” β€” it’s not just catchy, but rather addictive, to me. How it creeps into my brain can only be cured by playing it loud. πŸ™‚

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Orange rose, Balboa Park, San Diego, California; September 2011.

“What you dislike in another may be something you cannot see in yourself. If you are honest, no longer deceiving yourself, you may see that you also suffer, and cause others suffering. Then there is humility. Then compassion. Then calm. The aversion, anger, hate and ranting ceases.” (Unknown)

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When Did Dining Become So Shitty?

Three recent dining experiences, made wonderful by “streamlined” (non-existent) service and modern technology. What used to be regular restaurant service has effectively been switched to an “order at the counter” setup, riddled with pitfalls.

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