Happy New Year!

Snowy Owl by John James Audubon

Snowy Owls in Chicago

Photo: Chicago Tonight

There is an “invasion” of snowy owls in Chicago this winter. Check out the Chicago Tonight map of recent snowy owl sightings: http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2017/12/18/map-snowy-owl-sightings-chicago-area

Yorkshire Wassail

We've been a-while a-wandering
Amongst the leaves so green.
But now we come a wassailing
So plainly to be seen,

For it's Christmas time, when we travel far and near;
May God bless you and send you a happy New Year.

Red-bellied woodpecker

A red-bellied woodpecker on our feeder today: http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-bellied-woodpecker

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Icy Lake Michigan

Ice on the lakeside at La Rabida Children's Hospital this evening.

Photos: Marge Ishmael

Nature Conservancy in Chicago

Video of nature conservancy stewarding in my local park:
https://www.facebook.com/thenatureconservancy/videos/vb.8057376739/10155944632281740/?type=2&theater

Jackson Park, Chicago

Ice Hockey - most demanding team sport

Hockey players are the toughest. Study says that only boxing is more demanding than ice hockey. A recent ESPN study concluded that ice hockey is the most demanding team sport in the world.... Boxing weighed in with a top mark of 72.375 but right behind was hockey at 71.750.

 

Snowy woods of N.W. Indiana

Spending the weekend in the snowy woods of Northwest Indiana.

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Meanwhile, the world burns!

RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian protesters and Israeli soldiers clashed today with some demonstrators burning American flags and posters of President Trump a day after he sided with Israel by announcing U.S. support of Jerusalem as its capital.

Wexford Carol

Wexford Carol is a popular Irish Christmas song dating back to the 12th century…so you could say it has stood the test of time.  I particularly like this version of it. 

 

Santa Ana winds

Ferocious Santa Ana winds in Southern California have whipped up explosive wildfires.
https://twitter.com/WLV_investor/status/938410022538682368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2017%2Fdec%2F06%2Flos-angeles-california-fire-interstate-405 

Oceans under the greatest threat

"It is now clear our actions are having a significant impact on the world's oceans. (They) are under threat now as never before in human history." - David Attenborough  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/05/oceans-under-greatest-threat-in-history-warns-sir-david-attenborough

Holiday - Sway - Apple

Apple have a habit of coming up with good ads.  This one with a soundtrack by Sam Smith.

Small Business Saturday (2)

Supporting my local shops on Small Business Saturday: 57^th Street Books, Freehling Pot & Pan, Sprocket & Stone Pet Shop. 

Photos: Marge Ishmael

Small Business Saturday

– Only about 33.6% of the revenue from national chains is reinvested into the community, which is very low compared to the 64.8% return from local businesses.

– A study in Austin, Texas found that $100 spent at a local bookstore produced $45 worth of local economic activity, and $100 at a chain bookstore brought back only $13.

– National chains often bring loss of employment. The opening of a Wal-Mart reduces retail employment by an average of 150 jobs in the county of its location.

– Local businesses are usually established in city centers, instead of on the margins of communities like large chains, so they contribute less to pollution, congestion, habitat loss and urban sprawl.

–  If the people of an average American city were to shift 10% of their spending from chains to local businesses, it would bring an additional $235 million per year to the community’s economy.

Black Friday

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Avoiding the crowded shopping malls on Black Friday and heading for the woods at Coffee Creek Watershed Preserve. http://www.coffeecreekwc.org

Zimbabwe situation

I remember the 1980s when Mugabe was lionized as a great leader and champion of freedom and democracy in the early days of Zimbabwean independence. Yet another case of “absolute power corrupts absolutely”. Twenty years ago, the country with natural resources like gold and platinum was one of the most developed in Africa, with an envied infrastructure and education system. Now the economy is in desperate trouble and almost everywhere shows evidence of a chronic lack of private or public investment, with the exception of the booming Victoria Falls tourist area.   I’d like to know how much they (Robert and "Gucci Grace" Mugabe) have squirreled away in overseas bank accounts.  And will Robert Mugabe’s successor be any less corrupt? Let's hope so for the sake of the struggling Zimbabwean people.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-42055726

Jackson Park

My friend Jane with my dog, Poppy, in Jackson Park at the Inner Harbor.

Photos: Marge Ishmael

Midwest Fall Sunset

Photo: Marge Ishmael

First snow of the season

Sugar Maple leaves taken by surprise by today's snowfall.

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Sugar Maple

The view from my office/study window - our sugar maple in all her fall glory!

Photos: Marge Ishmaael

Good News

This one speaks for itself.

New Apple Store

Checking out the new glass-walled Apple store @ 401 N. Michigan Avenue, designed by Foster and Partners of London.  I like the way it cascades down to the Chicago River.

Photo: Marge Ishmael

 

Wood ducks and a turtle

Wood ducks and a turtle at Bobolink Meadow just now. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Wood_Duck/id

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turtle

Sugar Maple

Our sugar maple is finally turning orange and red.  Late this year due to unseasonably hot weather in September and early October.

Cormorant

At Wooded Isle in Chicago: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cormorant

Take a knee

German team Hertha Berlin (Hertha BSC) linked arms and took a knee, mirroring professional athletes in the U.S. taking a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial injustice.

And a good piece on the Quartz website regarding the NFL players who are "taking a knee":
https://qz.com/1102238/americans-can-take-a-knee-during-the-national-anthem-thanks-to-the-jehovahs-witnesses/?utm_source=qzfb

To my mind, the United States is a nation founded on the promise and power of dissent and these players are exercising their first amendment right to peaceful protest.

California wildfires

Satellite image of Santa Rosa wildfires

Californians describe escaping wildfires:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/11/us/california-fires-evacuations.html

Stay humble

Writing's on the Wall

English singer-songwriter, Sam Smith, keeps appearing on American TV.  When I looked up his Best Original Song Oscar and Golden Globe winner on Youtube, I saw that it has over 170 million views. I guess I'm not the only person that likes his voice:

Wildfires

Photo: Chicago Tribune

Sad to watch the wildfires that have ravaged California wine country this week.  I fondly remember a trip to the town of Santa Rosa and surrounding wineries that are now destroyed. With more devastating wildfires ravaging California, are we willing to surrender the American West to climate change? http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/ct-california-wildfires-20171011-story.html

Victoria and Abdul

Hoping to see this new movie: https://www.facebook.com/victoriaandabdul/videos/vb.1476136215745996/2066978623328416/?type=2&theater

What is racism?

Flycatcher at 47th Street

My friend took this photo of a flycatcher on our walk two days ago at Burnham Nature Sanctuary.  There are over 36 species of flycatcher in North America. http://www.birds-of-north-america.net/flycatchers.html

Photo: Jane Masterson

Swainson's Thrush

A swainson's thrush on today's walk. http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/swainsons-thrush

Photos: Marge Ishmael

Jackson Park Birders/Obama Presidential Center

Chicago Tribune article discusses the potential impact on migratory birds in Jackson Park: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-jackson-park-angry-birders-met-20170804-story.html

Above is an older video about Jackson Park and the impact on migratory birds.

Sweet Joe Pye Weed

Pinky-purple wildflowers (Sweet Joe Pye weed) growing in our meadow. http://www.ufseeds.com/Joe-Pye-Weed-Seeds.item

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Garter Snake

Garter snake in our yard today: http://www.snake-removal.com/illinois.html

Photo: Mark Oreglia

Prairie Blazingstar

Excited to find a Prairie Blazingstar in the meadow just now. http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/prairie/plantx/pr_blazingstarx.htm

Photo: Marge Ishmael

An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power

In select movie theaters from tomorrow.

Heron sculpture

Cool heron sculpture in our local park. Good use of a dead tree stump. https://www.dnainfo.com/chicago/20150812/hyde-park/chainsaw-artist-create-sculptures-from-two-stumps-nichols-park

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Hollyhocks

Hollyhocks at Ray School on my morning walk. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcea

Herons

Herons feeding their young today!

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Great blue heron

Always excited to spot great blue herons and this one had a massive nest above it. http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-blue-heron

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Morels and arugula

Hyde Park Farmers Market began its summer season today.  The $20 morel mushrooms were a wee bit too expensive, so I bought a $1 bunch of arugula! Glad to see the return of Smits Farms: http://smitsfarms.com/farmers-markets.html

Memorial Day

It's Memorial Day and this is a photo of the Normandy American Cemetery in memory of over 9,300 U.S. servicemen who died in WW2 D-Day invasion and subsequent missions.   

Memorial Day, originally known as Decoration Day, was conceived after the Civil War as a way to honor the Union's war dead, with Southern states setting aside separate days to honor fallen Confederate soldiers. By the early 20th century, the holiday had evolved to honor all military members who died in service.

Rhododendron

One of my rhododendrons has gone crazy with blooms this year. Last year it had three blooms; this year over thirty. Chicago soils tend to be alkaline and rhododendrons prefer acidity. I'm wondering if it has something to do with the mild winter we had. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhododendron

Photo: Marge Ishmael

Black crowned night heron

Saw this black-crowned night heron on our walk in Jackson Park this afternoon. http://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/black-crowned-night-heron

Photos: Marge Ishmael