Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (November 30)

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading.





page 22 - If in doubt, turn left, was his motto, so he headed north a mile and then pulled over and thought. Where would a guy like Seth Duncan go for dinner with his friends?

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Week Forty-Eight - 4 to Go


Jack Reacher alive and kicking brings justice to a small Nebraska farm town. But not before Jack's survival skills are stretched to the limits.

Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks in 2010

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (November 23)

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading.





p. 104 - I always liked making lists. It gave me the illusion of control.

Monday, November 22, 2010

Week Forty-Seven - 5 to Go


Patterson has his MoJo back with a little help from his friend, Roughan. Fast read. Characters OK. Bits of action and suspense. Entertaining.

Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks in 2010

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (November 16)

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading.



p 241 ... only 10 percent of our communication is represented by words we say. Another 30 percent is represented by our sounds, and 60 percent by our body language.
... only unsatisfied need ... motivates.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Auburn-Fleming Trail - Bird Tour


Trail - Facing North

Late this afternoon before going to the Hong Kong for dinner I decided to walk the Auburn-Fleming Trail. Coupling my curiosity if there were birds still along the pathway plus my desire to work up an appetite I arrived at the Dunning Avenue trailhead around 4 PM.

At the onset the trail was leaf-covered standing water. Staying on the edge headed south. Was almost immediately met by a fellow and his two dogs - the one unleashed was Mouse. Next I encountered two girls who were walking causally along while smoking.

Just south of the first bridge my attention was drawn to a large barren tree on the west of the trail.


There was a flurry activity within its branches. I observed 2 robins, a Blue Jay, 3 Chickadees, and a cardinal. All these birds would eventually fly to a nearby berry bush.


The lighting was not very cooperative and the photos I took were poor.

Cardinal

Chickadee taking flight


After crossing the second bridge there was an orange snow fence. Beyond the clasped fencing to the left was a run-off pool. My movement put up a Great Blue Heron. The heron flew south over the harvested corn field.

Reaching the end of the trail there were 17 crows in a tall tree. They flew off as I approached.

Returning to my starting point with dusk coming in I encountered no new birds.


Reference:
The Auburn-Fleming Trail
Map

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Annual Osage-Orange Road Trip

At the breakfast table Joan and I decided to make our annual trek for osage-oranges and rose hips. On this unseasonal Sunday we left the driveway around 3 PM. Taking an alternative route down Perrine Avenue and around the back of the Finger Lakes Mall we crossed Rts. 5 & 20 and proceeded to Union Springs.

The Mill Pond on Rt. 90 was calm with only 6 Mallards swimming in the southeast corner.

Factory Street pond was also quiet. Two Gadwalls and 4 Mallards were gliding under the bird box.


Cayuga Lake appeared chilly under steel-gray skies as we rode into Ledyard. Entering the village of Aurora we drove slowly pass the Morehouse residence.


Joan noticed the windfall of osage-oranges in the culvert. Turning around we went back to the Osage-Orange tree and parked on the shoulder of Rt. 90.


Here we found the mother lode. This year's crop of osage-oranges was plentiful and huge. We filled several Wegmans bags.


With our cache on board we once again did a Uturn and headed into the village. Two parties of coeds and their families were standing on the porch of the Aurora Inn. All parking spots on Main Street were taken.

After passing the Wells College boathouse we took the road to Long Point State Park.

First we pulled by the gatehouse and gathered two bags of rose hips. This was a difficult task. Last year's branches had not been trimmed back so Joan and I received numerous scratches as we cut out the red berries.

Near the rose hips were several galls.


Also there was an abandoned bird's nest.


Then we drove into the park and along the shoreline.


Heading back to Aurora we turned east on to Poplar Ridge Road (County Rt. 43A). Along the highway we observed Wild Turkeys, 12 in the first flock and 11 in the second group. Turning left at the Hazard Library in Poplar Ridge we headed north on to Rt. 34B. After driving through Scipio we pulled adjacent to another osage-orange tree. The crop here was not as wholesome of bountiful as the Aurora stop.



With our booty in the back of the car we meander our way home passing the Fleming Firehouse, Emerson Park, Dickman Farms, and Hoopes Park.

For reference: Osage Orange - Revisited

Week Forty-Six - 6 to Go


A pleasant read, full of Parker's wit and charm. Spenser as always delivers. However, the lackluster plotting, too much Susan and Pearl, and the absence of Hawk left me wanting.

Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks in 2010

Tuesday, November 09, 2010

Week Forty-Five - 7 to Go



Hardback cover with the crystal horse - reason for picking up the book. Storyline at times seemed to shatter but Francis' conclusion produced a well crafted mystery.

Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks in 2010

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (November 2)

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by Should Be Reading.





page 45 - Going back through the paper, he found photos of Baker when she was alive, as well as crime-scene shots and several autopsy photos. The autopsy photos didn't do anything but gross him out.

Monday, November 01, 2010

Week Forty-Four - 8 to Go


The Lucas Davenport series seems to have taken on more of a procedural approach. However, the protagonists are still smart and they catch the bad guys because the bad guys are still dumb.

Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks in 2010