A Young Red Tail Hawk Caught a Squirrel – Science – 24

I have posted A Red Tail Hawk in Our Neighborhood; you may read the previous post: A Red Tail Hawk in Our Neighborhood – Science – 20

Image 1 – Red tail hawk caught squirrels.

We could see hawk eat a squirrel on the ground at previous post. Now, you see the hawk hold the “victim” and fly to secure places (Images 1 and 2) somewhere on the branch of tree.

A Red Tail Hawk will perch in a tree, usually a big and old tree, waiting for the perfect opportunity to grab a squirrel and other small animals.

The predator will poke out the eyes so the victim can't run. I know it's nature but We may don't want to see the cruelty.

Image 2- Hawk flying with victim

My neighbors believe that Red Tail Hawk together with other predators are able to control rat population in our neighborhood.

Image 3- A predator sitting on the tree

Some other small critters consumed by Red Tail Hawk in our near by areas, just for examples are:

- reptiles, include snakes
- rabbits
- voles
- frogs and toads

Have you seen this predator in nature?

# Previous postings:

- Grass in Our Yard during Hot Summer
- Green Bean and Papaya Delight – Food 4
- Mental Awareness and Vaccination – Healthy Life 10
- A Bouquet from Combinations of Flowers and Vegetables

Using of Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer for Killing Virus - Part 2 – Science 21

You may read previous part (Part 1):

- Using of Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer for Killing Virus - Part 1 – Science 21

Image 1- Cordless sprayer, sold by Amazon 

Hotels have promised to sanitize their rooms and areas to make sure free from SARS-CoV-2.

Much more hotels sanitized their rooms nowadays. Since the pandemic, these hotels include:

- Westin
- Renaissance
- Sheraton
- the Ritz-Carlton

Image 2- Room at Westin Hotel, New Orlean, Pleasant Holidays

Price depends on brand, weight, size and easiness to use. I saw at Amazon price of Cordless sprayer are:

- the cheapest price was US$ 27.88
- medium price US$ 59.95
- the most expensive was US$ 149.98

Image 3- A cat, illustration only

In term of price, the medium price US$ 59.95 was favorite one for customers. It may due to its reasonable price and quality.

They use this machine with standard disinfectants ruled by “the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention” (CDC) and “the World Health Organization.” (WHO).

If you are planning to travel in the near future, hope, you will feel safe to stay in hotels.

# Previous Postings:

- Do You Know a Sign of Bipolar Disorder? - Healthy Life 8
- Oyster is One of Favorite Seafood in Louisiana – Food 2
- Is Strawberry Greek Yogurt Good For Health? - Healthy Life 9
- Do You Know about Golden Kiwis Fruit? - Food 3

Are Oak Trees Good for Firewood? - Nature 41

When electric blackout due to winter storms, I know some of my neighbors use woods for heating.

Image 1- Cut woods for free

However, I don’t know how many people use firewood in my neighborhood, city or state.

No state law to regulate cutting tree and using it for firewood as long as the trees belong to individual.

It is prohibited or at least need permission to cut down a tree in the state or federal conservation areas.

Sure, there are local ordinances to protect specific trees.

Image 2- A little tree in public area

Image 3- The commercial firewood

The specific trees to be protected may include:

- historic trees
- heritage trees

An Oak is not included as a protected tree in our state, hence, commonly used as firewood.

Some of our neighbors familiar with woods of red oak, it is because the woods are considered strong, hence, it is believed to produce the best heat.

Do you ever use firewood?

# Previous postings:

- When do Pine Trees of our Neighborhood Produce Nuts? - Nature 9
- Could Positive Thinking Lead to Live Longer? - Healthy Life 6
- Family Saga and Meaning to be a Good Person – Part 2 - Reading 1
- Summer, be aware with Traveler's Diarrhea – Healthy Life 7

Simple Homemade Coconut Oil glazed Beef Jerky – Part 2 - Food 24

You may read previous post (Part 1):

- Simple Homemade Coconut Oil glazed Beef Jerky – Part 1- Food 24

Image 1- Homemade beef jerky

Then I pounded and cut the slices of beef, glazed the slices with the virgin coconut oil.

Next step, quick dehydrating. I heat them on the skillet until the side look brown then turned to another side.

Do it again and again, until both sides of beef slices look brown.

In a bigger bowl, I mixed sliced red onions, sliced jalapenos, and sliced green tomatoes, then I stirred them with virgin coconut oil.

Image 2- Tomatoes, illustration only

Image 3- Virgin coconut oil in the jar.

Afterwards, I added the sliced meat from the skillet into the bowl, mixed all together.

The final step, I took a photo (photo above, please see Imge 1) of my cooking before they're gone :)

What do you think about my quick and simple beef jerky?

I would like to say this is a special beef jerky because I like the taste of this virgin coconut oil.

# Previous postings:

- When do Pine Trees of our Neighborhood Produce Nuts? - Nature 9
- Could Positive Thinking Lead to Live Longer? - Healthy Life 6
- Family Saga and Meaning to be a Good Person – Part 2 - Reading 1
- Summer, be aware with Traveler's Diarrhea – Healthy Life 7

Sweet Tangerine at Backyard – Food 26

We have grown two Tangerine trees in our backyard. Luckily one grow well, and provides us with fresh fruit every year.

Image 1- Tangerine fruit on the branches

Another tree died at very young age, about 3 years old when it starts to produce “little” fruit. It died due to diseases; we guessed caused by fungi diseases several years ago.

Many of our neighbors have Tangerine, they grow the fruit either in front yards or backyards

Tangerine is seasonal fruit, start to ripe from October to early January in our neighborhood, and even in our state, Louisiana. 

Image 2- Some fruit on branches

In case of our Tangerine, we may pick the fruit about this time or second week of October.

Image 3- A fruit, ready to be picked.

Then, the fruit starts to fall down one by one in late November or early December when temperature dropping.

Image 4- Raccoon is one of critters consumes our fruit

Fruit may not reach January of next year. We are lucky enough if we found one or two fruit on branches in the cold month.

Unfortunately, we have at least two critters as competitors to consume our fruit, they are:

- raccoon
- and squirrels

Finally, have you tasted Tangerine?

# Previous postings:

- Wild Animals and Birds in my Backyard – Nature 8a
- Flash Flood at my Neighborhood - Nature 8b
- First Important Step to Know Mental Illness - Healthy Life 5
- Family Saga and Meaning to be a Good Person – Part 1 - Reading 1

Canadian Geese Live Permanently in Neighborhood – Part 1- Science 23

Yes, a Canadian goose is one of migratory birds, they visit our city when freezing temperature happen in the North of America, include Canada.

Fig 01- A Lonely Canadian geese

However, at least, since 10 years ago, I saw several of them stay all seasons, hence, it could be mean that these geese live “permanently.”

We find this critter in the lakes, especially urban lakes of our state or cities, and even at our neighborhood.

I just wonder that why some geese have chosen to live in the southern states such as Louisiana, Alabama Texas or Florida?

Image 2- Canadian geese hang out at our neighborhood

Image 3- Ducklings feel comfort

Temporary answer that they might be able to adjust to warmer temperature or other reasons.

As reported by “digbr” (2016), some reasonable reasons are:

- availability of food
- decent habitats
- many lakes and ponds are available for nesting during breeding seasons.
- less predators
- migration makes geese stress.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Can Six Dolar Drug Kill Covid 19 Virus? - Healthy Life 3
- Hot Summer in the USA – Temperature above 40 Celsius degree – Nature 6
- Which One Has Vitamin C more - Red Bell Pepper or Orange? - Healthy Life 4
- Alligator in the Nearby Neighborhood - Nature 7

Fruits with flavored chia in cups – Part 1 – Food 25

Del Monte and Dole are very familiar brands for either fresh or packaged fruits or vegetables.

Image 1 - Fruits and chia seeds in easy-to-carry cups

For tidbits fruits on the go, I prefer Dole. The most I like is tidbit tropical fruits in small plastic cups.

What I do?

I empty the cup into the glass and add some ice. This is my way keep hydrate in the cool weather

When I picked what I need to fill the Food Bank, I also bought fruits, either in the cans or in the cups.

Image 2- Grape, just for illustration

I saw the bigger package of chunk fruits in the dark black packages with contrast color of fruits.

Image 3- Two cups of fruit and Chia

There is a series of Del Monte Fruits and Chia. The size available is 2 - 7 oz.cups.

The price depends on cup sizes and number of cups in the wraps or in the boxes (big number of cups):

+ US$ 2.78 for two cups of 7 OZ size.
+ Sure, we will have a good deal if we buy 1 box with more than 24 cups.

# To be continued to Part 2

## Previous postings:

- Can Scientists Create Glowing Plants? - Science 4
- White Azaleas in the City Garden – Nature 5
- The Amphibians Near Extinct due to Fungus Disease – Science 5
- What is Coronasomnia? - Healthy Life 2

Note: We consume packages or can foods during emergency times such as during storm, hurricane seasons