Monday, 5 June 2023

“Let's go” and “Let's play” - Part 2 - Alzheimer's 13

You may read previous posting (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : “Let's go” and “Let's play” - Part 1 - Alzheimer's 13



Image 1- Pots of little plants, illustration

Another one loves to reach a smart phone to get daily quote from apps or just read new messages from someones.

We have favorite friends with Alzheimer's who have favorite words. They always say these words to answer our questions or just a sentence that they want to say or let’s know.

Let's call them Mrs Anderson and Mrs Brown, both of them with wheelchairs, eighties year old, both could not recognize a single person but they still know their name.



Image 2- Flower, blooming

Mrs Anderson still able to talk, the words clear, but has no meaning or no purposes at all.

Every time she said something to us or ask something to us, whatever the answers she will spontaneous move her wheelchair and said, “Let's go!”



Image 3- A room, illustration only

# To be continued to Part 3

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Saturday, 3 June 2023

Nesting of Mississippi Kites in the Areas – Nature 77

Some people might be wrong to distinguish the different between Bald Eagles and Mississippi Kites.



Image 1- Several Mississippi Kites

Actually, the simple difference that Bald eagles have large, hooked yellow beaks that are unmistakable.

Well, a group of Mississippi Kites must be nesting in the area. This is my second time seeing them within a few weeks.

Nowadays, we may observe Bald Eagle living nearby rivers, lakes, marshes to urban areas (The Rainbow Before Evening : Are Bald Eagles not Endangered Species Anymore? - Nature 50)



Image 2- Empty nest, illustration only

In respect to food source, as you might know the Bald Eagle consumes on small animals such as rabbits, snakes, waterfowl and fish.

In case of Mississippi Kites they mostly live on “Crop-damaging insects” such as cicadas and grasshoppers. However, they have been known to eat small mammals too.



Image 3- A single Mississippi Kite

Have you seen Mississippi Kites in your areas?

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Thursday, 1 June 2023

Useful of Weeds and Wild Flowers in the yards – Part 2 - Science 36

You may read the previous post (Part 1):

- The Rainbow Before Evening : Useful of Weeds and Wild Flowers in the yards – Part 1 - Science 36



Image 1- Weed climbs a tree and fences, illustration

The weather in the last Summer was uncertain: too hot and then flood from heavy rain.

Flowers and my four month avocado tree dried out, I couldn't save it and the fig tree is dying.

Some fruits I have never picked up due to some squirrels and wild birds love to eat them.

Back to my yards, I have planned to clean and clear it form weeds and wild flowers.



Image 2- Weeds climb fences, illustration only

But I think back about sustainable environment as Christine mentioned in her posting (Please see at: Important for pollinators).



Image 3- Weeds and grass at the corner of city, illustration only

# To be continued to Part 3

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Tuesday, 30 May 2023

Unidentified Bird at the Neighborhood – Nature 76

We just have a visitor, quite difficult to identify. Several friends have different opinions about the species of the bird.



Image 1- A Finch on the feeder for hummingbird?

Some guesses the bird species are following:

- a house sparrow
- a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak
- a finch (a red finch or a house finch)
- a cardinal or a female cardinal

Then, as always, we search through GoogleID, the machine offer two possibilities: first, the Northern cardinal and the second is a house finch. I think the best guess is a house finch.



Image 2- Flowers, just illustration

It is because the finch has “larger beak” compared to other birds, but smaller compared to Rose-breasted Grosbeak.



Image 3- Sky, Just for illustration

You may read about Rose-breasted Grosbeak at previous posts:



Image 4- A finch? Look enjoy on the feeder.

Can you identify what is the bird species? (please see images 1 and 3)

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Sunday, 28 May 2023

Fertilizer Price is Going Down Recently

We always buy several packs of fertilizer for our plants in the yards from Home Deport or Walmart stores every Spring and Summer.



Image 1- Fertilizers, sold in the Walmart store.

As far as we remembered, the price was expensive last year, and we bought less than usual.

This year, like other goods, we feel that the fertilizer price starts to decrease since early January.

About last month, depend on brands and fertilizer types, we believe the price is decreasing between 30% to 60%.

We are quite happy, and we try to buy amount of fertilizers to equal amount like previous years. 



Image 2- Trees and bushes, illustration

Our favorite brand is “Miracle Grow” with potting mix type. It is said this fertilizer is sterilized, hence no pathogens (no fungus and no diseases).



Image 3- Myrtle flowers, illustration

Based on our experienced, this kind of fertilizer is good for all plants. Excellent for indoor or outdoor plants.



Image 4- A little flowerbed

In case for farming, we saw from internet that price index for fertilizer is down more than 45% compared to last year. Price index was 293.73 last year, and only 155.97 for this month.



Image 5- Different kinds of fertilizers

Do you grow plants? What type of fertilizer do you like?

# Previous postings:

Friday, 26 May 2023

Should We Install Solar Panels in Our Roof? - Part 1 - Science 38

Renewable resources for energy such as wind and sun are getting popular in our state, and might be in many states in the USA right now.



Image 1- Solar panels, sold at Home Depot

There are plenty reasons why people eager to use these resources, one of them is stable prices.

In case of solar energy, our neighbors consider several benefits to install solar panels on their rooftops are:

- federal incentive of tax credit
- additional the tax credit incentive is provided by some states.
- increase housing value
- and saving electricity cost for years



Image 2- Roses, just for illustration

Louisiana state does not give additional tax credit, but provide property tax exemption. Let’s say, we as Louisiana residents will get:

- 30% tax credit from federal government of solar panels cost.
- excluded added value of property tax.



Image 3- A house with solar panels at our neighborhood.

# To be continued to Part 2

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Wednesday, 24 May 2023

Do you Love Tomatoes? - Science 37

If you love tomatoes, there is good news for you. It is because science proves that tomatoes have several benefits.



Image 1- Tomatoes in the bowl

Just to let you know, as reported by Marina Savchenko (2021: What Is the Most Popular Fruit in the World? Top 5 Fruits Ranked) that tomato is the most popular fruit in the world. Other 4 most popular fruit are:

- apples
- bananas
- oranges and mangoes.

Moreover, based on several scientific journals that tomatoes have at least 4 benefits. What are they?



Image 2- Sliced of tomatoes.

The 4 four benefits are:

1. Contain more Potassium (American Journal of the College of Cardiology).
2. Reducing risks of sun damaged skin (Scientific Report)
3. Our body observes iron effectively (Center for Biotechnology)
4. Our wound will be heal faster (International Journal of Surgery)



Image 3- The Homemade tomato sauce

Do you like to consume tomatoes?

# Previous postings:

The Beautiful Bright Green Luna Moth - Nature 148

We saw a beautiful bright green critter it is called the bright green Luna moth. The grub making its way through our yard. Image 01 - A Luna...