Thursday, February 8, 2018

Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoo

What's the best thing about a new year? Not even bothering to make a blogging resolution because I doubt my ability to keep up with it. Meh, that's me and what can I do but love me?

Anywho, I felt like continuing a topic from the last post. The yellow-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus), native to southeast Australia, is today's topic. I saw a pair when my dad, sister, and I were exploring Wentworth Falls in the Blue Mountains. I happened to look up and saw them flying overhead.

How did I know what they were despite having never been to Australia? I bought a bird book, a nice hefty one that has all the bird species identified in Australia and Tasmania.  When I saw the birds, my first thought was "Macaws!" because they looked like small macaws. Immediately after that thought came, I remembered that macaws are only found in Central and South America. I then dug into my trusty Australian bird guide, and, by using the range maps and distribution notes, I pegged them as yellow-tailed black cockatoos.

Thankfully, they're listed as a species of least concern. However, like all parrots, they are always faced with deforestation. Cockatoos feed on grubs, seeds, and the occasional fruit. Like their cousins, the sulfur-crested cockatoo, they are beautiful, noisy, and dramatic. As all parrots are.
Image result for yellow tail cockatoo
(https://www.frasercoastchronicle.com.au/news/whiporie-cockatoos-captured-flight/2416873/#/0)

Image result for yellow tail cockatoo
(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow-tailed_black_cockatoo)

Monday, March 13, 2017

Cardinals

My favorite bird is the Northern Cardinal. Why? It was my grandma's favorite bird, and every time I see one it just reminds me of her.

She passed away August 2008 while I was in the Missionary Training Center (a place were Mormon missionaries go to learn how to teach and the basics of the language they will spend 1.5-2 years preaching). Yes, I miss her sometimes.

A heavy post but hey, I just got back from an amazing trip to Virginia and I saw a couple of them.

Cheers everyone!

Image result for northern cardinal
(Picture: http://www.nenature.com/NorthernCardinal.htm)

Thursday, February 16, 2017

Throwback Thursday the First

I've always wanted to do one of these, but I'm gonna start off with an old poem I wrote a long time ago and I'm still quite proud of. Here's to a writing prompt given to me by Jenni Bringhurst, my Elvish Pirate Gypsy Minion Fiend:

Lacking Stairwells
Written January 16, 2008

Writing Prompt:
Dark Stairwells.
Sorry.
No idea.

Head full of Chemistry.
Not so happy.
Dark Stairwell.
Empty.

No lights.
All being used for Chemistry.
For aromatic compounds.
And ortho-para directing.
And ring activators.

Need light
To form radicals.
Need heat
To form compounds.

Sorry.
No idea.
Still synthesizing
What to do
With this benzene.

Friday, February 10, 2017

The Wizard's Seal Part I: Samurai and Seers


In the famous words of someone or other, "Eureka!"

Click on the link below to buy this piece of work that was 10 years in the making in paperback or ebook through Amazon and Kindle.

The Wizard's Seal Part 1

A big shout out to my artist, Mandi Davies, for making this awesome. You can see her other work at https://www.facebook.com/flygirldavies. Click on her link under "Social Media Hangouts."

Thursday, February 9, 2017

My heart was in the right place

Well, obviously a year and a month ago I made a resolution to blog more...And that didn't quite happen.

But in other news!

I finally self-published my novel, The Wizard's Seal!!!  WAHOOOO!!!

The Wizard's Seal: Samurai and Seers will be available to buy through Amazon and kindle. So you all know, it's the first part. I split it into two books to make it more manageable for you lovely readers out there. *blows kisses and strawberries* I hope everyone enjoys it. I did work very hard on it.

Now the next big thing is tackle Part II in editing (already a nightmare) and start a new book (completely stumped but I'll push through). So in the famous words of a bouncing tiger,

"TTFN!!!"