Radically Retired

Category: Nature

  • Well Hello, STEVE!

    Well Hello, STEVE!

    For two days last week, Aurora was extremely strong and extended as far south as central Texas (almost four hundred miles north of us here in the RGV)

    One phenomenon that can accompany extreme solar storms, is known as STEVE – a term coined in 2016 in Alberta Canada (our neighbouring province).

    STEVE is an acronym for Strong Thermal Emission Velocity Enhancement and usually appears as a diagonal thin band of purple with sometimes green accompaniment across the night sky on a night when Miss Aurora is showing off farther north.

    I like to think “Big Steve” visited us last week.

    My nephew (a geologist) passed my photo along to his friend (a geo-scientist) who concurred that this was indeed STEVE.

    Below are photos of Aurora (from both nights) that our grandson sent to us from his home in central Saskatchewan, Canada.

    The first three were Tuesday night and the last three were from Wednesday night.

    I’m so pleased, that at age 19, he appreciates nature as much as he does.

  • Confusion in the Plant World

    Confusion in the Plant World

    This past summer saw an unusual amount of rain here in the Rio Grande Valley.

    As a result, some plants are confused as to when to bloom.

    This hedgehog cactus is an example.

    Whereas it usually would bloom in the spring here (March and April), it was in full bloom last week.

  • 2016 – A Cacti Forest

    2016 – A Cacti Forest

    The Saguaro National Park just out of Tucson is an incredible place to see.

    During our visit, we learned that it can take a Saguaro Cactus up to 100 years to grow the “arms” that we’ve come to recognize from old western movies. Those arms are needed to store extra water for the cactus, which can reach heights of 50 feet and weigh 6 or more tons.

    One truly has to experience it to get the full and awe-inspiring effect of a forest of these giant old fellas, extending as far as the eye can see.

  • Feathered Friends

    Feathered Friends

    Both of my parents were avid “at home” bird watchers, and had many feeders around our yard. They loved to share with us kids, what they learned through this hobby, so I grew up loving and appreciating birds.

    A part of the enjoyment of wintering in South Texas is the new varieties of birds we get to experience there.

    I was fortunate to catch this shot of a Great Kiskadee at one of the many birding locations in the RGV, and was pleased that I also caught a decent reflection.

  • Invaders from Planet Earth

    Invaders from Planet Earth

    There are a few places here in our province where Canada Geese have moved in and taken over. One place is the beautiful Wascana Park in our capital city, Regina. Another is a beach at Kenosee lake, a popular summer destination here in the southern part of Saskatchewan.

    Don’t get me wrong – I love everything nature related, including these magnificent birds … I’m just not all that fond of trying to avoid their droppings on the walking paths and beaches.

    Our prairie city seemed to be spared … until recently.

    On a recent walk alongside the river, I was greeted by this squad and they were so bold that they barely moved as I walked by. It was like they were daring me to make a move.

    The only move I dared make was to raise my phone camera to get a couple of shots, and then move along as quickly as possible.

    These big birds can be aggressive, and I wasn’t eager to tangle with their mob.

  • Don’t Let Them Fool You

    Don’t Let Them Fool You

    To the naked eye, the tops of most mushrooms look smooth.

    A macro lens says otherwise.

    As with many things (and people) … we need to look closely and beyond the surface if we want to see what’s really there, don’t we?

  • Trouble in the Sky

    Trouble in the Sky

    Late yesterday afternoon, a call was interrupted by the loud honking on my cell phone of an Environment Canada tornado warning for our area.

    Within an hour, the eerie calm set in and the sky darkened.

    My feature photo is looking east from our balcony. Soon, the wind picked up, and the nimbus clouds moving in from the west started attacking the fluffy white cumulus clouds, threatening the formation of the dreaded combination: cumulonimbus. The cloud formations I learned in science class so many years ago have stuck with me. That’s a testament to a good teacher.

    Thankfully, our only outcome from the ominous warning, was a ten minute episode of heavy rain, wind, thunder, and lightning; then it just carried on moving east.

    I’ll admit I was more than a bit anxious for a while.

  • Homesick

    Homesick

    Do you ever get homesick for places that aren’t home?

    I sure do.

    Since we’ve been wintering in South Texas, I’ve come to love the area around Port Isabel and South Padre Island. I think of it often when we’re back home for the summers in our landlocked Canadian province. Our summers here at home are great, weather wise. There’s just something about our winters, living so close to the Gulf of Mexico, that makes me “homesick” for the water.

  • Framing Sunrise

    Framing Sunrise

    In my world, it’s the best time of day … quiet, except for the waking birds, peaceful thinking time, and that consistently soft glowing light, illuminating everything it touches to welcome a new day.

    These days, it’s just before 5 am.

  • The Dreaded Rabbit Cage

    The Dreaded Rabbit Cage

    When I was a child, my dad worked building the first gravel roads around our small prairie town.

    He was known near and far for his CAT operating skills.

    While Dad was out on his daily work schedule, he’d often come across wounded and/or abandoned animals.

    His soft heart resulted in a great variety of temporary pets for us kids. Once they were nursed back to heath, or had grown enough, the critters were released back to their home in the fields.

    One spring, he brought home two abandoned baby rabbits. He promptly built a cage for them and all seemed rosy and filled with love of nature, until …

    Taking turns cleaning the rabbit cage became a part of the chore list for my sis and me.

    All the love of baby bunnies went downhill from there.

    If you’ve ever had to clean a rabbit cage, you’ll understand.

    *My feature photo is courtesy of Google images*