international adoption

http://beetlesinthebush.wordpress.com/2010/12/25/the-12-years-of-christmas-2/
http://www.azplantlady.com/2010/08/gracies-storyan-ongoing-chapter.html
http://natureid.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-action-day-2010-water.html

Santa hats on insects and related

I was surprised at how many of these there are:
http://dragonflywoman.wordpress.com/2010/12/25/happy-holidays/
http://membracid.wordpress.com/2010/12/26/a-new-look-for-the-new-year/
http://martinsmoths.blogspot.com/2010/12/merry-christmas.html
http://falltoclimb.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/merry-christmas/
http://membracid.wordpress.com/2010/12/23/fleas-navidad/
http://odonata-malaysia.blogspot.com/2010/12/neurothemis-santaclausi.html
http://myrmecos.net/2010/12/24/its-that-time-of-the-year-again/

References to the above posts:
http://biobabbler.blogspot.com/2010/12/wintry-kisses-from-mt-rainier-days-of.html
http://nobonesaboutit.wordpress.com/2010/12/24/no-bugs-here/

A Santa hat on a bird for good measure:
http://mikeyboy50.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-bird.html

stone Buddhas in the snow

I liken my list o' links to that child's game of concentration where you try to find at least 2 matching cards. I'm sure if I did a google search, I'd find more, but these stone Buddhas in the snow are from blogs I read regularly:

http://birdsfod.blogspot.com/2010/12/i-stayed-at-home-today.html
http://plantsarethestrangestpeople.blogspot.com/2010/12/saturday-morning-sheba-andor-nina_18.html

John James Audubon

http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/2010/12/worlds-most-expensive-book-about-birds.html
http://urbanitybirder.blogspot.com/2010/12/old-book-for-sale.html
http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/2010/11/audubon-alive.html
http://urbanitybirder.blogspot.com/2010/11/john-james-audubon.html
http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/2010/11/audubons-wood-ducks.html
http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/2010/11/audubons-red-tailed-hawks.html
http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/2010/10/original-audubon-watercolors.html
http://juliezickefoose.blogspot.com/2010/10/john-james-audubon-and-me.html

not snow, but still frozen

It's been fairly mild and relatively warm here for December, even during bouts of rain. However, I like seeing other blogs of winter weather. About 2 weeks ago I considered creating a list o' links of snow, but then there came an avalanche of blog postings of snow and more snow, mainly from the UK and Canada. My favorite snow posting is from Peplers In Rye: http://peplers.blogspot.com/2010/12/snow-scenes-in-rye-dec-2010.html. Like my autumn leaf colors, part 1 and part 2, I quickly realized a snow list could easily become a never-ending endeavor. The past few days there have been other interesting blog posts of frosts and ice. Here's my virtual collection:

http://plantsarethestrangestpeople.blogspot.com/2011/01/pretty-pictures-rime.html
http://rockpaperlizard.blogspot.com/2010/12/mysterious-ice-vase.html
http://wildlifeonwheels.blogspot.com/2010/12/ice-bubbles.html
http://themarvelousinnature.wordpress.com/2010/12/12/sunday-snapshots-frozen-rain/
http://aeshnacaerulea.blogspot.com/2010/12/jack-frost-at-work.html
http://allisonjvaughn.blogspot.com/2010/12/baby-its-cold-outside.html
http://holdingmoments.blogspot.com/2010/12/into-weekend.html
http://fotonatura2569.blogspot.com/2010/12/frost.html
http://orchidcrossley.blogspot.com/2010/12/chrstmas-card-scenery-from-shakespeare.html
http://skevsblog.blogspot.com/2010/12/winter-wonderland.html
http://squirrelbasket.wordpress.com/2010/12/07/frosted-leaves-after-freezing-fog/
http://handbookofnaturestudy.blogspot.com/2010/11/more-november-world-photos-ice.html
http://peplers.blogspot.com/2010/11/first-frost-in-woods.html
http://susansgonetothebirds.blogspot.com/2010/11/icing-from-inside.html
http://nature-as-is.blogspot.com/2010/11/hoar-frost-so-interesting-and-beautiful.html
http://squirrelbasket.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/cold-words-jack-frost-hoar-and-rime/

lacewing larvae and lichen

http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/2010/11/lacewing-uses-lichen-camouflage.html
http://bluejaybarrens.blogspot.com/2010/11/green-lacewing-larva.html

walking sticks vs. stick bugs

Had a dream about these last night. I've seen a handful of blog posts in the past month and decided to log them here. Will go back when I find time to link the older posts. For ID differentiation, walking sticks have chewing mouth parts and stick bugs have piercing-sucking mouth parts. Both undergo gradual metamorphosis.

http://hongkongkwildlifephotos.blogspot.com/2011/09/stick-insect.html
http://ozarktrailguide.blogspot.com/2010/06/walking-stick.html
http://mobugs.blogspot.com/2010/11/walking-stick.html
http://run-a-roundranch.blogspot.com/2010/11/when-it-comes-to-walking-sticks.html
http://skepticalmoth.southernfriedscience.com/2010/10/19/genius-of-the-press-xiii/
http://bugsafari.blogspot.com/2008/04/desert-walking-stick.html
http://bugsafari.blogspot.com/2004/12/stick-insect-leg-generation-part-2.html
http://snailseyeview.blogspot.com/2009/04/new-phasmid-field-guide.html

it gets better and the like

http://seagullsteve.blogspot.com/2010/10/not-that-theres-anything-wrong-with.html
http://plantsarethestrangestpeople.blogspot.com/2010/10/how-to-save-lives.html
http://falltoclimb.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/the-geek-wears-purple/
http://falltoclimb.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/psa-it-gets-better/
http://deepseanews.com/2010/10/lgbt-in-ocean-stem-survey/
http://xenogere.com/2010/10/19/things-i-meant-to-say-introduction/

fall aster love

http://midwestplants.blogspot.com/2010/10/shale-barren-asters.html
http://bluejaybarrens.blogspot.com/2010/10/clearing.html
http://riverdaze.blogspot.com/2010/10/butterflies-still-fluttering-by.html
http://getyourbotanyon.blogspot.com/2010/10/goldenrods-asters-thistle-and-bugs.html
http://bluejaybarrens.blogspot.com/2010/10/aster-season.html
http://woodynookcreations.blogspot.com/2010/10/macro-monday.html
http://riverdaze.blogspot.com/2010/10/awed-by-asters.html
http://baron-troutbirder.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-parade.html
http://riverdaze.blogspot.com/2010/09/little-dew.html
http://olypollinators.blogspot.com/2010/09/armada-of-admirals-in-fall-garden.html
http://woodynookcreations.blogspot.com/2010/09/rainy-cool-saturday.html
http://holdingmoments.blogspot.com/2010/09/barnes.html
http://riverdaze.blogspot.com/2010/09/faded-wornpossibly-lazy.html

hardly strictly

http://blog.adampaul.com/2010/10/13/wordless-wednesday-hardly-strictly-bluegrass/
http://faroutflora.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/festival-trees/
http://phyteclub.org/2010/10/04/the-people-need-to-unite-and-save-this-fuckin-planet/

autumn leaf colors, part 2

Click here to see part 1.

One last local post: http://tmousecmouse.blogspot.com/2010/11/california-fall-color.html

closed 10/25/10

http://kirkstallcreaturesgreatandsmall.blogspot.com/2010/10/kirkstall-valley-nature-reserve.html
http://matthewwills.com/2010/10/24/prospect-park-colors/
http://forestal-plantedtanks.blogspot.com/2010/10/evolution-of-sunset.html
http://kirkstallcreaturesgreatandsmall.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-colours.html
http://swampthings.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-on-pond.html
http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/10/little-of-local-color.html
http://hannibalsanimals.blogspot.com/2010/10/des-plaines-conservation-area.html
http://fotonatura2569.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-shades-ii.html
http://kirkstallcreaturesgreatandsmall.blogspot.com/2010/10/leeds-city-centre-autumnal-views.html
http://forestal-plantedtanks.blogspot.com/2010/10/tuesday-thoughts.html
http://squirrelbasket.wordpress.com/2010/10/19/the-red-leaves-of-autumn/
http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2010/10/red-blueberry-fields-for-ruby-tuesday.html
http://bluejaybarrens.blogspot.com/2010/10/fall-color.html
http://falltoclimb.wordpress.com/2010/10/18/falling-for-autumn/
http://aspenimage.blogspot.com/2010/10/i-dont-recall-is-it-berry-tree-or-beary.html
http://mycologista.blogspot.com/2010/10/stream-hill-leaves-rocks-etc.html
http://riverdaze.blogspot.com/2010/10/bit-of-fog.html
http://bluejaybarrens.blogspot.com/2010/10/thcket-clearing.html
http://susansgonetothebirds.blogspot.com/2010/10/walk-around-neighborhood.html
http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-trees.html
http://kirkstallcreaturesgreatandsmall.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-beech-leaves-on-beckett-park.html
http://riverdaze.blogspot.com/2010/10/colorfinally.html
http://kirkstallcreaturesgreatandsmall.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-colour-in-park-square-leeds.html

fall dragons

I suspect there will be more of these posts as the weather turns cooler across the northern hemisphere. I'm starting with 2 links at the bottom of my list, as of this morning, and will add more as I skim through the blogs.

http://natureinquiries.wordpress.com/2010/10/27/here-they-are/
http://bugyou.blogspot.com/2010/10/we-interrupt-this-afternoon-for.html
http://monarchbfly.com/2010/10/25/green-darner-up-close/
http://nobonesaboutit.wordpress.com/2010/10/22/blackhawk-down/
http://themarvelousinnature.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/canada-darner/
http://fabearlybirder.blogspot.com/2010/10/barnes-wwt-on-sunny-day.html
http://birdsfod.blogspot.com/2010/10/migrant-hawker-lydney-canal.html
http://aeshnacaerulea.blogspot.com/2010/10/one-man-went-to-mow.html
http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/10/last-of-dragons.html
http://aeshnacaerulea.blogspot.com/2010/10/hesc-side-story.html
http://jrandsue.blogspot.com/2010/09/black-darters.html
http://ecobirder.blogspot.com/2010/10/widow-skimmer.html
http://natureinquiries.wordpress.com/2010/10/12/some-late-season-odonata/
http://wanderinweeta.blogspot.com/2010/10/brown-eyed-dragon.html
http://fabirding.blogspot.com/2010/10/common-darter.html
http://ecobirder.blogspot.com/2010/10/introducing-sexually-dichromatic-dot.html
http://sniehans.wordpress.com/2010/10/10/ab/
http://birdsfod.blogspot.com/2010/10/dragonflies-by-canal.html
http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-dragons.html
http://naturevisions.blogspot.com/2010/10/dragons-and-damsels.html
http://xenogere.com/2010/09/28/they-long-to-take-flight/
http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/10/forgotten-photo-friday-dragonflies.html

animals I don't see everyday

http://bunyipco.blogspot.com/2010/10/cassowary-calendar-2010.html
http://asmithontour.blogspot.com/2010/10/gennet-guests.html
http://www.walkthewilderness.net/2010/10/on-tigers-trail.html
http://peonyden.blogspot.com/2010/10/wombat-in-my-late-afternoon.html
http://www.walkthewilderness.net/2010/09/barking-deer-deer-with-tusks.html
http://themaxefiles.blogspot.com/2010/09/penguin-rehabilitation.html
http://www.walkthewilderness.net/2010/09/blackbuck-lone-indian-antelope.html
http://themaxefiles.blogspot.com/2010/07/kudus.html
http://www.walkthewilderness.net/2010/08/monsoon-birding-with-small-blue.html
http://www.walkthewilderness.net/2010/08/peninsular-rock-agama.html
http://www.walkthewilderness.net/2010/07/birding-in-india-malabar-grey-hornbill.html
http://www.walkthewilderness.net/2010/07/pack-indian-wild-dogs-dhole.html
http://themaxefiles.blogspot.com/2010/09/flowers-of-eastern-cape-17-plumbago.html
http://www.walkthewilderness.net/2010/07/thrilling-road-block-experience-asiatic.html
http://themaxefiles.blogspot.com/2010/07/elephants-time-again.html
http://www.walkthewilderness.net/2010/06/veolia-environment-wildlife.html
http://themaxefiles.blogspot.com/2008/11/life-with-suzie-addo.html
http://themaxefiles.blogspot.com/2010/06/tales-of-snow-and-lions.html
http://www.stevewinterphoto.com/#mi=2&pt=1&pi=10000&s=0&p=0&a=0&at=0

if I had a garden

http://drystonegarden.com/index.php/2011/12/the-california-native-vertical-garden/
http://natureid.blogspot.com/search/label/maiden-hairs
http://ewainthegarden.blogspot.com/2009/04/33-amazing-pictures-hand-picked-vine.html
http://drystonegarden.com/index.php/tag/wisteria/
http://drystonegarden.com/index.php/tag/angled-wall/
http://outsideclyde.blogspot.com/2007/12/how-long-will-it-last.html

yep, still testing

Fascinating... I've had an old post come up on google reader that's been around for many months. I took some links from it to post to Nature ID, and now it shows as a new post on the original blog.

recommended ID books and sites

http://natureid.blogspot.com/2011/01/padres-shooting-star-dodecatheon.html
http://natureid.blogspot.com/2010/12/townsends-warbler-on-western-douglas.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/50922984@N08/5100557199/
http://skepticalmoth.southernfriedscience.com/2010/10/05/long-time/
http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/09/gilford-vt.html
http://dragonflywoman.wordpress.com/2010/09/28/where-to-look-for-dragonfly-identification-information/
http://natureid.blogspot.com/2010/09/mylitta-crescent-phyciodes-mylitta.html
http://natureid.blogspot.com/2010/03/world-of-thumbnails.html
http://biobabbler.blogspot.com/2010/04/another-mystery-caterpillar.html
http://squirrelsview.blogspot.com/2010/06/lichen.html

autumn leaf colors

Closed 10/10/10. See my part 2 for more links.

http://getyourbotanyon.blogspot.com/2010/10/early-fall-color-at-indiana-dunes.html
http://fotonatura2569.blogspot.com/2010/10/autumn-shades.html
http://forestal-plantedtanks.blogspot.com/2010/10/day-at-sturbridge.html
http://themarvelousinnature.wordpress.com/2010/10/03/sunday-snapshots/
http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2010/10/outdoors-yellows-for-mellow.html
http://interruptedthoughtprocess.com/2010/10/03/middle-fork-bishop-creek/
http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/10/green-river-bridge-guilford-vt.html
http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2010/10/looking-through-covered-bridge-for.html
http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2010/10/autum-leaves-on-mersereau-stream-today.html
http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2010/10/blog-post_1346.html
http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/09/farm-in-gilford-vt.html
http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2010/09/mellow-yellow-on-ground-for-mellow.html
http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/09/trouble-with-harry.html
http://bluejaybarrens.blogspot.com/2010/09/dry-dogwoods.html
http://wildinidaho.blogspot.com/2010/09/beautiful-saturday.html
http://mikeyboy50.blogspot.com/2010/09/header-pic-change.html
http://shootingmyuniverse.blogspot.com/2010/09/colors-of-my-youth.html
http://naturalwisdom.info/home/?p=890
http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2010/09/ta-natural-pool-for-photo-hunter.html
http://thecommonmilkweed.blogspot.com/2010/09/autumn.html
http://naturalwisdom.info/home/?p=874
http://jwallphoto.blogspot.com/2010/09/falling-for-color.html
http://foxhavenjournal.com/2007/11/04/colors-of-the-autumn-season/

other blogging Katie's

http://bluekat78.blogspot.com/
http://ktsweetlunch.com/
http://phyteclub.org/
http://bigsurkate.wordpress.com/
http://www.gardenpunks.com/
http://norcalkatie.blogspot.com/

wild eating

http://www.fungiphilia.com/
http://rootedincalifornia.blogspot.com/search/label/edibles
http://www.girlmeetsbug.com/
http://www.laspilitas.com/classes/edible.htm
http://tree-species.blogspot.com/2010/11/images-of-edible-sweet-chestnuts.html
http://feralkevin.com/?p=295
http://phyteclub.org/2010/10/05/flower-fruit-seed-nasturtium-pesto/
http://tree-species.blogspot.com/2009/03/edible-chestnuts-vs-horse-chestnuts.html
http://jwallphoto.blogspot.com/2010/08/chinquapin.html
http://www.hawkowlsnest.com/2007/07/chicory-coffee.html
http://back40feet.blogspot.com/2010/09/arlie-middlebrook-on-edible-california.html
http://www.edible-plants.com/plant_list.html
http://cngf.org/resources/recipes.htm
http://kaleforsale.blogspot.com/
http://collectedquotidian.com/
http://blog.ruhlman.com/2010/02/why-i-cook.html
http://natureid.blogspot.com/2010/05/milk-thistle-silybum-marianum-just.html

parasitoid wasps

http://bluejaybarrens.blogspot.com/2011/08/jewel-case.html
http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/2011/07/dont-come-back-as-caterpillar.html
http://mobugs.blogspot.com/2010/10/laurel-sphinx-moths-are-found.html
http://thecommonmilkweed.blogspot.com/2010/10/hike-at-edge-part-2.html
http://thingsbiological.wordpress.com/2010/09/17/parasitized-sphingid-larva/
http://thingsbiological.wordpress.com/2010/08/24/parasitized-caterpillar/
http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/2010/09/white-marked-tussock-caterpillar.html
http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/2010/08/our-butterflies-fall-into-two-groups.html
http://matthewwills.com/2010/09/12/munch-munch-munch/
http://bugsafari.blogspot.com/2010/06/caterpillar-troubles.html

and related predatory wasps:
http://bugeric.blogspot.com/2011/01/wasp-wednesday-euodynerus-hidalgo.html

Kt's Nature ID companion: wordless Wednesday

Testing backlinks. I don't understand how it works.

Nature ID's wordless Wednesday

ps 09/19/10 - Well, that kinda sucked. I had to manually change the link. So, what's the point of a backlink, again?

a silver slipp...

er... I have a great story to tell, but this is not the time. I'm still figuring out my blogging voice for this companion blog. So, instead, I'll share a quote from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz:

Both Dorothy and the Scarecrow had been greatly interested in the story of the Tin Woodman, and now they knew why he was so anxious to get a new heart.

"All the same," said the Scarecrow, "I shall ask for brains instead of a heart, for a fool would not know what to do with a heart if he had one."

"I shall take the heart," returned the Tin Woodman, "for brains do not make one happy, and happiness is the best thing in the world."

Dorothy did not say anything, for she was puzzled to know which of her two friends was right, and she decided if she could only get back to Kansas and Aunt Em it did not matter so much whether the Woodman had no brains and the Scarecrow no heart, or each got what he wanted.

What worried her most was that the bread was nearly gone, and another meal for herself and Toto would empty the basket. To be sure, neither the Woodman nor the Scarecrow ever ate anything, but she was not made of tin or straw, and could not live unless she was fed.

a non-b-day

Eh? Well, I haven't been posting much to my blogs lately. I have one lonely pic from the 4th that I was going to file under crappy photos, but I'm not inspired. I was enjoying ping-pong tourney, cookie competition, and catching up with some old friends that I didn't think to pull out the camera to catch the action.

just wondering

Given my town's $1000 fine for the "molestation of butterflies," I thought this unlawful sign from Flickr was just as funny. To add to the humor, there's no evidence in the picture of any living trees, shrubs, or flowers. So HOW would one molest a tree?

Monterey, CA
May 29, 2010

I found this sign fascinating. It was stuck on the trash container right outside the doors to the store. It says quite a bit about the state of our society today. Makes me wonder if online social networking sites (facebook, twitter, blogger, wordpress, flickr, etc...) should also carry the same kind of warning.

Monterey, CA
May 29, 2010

My hubby loved this sign and asked the mail carrier if he could take a picture of it. Apparently this is in all USPS vehicles. In some ways, there's a bit of life philosophy in there... or advice on what not to do with your computer.

***** under construction *****

Not entirely sure what I want to do with this 2nd blog, yet.

ps 05/02/10 - This post marks the start of this blog. All previous entries and two newer ones (IDentity crisis! and Nature ID's one year anniversary) were transferred over from Nature ID. All pictures were taken the date of the post, unless otherwise stated.

ps 09/16/10 - In yet another blogging existential crisis, I moved all my relevant posts back to my main blog Nature ID. I lost several comment threads along the way. Apologies.