Feminine Espresso News

I just wanted to drop a line to encourage you all to keep checking out Feminine::Espresso. I've had several articles written by some incredible guest authors, and I don't think they're getting enough attention. I was sad to realize that the drooping number of hits on that site are largely due to the fact that I keep this one too interesting.

So, in that case, I think I'll leave off all those interesting pictures in my "blogpics" folder for awhile... at least until my friends over at Feminine::Espresso get the acclaim they deserve.

::smiles::

Check it out...

Feminine::Espresso

All About Spotted Salamanders

okay, Brittleigh...what are you holding in your hands?

Are they supposed to be adorable frogs? Or are they big lizards or a combination of both?

My last post induced such questions... So let me explanify to those of you who are not native or currently residing on Wisconsin country soil (and even to those of you who do)....

That adorable little guy is really a Spotted Salamander, or Ambystoma maculatum, in scientific language. He is a member of the terrestrial mole salamandar family (doesn't he just look angelic??), and his species are most common in the eastern United States and Canada.

Sir Humphrey has the potential of reaching as many as 19 inches long. His species' habitat are deciduous forests with fish-free ponds or vernal pools for egg laying and larval development. He seems to prefer our little (gross, needing-to-be-cleaned) garden pond that is home to a baby spiny softshell turtle, a bullhead and a bluegill, and God only knows what else inhabits that little watery spot in the garden.

His diet supposedly consists of invertebrates (earthworms, spiders, slugs and other such creepy crawly creatures).--I say supposedly for the simple reason that I have never seen the little guy have dinner.

According to Wikipedia, these fellows are primarily subterranean, (can be found beneath surface debris on cool and damp days), but he likes to make himself known at certain times of the year (beginning of Spring and Autumn).

I found it interesting to discover that adult spotted salamandars follow creeks in their migration to temporary or permanent pools of water which are free of predatory fish. Adults breed in the same pond throughout their lifetime, with females laying 25 to 200 eggs in compact masses of jelly attached to underwater plants (or, as in our pond, it will most likely be a substantial glob of algae if it doesn't get cleaned soon!). The eggs take 31 to 54 days to hatch, depending on temperature. Once the larvae emerge, they require an additional 61 to 110 days before they leave the pond. Hmm... I wonder what kind of interesting photos I'll be able to show you of the Humphrey family come Spring.

His kind are the State Amphibian of South Carolina, and he is the salamandar of the year around here on our little hill.

Thanks, Wikipedia, for all your help.

Okay, so there's your science lesson for today.

Up for Debate: Something Akin to Adorable

You see, my little friend showed up at my front door.... Just stopped by to say hi.

...And introduce me to his sweetheart.

Hello, My Name is Brittney or Courtney

For as long as I can remember—and then some—I have come to primarily two names. I answer to my own name, Brittney, or my older sister’s name, Courtney.

There was that little blonde, curly-haired 3 year-old at church when I was not much older who regularly talked to me after services. She gave up on keeping Courtney’s and my names straight. I was Courtney, and Courtney was Brittney… naturally.

At about the same time, I gave up continually correcting people that my name is BRITTney, and her name is COURTney.

It didn’t help that I happened to be the younger of us two. As our children’s choir director conceded (who could never keep our names straight either), that had we been named in alphabetical order, it would be easier to call us by the correct name the first time. I should’ve been named Courtney. It just so happened that she knew of twin girls around my age with our names—the first one born was christened Brittney, while the second one was Courtney. Smart parents.

What’s really bad is when we can’t keep ourselves straight. Seriously.

We sound identical. To the point where hearing one of our voices played over we argue over who said what.

"Britt, that was dumb."

"Me? Courtney, for crying out loud, that was you!!!"

"It was not."

"Was too…."

It’s ridiculous. If we can fool ourselves, you can bet on the fact that we've fooled countless others. We take canny delight in making our closest relatives make a run for their money. In a single conversation to some unsuspecting family member over the phone (such as a sibling, parent or grandparent) we have taken turns talking and our victim seldom knows the difference. There’s the time I answered the phone when Courtney’s husband called and carried on a conversation… I, unbeknownst to the fact that he thought I was his wife until he called me Sweetheart. Another time Courtney and I were on the phone together when she came up with the brilliant idea to make a three-way phone call to her husband. Had we not dissolved into giggles, he would’ve never known it wasn’t just his wife he was talking to.

So as you can see, that’s another reason I answer to Courtney so well.

The one area in which our similarities happen to be quite minimal is in the area of resemblance. There was one lady in particular that we had quite a time convincing that we were sisters. "No way! You guys do not look at all like you're related! Full sisters?" She was thoroughly skeptical to say the least, and asked if one of us were adopted (I suppose the possibility does exist and our parents just haven’t told us yet…). It took a week before she admitted that she can finally tell that we’re related. "After getting to know the two of you more and seeing you together, and hearing you talk I can tell—You both sound alike."

In case you’re wondering, she’s among the few who manage to get our names right the first time. The following is the more typical scenario for me—even at 530 miles away from Courtney…

At the dismissal of my first service back in church here recently (after being gone for 3+ months) I hear from the back of the sanctuary an overjoyed voice squealing, "COURTNEY!! It’s so good to see you!" Everybody turns to look as this sweet white-haired lady soon had me engulfed in a hug. I didn’t really have the heart to dampen her joy by saying, "Uh, actually, my name is Brittney." So I made sure to refer to Courtney several times in our conversation. It didn’t help. She told someone else a few minutes later, "Guess who I finally got to see?? Courtney!"

What really takes the cake is when I get an email from YouTube that starts out with, "Hi Court". I told you I give up. It’s a lost cause when not even YouTube can keep us straight.

Burger King

I love how creative my title is there... :::sticks tongue out:::

When all else fails on a Sunday afternoon after church 30 minutes away from home and you have about as many minutes to cram a lunch in before you need to present yourself for the next event of the day, there's always Burger King.

Zack happens to like Burger King.

I think Hannah does too.

And of course Mom enjoys her aunt's company. (Uncle Larry was there too, just not for this photo)

Hannah and I pose for our annual Fast-Food photo shoot.

This girl rolls her eyes at us.

Wow, a post that totally lacks in significance. Sorry, people. I'm still in recovery. :::grins:::

'Tis the Last Rose of Summer

Perhaps you're starting to wonder "where is that girl?" Or maybe you don't even bother to wonder. Chances are, it's only me who thinks its been ages since this li'l site has been updated.

Fact is, I contracted the local bug going around... who feels like updating blogs when they're sneezing and hacking and sore and stiff and run down? And you should hear me sing! On second thought, I'm sure you all would prefer not to hear me. My sister tells me I could sing melody and harmony at the same time... Which, as complimentary as that may sound, it is really something akin to a frog duet.

So, until I'm feeling up to something more substantial, here's a few pictures to occupy your time... These photos were taken on a recent walk--which would happen to be the last walk before the first frost. So truly, the first one here of the pretty pastels is indeed the last wild rose of summer.

And guess what? Just because this particular corner of the blogosphere has had few recent things of interest, I have been busy elsewhere... Like, here, here, and even here.

The Cowboy

...is now the big one and two. Yup, hats off to Levi who now enters the new and exciting age of 12.

(He was a fisherman last year)

Re: Amigo's "Other Part"

To those of you who guessed Amigo's bloodline (in this post), I'm happy to say that you were all correct. Aside from being Quarter Horse, Amigo is also Arabian. Man, you guys are smart!

A Birthday Party at the Park

The following photos were pictures from Zack's little birthday party... I think he enjoyed it, as evidenced by that little grin in the first picture.

Dad was like an evil merry-go-round hijacker. Photos can't capture the screams of the two clinging to the bars for dear life.

Opening Grama's gift.

Admiring Grama's gift.

Thanks, Grama!

"Why?" You may wonder.....

A Day at Leaning Post Ranch

Levi and Amigo-boy

Tabby & Mary

For your information, Amigo is part quarter horse. Can you horse-savvy readers guess--by the above photo--what his "other part" is?

(that board is really scary!)

Cowboy Affections