Sky/Weather ~ Fires ~ Picture of the Day ~ Snowy Owls ~ Glazed Lemon Zucchini Cookies ~ Bob & Marie Vincent ~ Cop Conversations ~ National Watermelon Day

   

Good 58º clear sunny morning. 

 

 

Yesterday when I sent out my blog email the link was screwed up for some reason. Sometimes these computer "things" are just weird. Anyway, hope there are no problems with it today.

 

 

Our weather and sky and the fires.... sky was clear and blue here

 

and we warmed to 97º. 

 

It was also clear and sunny in Grants Pass ......

 

UPDATE (Friday, Aug. 2, 2019 ... Firefighters say they expect to fully surround southern Oregon’s Milepost 97 Fire (Canyonville) within a few days — though the fight against the blaze is far from over.

Smoky air from the Canyonville-area conflagration poses a health risk for people in Grants Pass and beyond the California border to Yreka.

“Smoke is going to, unfortunately, keep settling in south of the fire in the same areas as it has been,” air quality specialist Wendy Wagner said Wednesday night in a Facebook Live presentation. 

Crews may institute rolling blockades along Interstate 5 on Thursday, Aug. 1, to aid their efforts to control areas burning near the freeway.

The fire was 35% contained as of Thursday at 10:42 p.m., with nearly 1,500  people and 17 helicopters deployed. It has burned more than 13,000 acres.

 

Late yesterday afternoon I got several calls from concerned friends about a fire on East Evans Creek Rd, where I live. I couldn't see any smoke here and called the fire department. Apparently there was a 300 acre fire (contained now) but not close to me, about 20+ miles from here. Whew! 

 

 

 

Picture of the Day ....

 

 

 

Interesting about Snowy Owls....

 

The Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) is a large, white owl of the true owl family. Snowy owls are native to Arctic regions in North America and Eurasia. Males are almost all white

, while females have more flecks of black plumage. 

Juvenile snowy owls have black feathers until they turn white. The snowy owl is a ground nester that primarily hunts rodents and waterfowl, and opportunistically eats carrion. Most owls sleep during the day and hunt at night, but the snowy owl is active during the day, especially in the summer time.

 

This yellow-eyed, black-beaked white bird is easily recognizable. It is 20–28 inches long, with a 49–59 inch wingspan. Also, these owls can weigh anywhere from 3.5 to 6.6 lb. The average lifespan in the wild is ten years. It is one of the largest species of owl and, in North America, is on average the heaviest owl species. The adult male is virtually pure white, but females and young birds have some dark spots; the young are heavily barred, and dark spotting may even predominate. Its thick plumage, heavily feathered taloned feet, and coloration render the snowy owl well-adapted for life north of the Arctic Circle.

Snowy Owl calls are varied, but the alarm call is a barking, almost quacking krek-krek; the female also has a softer mewling pyee-pyee or prek-prek. The song is a deep repeated gahw. They may also clap their beak in response to threats or annoyances. While called clapping, it is believed this sound may actually be a clicking of the tongue, not the beak.

This species of owl nests on the ground, building a scrape on top of a mound or boulder. A site with good visibility is chosen, such as the top of a mound with ready access to hunting areas and a lack of snow. Gravel bars and abandoned eagle nests may be used. The female scrapes a small hollow before laying the eggs. Breeding occurs in May to June, and depending on the amount of prey available, clutch sizes range from 3 to 11 eggs, which are laid singly, approximately every other day over the course of several days. Hatching takes place approximately five weeks after laying, and the pure white young are cared for by both parents. Although the young hatch asynchronously, with the largest in the brood sometimes 10 to 15 times as heavy as the smallest, there is little sibling conflict and no evidence of siblicide. Both the male and the female defend the nest and their young from predators, sometimes by distraction displays. Males may mate with two females that may nest about a kilometre apart (1/2 mile). Some individuals stay on the breeding grounds while others migrate.

Snowy owls defend nests against Arctic foxes, corvids ( Corvidae is a cosmopolitan family of oscine passerine birds that contains the crows, ravens, rooks, jackdaws, jays, magpies, treepies, choughs, and nutcrackers. In common English, they are known as the crow family, or, more technically, corvids.)
as well as dogs, gray wolves, and avian predators. Males defend the nest by standing guard nearby while the female incubates the eggs and broods the young. Both sexes attack approaching predators, dive-bombing them and engaging in distraction displays to draw the predator away from a nest.

 

 

 

Something different to do with your garden of zucchini.... from Mr. Food...

 

This savory-sweet melding of flavors creates the most original-tasting cookie you've had all year. Glazed Lemon Zucchini Cookies are the perfect summer treat.

• 3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup grated zucchini, unpeeled
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

1. Preheat oven to 375º. Coat baking sheets with cooking spray.
    
2. In a medium bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
    
3. Beat in the egg, lemon juice, and lemon peel. Stir in flour, baking powder, and salt just until dry ingredients are mixed in. Stir in zucchini and nuts.
    
4. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets. Bake 12 to 15 minutes, until cookies are golden around the edges. Remove to a wire rack to cool completely.

***It's easy to top these with a homemade glaze. Simply combine 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar with 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice then drizzle the glaze over the cooled cookies.

 

 

Special Anniversary today... former Temple City neighbors Bob and Marie Vincent are celebrating #56! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY KIDS!!

 

 

 

Historically this date...

1934 – Adolf Hitler becomes the supreme leader of Germany by joining the offices of President and Chancellor into Führer.

1936 – Jesse Owens wins the 100 meter dash, defeating Ralph Metcalfe, at the Berlin Olympics.

1958 – The nuclear submarine USS Nautilus travels beneath the Arctic ice cap.

2004 – The pedestal of the Statue of Liberty reopens after being closed since the September 11 attacks.

 

And births this date include....

1926 – Tony Bennett, American singer

 

1951 – Jay North, American actor

 

 1977 – Tom Brady, American football player

                                        YEAH Tommy!!!

 

 

I went to the bank, post office, gas station, and market yesterday. While in line at the market I got in a conversation with the guy, Bob,  in front of me. We talked about not being in a hurry, retired the excuse. Then he said he'd been retired 24 years and I said I was 21 years. I asked him what he did and he said he had been a cop up north in Oregon. I laughed and said I had been with LASD. We had a nice conversation. Then I went to the gas station and the new guy, Justin,  and I started talking. Turned out his father was a cop here in Josephine County! Small world.

 

 

All I know. Nuff said. Happy Saturday. Ciao.

xo Sue Mom Bobo 

National Watermelon Day on August 3rd recognizes the refreshing summertime treat enjoyed at picnics and fairs! Watermelon is 92% water, which is why it is so satisfying in the summer heat.

This vine-like flowering plant originated from southern Africa. While the word watermelon refers to both the fruit and the plant to botanists, the plant is a pepo.  The pepo is a berry which has a thick rind (exocarp) and fleshy center (mesocarp and endocarp). Interestingly, pepos develop from an inferior ovary and are characteristic of the Cucurbitaceae.

While the watermelon fruit is loosely considered a type of melon, it’s not in the genus Cucumis. The smooth exterior usually has a dark green rind with stripes or yellow spots. The juicy, sweet interior flesh of the fruit ranges from deep red to pink. However, sometimes comes in orange, yellow, or white. 

Since the melon holds plentiful water, desert dwellers likely first cultivated the melon. Another reason this is suspected is that wild melons were bitter and tasteless. Additional evidence of the watermelon’s value is supplied in the seeds and art found in tombs of Pharaohs. Over time, cultivation and breeding brought out the better qualities of sweet and tender fruit we enjoy today. 

With proper growing conditions, watermelons grow to enormous sizes. Around the world, competitions award prizes each year for the largest one. The Guinness Book of World Records states that the heaviest watermelon weighed 262 pounds. To learn more refreshing watermelon facts, check out www.watermelon.org.