Category: Stuttgart

Feeding time

April 24, 2012
My backyard bird feeder is a success!!

It’s official: My bird feeder is a success!

On Sunday, I put up a bird feeder and a hummingbird feeder and I was afraid that it would go unused. I shouldn’t have worried — there were doves eating when I arrived home for lunch on Monday. This morning, I even noticed smaller (probably sparrows) eating.

I’m pretty excited. Now, if I can just get some hummingbirds I will be even more happier.

Introducing … Aqua (MAN!!)

April 23, 2012
Mr. Aqua

Meet Aqua (MAN!!) Morris. This blue male Veiltail Betta is the newest creature to join my household. My mom bought the little guy for me and I couldn’t be happier. I think Izzie likes him too, although not the attention I have given the fish!

Blue Veiltail Bettas are native to southeast Asia — Cambodia, Thailand — and are also known as Siamese Fighting Fish, Combattant (in Canada), Trey Kroem phloek (in Cambodia) and Ca lia thia (in Vietnam), according to Petco, which is where I bought my little guy from.

The fish can get to be 3″ in their adult size and are easy to care for. One neat fact: Veiltail Bettas can breath through their gills like other fish as well as from the surface through modified gills (labyrinth organ).

I’m not a big fish person — I love the interaction that fish usually doesn’t provide. However, Aqua is definitely settling in (with me screaming Aqua Man!! each time I enter the door.) Plus, I’ve bought the bulbs that are supposed to grow into plants — hopefully — and I keep checking for signs of life from it.

Oh well, welcome to the house Aqua (MAN!!). 😀

Good news

March 22, 2012

20120322-210906.jpg

Despite trouble with a story, today was just plain amazing!

First, I will be able to keep my job after July 31. My reporter position is funded through a two-year grant that will expire this August. I’m happy to say I’ll remain as a SDL reporter after the grant ends.

I’m thankful that my bosses like my work enough to keep me, and for a community that has been very vocal to my bosses that they want me to stay. Yay!

What could make my day even better? Well, my flight to Kona, Hawaii, is officially booked! I even got the roundtrip fare at $200 cheaper than I expected.

I will now be spending a full week in this paradise where I’ll have a private stretch of beach behind our townhouse. See the above picture!!

Have you been to Hawaii? If so, any suggestions of what to do?

Harlem Gospel Choir and turkey calling

February 29, 2012
Harlem Gospel Choir

I caught myself singing out loud in a crowded auditorium this weekend when the Harlem Gospel Choir came to town.

The performance was amazing and was the perfect cap to a great, yet odd weekend that had me attending my very first turkey calling contest.

I can’t believe I’m saying it, but I definitely prefer duck calling contests to turkey calling contests.

First of all, it’s hard to watch a man act like a turkey (the head jerking, the odd walk, the rustling of leaves) and not laugh. Especially when the rest of the crowd is all serious acting.

I watched only a few contestants before heading outside to the 3D pop-up archery contest. I instantly felt like I was on steadier ground. I even met two guys from my hometown who are related to my cousin’s wife. Small world (OK, my hometown is only an hour-and-a-half away so it’s not much of a shocker).

Archery contest

Overall, it was an odd weekend and busy with a memorial for a former co-worker, local children’s events and a visit to a local wildlife management area.