Morning all and good night. I am slightly cold and that makes me fidgety and ready to go to bed to get warm. Today went well at school. I must be getting in shape doing all of this walking. Two vehicles with dead batteries! oh, well…
Morning! There is an orange twinge in the sky so the sun must be coming up somewhere!
We enjoyed having dinner and sweet fellowship last evening on our neighbor’s back porch. Four couples, food and much laughter…a good Labor Day indeed!
Good Morning Everyone.
As you remember, my friend L died in February of 2018. This month her husband will be remarrying. There are red flags all over this, including that the bride to be threatened to kill herself because “L’s friends and family were not accepting her”.
That’s not the point here. Friday night L’s daughter ME’s boyfriend proposed. It was something out of a storybook. He was taking her to dinner, they “got lost” on the way to the restaurant and cut through a park. As they were walking across a stone bridge he stopped, knelt and proposed. The dear man even had a photographer stationed nearby to photograph the whole thing.
Well played Young Man. Well played. Took a little attention away from the self-centered bride to be mentioned above.
Remember today starts my busy run up to Thanksgiving. Dear Lord give me energy and the awareness not to run myself ragged.
Coyotes howl when they feel like it. Sometimes in the middle of the day, sometimes at moonrise, sometimes when there is no moon. Sometimes telling each other important things: this is my territory, I have a deer, anybody looking for love? Sometimes telling the local dogs that they ought to come out and play, when they are ready for a change of diet.
At least it’s Tuesday and not Monday, a short week. But I can’t stop yawning and I’ve been up for an hour. It’s going to be hot today, too.
First time I heard yipping coyotes making a collective racket was during the late afternoon, sounded like it was coming from across the street in the ravine. Scary story out of South Carolina about a rabid coyote attacking 2 people and 2 dogs, even following one of the fleeing people into her house. Everyone is OK (other than having to go through rabies shots, presumably).
That’s very cool, love the bobcat(?) staring into the camera. 🙂
And, oh, those night-creeping coyotes. And the bears … and funny raccoons. And the random itty-bitties scurrying across at top speed.
Thanks for sharing that.
Out here in LA there are plans to build a wildlife passage way over one of our busy freeways (north of me) as our mountain lions keep getting hit or otherwise are too confined in their territory to adequately reproduce and enjoy life.
A planned animal overpass set to stretch over Los Angeles’ 101 Freeway has entered its final design phase, Christopher Weber reports for the Associated Press. Dubbed the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing, the 200-foot-long bridge—expected to provide safe passage for lions, coyotes, deer, lizards, snakes and other wild creatures—is on track for groundbreaking within the next two years and slated to open by 2023.
According to Weber, the crossing will enable Southern California’s native wildlife to more freely roam the region’s urban sprawl. Currently, animals hoping to cross the highway are at high risk of becoming roadkill; as a result, most are essentially trapped in the Santa Monica Mountains, unable to venture out in search of food and potential mates.
This limited geographic range poses a particular threat to mountain lions. Per a study published in the journal Ecological Applications this March, two isolated populations in the Santa Ana and Santa Monica Mountains face extinction within the next 50 years due to low genetic diversity and mortality linked with human activity and environmental changes. By connecting solitary big cats with other members of the species, the Liberty Canyon overpass could curb mountain lion inbreeding and reintroduce genetic diversity to local populations.
“When the freeway went in, it cut off an ecosystem,” Beth Pratt, director of the National Wildlife Federation’s California branch, tells the AP’s Weber. “We’re just now seeing impacts of that.” …
_____________________________________
Kevin: 101 (my earlier clip/post (pending) was from a link that requires moderation so here’s another) — it’s in the final design phase and will be very costly. Of course, they could just put up a log … ?
California to build largest wildlife crossing in world
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER
August 20, 2019
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Like many urban singles, the mountain lion P-22 lives a solitary life in a too-small habitat. And he has a hard time finding a mate in the big city.
Famous for traveling across two freeways and making a huge Los Angeles park his home, the lonesome big cat has become a symbol of the shrinking genetic diversity of wild animals that must remain all but trapped by sprawling development or risk becoming roadkill.
Hoping to fend off the extinction of mountain lions and other species that require room to roam, transportation officials and conservationists will build a mostly privately funded wildlife crossing over a major Southern California highway. It will give big cats, coyotes, deer, lizards, snakes and other creatures a safe route to open space and better access to food and potential mates.
The span along U.S. 101 will only be the second animal overpass in a state where tunnels are more common. Officials say it will be the first of its kind near a major metropolis and the largest in the world, stretching 200 feet (61 meters) above 10 lanes of busy highway and a feeder road just 35 miles (56 kilometers) northwest of downtown LA. …
“They can’t get out of here to get dates, and cats can’t get in to get dates. … For those of us in LA, having a romance prospect quashed by traffic is something we can all relate to,” Pratt said. …
… The $87 million bridge last month entered its final design phase. It’s on track for groundbreaking within two years and completion by 2023, according to engineer Sheik Moinuddin, project manager with the California Department of Transportation. Construction will take place mostly at night and won’t require any lengthy shutdowns of the 101 freeway, officials said.
Moinuddin said Caltrans considers it a “special” project that the agency hopes will inspire others like it across the state.
One of the reasons it’s special is that 80% of the money to build it will come from private sources, Pratt said. She’s in charge of fundraising and is using P-22 — “the Brad Pitt of the cougar world” — as the poster cat for the campaign.
“He is world famous, handsome, everybody loves him,” she said about the cougar that’s been photographed in his park home with the Hollywood sign as a backdrop. …
___________________________________
That Babylon Bee article brings new meaning to computer “backups”.
I also love this note posted on their site: Readers of the Bee,
If you value The Babylon Bee and want to see us prevail against Snopes and anyone else who might seek to discredit or deplatform us, please consider becoming a subscriber. Your support really will make a difference.
Ah, near Liberty Canyon. (I found the article you quoted and watched the video.) That stretch of 101 was part of my dad’s daily commute to Newbury Park and the route to my grandparents’ in Thousand Oaks.
Giving animals the right of way above the rights of people. Hmmm . . . reverse order of importance according to God’s order? I probably did not read enough to comment. I should not just say my first thought without being informed.
I have a small pot that had caladiums growing in it. They had all died back but had one small new sprout which I watered this a.m. When I went to the mailbox, the green sprout was all gone and the bulbs were showing. It is so dry here that perhaps our resident chipmunk or a squirrel dug in there to get to the water. A good reminder to put out some water for the thirsty animals over which God gave me authority and responsibility.
@ 4:02 We’re working on it, Anonymous Chas. But that would be part of the long-range plan. The bridge is short-term.
Janice, we have freeways that cut through wilderness areas where there are small, struggling mountain lion families. Some have been lost trying to cross the freeways when they’re hit by cars. They need a lot of territory and being contained or hedged off by a major roadway isn’t helping their survival rates (they need lots of food, resources, mating possibilities).
The other option, of course, is just getting rid of the cars.
LA would like to see everyone on bikes and scooters instead. And those would be no threat to a mountain lion. We would peacefully co-exist as they crossed the freeway and the cyclists would all stop.
I am curious if anyone has had any items disappear when you traveled? When we went for Art’s conference at Orlando we stayed in one of the huge resort hotels. At the end of the stay while Art is in class, I have to pack up and get a bell hop to store our luggage until Art finishes up around 5 p.m. I had a late checkout extended from noon to 1 p.m. or maybe it was 11 to noon. We had the bell hop service pack up the car when Art was done so we could leave. We stopped at another place to spend the night and got there so late that although we brought in the luggage I did not unpack it. When we got home, my Ban antiperspirant was missing along with a facial scrub cream. I was lucky to have some extra at home of both. But the weird thing is that a few days later a question came through to me about a product I had bought through Amazon Prime quite awhile back. Someone asked if Ban was more of a deodorant or antiperspirant. Well, wasn’t that a weirdly coincidental question. Conspiracy theory fodder. Just think if all the personal care products were removed from traveler’s luggage how that would change the world!
Janice it almost seemed inevitable that something would be left behind when we traveled with the kids. And it always seemed to be a pair of shoes that got pushed under a bed or something. However, my husband did leave behind a couple pairs of jeans in a drawer that he insisted he had cleared out. Me…so far I have been successful at gathering up all of my belongings (and I usually put my travel sized personal care stuff in my purse for just that reason you mentioned…a girl needs her make up, toothpaste and deodorant!) 😊
After Bible study this morning, we attended a memorial service for one of the recently deceased members. She was 97 years old and had lived in a nursing home for several years.
There were not many people there. The pastor tried to make her come alive and we sang three hymns she had requested. He also played a song she’d requested.
“I’ve never played Tom Jones’ music in church before, but Justine wanted, ‘She’s a Lady,’ so here goes.”
We’re having a hot, humid day — 90 degrees on my patio in the shade. The poor gardeners showed up to work. (It did give me a chance to talk to lead guy about installing a new hot water heater, he’d charge $200 which seems like a deal … any experience with gas tank water heaters out there?).
But first I need to get that peeling paint fixed so he said he’d pass my info on to his brother-in-law who paints and speaks good English 🙂 These guys are a jack of all trades bunch.
I was reminded I signed up for a training meeting in OC tomorrow but not sure I can do it now, it kills a day pretty much. It’s on trust in the media which sounded really interesting, but something I can probably skip.
We are at ninety one here. But we spent a couple hours in Kamiah where it was one hundred three. Apparently there was an armed person being chased so the clinic was on lock down, but they let us in. They have air conditioning. No gestational diabetes at this point.
Janice, I wouldn’t say it’s putting the rights of animals above those of people. It doesn’t disrupt the traffic (except I’m sure there will be lane closures while they’re building it). It just creates a path for the animals that have been disadvantaged by the freeway’s presence.
You could debate whether it’s worth the money, but it sounds like most of the funding to build it isn’t coming from taxes.
I’d rather use tax money to keep animals off the highways than pay insurance for damage to the vehicle. A hitting a deer can cost $thousands to repair.
Wandering Views 
Morning all and good night. I am slightly cold and that makes me fidgety and ready to go to bed to get warm. Today went well at school. I must be getting in shape doing all of this walking. Two vehicles with dead batteries! oh, well…
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Goodnight Jo.
Good morning everyone else.
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That was Chas
I think. It’s still early to know for sure.
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Morning! There is an orange twinge in the sky so the sun must be coming up somewhere!
We enjoyed having dinner and sweet fellowship last evening on our neighbor’s back porch. Four couples, food and much laughter…a good Labor Day indeed!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Good Morning Everyone.
As you remember, my friend L died in February of 2018. This month her husband will be remarrying. There are red flags all over this, including that the bride to be threatened to kill herself because “L’s friends and family were not accepting her”.
That’s not the point here. Friday night L’s daughter ME’s boyfriend proposed. It was something out of a storybook. He was taking her to dinner, they “got lost” on the way to the restaurant and cut through a park. As they were walking across a stone bridge he stopped, knelt and proposed. The dear man even had a photographer stationed nearby to photograph the whole thing.
Well played Young Man. Well played. Took a little attention away from the self-centered bride to be mentioned above.
Remember today starts my busy run up to Thanksgiving. Dear Lord give me energy and the awareness not to run myself ragged.
LikeLiked by 7 people
DJ, you need to let the dogs out. That photo screams for Tess and Cowboy . . .
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Why do coyotes howl at the moon at 4 am?
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They are just talking with each other. Not certain the moon is the reason.
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QoD
Do coyotes howl when there is no moon?
So far as I know, nothing howls in the night in Greensboro.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Coyotes howl when they feel like it. Sometimes in the middle of the day, sometimes at moonrise, sometimes when there is no moon. Sometimes telling each other important things: this is my territory, I have a deer, anybody looking for love? Sometimes telling the local dogs that they ought to come out and play, when they are ready for a change of diet.
LikeLiked by 2 people
At least it’s Tuesday and not Monday, a short week. But I can’t stop yawning and I’ve been up for an hour. It’s going to be hot today, too.
First time I heard yipping coyotes making a collective racket was during the late afternoon, sounded like it was coming from across the street in the ravine. Scary story out of South Carolina about a rabid coyote attacking 2 people and 2 dogs, even following one of the fleeing people into her house. Everyone is OK (other than having to go through rabies shots, presumably).
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Nice footage (edited, not live) of a log bridge over a creek, and the wildlife using it in the course of a year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsDU_tTgsFw
If you want to see more like it, go to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRiKVM44kUf9JmT3aDj-tZg
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That’s very cool, love the bobcat(?) staring into the camera. 🙂
And, oh, those night-creeping coyotes. And the bears … and funny raccoons. And the random itty-bitties scurrying across at top speed.
Thanks for sharing that.
Out here in LA there are plans to build a wildlife passage way over one of our busy freeways (north of me) as our mountain lions keep getting hit or otherwise are too confined in their territory to adequately reproduce and enjoy life.
What could go wrong?
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They could join the homeless crowd.
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Whereabouts, DJ? I’m guessing over 405 heading into the valley.
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https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/california-will-build-largest-wildlife-crossing-world-180972947/
____________________________
California Will Build the Largest Wildlife Crossing in the World
The overpass will provide safe passage for mountain lions, coyotes, deer, lizards, snakes and other wild animals crossing the 101 Freeway
By Meilan Solly
smithsonian.com
August 21, 2019
Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/california-will-build-largest-wildlife-crossing-world-180972947/#TYBmmlCBjtPehPkI.99
Give the gift of Smithsonian magazine for only $12! http://bit.ly/1cGUiGv
Follow us: @SmithsonianMag on Twitter
A planned animal overpass set to stretch over Los Angeles’ 101 Freeway has entered its final design phase, Christopher Weber reports for the Associated Press. Dubbed the Liberty Canyon Wildlife Crossing, the 200-foot-long bridge—expected to provide safe passage for lions, coyotes, deer, lizards, snakes and other wild creatures—is on track for groundbreaking within the next two years and slated to open by 2023.
According to Weber, the crossing will enable Southern California’s native wildlife to more freely roam the region’s urban sprawl. Currently, animals hoping to cross the highway are at high risk of becoming roadkill; as a result, most are essentially trapped in the Santa Monica Mountains, unable to venture out in search of food and potential mates.
This limited geographic range poses a particular threat to mountain lions. Per a study published in the journal Ecological Applications this March, two isolated populations in the Santa Ana and Santa Monica Mountains face extinction within the next 50 years due to low genetic diversity and mortality linked with human activity and environmental changes. By connecting solitary big cats with other members of the species, the Liberty Canyon overpass could curb mountain lion inbreeding and reintroduce genetic diversity to local populations.
“When the freeway went in, it cut off an ecosystem,” Beth Pratt, director of the National Wildlife Federation’s California branch, tells the AP’s Weber. “We’re just now seeing impacts of that.” …
_____________________________________
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Kevin: 101 (my earlier clip/post (pending) was from a link that requires moderation so here’s another) — it’s in the final design phase and will be very costly. Of course, they could just put up a log … ?
California to build largest wildlife crossing in world
By CHRISTOPHER WEBER
August 20, 2019
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Like many urban singles, the mountain lion P-22 lives a solitary life in a too-small habitat. And he has a hard time finding a mate in the big city.
Famous for traveling across two freeways and making a huge Los Angeles park his home, the lonesome big cat has become a symbol of the shrinking genetic diversity of wild animals that must remain all but trapped by sprawling development or risk becoming roadkill.
Hoping to fend off the extinction of mountain lions and other species that require room to roam, transportation officials and conservationists will build a mostly privately funded wildlife crossing over a major Southern California highway. It will give big cats, coyotes, deer, lizards, snakes and other creatures a safe route to open space and better access to food and potential mates.
The span along U.S. 101 will only be the second animal overpass in a state where tunnels are more common. Officials say it will be the first of its kind near a major metropolis and the largest in the world, stretching 200 feet (61 meters) above 10 lanes of busy highway and a feeder road just 35 miles (56 kilometers) northwest of downtown LA. …
“They can’t get out of here to get dates, and cats can’t get in to get dates. … For those of us in LA, having a romance prospect quashed by traffic is something we can all relate to,” Pratt said. …
… The $87 million bridge last month entered its final design phase. It’s on track for groundbreaking within two years and completion by 2023, according to engineer Sheik Moinuddin, project manager with the California Department of Transportation. Construction will take place mostly at night and won’t require any lengthy shutdowns of the 101 freeway, officials said.
Moinuddin said Caltrans considers it a “special” project that the agency hopes will inspire others like it across the state.
One of the reasons it’s special is that 80% of the money to build it will come from private sources, Pratt said. She’s in charge of fundraising and is using P-22 — “the Brad Pitt of the cougar world” — as the poster cat for the campaign.
“He is world famous, handsome, everybody loves him,” she said about the cougar that’s been photographed in his park home with the Hollywood sign as a backdrop. …
___________________________________
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That Babylon Bee article brings new meaning to computer “backups”.
I also love this note posted on their site:
Readers of the Bee,
If you value The Babylon Bee and want to see us prevail against Snopes and anyone else who might seek to discredit or deplatform us, please consider becoming a subscriber. Your support really will make a difference.
LikeLike
Ah, near Liberty Canyon. (I found the article you quoted and watched the video.) That stretch of 101 was part of my dad’s daily commute to Newbury Park and the route to my grandparents’ in Thousand Oaks.
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We’ll have an $87 million log.
So there, Cheryl.
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A green one. Apparently, they will keep it watered so it will draw more animals.
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I see “wildlife greenways” like this and think, “how will the wildlife find them?”
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Yes, we water our logs.
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There needs to be a PR campaign to spread the word among potential users. It can be the start of another government department.
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Donna @ 1:37
They’ll never get that problem solved until they get rid of people.
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That was Chas. He clicked too quickly.
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My correction didn’t connect????
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Would I be correct in assuming they build those things in the areas that are already an established path for the animals?
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Giving animals the right of way above the rights of people. Hmmm . . . reverse order of importance according to God’s order? I probably did not read enough to comment. I should not just say my first thought without being informed.
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Yes.
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I have a small pot that had caladiums growing in it. They had all died back but had one small new sprout which I watered this a.m. When I went to the mailbox, the green sprout was all gone and the bulbs were showing. It is so dry here that perhaps our resident chipmunk or a squirrel dug in there to get to the water. A good reminder to put out some water for the thirsty animals over which God gave me authority and responsibility.
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Lovely header photo, AJ!
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@ 4:02 We’re working on it, Anonymous Chas. But that would be part of the long-range plan. The bridge is short-term.
Janice, we have freeways that cut through wilderness areas where there are small, struggling mountain lion families. Some have been lost trying to cross the freeways when they’re hit by cars. They need a lot of territory and being contained or hedged off by a major roadway isn’t helping their survival rates (they need lots of food, resources, mating possibilities).
LikeLike
The other option, of course, is just getting rid of the cars.
LA would like to see everyone on bikes and scooters instead. And those would be no threat to a mountain lion. We would peacefully co-exist as they crossed the freeway and the cyclists would all stop.
LikeLike
I am curious if anyone has had any items disappear when you traveled? When we went for Art’s conference at Orlando we stayed in one of the huge resort hotels. At the end of the stay while Art is in class, I have to pack up and get a bell hop to store our luggage until Art finishes up around 5 p.m. I had a late checkout extended from noon to 1 p.m. or maybe it was 11 to noon. We had the bell hop service pack up the car when Art was done so we could leave. We stopped at another place to spend the night and got there so late that although we brought in the luggage I did not unpack it. When we got home, my Ban antiperspirant was missing along with a facial scrub cream. I was lucky to have some extra at home of both. But the weird thing is that a few days later a question came through to me about a product I had bought through Amazon Prime quite awhile back. Someone asked if Ban was more of a deodorant or antiperspirant. Well, wasn’t that a weirdly coincidental question. Conspiracy theory fodder. Just think if all the personal care products were removed from traveler’s luggage how that would change the world!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Janice it almost seemed inevitable that something would be left behind when we traveled with the kids. And it always seemed to be a pair of shoes that got pushed under a bed or something. However, my husband did leave behind a couple pairs of jeans in a drawer that he insisted he had cleared out. Me…so far I have been successful at gathering up all of my belongings (and I usually put my travel sized personal care stuff in my purse for just that reason you mentioned…a girl needs her make up, toothpaste and deodorant!) 😊
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I used to travel a lot when I was working.
I never had any trouble. Of course, I never carried anything worth taking.
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I don’t unpack, so it’s never been an issue. I just live out of the suitcase.
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After Bible study this morning, we attended a memorial service for one of the recently deceased members. She was 97 years old and had lived in a nursing home for several years.
There were not many people there. The pastor tried to make her come alive and we sang three hymns she had requested. He also played a song she’d requested.
“I’ve never played Tom Jones’ music in church before, but Justine wanted, ‘She’s a Lady,’ so here goes.”
Who says Lutherans are boring?
LikeLiked by 2 people
We’re having a hot, humid day — 90 degrees on my patio in the shade. The poor gardeners showed up to work. (It did give me a chance to talk to lead guy about installing a new hot water heater, he’d charge $200 which seems like a deal … any experience with gas tank water heaters out there?).
But first I need to get that peeling paint fixed so he said he’d pass my info on to his brother-in-law who paints and speaks good English 🙂 These guys are a jack of all trades bunch.
I was reminded I signed up for a training meeting in OC tomorrow but not sure I can do it now, it kills a day pretty much. It’s on trust in the media which sounded really interesting, but something I can probably skip.
LikeLiked by 1 person
We are at ninety one here. But we spent a couple hours in Kamiah where it was one hundred three. Apparently there was an armed person being chased so the clinic was on lock down, but they let us in. They have air conditioning. No gestational diabetes at this point.
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Banff National Park has wildlife overpasses and underpasses. Even before the highway was fenced the animals somehow found and used them a lot.
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It’s so hot my impatiens are wilting 😦 Better go dump them in a big pan of water
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I may sit in there with them
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Janice, I wouldn’t say it’s putting the rights of animals above those of people. It doesn’t disrupt the traffic (except I’m sure there will be lane closures while they’re building it). It just creates a path for the animals that have been disadvantaged by the freeway’s presence.
You could debate whether it’s worth the money, but it sounds like most of the funding to build it isn’t coming from taxes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’d rather use tax money to keep animals off the highways than pay insurance for damage to the vehicle. A hitting a deer can cost $thousands to repair.
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was 98 when I got out of class this afternoon.
We have.lots of wildlife corridors in NM.
Miguel and John had started th peaches when I got home, so we put up 22 jars.of peaches, 14 of pears an 4 grapes.
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oh, my, after a very long day and then the weight room and then walking up the hills, how nice to see 49 just waiting for me.
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