local nature #3

Ten points if you can spot the ninja squirrel!



Now the camouflage is gone, fallen to the ground where it forms a golden blanket. The squirrels' ninja powers are severely compromised in such conditions. I think they've given up on stealth entirely now -- the other day one was blatantly trying to scale my screen door. I told him that I could see him. He then said no one sees the ninja and lives to tell the tale. I laughed, and then he laughed too, saying that it was no laughing matter and soon he would be in my ceiling, where he would scratch until he made a hole from which he could leap onto my face while I slept.

Yesterday my botany lab was studying fruit, so I stole some peanuts and acorns as a peace offering. I've been feeling bad for the squirrels anyway. Around this time of year their tails become about as big as their bodies and they usually look pretty cozy, but with the mix of snow and rain lately they just look sad and bedraggled. Very much like drowned rats. Also not very ninja-like.

local nature #2

Oshtemo is building a new elementary school on 9th Street. Right now it's a beautiful field of tall grasses and wildflowers. It used to be an even larger field, until condominiums were built over half of it. Next year it might not even be there, so I stopped by on a windy afternoon last week to take some pictures and a pick a few to bring home for Corey. I wonder if when the school is complete they'll leave any of the field intact? I hope, but I doubt it. Goodbye biodiversity -- suburbia demands its monotonous green lawn.

local nature #1

The Catalpa tree, also known as the bean tree. In the spring it had beautiful white flowers, though by the time I thought to snap a picture they'd all fallen off. I'm very intrigued by this tree though. I had Corey pull a bean pod off it once (since my height prevented me), and got to examine one of them up close. They're very hard, and pointy at the end -- I think you could probably stab someone with one. Death by alien bean pod! It would be an okay way to go.



I had a difficult time getting a good picture, but these give a general idea anyway. I think it might be the coolest looking tree I've ever seen.