Helping Out

Last Saturday, we volunteered to help with a 10 k run to benefit the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation.  This lagoon is the closest one to our house, and has a great little visitor center.  We envisioned thousands of runners and at least a couple hours work.  It turned out to be closer to 75 runners and we were done after we sent off three waves.

Gail got to hold the tape.  We each got the brightest blue T-shirt you'll ever see!

 

The last wave was a group of military wives whose group was the "Stroller Warriors" from Camp Pendleton.  At least one stroller was a dual with two kids!  This organization has chapters at many military bases.  Their website is at  http://strollerwarriors.com/ 

Comicon!

Comicon is San Diego's biggest event of the year, drawing about 130,000 over four days.  On top of that, many more people just go to the Convention Center area of the city just to see or be seen.  Tickets sell out in less than an hour, a year in advance - we didn't have tickets.  It has become much more than comic books, and includes TV series stars and technicians, gaming exhibits, and most forms of entertainment.  Gail and I went to hang out for the day, and go to a concert in the evening.

The view from the steps of the Convention Center.  This was the first full day, Thursday.

All the following pictures were of people outside of the convention.

 

 

 

 



We took in The Aquabats at the House of Blues in the evening.  Near the end of the concert, the kids in the audience were invited up on the stage - they took their rockin' very seriously!

Comicon had a very fun vibe, with no rowdiness or ugliness that we saw.  Not having a ticket to stand in lines to listen to entertainment nerds and celebrities was no problem for us.  Can't wait until next year!

Mantids!

This picture is for Soren and Nora, who have hatched and raised praying mantis's this month. 

 

The Mad Mantis is a food truck we saw parked in Oceanside while we were on a bike ride.  Check the back door in the photo below.

 

 



"Mad Scientist Entrance"

 

 



Pool Party!

Andria and the grand kids came up for a pool party yesterday.  We had a blast in the water, plenty of good snacks and smoothies, and wrapped up the afternoon with an episode of  The Aquabats.  BTW, Gail and I are going to see an Aquabats show tonight!

La Portalada Water World.

Soren was first to go in the Great Dive Exhibition.

Then Nora scored a perfect 10 - what form!

Gail was not to be outdone, though!  Here she uses gator power to get extra height.

Nora the Fearless launches off the side!

The Flying Ghost leaps!  Points lost, however, for splayed legs and expression of terror  :-(

A tender moment between Soren and Yummy Delicious.

Meanwhile, Susanna has a pool of her own. 

Andria and Susanna sharing a moment.  Well, the party seemed to end in no time at all.  Until next time!

Flower Mutations and Bob-servations

Hi there!  Sunflower Bob, here, to share some of today's backyard nature Bob-servations.

A first! We watched a pair of Nuttall's Woodpeckers on a neighboring dead eucalyptus tree.  We liked the way their forked tails help hold them in place.

One of  "our" Allen's Hummingbirds sipping honeysuckle nectar.

Momma finch telling me a secret (babies will be fledging this week!).

Backyard Nature

We have been enjoying a bit of nature in our backyard, lately.  The wildflower seed I sowed is finally producing, the bird feeder has been entertaining, finches are again ready to fledge from our rafters, and I got the "pool" water up into the high 90's today.  The pool is a great place to soak and watch the goings on.

 

 

 

 

 

I read that it is estimated that there are up to 1.4 billion house finches in the U.S.  We have our share!

Our bird bath has been a hit for such birds as hooded orioles, house finches, and this goldfinch.

We saw three Cooper's Hawks around the yard, yesterday.  Two were fledglings (one above) who were begging for mom to bring them some food.  Mom (?) has been swooping through the yard the past couple weeks due to all the birds hanging out at the feeder.  We have yet to see her make a kill.

The crows have no patience for hawks, and resort to "mobbing" to drive them away. 

Morning Doves come to feed on the ground under the feeder.

Surprise!  We discovered a new batch of Monarch caterpillars on our milkweed plants.  Somehow, monarch butterflies are finding our little butterfly garden.

Monarch finds milkweed.

We don't know the name of these, but we have a lot of them!

I admit, a camera can make a yard look like the Missouri Botanical Garden.  We have had fun, in our small way, creating a bird and butterfly friendly backyard.  Coming soon is a post on all the hummingbirds, Allens and Annas, that are zooming around our hummingbird feeders.