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Borrego Springs, CA

Thursday, December 5, 2013

Taking a moment…

As I turned on the news this evening, the announcement that Nelson Mandela had passed was at the head of the newscast.  It is a sad day for the entire world.  What a giant he was in the history of man.  As I took a moment to remember his accomplishments, fortitude, and struggles Peter, Paul, and Mary’s rendition of “No Easy Walk to Freedom” kept playing in my head.  We have all lost a most inspirational icon.

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                                                                               Snow Goose

Back on the home front, the big news is the incoming cold front.  It’s sweeping across the country, and the gulf coast will not be immune to it.  While the cold temperatures here can’t compare to the ice and snow and blizzards of those further north, my main worry is my extend-a-stay propane tank.  It’s registering at 1/4 of a tank right now, and I have to work tomorrow.  The refuge pays for propane refills, and I checked to see if the propane place is open on Saturday, but no staff is around on weekends to approve the purchase.  It’s a minor trouble really, as I can switch to the on board tank or pay for the refill myself.

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                                                                                Pintail City

On my way back to the rig yesterday after work, I came upon a huge gathering of Northern Pintails in a flooded rice field.  These ducks mainly feed on seeds. 

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Dabbling ducks like Northern Pintails can erupt straight up from the water without having to run along the water first to gain speed.  The coming cold front is really driving lots of waterfowl down here. 

I finally ran out of my favorite sponge candy that I got in Fargo, ND, in September.  I decided to Google sponge candy.  Several readers have provided me with recipes, but I’m not sure I want to try that in the rig.  It turned out the Vermont Country Store has sponge candy that isn’t coated in chocolate.  While I like dark chocolate, I really prefer my sponge candy without it.  I’ve ordered a couple of bags, so I hope it’s as good as I remember from when I was young.  I’ll be stalking my mailbox until it gets here next week.  Winking smile

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Two of my bird feeders have been set up outside for the last week.  Today I finally had some action.  A small flock of chipping sparrows stopped by.  I hope they tell their friends.  I think I also saw a cardinal skulking around outside the fence.  This compound isn’t the best habitat for birds because of all the cement, but I’m trying to be optimistic about it.  That’s about it for tonight.  I’m battening down the hatches tonight as the temps have dropped well over 20* in very short order.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

28 comments:

  1. I just read about Nelson Mandela's death, and regret his passing. He was such a dynamic force, the kind we only see now and then. I tried to imagine what it would be like to spend 27 years in prison, but can't even comprehend it. I hope you can stay warm. This cold weather must mean we'll have a helluva hot summer coming up, so just enjoy the chill.

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  2. Me, I'd love to enjoy the chill myself, but promising 20-25 below in Judy's former Minnesota hang-out makes it a little hard. Tomorrow's won't be a day to be out and play!
    My agreement with you both on Mandela, one of a kind!

    Jo , aka Nanook of the North

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  3. Sponge candy without a dark chocolate coating? That is almost an unpardonable sin!!! :cD

    Hope your stalking the mailman doesn't get you in trouble...

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  4. I guess it would be a good time to get around to reading Mandela's Autobiography.

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  5. Saw the news too. Sad...but what a life he led and what a huge contribution he made. He deserves his rest now. It's up to us to continue on.
    My mom used to make sponge candy...no chocolate on it. It's been years...but I think my sister still makes it. Should look up that recipe.

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  6. I'm glad you have birds at the feeder. Hope you and Emma stay warm. Can you believe I have never had sponge candy?

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  7. Stay warm. We are also getting hit with this winter cold front. Sure glad I didn't leave on my camping trip.
    Tomorrow I will set out the bird feeders and the humming bird ones too. I made wraps for the feeders to try and keep the water from freezing but when its cold its cold.

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  8. It was sad news but I'm so happy for him because he has been ill for so long. He is proof that one man can change the world. Good luck staying warm - snuggling with Emma would be a good idea.

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  9. I've got my hatches battened down... sitting here listening to the rain freeze.... bah

    He was quite a person ... it's always been a wonder to me how a person has the whatever it is inside them to make them so special. HIs spirit and accomplishments will be felt for many generations.

    coldern a well digger's butt roun heah! can't sleep... wish I had some sponge candy

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  10. Sad news about him. He is a wonderful person for all. Beautiful photos of goose...

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  11. Yes Mandela was a very special man and the world has suffered the loss of a great man.
    Sorry but have yet to have anything that was as good as when I was a kid. Dont know if its a memory/time thing
    or just that our expectations are less as a kid and enjoy it more as a new experience

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  12. That reminds me, I have several bird feeders that I need to get sorted out. I've been way too lazy in that department.

    Sad news indeed about Nelson Mandela. Not unexpected considering his failing health and age, but still a loss that can never be replaced.

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  13. Nelson Mandela was a true leader. I have often thought of him spending much of his 40's, 50's and 60's in jail for his beliefs, a political prisoner. Yet his steadfastness while there inspired a movement and he returned to triumph and spread a message of forgiveness and love. His is a legacy I wish other leaders could live up to but I don't have much hope. He and his inspiration will be so greatly missed the world over.

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  14. I never knew you could buy sponge candy without the coating. That's why I used to make my own :)

    RIP Nelson Mandela.

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  15. Hope you get lots of birds at the feeder, we still have the grosbeaks, I've been putting seed on the deck rail for them--they don't seem to like the feeder.

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  16. Nelson Mandela is a giant of history and I'm glad he got to live to the ripe old age of 95 after being imprisoned for 27 years.

    Sponge candy? I never developed much of a liking for sponge candy for some reason.

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  17. That Vermont Country Store has put a few pounds on my hips. My weakness is their licorice bits!!! Stay warm, hope the gas holds out!!!

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  18. Mandela taught us much, not only about fighting and being strong but about the power of forgiveness. Stay warm.

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  19. I have no clue what sponge candy is. But if any place would have it - Vermont Country Store would be the one. When my daughters were little they loved a treat that was a cookie/cracker thing filled with raisins. They came in a package of about three cookies each about 6 inches long and could be broken into separate pieces. I forgot the name. Daughter found them in the Vermont Country Store catalog and buys them several times a year. Gonna have to look at the catalog and see what sponge candy is.

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  20. We are hunkered down up here in Texarkana...Just had rain today, but the temp is going to drop and freezing rain could develop tomorrow into Sunday. I really don't know what we would do without our electric fireplace. We leave it on all night and run our ceiling fan on low, which moves that heat up into our bedroom..We rarely turn on the propane heat.

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  21. Mandela was a fine human being and will be sadly missed. Your photos are lovely!

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  22. I remember when Nelson Mandela was prosecuted for bombing and killing some people in the struggle to make progress in the apartheid struggles. He and his associates in the ANC had joined with a couple Jews, a couple Indians, in their frustration with the South African Government. I also remember that while in Prison, he has a small patch of land that he gardened on. He lived a varied life!

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  23. -19 this morning and it will be colder tonight. It is wicked cold.
    I didn't know that about the Northern Pintails..learn something new everyday! Stay warm:)

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  24. I don't think I have ever had sponge candy. Just might have to keep my eyes open. Is it a northern or southern yummy. Well, wait one minute...you said you picked it up in N.D. I guess that answers that silly question.

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  25. brrrrr. . .I imagine with you being sort of out on the prairie there in Winnie. . .plus not really being that far from the Gulf, you are really feeling the cold. . .stay in, and try to stay warm. . .

    can't imagine those duck hunters being out in this, but I know for a fact that they will be. . .

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  26. I'm so glad I found your site while blog hopping! Your photos are beautiful. I've just taken up china painting and one of my favorite subjects is birds. We're chilly here in north Alabama, too. The cold front is moving in and we're suppose to get sleet. Definitely NOT looking forward to winter weather. -- Jan

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  27. He was a great man, and he had a remarkable way of healing a lot of gaping family wounds brought on by unspeakable violence and malevolence. But don't forget, he was a rebel and he did go to get rebel training outside his country, and I'm not thinking they taught him how to love people. I'm guessing he was practicing looking down the scope of a rifle. So he did some really great things, but he had his dark side too (not racially, just psychologically), as we all do. I admire him. A lot. But there is still blood on his hands. Not a popular thing to say presently, but it's true.

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  28. We heard about Mandela's passing while we were still on our TransAtlantic Voyage ... a sad day indeed for the world. Looks like we returned to the US just in time to cool off a bit ;-) We still have more than a week before we get to Texas so hopefully, a warming trend will start by then.

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