A curious green anole (Anole carolinensis) on the hot tub cover. We are at the northern edge of this lizard’s range.
Just checked the map of my ADS-B feeder to see if there’s any activity in the air above. I see a Boeing 747-400, Lockheed Martin KC-130J Hercules, a couple of small single-prop planes, and the usual 737s and Airbus A-321s. Busy up there.
I’ve found myself on the Pepper page for Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds and there are about 20 varieties I’d like to grow in my garden next year.
The young owl is as close as ever tonight, just behind the house in a nearby oak tree. Here are two minutes of it calling out, with an adult answering, and then another juvenile 30 yards away. With a flashlight, I caught it in flight, and it’s near full size.
Friend and I went for tacos and then he insisted we stop by the Beer Study for a shot of Jepson’s Malort. We both have Chicago roots is why but also why not.
Just listened again to the This I Believe essay by the late Jim Haynes, who invited the world to dinner. Joining him (and others) in Paris in 2016 was memorable, inspiring, humbling. Next year, I want to create a similar salon here in Chapel Hill. You all will be welcome.
The forest about our house is just beautiful this morning. Still and peaceful. Acorns and hickory nuts falling. On my walk to Studio B, I came upon a red-shouldered hawk in a tree at eye level, and then a pileated woodpecker arrived on a nearby trunk. Wonderful.
Came straight from the Science Writers Book Club to Cat’s Cradle for Brigitte Calls Me Baby. Great sounds and beats and driving guitars.
Peace Corps achieves historic milestone of 250,000 volunteers since 1961. Proud to say that my family is 3 parts of this milestone: my father, Joseph (Dominican Republic 1965-67), and me and Erin (Vanuatu 1997-99). When Malia is sworn next month in Guatemala, she will be 3º generation Zuiker PCV.
Another turtle photo from along Fig Tree Lane. This was snapped by Briton in her back yard last week.
Looking through photos from the last few weeks as I wonder why I feel so tired. This 737 stand off had caught my attention in the Denver airport.
Pickup soccer this morning was good and fun. Now I’m home, sitting on the porch, watching Liverpool-ManCity while a thunderstorm (trailing band of Isaias) begins to pass overhead, with WRAL breaking in to provide tornado warnings.
I enjoyed the conversation between chefs Yotam Ottolenghi and Carla Hall at Sixth&I in Washington the other night. With a visit to the Carrboro Farmers Market this morning, I followed the ‘one sauce’ recipe in Ottolenghi Simple Too and now have this deliciousness to savor.
Leaves are falling, temps are lower, Isaias’s rains are dampening the forest, and turtles are moving.
Street licks, Washington, D.C.
4 a.m. alarm, dressed in my good blue suit, first flight to DCA, Metro yellow line into the city, Washington starting to move. Work meeting ahead, later a chef’s book reading, then late flight home.
Troy also introduced me to the word deipnosophist: a person skilled in the art of dining and table talk. I went to bookshelf for the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary, checked spelling. Perfect word to match today’s blog post, The Paama Properties, about my retirement & next endeavor.
Friend Troy came over to the house for dinner tonight. He gave me an awesome cap from the Anchor Bat Company, and now I’m reading Why Are Baseball Bats Cupped?
Along the gravel driveway, this old Bud can emerged from the dirt.
[Voice of David Attenborough] The coyote of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, are so comfortable they brazenly leave their scat in the middle of the driveway, a message to the humans that they are masters of the night. [/voiceover]
