Turkey Day at the beach

So we all survived the gargantuan meal. Turkey was cooked to perfection and the in-laws showed us again how important family dinners are but only if it comes with good food.  

Though Thanksgiving is only part of the custom of my country of adoption I do enjoy celebrating this tradition.

Chesapeake Bay. This is where my husband’s folks bought a house to retire and enjoy the view of the Bay.  This is where, probably for many years to come, I will celebrate family reunions.  

6:00 am. I get out of bed just to watch the beauty of nature unfold outside the window

As a tradition part of the tradition, the day after we go stretch our legs on the beach. Lots of fun. The primary excitement is looking for fossils and remnants of horseshoe crabs and Miocene age sharks (pretty ancient), precisely shark teeth.

So here is the 1^st one we found. Sophie was the lucky one. It’s a very competitive hunt, just so you know, so when you find one, you can be proud and show off. 

Here Gus, who was on another kind of hunt, displays a recently shed horseshoe crab shell. Note that the species is actually as old as the ancient sharks that use to leave and die on this beach. Only that, this species survived. It actually is considered a living fossil.

 
Here, we are on a different mission:  Sadly, other things can be found on this bounty that looks at first untouched by humanity: remnants of humans from the Anthropocene age, known for their global impact on the Earth’s ecosystem: plastic bottles, bags, toys and even a colander!!

 


Well, and I also found not 1 but 3 shark teeth!!!  
I know, you’re jealous.

Michigan State students risk arrest for clean energy

Another "small group of citizens": 

Video | October 24, 2011 Michigan State University has the largest on-campus coal plant in the nation, burning over 200,000 tons of coal each year. 

Source: Greenpeace

Yes we can... make a difference.

Today, a small group of environmentalists and activists were cheering up.

They have been protesting around the White House to ask the government to reject the Keystone XL pipeline permit, which was granted earlier this year,  and finally they were heard. Our President sent the XL pipeline project  back to the State Department for re-review. Though this is not a victory yet, this is a huge step that shows that " (...) a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world." (Mead)... One "oil pipe" at a time!

Source http://www.tarsandsaction.org/ 

Botanicals and slugs

What a great field trip - witnessing the rain turning to snow while visiting this "green" building made it even more powerful.  

The technology was there: grey waters and waterless toilets to name a few; Yet the most influential part of the design was that we were connected to the outside all this time we were inside. Thanks to the abundant fenestration allowing vista to the garden, pools of water and sky, we were continually linked to the outside and the “rapid” change of seasons.  

Like Jessica, I also appreciated the personal touch of our tour guide, Peter.

I definitely related to how as a kid he did not understand his father's efforts in keeping water free of pollutants and recycling organic matters. 


I remember asking my dad why he bothered spending hours fixing up an appliance when he could just go to the store and buy a new one (shame on me!); or when his vegetables were ravaged by "out of control" slugs I would question why wasn't he was not using pesticides like everyone else? (double shame on me!!!).

Was I a victim of consumerism? or just not aware of the consequences of our actions on the planet? :0( 

 

For info, I now know a great trick for our friendly slugs: sprinkle brittle eggs shells around your favorite greens. They just won't like it and turn around. Easy.