Movie Monday

I recently discovered that one of my favorite '80s movies is currently available for viewing on YouTube

If you've seen it, go watch it again, still fun :-)
If you've haven't viewed it yet, get ready for some great 1983 apocalyptic-future-space-cheese.
Kindof a Mad Max-y, Indiana Jones, Beyond the Thunderdome of Doom, with a dash of Cherry 2000, a pinch of Dune, and a smidge of Barbarella.
*big nostalgic sigh*

Let's hit some of the high spots:

Peter Strauss is a good lookin' dude.

I want the truck.

Ernie Hudson! Hot space bounty hunters should join forces.

Ernie's truck is cool, too.  Bonus points for the cattle pusher.

A rusty desert train/ship with sails?  Why not?

Molly Ringwald, just before Brat Pack fame, jumps off my truck.

Early Steampunk style "Chemist" & Michael Ironside is "Overdog"

What can I say, I love this movie!
Give it a chance, you might, too.
Trust words.

Fauna Friday

Spring is inching closer and the birds and frogs are singing up a storm around here.
A beautiful bright red cardinal was singing his little head off in our backyard yesterday.
You might need to turn up the volume, I filmed this from inside the house with no doors or windows open - he was pretty loud, though!

Frogs are laying their eggs now.
This cluster was spotted near the Little Pigeon River in Great Smoky Mtns National Park. Frogs will often lay their eggs in abandoned hog wallows such as this, which collect and hold water after a rain.

Hearts All Around

Happy Valentine's Day!
As I try to do each year, here are a few photos I have taken wherein I've noticed heart-like shapes occurring around me - some in the mountains while we're hiking, some in the yard at home..... enjoy!

While hiking along the Little Pigeon River in the Smoky Mtns this week, we passed this fascinating sight - one tree that separates into two trunks but one seems to reach over and kiss the other (who literally seems to love it!) and then they separate again going upward.
Cool :-)

Camellia petals from the bush in our front garden.  The photo was taken on a warm day this December, and I was surprised to see a lone honey bee buzzing among the flowers.

Another hole-in-the-tree heart, this one was found in the woods behind a barn along the Roaring Fork in the Smokies on New Year's Eve 2012.

Also on that same New Year's Eve hike, I noticed this perfectly heart-shaped lichen growing on a tree.








Isn't nature lovely?

Fauna Friday

Today, let's check in on my Indian Ringneck, Shamsie.  She's been sitting on her eggs for a while now (there are 5), they won't hatch as they aren't fertilized..... but instinct is strong and she will brood them for a time before she decides she's had enough of that.

"Um, you do know you're about to get mauled, right?"

"For cryin' out loud, can't a girl nest in peace? Bug off!"

Fauna Friday

This week we have a Fauna Friday that is actually composed of flora photos because the fauna itself was not available for interview ;-)

While hiking along Clear Creek in Norris Dam State Park last week, we came upon evidence of beaver activity.

Sharp teeth required.

The foreground tree was brought down by beavers.

......and then they set to work on the branches.

These are indeed busy little beavers, though we could not discern a particular area which they may be attempting to dam.