Nature diary #7

6.30.2011

The Perfect Home

         Today I keep seeing a chickadee of some sort that keeps going into a hole in the tree and coming out with small strips of wood in its beak.  It drops the wood onto the ground and continues going into the hole.

          I figure that it is trying to make the space in the hole bigger so tat it can build a nest in there.

          By the end of the day, piles of woodchips are scattered on the sidewalk...I wonder how it would be like to live in a place like that--especially if I were a bird.  I suppose that it would be more adequate and sheltering than the classical nest on the fork of a branch.  Then again, it might be more stuffy.

          I really do wonder sometimes...

Pagoda

PAGODA

TOP LAYER   1

 This is the top-most layer of the pagoda.  It shows the inside and outside of the floor.  In this picture, the removable roof is not included.  It is basically the empty, unused, attic.  If you look closely, you might see some cobwebs made from thin strands of hot glue.  (The glue we used to assemble this project.)  I would say, overall, this layer took us the least amount of time to make, compared to some of the more complex ones.

*see whole pagoda (top of pg.)






 


LAYER 2nd TO TOP   2

   This is the second layer in the pagoda.  It shows one of the outer walls that is not incorporated in the whole picture of this project at the top of this page.  The Chinese symbol you see on it is the character for sky.


    At the bottom of the layer, you see cardboard sticking out. That is so that you can stack and unstack the layers and is attached to every layer.

MIDDLE LAYER   3

This is the middle layer of the pagoda.  These are both pictures of the inside:  the wall is a mix of green and blue and though the floor is wrinkled, that only shows that it is loose, fluffy, and nice to walk on.  The left picture features the comfy floor and the fancy "curly" curtain.  It also shows the hole on the ground that would have a string attached so you could slide down from, or climb to the level.  The picture was taken from the Right window.  The other picture features a couch...to bad we didn't make a TV.  It was taken from the window visible in the two pictures.

LAYER 2nd TO LAST   4

Now... (drum roll please!) I present to you...

OUR FAVORITE LAYER!!!

    I think that you would agree that by far, this is the best layer yet...The atmosphere that it gives off is just wonderful.  This layer also took us the longest to create.

    *Scroll down to view snapshots of our favorite story*

The hopeful curtain, The lonely plant

Outside view; table, mat, and carpet seen from window

From a door, I see the other door

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall

A view to the outside world

I look in to see a crystal

LAST LAYER   5

This is the last layer, or the bottom most layer.  It shows a mirror, shrine, and a curtain.  The mirror was created using a CD that was cut to shape.  The shrine was designed so that if  you lift up the lid to the altar, you would see a crystal in it.  The curtain was made by folding fabric.

City Lights

Sequins, sequins-
Decorate the skyline,
City lights
Are high now,

Roadside
rushing by ......

Nature diary #6

6.24.2011

Some Things are Missed

         It seems like the baby birds are not present in their nest but somewhere else.  And furthermore, I have missed their departure!   Now I will never see the birds grow up.
     
         I suppose some things in nature are missed and other things are meant to be missed.

Gloomy Weather

    The weather these past couple days has been...rather gloomy.  But, of course, gloomy doesn't mean bad.  It just is a different flavor in the trend of weather.

    In fact I think that it is pretty nice to take an evening walk in the rain in your rain boots and with your umbrella.  There is a more silent and fresh atmosphere.  Something different that strikes the mind.

    But of course, this gloomy weather means that we can't do some things sport related and yard related.  So most of you out there will probably want it to end soon.

Rain

The rain pours down
Without mercy in the world outside
Join in and get soaked
By the silvery streaks of silk

Now huddle inside
Colorful blankets wrapped around you
Fix a cup of mint tea
Along-side a fire that fizzes with every

Raindrop

NATURE DIARY #5

6.11.2011 

"Let me feed you!"

     

     Recently I've been seeing the mother bird feed her babies.  When the mother comes, those little creatures will start making a huge ruckus and chirp like mad.  Then I see the mother jump to the edge of the nest and lean over.  Then two tiny gray beaks will protrude from the nest and open their mouths.  The mother then "feeds" them.  

        When she leaves, her offspring are once more silent.  

Midnight Shadow

Arrive to see the shadow slip,
Through the midnight atmosphere
You follow and you feel a nip,
On your cold ankle

When you look down,
There is an abandoned ash black cat
And the stray tugs at your gown,
To beckon you back home

Because it sees itself in you

Poem I like

"I sit at my window this morning where the world like a passerby, nods to me and goes."

- Rabindranath Tagore

        I like this poem because it gives me a feeling of understanding that time is passing and that the world is watching you as you watch it.

Nature Diary - #4

6.4.2011

Hatched Fuzzballs

They hatched! They hatched! The birdies finally hatched!

I climbed up a ladder to check if the birds hatched yet. When I looked, I saw two fuzzballs curled up in the nest, sleeping. I have to admit that the fuzzballs looked really ugly. I could slightly make out the fact that there were two birds but it was hard to tell. They haven't grown feathers yet.

After I took a few pictures, I retired down the ladder. I didn't want the mother to get so anxious about humans that she would abandon her babies.



I can't wait to watch how the birds grow up and learn how... ...

... ... To Fly.

*see NATURE DIARY to view entries in chronological order.

Nature Diary #3

6.2.2011

Tornado Warning

    Yesterday two tornadoes passed through Massachusetts.  I had a violin recital in Newton so I was on the lookout.  I was kind of secretly wanting to see the the tornadoes since I never seen one live, but in a way I didn't want to see them.

          I heard that some people had to go through psychiatry after seeing one of the tornadoes.  Lots of trees went down and roofs were blown away.

         In Newton, the remains of the tornadoes were lots of hard rain coming down.  I guess that is why today is colder than the past two weeks.

         I think you could see this event almost as if Nature is giving us a "Tornado Warning" to remind us how powerful she can sometimes be.  Don't curse this power but respect it.






*see NATURE DIARY to view entries in chronological order.