Weekly Roundup 42: Pebbling

As evidence that medium-sized flightless birds can teach humans something about relationships, please consider the concept of pebbling.

This "love language" that's all over social media began with literal stones. Gentoo penguins often mate for life. During breeding season, the male will select a perfect little pebble and present it to the female. Once accepted, it becomes part of the rocky nest the birds will build on the ground together.

Even with (or maybe because of?) all the words humans have at our disposal, communication can be a tricky thing. Enter the metaphorical pebble. These small tokens of kindness, affection, and love might include texting a funny .gif or meme, sending a card, buying a coffee, collecting some beautiful autumn leaves, recommending a good book, and, yes, finding a smooth, pretty stone...anything that says "I'm thinking of you and want to brighten your day."

A lot of people in the world right now seem to be trying to convince us it's okay to treat each other badly. I do not agree. So, over the next few weeks, I'm going to try focus more on the pebbles and less on...well, you know, that other stuff.

Halloween is tomorrow! However you choose to celebrate, or not, I hope you have a safe and fun holiday and get only the best candy in your trick or treat bag.

July Good Things

Welcome to the second half of 2021! Here are some things I'm enjoying these days:

A visit to the local butterfly house

My new crane birdbath and copper cattails
(the birds don't use it, though--probably because it's metal,
and the water gets really hot!)

Golden zucchini blossoms

Kayaking through quiet coves at Horsetooth Reservoir

Ferret Cam: 

Native black-footed ferrets were thought to be extinct by the 1950s, but were rediscovered in Wyoming in 1981. Since then, conservation efforts have increased the population and continue to support this species. Our local Discovery Museum has a live ferret cam. A lot of the time, nothing happens, but it's exciting when the little guy pops out of that hole! Here's more info about black-footed ferret history:

What good things are happening for you mid-year?

The Year of the Ox

This week marks the start of the Lunar New Year celebration. Although I have no Asian heritage, I love this holiday because it feels like a second fresh start for the year. Plus, the new year begins on the night of the new moon, which is symbolically interesting.

February 12, 2021 ushers in the Year of the Ox. Oxen are associated with hard work, diligence, determination, and discipline. I did not know this when I chose discipline as my word for the year, so I'm chalking that up to a happy coincidence.

Reflecting the ox's steady influence, 2021 will hopefully be a calmer, more predictable year, which sounds good to me. Additionally, it will be a year in which hard work pays off. It may feel tough and methodical, but with patience, it can be transformative. It's also a time to be organized and follow a consistent routine, perhaps by using a planner! 

I wish you lots of good fortune in the Year of the Ox! Work hard, stay the course, and hopefully we'll all have success stories to share in the coming months.

A to Z Joy: Whales

This may be strange for someone growing up in a land-locked state like Colorado, but I've always been fond of whales. From their whiskery chins to their iconic tail flukes, these giant marine mammals fascinate me.

Whales are divided into two groups based on their physiology for feeding: baleen (the strainers) and toothed (the grabbers). The current tally for whale species is 41. (Orcas are not considered true whales but belong to the same family as dolphins.) At almost 20 pounds/9 kilograms, sperm whales have the largest brains on earth--six times heavier than the average human brain.

Narwhals, the so-called Unicorn of the Sea, are super interesting. The spiral tusk is actually an elongated canine tooth, which can be 10 feet long and have up to 10 million nerve endings inside.

I always assumed the name "narwhal" had something to do with the tusk, but the word comes from Old Norse and means "corpse whale," because their color resembles the skin of a drowned sailor. Lovely, right?

Many species of whales communicate by songs, which are not "built-in" like mating calls but must be learned. The longest and most complex songs belong to the male humpbacks. According to whales.org,

Their songs are beautiful, complex, and ever-evolving. Their songs can last for up to 30 minutes and feature various themes sung in a sequence that is common to all males in the same breeding area that year. The sounds they sing span 7 octaves, nearly the entire range of a piano. During the winter mating season, they repeat their songs over and over for hours at a time and gradually change them as the breeding season progresses. Each year a new song is produced.

Here's a short clip to help you chill out on a Monday:

A to Z Joy: Dogs

Cat lovers, you had your "C" day yesterday, and I completely respect that. I have nothing against cats. But my domesticated mammal of choice--aside from my husband--is a dog.

Studies of mitochondrial DNA suggest that wolves and dogs diverged about 100,000 years ago, with canine domestication occurring perhaps 20,000-40,000 years ago in Eastern Eurasia and/or Western Eurasia. Or perhaps the Middle East. Or Europe. No one is completely sure. But any way you slice it, that's a long history of partnership between two species.

I've almost always had a dog, and I hope that doesn't change. They've often been rescue dogs with their share of quirks, but lovable nonetheless. They have brought me many moments of joy and companionship.

Here's our current mutt, Walter:

And a dog I saw sitting in a driver's seat, which cracked me up:

And a funny gif:

That is all.