Rare Disease Awareness Day 2020

IMAGE CREDIT

Today is Rare Disease Awareness Day and as a way of paying homage to it, I've posted a "promo" image atop this entry.

This annual "holiday" was initially brought to my attention (through a 2018 Facebook posting by my acquaintance (Catherine C) and I blogged about it at time stating:

According to a number of sources, including NORD (The National Association for Rare Disorders), "In the U.S., any disease affecting fewer than 200,000 people is considered rare. This definition comes from the Orphan Drug Act of 1983 and is slightly different from the definition used in Europe. There are more than 7,000 rare diseases affecting 25-30 million Americans. In other words, one in ten Americans are suffering from rare diseases and more than half of them are children."

Beautiful Alternatives to Plastic Bags

AVAILABLE ON FINE ART AMERICA

Grateful to report I've received a notification from Fine Art America (FAA) that I've sold another tote from my dragonfly image collection (which can be seen in the screenshot from FAA which is posted directly above) to someone living in NYC.

The plastic bag ban will go into affect in our city on March 1st (in 2 days) and while a number of NYC-ers are already carrying totes, they can probably use another and this one is a beauty!

House Sparrows Watching

I came across an oldie but goodie Mutts comic strip (posted directly above) and it reminded me of a couple of house sparrows whom I saw in Central Park last Sunday.

Wednesday's Wisdom is from Mourning Doves

Zenaidura macroura ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN V1

Zenaidura macroura ARE HIGHLIGHTED IN V1

The Zenaidura macroura seen in the pictures atop this entry were taken yesterday from my kitchen window where I can see the outside wall of my rooftop garden.

Central Park's Snow Drops Begin Blooming! Crocuses's Foliage Awakens from Winter's Nap! (Tuesday's Truths WK 164)

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! The Snow Drops AKA Galanthus nivalis are starting to show their blooms from the grounds in Central Park (they are the white flowers featured in these photos) and the crocuses are beginning to awake from winter slumber.

Snow Leopard Sparks a Steve Jobs Memory

This past November when I had out of town guests, I was treated to a trip to the Central Park Zoo.

Up until that time I had been enthused about going to zoos as I always feel badly when I see caged animals but after watching an interview (which I've referenced in prior entries including one posted on 12-14-2019) with Jane Goodall where she discussed how zoos can raise awareness re a number of creatures, my attitudes have change.

I have confessed my change of heart within prior entries here on Blogger where I've discussed a number (more than ten) of wild birds (including Black Swans, Parrots, Pied Avocets, a Red-crested cardinal, a pair of Scarlet Ibises, a Superb Starling, a Taveta Golden Weaver, a Victoria Crowned Pigeon, and a couple of White-naped Cranes) whom I encountered during the aforementioned trip to the zoo.

During that visit to Central Park's zoo, I also came upon a Snow Leopard who can be seen in the images atop this entry.

Honoring George Washington's Actual B'day

Last Monday, February 17th, our nation celebrated Presidents' Day. It is a holiday that is celebrated here on the third Monday in February. The holiday of President's Day was originally established in 1885 in honor of President George Washington, and was traditionally celebrated on February twenty-second, the actual birthday date of George Washington, which is today.

According to history.com, "the holiday became popularly known as President's Day after it was moved as part of 1971's Uniform Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three day weekends for the nation's workers." Be that as it may, as I've just stated, George Washington was born on February the twenty-second.

On another note, George Washington has been linked to the creation of our American flag, and that is the reason I'm including a photo-ops of the United Staes's flag within this blog entry.

Lesson from a Junco

JUNCOES ARE IN "WORDS IN OUR BEAK"

I haven't seen much of the bird variety known by the name Junco hyemalis (Dark-Eyed junco), this  winter season so I was thrilled when a couple of them showed up at my place the other day. One of them is featured within the photographs included in this blog post.

The 4th Anniversary of Harper Lee's Passing (And Her Influence On Me)

IMAGE CREDIT

Today is the fourth anniversary of Harper Lee's death. I've paid homage to Ms. Lee's passing since the day it occurred (2-19-2016). This morning while doing some research I came across an interesting New York Post article (by Melkorka Licea, Isabel Vincent and Melissa Klein) re an apartment that she maintained in NYC. The photo atop my entry is from their piece.

As I've mentioned in my blog entries re Harper Lee, rarely is the time I encounter certain birds such as blue jays or mockingbirds and not think of her novel, To Kill A Mockingbird.

Monday's Musings

Today is Presidents Day, a holiday which I've written about it a few times in bygone years and this time, I feel I have nothing new to add to the conversation so I'll share a tidbit with you that I've just learned myself! On this day of February 16th in 1967, The Beatles released a single that featured Paul McCartney's, Penny Lane, on one side and John Lennon's, Strawberry Fields Forever, on the other.

In honor of the anniversary of the release of those songs, I've posted a You tube Video atop this entry which offers an interesting back story re McCartney's, Penny Lane.

Hippo Day 2020

Today, February 15th, marks the celebration of Hippo Day and I'm once again honoring it by giving a shout out to this amazing animal! According to a number of sources (including my 2/15/2018 blog post), hippopotamuses love water, which is why the Greeks named them the river horse.

While hippos love water, New Yorkers  and a few artists seem to love hippos!

Why do I say this?

For one thing, sculptures depicting this animal type of animal can be found within a playground in Central Park known as Safari Play Ground. A picture of one of these works of art is featured in the set of photographs atop this entry.

Valentine's Day 2020

A SIMILAR IMAGE IS FEATURED IN MY HT  ARTICLE

My visiting Cupid figurine featured in the image atop this entry (where he is standing amongst succulents that grow within my indoor garden) joins me in saying Happy Valentine's Day from my place to your place.

He has been coming to my place annually for a number of years now, therefore, you may recognize his face from prior entries here on Blogger or from an on line HT article that I wrote for in bygone years.

World Radio Day 2020

Today is World Radio Day, certainly worthy of the nod, at least for yours truly, for I am an avid radio listener; and I've also been a guest on two radio programs that are based in NYC.

My first time being interviewed on the radio took place at the studios for 1010 WINS, where I was interviewed by John Montone about how conditions with my eyesight influenced my kaleidoscopic art work (that can now be purchased through Fine Art America).

I wrote about my experience with John Monotone in one my first entries on my blog.

Valentine's day is the day after tomorrow!

SEEN IN V1 WORDS IN OUR BEAK

JAYS ARE FEATURED IN WORDS IN OUR BEAK

JAYS ARE FEATURED IN WORDS IN OUR BEAK

JAYS ARE FEATURED IN WORDS IN OUR BEAK

Roses are red,

Jays are blue.

Stories of 'em,

are in my bird books too!

Valentine's Day is the day after tomorrow! Therefore, Wednesday's Wisdom for today is this:

Thanks to amazing shipping options from various places, there is still time to get my three volume bird book series Words In Our Beak, for the flower and bird lover in your life!

MY "WORDS IN OUR BEAK" BOOK SERIES

Honoring Ellen 8/3/1954-2/11/2018 (Tuesday's Truths WK 163)

DEDICATION PAGE FOR V-2OF MY BOOK SERIES

Today marks the second anniversary of the passing of my childhood friend, Ellen McConnell Blakeman.

National Umbrella Day 2020

Today, February 10, is National Umbrella Day and in honor of the occasion, I'm posting a photo of a figurine holding an umbrella atop this entry.

According to a number of holiday themed sites, including National Today, "the origins of the utilitarian holiday remain a mystery, it’s been celebrated since at least 2004."

Not only does the umbrella help keep us dry from the rain, but it also protects us from the heat of the sun as evidenced in my next picture taken at a beach in Ocean Grove New Jersey nearly eight years ago.

National day goes on to proclaim, "Umbrellas can also be used as a fashion accessory. While the umbrella is primarily practical, they also decorate cocktails. These brightly colored paper umbrellas make for fun party favors especially when visiting sunny locations.

Raising Awareness re NF

Someone associated with a branch related to a Neurofibromatosis (NF) association outside of NY state (midwest) sent me this announcement (seen in the image atop this entry) re an outdoor event taking place in lower Manhattan today.

Valentine's Day Is One Week Away!

Valentine's Day is one week from now! The vintage valentine card seen in the first image is a nice reminder of the importance of the paper card.

Consider sending your "song of love" to your valentine by using my song-bird themed cards.

Throwback Thursday 2-6-2020

In honor of #ThrowbackThursday, I've posted some photographs of sculptures within this blog post that I took in Riverside Park South during bygone years.

Tuesday's Truths Week 162: We go out on a limb for those we love...

Cardinal Love 3

According to a web-page for The Phrase Finder (TPF), the meaning of the phrase "Go out on a limb," is "to put oneself in an isolated position in one's support of someone or something... the limb being talked about here is the branch of a tree and 'out on a limb' is an allusion to climbing trees and going just a bit further than is comfortable...."

Groundhog Day 2020

It's Groundhog Day and those who are not fans of winter (I don't mind it) are happy to know that neither NYC's groundhog (in Staten Island) Philadelphia's Punxatawney Phil, saw their shadow and folk lore has always seen this is a sign of an early spring.

Regarding seeing one's shadows, I wish I had not seen mine on January 18 2020 when I was taking photographs for an article I was writing about the first snowfall of the decade, because when I moved in order to not have it be in my picture, I fell and broke my greater tuberosity.

It's February!

As you may recall last year on February's first day, I mentioned (here on Blogger) that this month is known as National Bird Feeding Month. Holiday Insights (HI) points out the reason for this, "Mid winter is a tough time for backyard birds. Snow often covers their food source, while at the same time food supplies are dwindling. A reliable high energy supply of bird seed is essential, to provide the energy your backyard birds need to survive the long lasting extreme cold in February."

The photograph atop this entry where house sparrows are eating from a feeder in my garden was taken three years ago in February of 2017. As you can see HI is correct in pointing out that weather conditions in February (in certain parts of the world) can result in food sources being covered — even feeders!