National Peanut Day 2021

According to many holiday-themed web-sites, today is National Peanut Day. Over the years I've published posts on this blog about this event, so if you'd like to learn about it, please refernce them by clicking here.

On this National Peanut Day, I'm pleased to announce that I've complied a number of my photographs that feature various bird types who are enjoying peanuts I offer in a wreath style  feeder (which is in my garden), and I've created photo-comic strips.

Photo-comics, they are a means of sequential storytelling that use photographs rather than illustrations. The inspiration comes from photo-novels, also known as fumetti. They are popular in Italy and Latin America.

An example of one of my strips can can be seen in the image atop this entry. The bird type "show cased" in this image is a male House finch.

He (along with over twenty types of avian creatures) is included within my three volume hard cover book series, Words In Our Beak.

The goal of these books is to open readers to a simple understanding of the winged world and their environment. Set in a rooftop urban garden (mine) in New York City, my story is told in the voice of Cam, a female cardinal, who visits it. Words In Our Beak is directed to children and adults who are curious about birds, and want to learn about them from a unique perspective.

This series has received rave reviews and prior to the cornavirus pandemic, I was able to make public presentations (based on my books's content) at prominent institutions.

Hopefully now that restrictions are being lifted, I will have the opportunity to do that again but during the imposed hiatus preventing that type of assignment, I created my photo-comics. They feature a number of birds participating in a variety of activities and they are now complied into a digital, interactive book titled BIRD TALES.

It is dedicated to all birds and everyone who loves them. An interactive book for people of all ages to enjoy together and is now available via Apple Books.

Rough roads BUT progress is being made.... (Tuesday's Truths Episode 221)

Image Credit

 

Checking with this 221st segement of my Tuesday's Truths series re an update from my last entry here on Blogger which was published on Friday, 8-6-2021 and where I stated, "I am fully aware that I haven't published a blog post in a little over a month but I plan to be back in the not too distance future. Thanks for staying tuned, dear readers."

The update is this: It is with great regret that I had to pull back on keeping up with my blog for I enjoy sharing my content with others (which I began doing on the date of 12-31-2009) and I've been humbled when hearing about the joy and insights my posts have given to readers.

At this juncture, I'm thankful to say that my physical therapy which I'm doing in an effort to avoid knee replacement surgery is going well...

... and I should be able to return to blogging soon!

On another positive note, I've been able to move forward on a digital, interactive book which is titled, Bird Tales.

At this juncture, I can only offer Bird Tales in digital format, but I’m still excited as I’ve been able to make it interactive, and I’ve included sound effects.

I’m having a few tech glitches in sending it off to Apple Books and hope to resolve them sometime between Thursday, September 2nd and Labor Day, Monday, September 6th.

I pray everyone in my Blogger community will stay tuned re this new endeavor, knowing I have not given up on making public educational presentations based on content in my three hardcover book series, Words In Our Beak.

My other book project, Imperfect Strangers (a project I've discussed in a number of entries here on Blogger) is complete... 

VIEW ON VIMEO
VIEW ON YOU TUBE

....and now that oportunities that were diminished due to consequences of the cornavirus pandemic are opening up again, I'm actively seeking agent representaion.

Throwback Thursday: Ellen McConnell Blakeman Passed Away 3 Yrs + 1 Wk Ago

The text-based image atop this entry may look familar to you dear reader, as it is a copy of the dedication page for volume two of my book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

As you may have noted, volume two is dedicated to the memory of the dearly departed Ellen McConnell Blakemann, who died three years and one week ago on 2-11-2018. 

My book's dedication page indicates she was one of Cam's first fans and biggest suporters. Cam, a female Northern cardinal, is the narrator of these books in which she recounts her experiences of spending time in my rooftop garden, where the stories are set.

Non-Social Distancing House Sparrows's Scenario Needs a Caption!

The picture seen directly above was taken in my garden during the 2-1-2021 nor-easter, the House sparrow at the right is one I'm asking you to ponder as you contemplate a caption for this photo-op.

Here are some ideas:

1. "Sorry I'm late!"

2. "Save some for me!"

3. "There is always room for one more."

Or perhaps you can think of a different caption? On another note: Sparrows are one of many bird types who are featured within my three volume hard-cover book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

The goal of these books is to open readers to a simple understanding of the winged world and their environment. Set in a rooftop urban garden (mine) in New York City, my story is told in the voice of Cam, a female cardinal, who visits it. 

Words In Our Beak is directed to children and adults who are curious about birds, and want to learn about them from a unique perspective. 

These books are nice to give to someone who may be in quarantine or lockdown due to #COVID19 (cornavirus) as the stories in them can bring the outdoors into the homes of those who cannot go out and about. Moreover, they would make a great gift to give to love birds who love birds on Valentine's Day (which is tomorow).

A Lesson to Learn From Birds

THESE BIRD TYPES ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

THESE BIRD TYPES ARE FEATURED IN WIOB

I had two non-social distancing birds (a House sparrow and an American robin) stop by my garden the other day which surprised me as I have always heard these types of birds did not get along, so I did some research posing the question, "Do robins and sparrows get along?"

Here is what I found out: from a variety of sources. Despite their differences, sparrows and robins manage to get along pretty well. They can hang out in the same tree, they can even sit on the same branch, but the unwritten rule is to stay out of each others nest.

Not a bad thing for us humans to do during these tumultuous times of the cornavirus pandmeic and unrest due to issues associated with our 2020 preidential election in the United States.

On anothern note, dear reader, both of these bird types are featured in my three volume book series, Words In Our Beak.

MY BOOK SERIES

Remembering What Would've Been John Lennon's 80th Birthday

John Lennon's song, "Imagine," was the class song chosen for your truly's graduating class.

AND the "Imagine" circle (seen in the image directly above) honoring John Lennon is very near to where I live. Moreover, I've written about him in a number of blog posts as well as in an article for I Love The Upper West Side. BUT it slipped my mind that a couple of days ago, October 9th 2020, would've been his 80th birthday, or more correctly, it slipped my mind that a couple of days ago was October 9th!

It is SO hard to keep track of what day it is during this cornavirus pandemic but it's not to late to pay belated birthday homage to the dearly departed John Lennon.

Monday's Memo: 2020's Halloween Note-cards Are Now Available

JACK-O-LANTERN BIRDWATCHING

This past Saturday here on Blogger, I published an entry re my Halloween-themed totes and discussed the fact that on 9-22-2020, re the COVID-19 pandemic (cornavirus) the CDC stated "for people who were planning to go trick-or-treating on Halloween this year: don't..."   

And I pointed out the CDC urged people to "Avoid activities that are higher risk for spread," and to "Consider fun alternatives that pose lower risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19." 

Within that entry I featured images of my new line of Halloween-themed totes and concluded with a promise that I would publish post on 10-5-2020 (which is today) to offer information re my selection of my 2020 Halloween cards. After all, sending cards is a perfect way to celebrate Halloween safely.

My Halloween cards are sized 5" by 7" and produced by Finr Art America (FAA). They use digital offset printers and 100 lb paper that has a UV protectant. The image is semi-gloss and the inside of the card is matte and blank so one can write a message, but if you prefer, FAA can customize any text or message that you want to include.

The card featured in the image atop this posting is from a few years ago but by popular demand it is also available this year. The ones which are directly below all have matching canvas bags/totes/pouches (that are available in three sizes which is described in the aforementioned post).

ALL HALLOWS EVE

HALLOWEEN IN THE GARDEN

EIGHT LITTLE PUMPKINS

FOUR LITTLE PUMPKINS

JACK-O-LANTERNS SUNBATHING

JACK-O-LANTERNS LAUGHING

THE PUMPKIN CHOIR

I realize Halloween is twenty-one days from now and I don't like to rush the entrance of the holiday, but due to time needed for shipping (in the event you'd like to purchase items mentioned here), I thought it best to give a heads up now.

It's Saint Francis's Feast Day

 Today is the Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi. He is the patron saint of animals and environment and many web-sources concur, he could "be viewed as the original Earth Day advocate. Francis' devotion to God was expressed through his love for all of God's creation."

Soon it Will Be Halloween (27 Days)

In just a a little under one month's time, 2020's Halloween will be here. Last year on that holiday I was on the UES heading west when I encountered a woman wearing a panda bear mask. She can be seen in the image atop this entry.

Who could have known that less than one year's time, most every one throughout the United States and other parts of the world be (or should be) wearing face-masks to prevent the spread of a pandemic known as COVID-19 (the cornavirus).