GameNight 4!

Yesterday we held the fourth installment of our GameNight, hosting about 35 residents (which seems to be the usual number, though different residents appear each time alongside the regulars). This time I chose to whip up about four gallons of jambalaya (continuing the Cajun theme) and four apple pies. A number of our residents also offered to help me in the kitchen this time...

...and that made the work much more fun. One of the residents also made an enormous batch of delicious dumplings, so that introduced a bit of potluck to the event which we hope to further foster.

Close to chow time, the buzzards began to circle

The smaller of my two pots of jambalaya

The apple pies (with vanilla ice cream) were gobbled up as soon as they escaped the oven

Spectators eat while a few play something on the XBox 360

A smaller group eats while playing Pictionary

Ten of us, with a few curious on-lookers, play a rousing game of Apples to Apples (making its GameNight debut)

It was another great night full of fun and laughter!

2009 Anniversary Vacation Supplement: Signs

We've finally arrived at our last anniversary vacation post and hopefully it will provide a few chuckles. These are signs (or just bits of writing), gathered throughout the trip, which made us smile for one reason or another. Sometimes it was an English spelling or grammar mistake, sometimes it was a wording choice, and sometimes it was just something that had an unintended alternate meaning.

The three enormous characters above this store read: "YAK MEAT"

Say that three times fast!

Where we went for some fine dinning.

The fire department was not happy about the services of this place.

Yes, I can see how the patchy grass with three fake pandas would be considered an "important ecosystem".

Much fun to be had in this one, so I'll just stay quiet.

The sign was supposed to read "falling rocks", but instead had me wary of every pebble
("A rock! Run!")

I like that Kodak has sponsored this shades-wearing panda to prevent smoking

Plenty to giggle at here, but nothing tops "BBQ Lamp"

And we have proof.

You saw this sign on day 5, but I had to bring it back for this supplement.
"Tasted pork"! "Broken Reserved Vegetable"!

An ATM usage agreement. I like "dubious things" and "keep your PIN by yourself" best :>

Tasteful clothes for the surfing Scotsman
(Dictionary note: "dude" originally referred to a man excessively concerned with his clothes, so this is kind of a brilliant name, but still funny)

Just take as many as you can carry!

I wonder if the Crown Jewels feel the same way?

But, for some, love is best expressed through bothering!

A sequel that, thankfully, Clint Eastwood turned down.

This sign wanted people to line up in a single row, but the literal results are hilarious to imagine.
("If you stop rowing, we're all doomed!")

2009 Anniversary Vacation Supplement: Wildlife

We saw quite a lot of wildlife during the vacation - not just yaks and pandas - so this post will fill in some of the blanks.

First, the non-birds...

Moths infiltrate a dandelion!

Is it me, or does this bee have a frighteningly long stinger (coming out of its head!?)?

I'm pretty sure this cute fellow is a vole
(and I'm pretty sure you'll have to click the picture to see him)

The same kind of "cold water fish" (also known as "Songpan Naked Carp") we ate on day 4


"Cold water fish" are the only species of fish in Jiuzhaigou - and Five Flower Lake is teeming with them
(Click here for the 720p HD version, then click the "HD" icon)

A tadpole army massing
("They mean to win Wimbledon!")

And now the birds. I believe I've correctly identified most of these, but there are a few that elude me. If you can help, just let me know!

A Chinese Pond Heron, hiding in the reeds

A pair of White Wagtails (one out of focus in the background) scouting a parking lot

A Great Spotted Woodpecker

Unknown bird #1

Unknown bird #1 at another angle

A Chestnut Thrush serenading us from the bushes

Two Mallards (which were everywhere)

The same two Mallards practicing their synchronized preening routine


Mallard preening in motion!
(Click here for the 720p HD version, then click the "HD" icon)

A Raven scavaging for lunch


Yes, you too can now watch a Raven dig through trash!
(Click here for the 720p HD version, then click the "HD" icon)

Unknown bird #2

Unknown bird #3

A better shot of unknown bird #3

A Grey-Headed Bullfinch

Another Grey-Headed Bullfinch

Unknown bird #4
(he looks like some kind of chickadee here, but...)

...here you can see that unknown bird #4 actually has a tuft

A Buff-Barred Warbler

A White-Browed Laughingthrush

A peacock! (Okay, this wasn't taken "in the wild", it was in the panda research base)

2009 Anniversary Vacation Supplement: Flowers

Just a few of our favorite flower photos from the trip...