Hi! My name is David and this is my personal blog on all my hobbies. From all things flora and fauna, to traveling, food, my collections, and green living. I hope you enjoy reading and learn something new!
Last week I went to Brazos Bend State Park in Rosharon, TX. It was a very nice fall day. The weather was cool and the bright sun was blocked by the light overcast. I primarily went to bird watch and look for migrating waterfowl but I was surprised to see a variety of reptiles and amphibians during this trip.
American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis,
2-week old hatchling at the visitors center.
Water Moccasin - Agkistrodon piscivorous,
sunning itself along the forested creek bank.
Broad-banded Water Snake - Nerodia fasciata confluens,
slithering through the wetland plants along the shore of Elm Lake.
American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis,
covered in duckweed.
Red-eared Slider - Trachemys scripta elegans,
we saw many of these throughout the park sunning themselves.
A juvenile Alligator is in this picture. Can you spot it?
American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis,
was napping peacefully.
American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis
American Alligator - Alligator mississippiensis, on of the many baby alligators around its mother.
Today, I was in Galveston, TX and stopped by the Starbucks on Harborside Drive. Its a nice Starbucks with a view of the cruise port. Sometimes you will see the cruise ships and many passengers making their way on and off the ships. The Starbucks had their display of the much anticipated Verismo which is now available for purchase at Starbucks stores nationwide (and on starbucksstore.com). I have never had a coffee maker and always just buy my coffee at Starbucks but Im really excited about this product. You can make a variety of quality drinks easily at home!
Verismo 580 display. Its a very sleek and stylish coffee maker.
Available in: black, silver, burgundy, and champaign.
The pods. You don't have to be a barista to make good expresso anymore!
Verismo also comes in two sizes:
V580 & V585
As I mentioned above you can make a variety of drinks with this machine. This is done by using the different pods which come in: Caffe Latte, Expresso, and different roast and blends. There is also a milk pod. Then you can mix in different ingredients to make other drinks. Here are the recipes for those (from the Starbucks Store website):
Espresso
Makes one 1 fluid oz. beverage
One (1) Verismo™ Espresso Pod
Latte
Makes one 6 fluid oz. beverage
One (1) Verismo™ Espresso Pod One (1) Verismo™ Milk
Pod
Americano
Makes one 8.2 fluid oz. beverage
One (1) Verismo™ Espresso Pod Release the pod and
close the handle with no pod in the machine Press the brew button for 7.2 fluid
oz. of hot water For a more intense flavor, press the brewed button a second
time to stop the flow of water at your desired level.
Caramel Macchiato
Makes one 6-7 fluid oz. beverage
Put 2 tsp. vanilla syrup in a cup Brew one (1)
Verismo™ Espresso Pod into the cup Brew one (1) Verismo™ Milk Pod into the cup Drizzle
the top of beverage with 2 tsp. of caramel sauce
Mocha
Makes one 6-7 fluid oz. beverage
Put 1 Tbsp. mocha sauce in a cup Brew one (1)
Verismo™ Espresso Pod into the cup Brew one (1) Verismo™ Milk Pod into the cup Stir
until fully mixed.
Vanilla Latte
Makes one 6-7 fluid oz. beverage
Put 1 Tbsp. vanilla syrup in a cup Brew one (1)
Verismo™ Espresso Pod into the cup Brew one (1) Verismo™ Milk Pod into the cup Stir
until fully mixed
Hot Cocoa
Makes one 9-12 fluid oz. beverage
Pour one (1) envelope hot cocoa mix into a cup Brew two (2)
Verismo™ Milk Pods into the cup Stir until fully mixed
So there is a lot you can
do with this little machine. Im sure there will be more to come from
Verismo in the future. I will be definitely getting one of these
machines for my new office. I cant wait!!
Our second hike during our trip to Glacier National Park was up to Iceberg Lake. It was a 4.8 mile hike to the lake with an abundance of wonderful views and wildlife to be seen along the way.
Black Bear - Ursus americanus, up on the mountain side busy foraging for food.
Moose - Alces alces, down in the valley.
The beginning of the trail was showing the signs of fall.
Moose - Alces alces (bull)
The low morning clouds were covering the mountain tops but the view was still stunning.
We passed many interesting alpine plants. They look like a tiny forest by themselves.
Spruce Grouse - Falcipennis canadensis
Doll's Eye - Actaea rubra
A waterfall down in the valley.
Golden Columbine - Aquilegia flavescens, we saw many plants on the rocky slopes but this was the only one blooming.
Red-tailed Chipmunk - Neotamias ruficaudus
Our destination is in view! (the patch of snow in the distance)
Iceberg Peak is getting closer. The peak reaches 9145 ft above sea level and 3000 ft above Iceberg Lake.
Nearing Iceberg Lake we came across an area that seems to have a microclimate. Many wildflowers that were already finished blooming everywhere else were blooming here as if it were spring time.
Bear Grass - Xerophyllum tenax. This was the only specimen we saw blooming during our entire trip! Most were already finished blooming and setting seed.
Bighorn Sheep - Ovis canadensis
Mule Deer - Odocoileus hemionus
Almost there!!
Iceberg Lake
Iceberg Lake was beautiful! A picture cannot capture the beauty of this place. It is so majestic and serene. You really have a sense of peace while gazing upon the lake and breathing in the fresh air.
Last week I got back from my trip to Glacier National Park, Montana. It was a wonderful trip! I spent lots of time with my family doing hikes, relaxing at the cabin, and seeing the many beautiful sights.
The first hike we did was up to Avalanche Lake. It was a two mile hike with an elevation gain of 500ft.
Avalanche Lake map
Avalanche Gorge
The very interesting bark of the Black Cottonwood - Populus trichocarpa
A waterfall half way up to the lake.
The trail passes through lots of beautiful woodland.
I love how the moss covers the forest floor.
Western Rattlesnake Orchid - Goodyera oblongifolia
Greene's Mountain Ash - Sorbus scopulina
Stellar's Jay - Cyanocitta stelleri, was very friendly.
It must be used to being fed by tourist...
Cascade Aster - Eucephalus ledophyllus, was blooming almost everywhere we went around Glacier National Park.
Pearly Everlasting - Anaphalis margaritacea, was another very common wildflower.
For my past two birthdays I have not had a birthday cake...
But the other day while shopping at Whole Foods I saw a cake that I would really like to have as a birthday cake!
It is a simple Vegan Carrot Cake.
I know it doesn't seem like anything special but I like carrot cake and I like simple nice things for my birthday. Also I love Whole Foods. Sometimes I miss certain food items like cookies, ice cream, and other sweets and thankfully Whole Foods has a great selection of items for me to choose from.
I recently moved to beautiful Miami, Florida!!! I love the outdoors. I grow many types of plants; mostly carnivorous plants, orchids, and native wild flowers. I have been keeping marine aquariums for around 10 years. I like to bird watch, read, paint, and craft. Im vegan. I love fashion. I like to collect many different things.