Why did the Chicken Cross the Road?

It is important to remember during this post that I live in a city of 2 1/2 million people and on the campus of a large university (around 12,000 students).

So one day, I am walking around campus and I see this...

That's right! Two chicken playing in a ditch. Where do I live again?!?!?

Walking among Giants

Every once in a while, when the floor is mostly clean, it is nice to get out of the bowl and go for a walk.

Or at least, it was nice until the giants started to harass me.

Bird Feeder

How to make a bird feeder, Asian style...

Find one flat basket, add legs. Now place leftover flatbread inside. Now you have your very own bird feeder.

Eating Grapes

I guess that is one way to feed your baby grapes.

Camera Hog

Joe has always loved the camera. See the camera, strike a pose.

Because who can resist that adorable face.

Making Kabobs

These pictures were taken at South Mountain, but they could have been taken anywhere around town. Kabobs are everywhere.

First, you have to cut the meat to put on the kabob.

Then it needs to be put on the skewers. They alternated meat and fat.

Next, you place them on a stack ready to cook.

Somehow, I don't have a picture of them cooking the kabobs. I will look for one and post it later.

Honey for Sale

On the way to South Mountain, there are a number of bee keepers. Most of them have a tent or other shelter with honey for sale in front.

There are also lots and lots of bees.

Each box contains bee hives.

And they are kept in neat rows waiting to be harvested.

Turtle Race

Joe and Betty have a race around the bowl. That is Betty on top and Joe at the bottom of the bowl. I can't believe Betty is winning.

That's more like it. Joe pulls ahead for the win.

Note - This post is from Summer 2007.

South Mountain - Miscellaneous

I have a few pictures from South Mountain that didn't fit any place else, so here goes....

This is a view of the mountains from a distance.

This is a collection of yurts. There are people in the countryside that live in yurts, but these are tourist yurts. Visitors can eat lunch inside or spend the night.

Trees, lots of trees.

Fresh snow and a moving stream.

A view of the mountain and trees.

South Mountain - Cute Kids

I can't resist posting a couple of pictures of cute kids from South Mountain. On my first trip to South Mountain, we took a tour bus. Also on the tour bus was a pair of twin girls, they had a lot of fun playing on the grasslands.

Here is a little boy that I think lives at South Mountain. He is completely absorbed in something, but I am not sure what.

Betty

When we bought Joe, we also bought another turtle, Betty. Joe is a very active and personable turtle. Betty, not so much. During her short life, she most laid around and did nothing. For example, sleeping on a rock.

Or floating in the water. I have to wonder if something was wrong with Betty from the start.

South Mountain - Travelling Bathroom

I think this is one of the most interesting public restroom I have ever seen. Women go in the front door, men go in the back door. I wish I had some pictures of the inside.

South Mountain - Waterfall

I love watching the waterfall at South Mountain.

From the water streaming down over a break in the rocks at the top.

To crashing in a spray of water at the bottom.

Exercising

Joe's style of exercising. First, pose for the camera. "Yeah, I know I am cute."

Then stretching.

And finally a swim.

South Mountain - Grassland Horses

There were a number of horses up on the grasslands at South Mountain.

Some were enjoying a yummy lunch.

Others were out for a run.

South Mountain - Worker's Home

South Mountain is definitely a picturesque area, but there are also some hard realities close by.

There are a series of small rundown buildings where the people who work in the area live.

Here is one of their wagons.

There is even a yurt in the little village.

The living conditions do not look comfortable, but they are not the worst that I have seen.

A Walk on the Wild SIde

Even a turtle needs to go for a walk once in a while.

Oops! I am almost at the edge, what do I do now?

Just keeping walking. Just keep walking. Just keep walking, walking, walking.

South Mountain - Horses

South Mountain has a lot of horses.

Grazing.

A Man and his horse, a special bond.

Horses rented for riding by city folk.

Getting off the horse.

Horse Parking Lot.

Horse Cart horses.

Horse cart driver.

Waiting horse cart.