Monday's science class hike........

Today's class, August 8th, focused on the Manhattan Bomb Project, especially David Hawkins, Oppie's friend and personal assistant, and my friend for over 30 years.


So, today, 22nd July, I organized a hike for those senior scientists who could walk............that meant not taking four of my class, but I will take them in my car sometime soon for a scenic drive.

Galisteo Basin Preserve, a nearby beauty spot,  was the place we went to, leaving the center around 8.45.

After parking our cars and checking that everyone had water, I fed the goldfish in the huge water trough, and we began our hike - Joan, Bob, John, Linda and her sister, Doris, and me................................and, as it was a somewhat cooler morning, we walked for about 45 minutes, then explored one of the many beautiful arroyos.

The rocks were so beautiful and everyone had a super time............then, after about 20 minutes looking for the best pebbles, Doris and Joan, both fatiqued, headed back to the cars.

After a few more minutes, the remaining group went back to the trail and walked slowly back to our starting point.

When we got to the cars, Bob and Joan were there, waiting, but Doris was nowhere to be seen.

Making sure that Lind and her sister, Bob and Joan, were ok, I told them to return to the center, leaving John and I to search for Doris.
An hour later, we found her, wandering around in an arroyo.

Phew!
That experience scared me!! 

My mum and dad

Newlyn.......where I was born.......1942

Botallack Tin Mine................my favorite!

St. Michael's Mount, just off Marazion Beach

Mum and Dad's wedding

Cutting the cake..................

Whenever I see a bird floating around in the sky, I think of my dad.....and that happens almost every day during my early morning walk...

I remember so well the day he took me to the beach for my birthday walk, Monday, July 14th, 1947.................when I found a wishing rock and a beautiful piece of amber.

Mid July.......The early morning walk............

6.10 a.m.

As the sun was rising and lighting up everything around me, the first thing I spotted outside my front gate was this beautiful bird, then my morning bunny who  said 'Hello' as it sped past, charging into the undergrowth.

Avoiding an early morning black beetle
crossing my path and then staring at the elongated shadow of my body, I felt so comfortable walking down the front path to start my mile and a bit walk. Forecast to be close to a 100' around nine o'clock, the temperature was just right, and, no wind! Great!

Then, charging across my path I saw an orangy-tan colored spider, the like of which I have never seen before. Damn it, I thought, I didn't bring my camera with me.

So, as soon as I got home, close to 7, I looked up NM spiders in my computer...........and discovered that the spider was a BROWN RECLUSE!!! And that spider, if it bit me, would cause a big health problem!!

WOW!!


Later, near the end of the afternoon, I took a short drive to Galisteo Basin Preserve where I fed the goldfish!

(I wish this weather would change.........too many very, very hot days and NO rain! How the wild plants, trees, birds, mammals and smaller forms of life survive, beats me.)A mid evening drive to Pecos (about twenty miles north of Eldorado) where it had just rained and where the temperature was mid 60s,  we had a super picnic..........................

And the next morning, see what Jeannine found in our garden!!

My science site............

..........if anyone is interested .this is where I've stored a lot of my science articles and activities:

Type in:

About John Paull

It should take you to

 Johnpaullsscience.site.

Fingers crossed!

Everything is there.

 

My 77th birthday....

.......began with a walk ar 6.20 a.m. around the block as the sun rose with Jeannine. Super walk, too, although early for the ants to be out and about but we did see a little bunny scampering around................

Then, a very tasty egg and bacon and toast brekkie and two cups of steaming  hot, followed by watering all the needy plants and bushes and trees (and they were desperate), a lie down with Fif and Berie, then a really hot, relaxing shower, and eventually off to Albuguerge.........................stopping first at the beautiful red rocks for some pictures, lunch at Pei Wei (a bowl of delicious hot and sour soup, and crab whatever the're called) , then Target shopping, for this and that and cat food, of course,  and, as the temperature hovered around the mid 90s, into the car and, 70 miles later, back home by 3........

Mid evening yummee birthday dinner in the beautiful back garden after a solo walk around the block, watching the busy ants as I walked, hundreds of them busy collecting food for their home community............a fab, fab day for an old bald-headed Brit's birthday..!

And...it rained ay 8 o.clock!! YEAH!!!!!!

SEE!! I can jump!!

Brekkie.......

Dinner...

My Senior Scientist class at the Adams Senior Center...........

Now entering its second year of weekly science classes, I do look forward each Monday to interacting with my Senior Scientists.

The participants, all with really interesting academic/professional backgrounds, appear to so enjoy talking with each other, seeing what's in my pocket museums,  and learning about Mother Nature's delights....................

This week's class (July 15th) focuses on celebrating Sara's 87th. birthday, breaking and releasing a star on her behalf, reading Steinbeck's description of his favorite teacher, sharing my observations on the ants that live around us, then a science quiz....................oh, and a group scientific search for meteor dust!!

Sara's star.................

Sara enjoying the cakes brought in by Nancy.........................

I shall also tell them some good mouse stories............................. 

Birthday balloons for me from Bruce.......

This coming Monday, July 22nd, I'm taking the group to Galisteo for a walk......I think they'll like it.

They did - and found lots of really beautiful pebbles...............................