- My Policeman by Bethan Roberts
- The Story Teller by Mario Vargas Llosa
- Thunderstruck by Erik Larsen
- My Year With Sammy by Libby Sommer
- The Adventures of Miss Barbara Pam by Paula Byrne
- Leora’s Letters, The Story of Love and Loss for an Iowa Family During World War II by Joy Neal Kidney with Robin Grunder
- Miss O’Keeffe by Christine Taylor Patten and Alvaro Cardona-Hine
- Courage & Defiance, Stories of Spies, Saboteurs, and Survivors by Deborah Hopkinson
- Memory Maps by Lisa St Aubin de Teran
- Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
- Siddartha by Hermann Hesse
Author: Janet McKee
CONFLICT BETWEEN BIRDS AND PEOPLE
It was in May 2017 that I first mentioned conflict between birds and people (https://somethingovertea.wordpress.com/2017/05/03/trees-take-a-long-time-to-grow/). At the time I was horrified to note that three tall trees growing in a narrow garden outside a block of flats had been felled. It wasn’t only the loss of trees that upset me, but that only a few weeks before I had observed AfricanSacred Ibises and Cattle Egrets coming to roost in three tall trees growing next to a block of flats at the end of the day. Some of the latter had fledglings in their nests, while others were flapping their wings whilst firmly gripping the slim branches in the afternoon breeze. Doubtless residents had complained of both the noise and the mess made by the birds.
The Natal fig tree in our garden hosts well up to twenty Hadeda Ibises every night – as do other large…
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May 25th – The Day in Review
May 25, 1970 – the birth of our 2nd son, Andrew, in Mt. Carmel Hospital, Churchtown, Dublin, Ireland
May 25, 1970 -In hospital waiting for labor to begin, I received the very welcome news that I had finally been awarded my PhD in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.. Andrew was born 3 hours later.
May 25, 2023 – here I am in an “old folks home” in Seattle Washington!
Time flies when you are having fun!
Ready for a Swim in the Indian Ocean
Photo from ancient history
Harbor Seals, Tidewater Glaciers and Climate Change
Climate change reading.
This post is dedicated to the late Dr. Vera Alexander, marine scientist, equestrian, musician, philanthropist and much more. It was WC’s privilege to serve as a marine technician on the R/V Acona in 1967 on a cruise where Dr. Alexander, a newly minted PhD, did some of the original research on the relationship between Harbor Seals and tidewater glaciers. Vera Alexander taught WC about the importance of curiosity in life and science, a lesson WC still cherishes today.

If you’ve been on a ship in a glacial fjord, up near the snout of a tidewater glacier, you know that they seem to be as sterile as the moon. It’s not just the freezing cold air flowing down the glacier, or the barren rock walls framing the seawater. There’s no sign of life in the water, either.
Except for the…
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Finding Old Diaries
I have just discovered a travel diary kept by my mother in 1935. I think I will make this my subject for the next few blog entries. Stay tuned.
What’s Going On?

Photo taken in Milford New Hampshire, approx. 1980. One of my nieces had a herd of sheep, including “Julia”. whom I purchased from a farmer in Peterborough. I had a grand idea of using Julia’s lovely fleece in my knitting and weaving projects. This photo shows Carla examining the fleeces from her bounteous herd. I might add that the herd had a habit of escaping and wandering down the road to visit numerous neighbors. And Carla’s dad (my brother-in-law) had “words” to say about THAT.
OUR MENSCH

This came to me through my first cousin, Spencer Turner, It was posted by a person named, Donna Apter, who I do not even know, but it points out what kind of a person our next president, Joe Biden is, and it is well worth reading. No Joe may not have a silver tongue, but we all know he has a heart of gold, showing Love instead of hate for ALL Americans. He is well known all over the world and is able to be friends with all persons in Congress, not making enemies with all; this is what America needs right now to undo the harm done to our great country over almost four years.
HERE IS THE ORIGINAL POST
”The story I’m about to share with you about Joe Biden is special — in fact, I’m fairly certain I’m the only living person left who actually witnessed it…
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Japanese-Americans | the Nisei in WWII, part one (1)
Nisei soldiers
Smitty held the Nisei in very high regard and I would be remiss in neglecting to tell their story. Beside, one of these men might have been directly responsible for the safe return of my father. In reality, it would be near impossible to relate a story of the Pacific War without mentioning their service. Some of this unique intelligence force worked ‘behind the scene’ stateside U.S.A. or Australia, but many were up front and fighting at and behind enemy lines.
Smitty always had extreme appreciation for the courage, resilience and down-right crazy stunts they pulled off. They were capable of going behind the lines to acquire information or cut into the radio lines and all the while they remained quite aware that their own units might mistake them for the enemy when they returned. This did happen more than once.
Most everyone is aware of whom the…
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A Sunny Scene from Long Ago

Powerscourt, Enniskerry, Ireland