#yes they’re growing his own avocado from a seed

[letraspal]

🍓

[thiswasinevitableid]

Taste of Home (Indruck)

Prompt for the 13th was: strange harvest

Most days, Duck isn’t too worried about the dirt on his hands or the bits of leaves that stick to his clothes. Most days, he’s not about to meet with a reclusive, wealthy donor to the Kepler Botanical Gardens who has specifically requested Duck be present. 

When he enters the meeting room, Thacker is waiting for him along with a tall, pale-haired man sporting red glasses.

“Ah, here’s Duck now.” Thacker smiles. 

“Sorry, uh, thought we weren’t meeting until-”

“-One. You’re correct, I have a habit of getting a bit, ah, ahead of things t times.” The man offers a wide smile that’s polite but also gives Duck the heebie-jeebies.

“Duck, this here is Mr. Cold. He’s one of the garden’s longest standin supporters. He’s got a project for us, and asked that you be the one in charge of it.”

“I was quite impressed with your work on the native plant section, and I’m told you headed the transplant and maintenance of the tree specimens in the New Zealand section, which is no mean feat.”

“Thanks, I’m real proud of both. What do you have in mind? Is it an exhibit?”

“A private collection. Come, let me show you.” Mr. Cold unrolls a set of plans as Duck shoots a glance at Thacker.

“Didn’t know we did that sort thing.”

“We do for Mr.Cold. Whelp, I gotta go lead a tour. Mr. Cold, I leave you in Duck’s capable hands.”

He joins the taller man in front of the plans; they’re for a garden within a greenhouse, the structure as angular and distinct as the man requesting it. He knows the greenhouse hs Cold’s name above it, is usually used as a teaching space

“I imagine you think me rather selfish for requesting to use your space in such a way.” Mr. Cold doesn’t look up from where he’s making final notes on the paper, as if the answer is a foregone conclusion. 

“Think it’s kinda strange, but I ain’t about to rule on it bein selfish until you tell me what I’m actually doin.”

“I have several species of trees, flowers, and shrubs that I need grown. They are, ah, rather difficult to cultivate anywhere other than their native home, and I am not a skilled gardener at the best of times. Hence my seeking out someone who, I presume, has not killed multiple succulents in the last two months.” The man looks a little ashamed, then clears his throat, “the plants I am asking you to grow are the only specimens of their kind on earth.”

“How’d you get them, then?” Duck tries to keep the suspicion out of his voice, but this feels more and more like some rich guy made an impulse purchase of something that should be in a seed bank or species ark somewhere.

“I brought small specimens over from my home, which is where they grow. But I couldn’t keep them alive, and they were already rare. Last I heard they were all wiped out by an, ah, an illness. I stored seeds from my specimens in hopes of one day regrowing them.”

Duck looks at the diagram closely; the plant’s are actually sketched in, not just noted by name and the number of eraser marks suggest Mr. Cold spent a long time planning out exactly where each one went.

“You’re askin us to do all this because you’re homesick?”

“Yes. I have been away from home for a long, long time. The Kepler gardens have been a refuge for me. Lately I’ve been drawn to the woodland and prairie type sections.”

“I helped with a lot of those.”

Mr. Cold turns to him with a smile, “I know. That is another reason I requested you. But, before we go any further, I must make something clear; these specimens they mean...they are so, so precious to me. And secrecy is a must, for reasons I can only half explain. They would be solely under your care and protection. If that is not a responsibility you wish to take, I understand entirely.”

Behind the red glasses, Duck can just see a glint of hope. 

“Think I’m up to the challenge.”

“Wonderful” Mr. Cold claps his hands together, “in that case, there is not a moment to lose. Here, this is everything you need.” He produces a briefcase, inside which sits ten packets of seeds and three pits, bout the size of an avocado pit.”

“All the information I have on ideal growing conditions is in the attached notebook, and the seeds are labeled. If you have any questions, ny at all, my phone number is in there s well.”

 He pauses, smiles, and murmurs to himself, “it's been awhile since I gave anyone my phone number.”

Duck opts to ignore the stealthy glance at his arms and carefully takes the case, “Thanks, this’ll all be real helpful. 

------------

He doesn’t see his new patron (as Juno calls Mr. Cold) for a week. When he does, he’s on his belly, checking for any sign of sprouts in the greenhouse. 

“How goes the growing?” Mr. Cold asks from the direction of Duck’s feet. 

The gardener rolls over and sits up, “Not much to report, just trying to keep an eye on ‘em so I don’t miss anythin important.”

Mr. Cold offers his hand, helping Duck up, “I appreciate the care you’re taking, Duck. I hope it isn’t cutting into your other work too badly.”

“Had to move somethings around, but that's just the nature of this kind of work.”

Mr. Cold chuckles, “Pun intended?”

“Uh, I guess.”

“Oh. Your, h, your lunch time is coming up right? I was wondering if you would let me take you to lunch as an, ah, extra thank you?” He’s spinning a small ring on his finger, the shyness almost charming, and Duck felt neutral at best about the sandwich he brought today.

“Sure, thanks.”

Mr. Cold grins, “Oh good. Where would you like to go? I hear the crystal palace has a lovely lunch.”

“The fancy Japanese place? Pretty sure they got a dress code.”

“Brush off the dirt and you look completely respectable.”

Duck raises an eyebrow, “I was talkin about you.”

They both stare down at the classy but still very clear pajama pants Mr. Cold is wearing. 

“Fair point. How do you feel about Indian food?”

---------------------------------

Duck’s stepped into some sort of painting. And here he thought he was just wandering into the birch grove. 

Indrid (“”I really prefer that name”) is laying on his back on a bench. Sun streams between the branches, falling across his face, making it all angle and shadow in ways Duck wants to sit and study. His silver hair is ruffling in the breeze, and his glasses are pushed up his forehead. Eyes shut and hands folded on his stomach, he reminds Duck of the paintings in fairytales of someone waiting for true loves kiss. 

He’s worried he might be the one to give it.

They’re having lunch once a week at least now, the awkwardness of the first time melting away as Duck got going on a tangent about dandelions only to find Indrid, elbows on the table and chin in his hands, listening to him so intently he blushed on reflex. Then he was giggling as Indrid pulled a custom-made curly straw out of a small tin in order to drink his Mango lassi. And then Indrid had laughed at his laugh and it all fell into place, the conversation so easy it’s as if they’d know each other for years. 

Then there were the frequent visits by Indrid to the greenhouse to check on the progress. Which, if Duck does say so himself, if pretty fucking good. The plants are thriving, reaching for the light, and the trees are already flowering in deep blue stars, the speed with which they reached adulthood fascinating to him. Sometimes Indrid just comes to see the gardens, but always seeks Duck out to say hello and smile that increasingly charming smile at him. 

But the biggest change has come with Indrid asking if Duck would be interested in designing a small garden for him 

“Something very simple and manageable. Hardy too.”

“Any plant preferences?”

“No, I trust your judgement entirely, though you may have to help me with their maintenance the first few weeks, if that is alright.”

Duck would have done it even if Indrid wasn't paying him. He liked sitting in the living room, surrounded by strange art and  crumpled papers, showing Indrid how to tend houseplants. And when they sit on the back porch, each dirt-smudged and grass stained, Indrid sipping soda while Duck nursed a single beer, the other man kept beaming at the new, small patch of garden, Duck’s heart wanted to burst from his chest and flutter around. 

Last night, he stayed late for dinner, and as he was checking over the houseplants…

“I’m fond of this one. It’s sturdy and makes me smile, much like you.” Indrid murmurs as he steps beside him. 

Duck slides a smile his way “Dunno, partial to this snake plant we chose; unique and kinda tall, just like you.”

It’s the worlds weakest flirtation, but as Indrid steps away his fingers tease Duck’s lower back, “I wonder if they can cross-pollinate.”

All of this is why Duck decides to leave Indrid be. Because playing prince charming to one of the gardens donors could backfire and shatter his whole career if he reads things wrong. 

The path takes him past Indrid, and he steps lightly. But just as he passes Indrid's head, cool fingers find his own. 

“How is my favorite flora expert today?” Indrid purrs, eyes still shut.

“Good. Uh. Yeah, good. How’d you know-”

“It was you? I have my ways.” Indrid grins, squeezing his hand once before letting go, “are we still on for lunch tomorrow? I can bring you that soup you like.”

“That’d be great.” Duck hesitates, reaches down and ruffles Indrid’s hair. The other man sighs, rubs his face against Ducks palm. 

“I can't wait.”

------------------------------------------

It takes him until ten pm to remember he left his phone in the greenhouse. Which would not be a problem, except he’s supposed to take a call early tomorrow from Jane, the first time in months they’ve been able to talk.

Plus, he’s been having an excellent text conversation with Indrid until his last rounds, sending him pictures of the plants in the greenhouse, which all look ready to bloom in the next day, and the strange fruit on the trees; speckled gold and white, and smelling faintly of marshmallow. Indrid’s reply texts were filled with excitement (and a great deal of praise, which Duck is thoroughly enjoying).  He wants to keep that going as soon as he can.

He finds his phone on the workbench, looks up just in time to see glowing red eyes reflected in the glass. 

Something’s in the greenhouse with him. Which should be impossible, because only two people have the keys. 

Turning, he scans the plants and spots a large, dark shape holding very still behind the trees. Which would work better if said trees were not so thin.

“I am aware this is not a good hiding place.”

Duck gasps, not expecting it to talk, then steps back when the creature emerges. It towers over him, antennae twitching and wings rustling slightly. His mind puts all the pieces together, and he understands only half of them. 

“Why the fuck is the mothman breakin into my greenhouse.”

The antenna flatten slightly, “I am not breaking in. Do you see any broken glass?”

“No, but I got one key, and the only other person with one ain’t here. And put those down, they ain’t yours.” Duck reaches for the two fruits, each clasped between a pair of clawed hands, only for Mothman to raise his arms. 

“They are, in fact, mine. If you would stop trying to knock me over I can explain.”

“Uh uh, first you gotta put down Indrid’s things, then you can explain.”

The creature chirrs, annoyed, and points at its neck, “His things? Such as this key perhaps?”

Duck stops moving, staring at the key before rising his gaze to the mothmans face and meeting his eyes for the first time. 

“What the fuck? Indrid, what the fuck?”

A sheepish chirp, “There was not a good way to tell you I am a famous cryptid. At least, I did not feel there was one. I was worried you would be afraid of me if you knew.”

“Feelin a little too confused to be afraid. Did, did I just grow a mothman garden instead of a butterfly garden?”

The laugh is unmistakably Indrid, “In a way. I was telling the truth when I said these were from my home, but my need for them went beyond homesickness. Every twenty five years, my kind are compelled to eat these. It is not fatal if we don’t, but we suffer a very unpleasant illness for several weeks if we do not. I resigned myself to that sickness until I began visiting these gardens, and saw there were people who might be able to help me. My own powers, including foresight, cannot replace a green thumb. Your green thumb went beyond anything I could ever have hoped for. This” he gestures to the trees with their glittering fruit, the flowers blooming in a  rainbow of glowing star-shapes, “Duck I, I haven't seen a sight like this in close to a  hundred years.”

Duck holds his breath as Indrid steps towards him, bending to rest his downy forehead against Ducks.

“Thank you, Duck Newton. Thank you for giving me a taste of home.”

The human reaches up to touch a black, fuzzy cheek, “Does this mean you gotta leave or somethin, now that I know your secret identity?”

“Not unless you are planning to tell everyone you’ve been acting as the Mothman’s personal gardener.”

“Nah, rather tell ‘em about the cute fella I’m takin to dinner tomorrow.”

Indrid blinks, “You...you do not find this alarming?”

“I mean, you’re big and a little terrifyin, but you’re still Indrid. And it means a lot that you actually stayed and told me who you were, instead of just flyin off.”

There’s a deep purr as Indrid says, “In that case, may I invite you to dinner at my house, Duck Newton? I can even share some of this strange harvest with you.”

Duck grins, drawing his fingers long Indrids arm, “That your way of tellin me they’re an aphrodisiac?”

Indrid nuzzles his cheek and pulls him close, “I guess we’ll find out.”

[littlemisssquiggles]

RWBY Musings #8: Ah yes, RWBY Volume 5 Chapter 5. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, this episode just reminded me once more exactly why I’m fully on board with Ruby and Oscar sharing a close relationship.

I’m gonna drop some blunt honesty right now so take it however you see fit (but hopefully not in a negative light). Regardless of whether you dislike RoseGarden for whatever justifiable reason you may have, you cannot deny the fact that the series itself is clearly pushing those two together. This fifth episode of the season brought more evidence that Ruby and Oscar will have a close relationship. 

Will be it purely platonic? Will it be inevitably romantic? Who really knows? But what I can say is that Ruby’s character and overarching presence in Oscar’s life will definitely play a role in his development as a main character and the same can be said vice versa for him with her.

(You know I’m here to talk, so let’s talk. I’ll try to keep it short today. Emphasis on ‘try’)

As much as I love RoseGarden as a ship and would love more than any shipper to see them be endgame, I could admit that I don’t think romance is quite in the cards for these two. 

At least, not yet. I’d like to believe that Ruby and Oscar are both in a very complicated place right now where, with the fate of the world on the line and with them both being key players in the fight to save it; I just don’t see romance being a primary focus.

I mean there’ll be seeds of it sprinkled here and there throughout the show in smaller, more intimate moments (like the dojo scene from Chapter 5) but not at the forefront; unless the series calls for it.

I wouldn’t be surprised if their relationship will be like Katara and Aang’s from Avatar: The Last Airbender. Light and fluffy during the first season to establish a friendship and then introduce the romance aspects in the following volume. I could definitely see Ruby and Oscar being and treating each other as ‘just friends’, even close friends in this first volume. And then bit by bit, introduce the sparks of romance here and there where they both begin to see each other in a different light than before.

Either isn’t quite sure what this new foreign feeling means but what they do know is that it’s certainly more than how it was before. They both will fully understand that they definitely like each other while at the same time also knowing that it’s beyond friendship. They will know that their friendship is a close and strong one: that they’re each special to each other but they wouldn’t quite fully understand the full deeper meaning of that connection until later.

 And then we, as the viewers, will get to watch them figure it out for themselves and see that journey of feelings persist. Like Ruby will know that she likes Oscar a lot however her liking of Oscar is different than how she likes Jaune and Ren.

I love my ships but I’m a sucker for a slow romance especially when it’s done right and even more specifically, when it actually leads somewhere.

Like I said, as the series progresses and Oscar and Ruby’s blossoming friendships progresses, we’ll probably get more and more moments of their obvious fascination in wanting to know more about each other. At first, I figured that most of the interest would’ve come from Oscar (especially after that first moment in Chapter 1). However, what I find surprisingly cool is that Ruby herself also shares the same intrigue in Oscar. I really love how both teens are interested in wanting to know more about the other.

This is what makes it quite sweet to watch them interact in the show. This is the innocence and purity that I expected the RoseGarden ship to be like in the beginning. Heck, it’s why I sometimes refer to them as RosePine instead cause in my eyes, their relationship has only just began. It has only been just a few episodes in and a few weeks of time passed in the show.

RoseGarden has yet to become a garden. The seeds have been planted though. It’s just a matter of waiting patiently to watch them grow and see exactly how their relationship flourishes.

 I know I mostly talk a lot of ship talk in my musings but at the heart of it all, I sincerely want to see these two grow and have a meaningful bond.

I like ships that actually take the time to build the love between two characters so that when it finally comes to fruition, you’ll appreciate it a lot more. I see the potential for that with Ruby and Oscar. I mentioned earlier how the shows seems to be pushing these two together a lot especially in recent episodes.

At first I figured, like many, it’s probably for shipping purposes. But then I sat down and thought about it some more. Now I think that it makes sense. It’s absolutely rational why Oscar and Ruby would naturally gravitate towards each other. They do share a lot more in common than even they realize and I think part of it has to do with the age difference.

 Y’know the two year age gap that some folks make a hullaballoo about.

I can definitely seen Ruby and Oscar leaning on each other the most cause, for the first time, they’re not alone. They both have someone on the team who is around the same age as them and is going through the same thing as them and can actually help them to understand the true meaning of everything---the importance of protecting Remnant and stopping Salem.

I am SO glad that I was right about Ruby being the one to have that conversation with Oscar. I was hoping it was her and I’m glad we got it, especially in this episode too. That part was icing on the cake with this episode for me.

Also terrific acting from Aaron is showcasing Oscar’s frustration. I truly felt it for my avocado godson this episode.

Being the youngest in anything (in your class, group, squad, etc), I’d imagine it would be an uneasy thing because on top of all the dire responsibilities that you have to share with your fellow more experienced peers, there is also the pressures of the expectation that others will have of you especially because of your age. I’d imagine that in the beginning, because she was so young, others have probably misjudged Ruby. As a matter of fact, I remember them addressing that point at least twice in the series between Volumes 1 and 2.

 I think this is why we often see Ruby being the one to mostly check in on Oscar over anyone else. Sure it could be interpreted at being more shipping fuel; however I’d like to think that Ruby is the only one who fully understands what Oscar is going through and genuinely wants to help him through this transition.

 My RoseGarden shippers might not like me for saying this but the way Ruby is with Oscar now is more like a big sister or at least a senpai. She’s definitely looking out for our avocado farm son; the same way how everyone: Qrow, Jaune, Ren, Nora and even her sister and teammates she hasn’t seen in so long used to look out for her.

 She cares about Oscar cause honestly, she gets it. She gets his frustration and I loved how Oscar breaking down finally forced Ruby to snap out of her indifference and be honest with him about her sadness; especially the one regarding the lost of two of her friends. I wish we have gotten an extended scene of this. I need a longer scene or moment with Ruby and Oscar just being honest with each other about their feelings; their various nuisances with the world, their pains, EVERYTHING. Not only cause it’ll be good for them both but...because they’ll get why the other feels that way.

 This makes me appreciate the two year age gap more. I know folks hate it but frankly I like it cause it’s reminiscent of Ruby. The 2 year age gap between Oscar and Ruby is parallel to the 2 year gap between Ruby and every other main huntsmen and huntress in her year. Ruby was once the proclaimed ‘baby of the bunch’ and now that torch has been passed down to Oscar.

Oscar is now the youngest huntsmen in training in the group and unfortunately, his development has to be fast-forwarded too because he’s also acting as a conduit for Ozpin’s soul. So he has his own fair share of pressures and qualms put on him despite being too young to fully understand them.

 I also figured Oscar being inexperienced in fighting might’ve been a thing but as it turns out, he actually has fought before. I found that little titbit about Oscar having fought Grimm before quite cool.

Although, Oscar said he’s only fought the ‘occasional small Grimm’. Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t the smallest Grimm species we’ve seen so far in Remnant not the Beowolf and Ursa Grimm? They are the most commonly seen Grimm in the show and the ones more likely to show up in areas of the public. So unless there is a smaller Grimm species native to Mistrel (like perhaps a flying monkey Grimm, ey?) then those are two Grimm I can see probably sneaking onto Oscar’s aunt’s farm.

 Either way, if those are the occasional small Grimm Oscar is referring to then how badass is he! Can you imagine small young Oscar protecting his aunt and their home; fending off a single Ursa Grimm that had snuck onto the farm with nothing but a pitchfork by himself, mostly? The fact that Oscar has not only fought Grimm before but has survived it, that just confirms what Ruby said to him in the end. He is indeed a lot braver than one expected him to be; and a lot tougher.

Damn! I have now gained a higher respect for Oscar. I honestly thought that coming from a farmhand way of life pegged him as living the quite simple life, outside the dangers of the Grimm.

 So instinctively I would assume he’d be inexperienced to the stuff natural to the huntsmen such as battling the Grimm. But I was wrong.

 This actually reminds me of a funny scene from Doctor Strange. It’s the one where Morro hands Strange a piece of paper after showing him to his room. Strange looks at him all puzzled, questioning Morro if the paper was some ancient Chinese mantra; to which Morro looks at him and responds with one of most memorable lines from the movie for me.

‘...It’s the WiFi password. We’re not savages!’

This joke is appropriate cause just as how Dr. Strange misjudged the sorcerers, I, too misjudged Oscar. Just cause he was raised on a farm, doesn’t mean he’s not affected by the threats that commonly inhabit Remnant. Just cause Oscar was raised on a farm and has never encountered huntsmen and huntresses, doesn’t mean he’s oblivious about the Grimm. As a matter of fact, the fact that Oscar has faced more Grimm than huntsmen is daunting.

This tells me that there are probably no actual huntsmen where Oscar is from and that’s even more unnerving.

I totally pegged him wrong from the start. They really do say don’t judge a book by its cover cause there are certainly more layers to Oscar than I figured. And apparently he knows more about combat than he gives off and I like this additional note to his character. Nice touch CRWBY!

 Anyways, overall I like the idea of them pushing Ruby and Oscar together cause, it just makes sense guys. No matter what angle the CRWBY decides to take them, it’ll surprisingly work either way in some shape or form.

 If they decide to go the purely platonic, big sister/little brother, kouhai to senpai kind of route, it fits cause Ruby haven gone through the same things Oscar is going through currently would be the best candidate to help him through it all; (especially emotionally) more so than anyone else in series. More than Jaune and even Ozpin because Ruby is basically Oscar at the start of the series. So it would make sense if they form a friendship like this because of that familiarity and understanding. It’s one where they can both benefit from as they can both learn from one another and help each other grow. You heard of Jambuds from Steven Universe, now get ready for RoseBuds.

(I kinda like that name. ROSEBUDS is the platonic friend-SHIP between Ruby and Oscar while RoseGarden is the romance ship. Make it a think fandom)

If they decide to go the still purely platonic but very close best friend route, it fits. If a Ruby and Oscar friendship is allowed to happen then it would only be fitting that it becomes a close one. Oscar could become Ruby’s closest guy friend or even her best friend over all. Sorry Jaune. Sorry Weiss. I know Weiss is who Ruby considers to be her, and I quote, ‘super bestie better than the restie’ according to RWBY Chibi. And I know some fans consider Jaune-y boy to be Ruby’s best guy friend. But...that could be Oscar too someday.  

And if they decide to go the full on romance route, do I need to even explain this one? Cause I think points number one and two also justify why this would work. I will note however that I don’t see it working now cause the relationship is still fairly new to both characters and there’s still some cute awkwardness between them both.

However..if left to cultivate with the right amount of development, I can certainly see this growing into a meaningful love for both characters (but only once they’ve matured to the age where those kinds of feelings would be more appropriate). Somehow I can only see Oscar and Ruby falling in love with each other as they grow older or at least after a longer period time, like at least after a year.

Overall, either way, RoseGarden just...makes sense you guys! It really does and I’m not even just saying this as a shipper. It just MAKES SENSE. Better yet, it makes FUCKING SENSE and it’s almost mind boggling how much sense it makes.

Hate on the ship as much as you want haters. You are entitled to like whatever ship you like and from one shipper to another, I respect that. However you can’t look me in the eyes and tell me that Ruby and Oscar growing close in some way makes no sense at all.

From now on, if anyone asks me why I like RosePine (RoseGarden), I’m just gonna tell them this:

(Not even trying to be arrogant right now. It just DOES!)     

LittleMissSquiggles (2017) 

[beetleboard29-blog]

Meet Some Diverse Pets of the Community

One of the many reasons we all love our neighborhood is its diversity. A stroll through its blocks and boulevards will lead to encounters with people of all ages—and lots of four, six and eight-legged creatures as well.

Dogs pull their owners down the sidewalk or socialize with other doggos while cats look on from their window perches. The occasional squirrel or rogue pigeon scampers by. Rats—yes, rats—dwell somewhere close at hand that we’d all prefer not to visualize.

But these aren’t the only animals hanging around the block. Most Loganites know about the Logan Square pig who frequents local art fests and one even went missing a couple of months ago. Block Club Chicago reported July 31 that a lost turtle was reunited with its family thanks to social media.

We asked Logan Square residents to tell us about their not-so-typical pets and we were not disappointed by the responses. Meet the diverse characters that encompass “pets” in our community.

JubJub the Iguana 

JubJub can crawl and climb quickly—especially when he knows he has an audience. Photo: Hannah Magnuson

If you’ve ever walked by [Blnk] Haus Gallery (3206 W. Armitage Ave.), you may have noticed an iguana staring at you from the other side of the large front window.

JubJub—aptly named after the iguana from “The Simpsons”—is a local celebrity, who spends most of his time sitting on a stage that overlooks the outside street.

“Everyone walking by has their own name for him,” said Rachel Lechocki and Andrew Rehs. They are the co-founders of [Blnk] Haus–a community space and art gallery where JubJub resides. His owner is Matt Andelman of Idealty Real Estate, who rents the space to Lechocki and Rehs.

“Having him in the front window is how Matt met his wife and the mother of his child,” they said of JubJub.

JubJub is 15 years old and has a big personality to match his old age. He allows [Blnk] Haus visitors to pet and pat his scaly skin.

Though he can remain statuesque for long periods of time, he insists on using the building’s actual bathroom when nature calls him, leading him to stealthily crawl the length of the studio on his four legs.

“He definitely rules the space more than anyone else,” Lechocki said.

JubJub eats a diet of iceberg lettuce, kale, avocados and bananas, which are as irresistible to him as chocolate is to humans. And most of his produce comes from Whole Foods, making him better fed than most humans.

Feeding iguanas a vegetarian diet keeps them docile, Rehs and Lechocki said. They’ve brought their dogs to the studio before and were surprised to discover that the two species didn’t interact with—or even seem to notice—one other.

Although he usually shows no interest in going outside, JubJub has escaped a few times—once for a three week period. Each time he has returned from his mysterious vacation on his own accord.

“He’s just a free spirit,” Rehs said.

Pequod the Fox

Pequod was named for Chicago’s famous deep dish pizza restaurant—and that’s the only thing about him that resembles a native to the city.

His owner, Reesie Jinx Stanford, lived in Logan Square when she first got Pequod as a six-week-old pup. He’s now two years old, though he still weighs just three pounds.

He is a fennec fox who has learned to live in an urban jungle, despite still displaying wild behaviors. For instance, when shedding every September and October, he becomes very moody because, if he were still living in the deserts he’s native to, he would be kicked out of the den and forced to live on his own during this time of year, said his owner.

“City rats are as big as he is,” Stanford laughed. She has since moved to Irving Park and transports Pequod around to hair salons and restaurant patios in a pet carrier.

Beyond these trips, Pequod is an indoor pet and he’s litter box trained. He loves belly scratches, making forts out of pillows, and—though he’s nocturnal—he jumps in his crate when he knows it’s his bedtime. 

He eats a raw diet, including (but not limited to) mealworms, crickets, fresh vegetables, frozen mice and raw cat food. 

“People always ask me if he’s like a dog or cat,” Stanford said. Her response is “neither”—he’s like a fox.

Although her experience with Pequod has been overwhelmingly positive, Stanford is careful not to encourage everyone she knows to go get a pet fox. She stressed that foxes are wild animals with wild urges and they can be tricky to care for.

Pequod, though adorable, can also be very skittish. He makes various loud noises depending on his mood, including one when he’s lonely. Stanford describes it as “a pterodactyl falling out of the sky.”

She researched fennec foxes for two years before getting Pequod, despite having grown up on a farm with pets ranging from opossums to turkeys to chinchillas. She worked with fennec foxes in college and got Pequod from a breeder she knew in West Virginia. Fennec foxes are legal pets for Chicagoans because they’re not native to the area, Stanford explained.

Though Pequod’s wild nature can make him a difficult pet, it’s also a quality that Stanford loves about him.

“Even though we’re so evolved we still have that connection to the wilderness,” she said.

Follow Pequod on Instagram. 

Roxanne and Lacie the Chickens

Lacie (left) and Roxie (right) are urban chickens who live in a coop in their owners’ backyard. Photo: Hannah Magnuson

Roxie and Lacie are both the queens of their two-chicken coop. Their full names are Roxanne Sam McNuggets and Lacie Ella Sanders. (Hint: put those middle names together and you get “salmonella.”)

Their owners, Dane Caswell, a landscape architect, and Gary Dehne, a building engineer, bought them from Belmont Farm & Seed in May for $8 each. Caswell had been wanting chickens for a while and managed to catch Dehne on the right day to bring it up, Caswell said.

At the time of the interview, Roxie and Lacie had not started laying eggs yet—though they likely would very soon, based on a new noise they were making which Dehne interpreted as “get this out of me.”

Once they begin, the chickens will each lay one egg per day for their first year. Dehne is a frequent baker and will make use of the eggs, which don’t need to be refrigerated.

They live in a large backyard coop that Dehne built and will move to a potting shed once winter hits. He wants to upgrade their coop by building a large bird cage for them, complete with perches.

They also hope to walk the chickens in the harnesses they bought for them, but that is not too easy.

“It’s like flying a kite,” Caswell said because they don’t want to clip the chickens’ wings.

They allow the chickens literal “free range” of their backyard about once a week. Although their 8-year-old sheepdog, Birdie, plays nice with them, both Roxie and Lacie prefer to keep watch from the safety of their coop.

“They’re scared to death when they’re out of their cage,” Dehne said.

The chickens constantly beg for food so Caswell and Dehne refer to them as “pigs with wings.” They eat imitation crab meat, fresh grapes off the vine, hydrangeas, quinoa, spaghetti, white rice, dandelions, boiled egg shells and blueberries (but not strawberries).

Despite their begging, the female chickens are much quieter than a rooster would be. “[The neighbors] are like, ‘I didn’t even know you had chickens,’” Caswell said.

The two chickens’ color differences can be attributed to their different breeds. Roxie is a “Black Sex Link” which is a hybrid of the “Rhode Island Red” and “Barred Rock Hen” breeds and Lacie is a “Silver Laced Wyandotte.” They also have different personalities—Roxie allows people to pick her up more than Lacie does.

Caswell and Dehne have learned to care for their chickens by watching YouTube videos, a book from the Harold Washington Library, trial and error and former experience; both had chickens growing up. They would encourage others to buy chickens of their own, citing how easy they are to care for: they just need food, fresh water and shelter.

But you can’t get just one—chickens are flock animals and need at least one companion to share their throne, I mean, coop with. 

Source: https://logansquarist.com/2018/10/21/meet-the-pets/

[antiagingsol-blog]

Utilizing Anti-aging Face Creams

There is a time in every person 's life when our growing age becomes a worry for us. This is the time when even a small hope feels like a lifelong promise and also we have the tendency to experiment with numerous anti-aging formulas. The initial visible indicator of your passing age is your first laughter line i.e. more frequently referred to as wrinkle. Normally these indicators are experienced in your 30s or if you are fortunate sufficient after that in your 40s. You could lengthen your skin from aging using suitable therapies at an earlier age. This is the time when you search for an anti aging crease cream. You can utilize anti aging crease creams even before wrinkles begin to show up on your face. Even if you sanctuary ' t yet took care of it, you can still do something regarding it. It is a good idea not to disregard these symptoms. If you assume that ignoring is a great choice to tackle with wrinkles then you can ' t obtain even more incorrect. In today 's way of life the most inescapable sign of an aging skin is its look. With contamination degrees rising to its severe and also hazardous contaminants airborne are unsafe to our skin. Acne, abrasions and also other skin illness are some of its harmful results. Inning accordance with research studies conducted by skin doctors, anti aging crease creams have numerous nutrients and also vitamins that aid in slowing down the aging procedure. Additionally, you could prevent various other extreme skin treatments if you use these lotions. There are lots of products in the market identified as anti aging but you ought to select them utilizing little sound judgment. Don ' t get deceived by the advertising and marketing approaches which promise much and also rarely provide anything. Pass your impulses and also select intelligently. To learn more on skin creams visit http://www.reduce-age.com

hi guys welcome to my channel today I'm going to share with you how you can make your very own anti-aging cream easily at all by using this cream regularly you can get rid of all the signs of aging like wrinkles fine lines sack skin age spots dark patches pigmentation and can get a brighter tighter softer supple and flawless skin within just few days to prepare the cream we will need 2 TSP of sheer butter sheer water provides natural anti-aging properties it contains vitamin A & E which helps in cell regeneration and sub tailing of the skin it reduces wrinkles and fine lines it also boosts collagen production shea butter acts as a moisturizer which nourish and feed your skin and gives you a nice glowing and radiant complexion the next ingredient we will need is 2 TSP of apricot oil apricot oil is rich in omega-6 vitamin A & E which hydrate and nourish your skin boosts new cell production and reduce fine lines and wrinkles it absorbs into skin very quickly and heals mature and dry skin it fades away dark patches pigmentation blemishes and gives you a brighter and flawless skin then we will need 1 vitamin E capsule vitamin E helps to treat wrinkles by supporting new skin cell growth and speeding up cell regeneration it fades away dark and brown spots on the skin that are caused by aging and free radical damage it helps to lighten tighten and smoothen rough and aged skin and the last ingredient we will need is essential oil essential oil will boost the shelf life of the product add some extra goodness and also a nice fragrance to the cream Here I am using lavender essential oil but you can also use orange avocado carrot seed or any essential oil of your choice take a clean jar where you can store your cream into that first I'm adding sheer butter [Music] then add apricot oil [Music] cut the vitamin E capsule and extract the oil and few drops of essential oil now mix all the ingredients very well until you achieve a smooth and creamy consistency you [Music] once your homemade anti-aging cream is ready you can store it into an airtight container in room temperature up to one month use it everyday as a night cream take a small portion of the cream and gently massage it on your face and neck for three to five minutes on upward motion then leave it for overnight it blends on your skin very well and gives you an instant radiant glow you can also use this cream as a body moisturizer this will improve your skin texture prevent your skin from aging and you will get a youthful ageless glowing and flawless skin you can start using this cream from the age of 22 to 25 for maintaining your skin from further damage if you find this video useful then don't forget to Like share and subscribe you can follow me on facebook twitter and instagram you can find the links into the description box below thank you for watching

never age you ever wish you could find that her secret well today I found women who literally look half the rage we put their pictures up online for America to see and we also asked their studio audience to guess their age and everybody guessed they were decades younger their woman just like you and they're ready to spill their secrets they could do it so can you you can defy your age y'all curious about this before I first you're gonna hang out like a secret eradicate wrinkles now America thought Donna was 34 years old but Donna's chronological age is 52 come on out Donna when I get a look careful I cannot believe you are 52 I am so what is it what are they single look at you people normally think I'm a lot younger especially men who try to hit on me around the hole got a nice feeling which is which is quite nice which is very nice so there it's shocked amazing you tell me your age yeah people for the most part think I'm usually in my mid to late thirties which is which is which is quite flattering I must say well you should be flat because you are a beautiful woman are you willing to reveal your secrets yes I am doctor open Rafi get your little toolbox here show us your age-defying trick it is it is white vinegar vinegar cinnamon and honey so I have this concoction that I make where I combined make my own exfoliating face mask with honey and cinnamon and I find that it takes off a lot of the dead skin cells and it makes my face more moisturize and it also makes it you know quite supple probably how you do it it seems so simple yeah so actually what I do is I combine the cinnamon with honey I mix it up and actually use this every night I leave it on for about 30 minutes and then I use white vinegar as an astringent which it's delicious as well you can also eat it absolutely I would even leftovers me and then you could use the astringent which kind of tightens your skin and prevents it from sagging yes how long you been using this for I've been actually using this for a few years but as I get older I use it more frequently I gotta say I'm amazed something so simple can make such a huge difference in your life do you want to try it yeah please okay I'll be there I'll go first that's a move like you I'll definitely do it yeah don't you feel it working a little bit well I'd like to lick it off I could it feels it feels cooling acting but you know I actually looked into these tips in fact I did for all the guests onto the show today the vinegar I love because it keeps yourselves hydrated which is always a valuable thing to prevent wrinkling but I specially love the cinnamon in the honey yeah and the cinnamon in particular is a fantastic exfoliant which is probably the best way out there to fight off wrinkles oh it's great so I've made you a little you look wonderful guys like this I guess hmm all right now I'm gonna show you why I think this is so cool I I built you a little replica of your skin okay it's uh what's that maybe it's a big replica of your skin your skin sort of looks like this this big parachute reflects what's going on in our bodies now you'll notice we have some audience members here and with all women um oh maybe a little bit weakly pretend you're weekly I know you're ready not all right and what happens is the collagen in our body starts to get weak and especially as we get older the hormones aren't quite perfect you don't have enough collagen to lift up this parachute then look at this front area over here it's completely worn through right there's not no collagen a that's a that's a big wrinkle right there but there was your exfoliate with cinnamon paste it changes everything cuz that's nice bringing these big burly men burly men come on in burly men pink Alfa college everyone pulled back hard as you can it reinforces your skin it gives you less wrinkles I'm not that is pretty spectacular you don't think you that kind of war over there that's why you don't have Rico I think thanks girly men I thought my audience members I appreciate like a secret government agent discoloration on your chest neck in hands now America thought Diane was 45 years old we checked her driver's license which says that she is you ready all its sixteen she having no sunspots um well I'm the only girl so and the boys don't count so um my mother lived to be 94 and I will say that when she died she didn't look a day over eighty that's pretty good I got that yeah so you say fifteen years they allow it because you don't have any discolorations at all I mean looking at all of your skin so what's your secret gonna show it to us sure okay first of all in the morning when I am making my coffee I take some lemon and I squeeze it over the backs of my hands and the decolletage a decoupage of course yes Latasha you know what that is yes it's and um the acid and in the lemon helps to bleach out any you know when we were kids we used to put it in our hair and go out in the Sun it does yeah so it bleaches out any kind of discoloration you may have of course I don't have it yeah you don't have any company might actually blocks melanin production you

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[touristguidebuzz]

The Cow Head Taco Philosopher King of Oaxaca

It’s Wednesday and I realize with a start that I’m late again. I have a conference call in a few minutes, and I’m wandering deep in thought on the other side of town. More importantly, I completely forgot to eat. For a woman who writes about food for a living, this oversight is a counterintuitive but consistent affliction. Everything is blotted out when I am deep in a writing project or speech. Yes, even food. I walk around in a daze thinking wordy thoughts.

Pressed for time, I veer to the right hoping that my favorite cow head taco vendor has not packed up for the day. I arrive breathless, smiling, sweaty in the desert heat. Israel, my cabeza expert, smiles widely. “Hola Yeni,” he drawls with all the time in the world. He swings the heavy lid off a huge metal pot, shifting onto his right foot to absorb its weight as steam billows into the air. “¿Qué puedo servirle?” (What can I serve you?)

Israel’s taco restaurant consists of a tiny mobile stand with two stools facing a makeshift bar, propped up against the wheels. In addition to his metal pot, divided into quarters to separate the types of meat and the tortillas, he has a cooler filled with drinks and sauces. When he’s not parked, you wouldn’t know he was coming. The don’t call it tacos ambulantes (wandering tacos) for nothing.

As I half lean on a stool, blood sugar crashing, I catch an older man smiling at me from the corner of my eye. “Where are you from? And are you married?” he asks. “And where is your family? Are they here?” I open my mouth to try to answer his stream of questions but Israel cuts me off with a smile.

“Tranquilo,” he interjects. “Let her eat first.”

I wolf down the first of my tacos as both men eye me warily, perhaps wondering if I can breathe while eating that quickly. Once I wipe off the salsa with a paper napkin, I turn to the other diner and answer his questions.

Israel presides over our talk like a proud papa, looking from one of us to the other.

“Isn’t life grand?” he asks no one and everyone. We smile, then dip our heads to take another bite of our tacos.

Tacos de cabeza, surtidos style.

A Little About Those Cow Head Tacos

Much like dumplings in Asia, many different meats and cuts go into tacos in Mexico. In his book Planet Taco, Jeffrey Pilcher notes:

“People have been eating corn tortillas with bits of meat or beans rolled up inside of them for more than a millenium, but the taco achieved national hegemony only in the twentieth century. Traditionally, every region in Mexico had its own distinctive snack foods, collectively known as antojitos (little whimsies), formed in countless ingenious shapes and given a wide variety of local names.”

The now ubiquitous taco is a more modern usage for one of those antojitos. In the 1831 book El Cocinero Mexicano, a list of corn snacks like quesadillas and chilaquiles, also did not mention tacos. Per Pilcher, tacos-as-descriptor only became popular following the publication of Los banditos de Rio Frio (The Bandits of the Cold River) in 1891, which makes reference to children “skipping, with tacos of tortillas and avocado in their hand.” Though the expression was obviously used prior to publication, it was with this new book that it “quickly received official recognition,” says Pilcher, with attribution officially given to Mexico City.

In the case of cow head tacos a new world fusion: both beef and pork were Spanish imports. Jose Iturriaga notes in Las Cocinas de Mexico that cow head tacos originate from Bajio, in central Mexico. These days, they are quite popular there, in Sonora, and in the capital of Mexico City. But they’re also found elsewhere in Mexico, cooked with whatever local ingredients fit the bill.

For cow or pork head tacos, this means all of the parts of the head. When ordering, meats are usually split into maciza, which translates into “solid” meat, and can be anything from cheek, to lips, mouth, or neck of the cow. The second grouping is the offal, including eye, tongue, brains, sweetbreads, or machitos (beef intestines). I’m partial to both the maciza and the lengua, tongue tacos. A catch-all for a first foray into tacos de cabeza is surtido, a medley of meats mixed together.

Head meat tacos may sound extreme but they are gourmet-tasting cuts of meat. The tacos are richly textured, tender, and extraordinarily flavourful without being oily. Regardless of style, head tacos usually involve steaming the head overnight, then shredding the meat and adding it back to the pot in its own juice (called consommé).

Of course this is Mexico, so the beef isn’t simply steamed in a flavorless vat. Israel’s steamer includes achiote (annatto), avocado leaves, peppercorns, a variety of different chiles, bay leaves, and some other secret ingredients that he steadfastly keeps to himself. Once ordered, Israel dips into his giant metal steamer and doles out the beef tortillas, which he serves with cilantro, raw onions, a dollop of avocado paste, spicy salsa, and a lime wedge.

The finished product.

My Favourite Taco Philosopher in Oaxaca

When I first got to Oaxaca, I wandered the streets in wonder. After so many years in Asia, curiosity dictated that I eat at every single taco and quesadilla stand I could find that met my rules of eating street food safely. It is during this wander that I stumbled onto Israel’s stall. Originally from Puebla, he has lived in Oaxaca for 15 years, including part of his schooling. He studied both accounting and law — another Thrillable Hours contender? — and worked in accounting for several years following his graduation.

Why did this accountant start making tacos? In 2006, Oaxaca was engulfed in protests, and his entire office was temporarily suspended from work. Needing to feed his family, Israel learned how to make tacos and sell them in a wandering cart. He didn’t sell head tacos in those days. Instead, he focused on what he called “tacos de canasta ambulantes,” greasy chorizo and chicharrones tacos sold out of a basket. These are fried, rolled tacos that he made ahead of time and roamed the streets, selling to protesters who were camped out in the main square and elsewhere.

To his surprise, he made more as a taco vendor than as an accountant. So when the protests cleared and the situation in the city stabilized, he decided to keep selling tacos instead. “No way was I going back to an office,” he says, head thrown back with laughter.  He pauses, thoughtful. “But I had to change my tacos.”

It is this thoughtful pondering that makes Israel such a delight. When people come to his cart, he engages in small talk but often they come to him for advice and questions about their choices in life. In the case of his tacos, he switched to steamed head tacos, Sonora-style, because while slightly more expensive they are quite a bit healthier. “It just seemed wrong to make greasy tacos when I could make healthy tacos,” he adds with a shrug.

That’s just the kind of guy he is.

Tacos incoming! <3

I’m still eating tacos and chatting with my fellow diner on that rushed Wednesday when a woman comes running out of a building next to Israel’s cart. Impatient, she calls his name several times before he realizes that during tacos he missed his them calling his number at the government building next door. He scurries off quickly.

Israel turns to me with a sheepish grin and shrugs as if to say, “what can you do? There are tacos to be eaten.” I realize that I, too, ate my tacos and completely forgot about my own obligations.

I wolf down my head tacos, give Israel a quick hug, and rush home for my conference call.

A few days later, my stomach is in the mood for more tacos surtidos and I wander down to Israel’s stall. “Yeni!” he calls out from afar “I see you!”.

Giggling, I push myself onto one of his high stools and order some tacos. A man looking to be in his mid-40s stops in, eyeing me with curiosity. He gives Israel a shrug and slides onto one of the plastic stools in front of the cart.

“Isn’t life grand?” Israel says.

“I am pretty angry today,” the new arrival admits. He glances over at me quickly, unsure if I understand Spanish.

“Oh that’s Yeni,” Israel quickly interjects. “She lives here too.”

The man nods slowly.

“Well,” Isreal continues. “Life is great when your heart is calm. Otherwise life is not great.”

We eat our tacos in silence, thinking about Israel’s words. Almost every time I’ve found him on the streets of Oaxaca, his clients have come by with their life’s troubles, waiting for a word from this head taco philosopher that will put it all in perspective.

We finish our tacos together and Israel takes the other customer’s money first, looking him in the eye. “Remember. You will be in trouble because anger will corrupt your view of the world. The good things in life will become reasons to be angry too. You need to be calm and happy in your heart. The rest will follow.”

The man leaves and Israel turns my way, face cracking into a huge smile.

“You too, Yeni! Don’t worry, though, with tacos in your stomach, it is much easier to be calm and happy in your heart.”

Israel, holding chia water and wearing a ch-ch-ch-Chia shirt — having no idea that it was an ad in North America. Oaxaca grows a lot of chia seeds, and they’re used in lemon water, chocolate, and more.

Part of my joy in getting to know my new home of Oaxaca has been to learn the stories of the people behind the foods I love. I hope you enjoyed this bit about Israel!

More to come soon.

-Jodi

The post The Cow Head Taco Philosopher King of Oaxaca appeared first on Legal Nomads.