Hawks and Reindeer

REINDEER GAMES:  Every December since moving to Seattle, we have made our way to Swanson's Nursery to check out their lovely holiday displays. The number one attraction is the live animals - a pair of reindeer and a BIG camel. 

Dasher and Blitzen are the reindeer on site. 

We missed their 'official' feeding time, but one of the reindeer seemed content to chew on hay nonetheless.

Their antlers were completely clear of any velvet. On the info board adjacent to their pen, we learned that reindeer eat their antlers after shedding them. Interesting, but ewwwwwwwwww. 

Speaking of antlers, did you know that reindeer and caribou are the only deer where males, females and even calves produce antlers. 

As they were walking around, we noticed a pronounced clicking sound. It's produced by a tendon in their ankle. It rubs over a bone, causing the sound. The noise helps the reindeer keep track of one another while they're walking around in low-visibility conditions.  

In a pen next to the reindeer is a solitary camel. Can you guess his name from this photo of his coif?

It's Curley!

He's a dromedary, also known as an Arabian camel. 

Just five years old, he towers over CJ and Annabelle.

Another attraction at Swansons is their decorated sleighs. The kids have been sliding into it for years now. 

Here's a blast from the past ... 

And here's today's shot. 

Oh, and of course we couldn't leave without checking out the train display. It's always fun looking at the details, like this guy in cuffs in the county jail!

DINOS GO HOME: With November over, so ends Dinovember, a fun, nightly occurrence in our home. 

We had lots of fun with it, and are sorry to see Dinovember go. We can't wait to see them all next year!

TO THE MOON: Sunday morning we gathered 'round the computer to watch coverage of a Chinese launch. Not just any launch, it's a landing moon mission.

We watched a Long March 3B rocket carrying the Chang’e-3 probe. The launch took place at the LC2 Launch Complex at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center.
No humans on board this time, but it's a soft-landing moon mission, with rover Yutu, or "Jade Rabbit," on board.                   
                                                          
The lander weighs 3,780 kg, and is equipped with a radioisotope thermoelectric generator to power it during its three-month mission. It is equipped with real time video transmission capabilities. I hope we get to see some live footage. It's also designed to dig and perform analysis of soil samples.

MOM'S WHEREABOUTS: Over the weekend we also followed news regarding India's Mars Orbiter Mission, or MOM.  There was a big 'point of no return' development on Saturday. The spacecraft broke free of Earth orbit and is on its way to Mars. Here's the Indian Space Resources Organisation's post about the development.  

Exciting stuff for India and all space exploration fans!

GO HAWKS: Monday Night Football came to Seattle this week, and the Seahawks did NOT disappoint. The whole town seemed to be buzzing about the game, and there were two plus hours of pre-game coverage on ESPN.

We were excited to see our neighborhood on the screen at one point. Wave at the camera, Magnolia!