Bubbling crabs, cracker-frogs and travelling coyotes

[furtech]

Nice weekend filled with low-key events and good friends. And costume work (still need to send off the head I was working on last Friday). I like weekends like this... sanity days.

Did Little Tokyo on Saturday with calicougar. Lots of cool books at Asahiya: got a comprehensive book on Japanese weaponry and a cute version of a Japanese folktale. A story called, "Shiro" (or "Grandfather Cherry Blossom"), about a white dog and devoted love, loyalty and repaying of kindness. Kind of gruesome, but with a happy ending.

At Mitsuwa Market Calicougar's eyes brightly surveyed the "Festival of Seafood." All kinds of fresh sea-critter, including live sea urchins (for uni), odd-looking fish and live "horsehair" crabs (who were actively bubbling their displeasure).

Later that night was a quick drive up to Mulholland for a long dogwalk (into what Calicougar refers to as "Poorwil Valley"). On the drive in, we saw a couple of coyotes, travelling seperately. Cody got to boof at the first (a very furry, healthy dog), but we lost him on a side street. The second was much thinner and darker of coat. She disappeared up a hillside yard before Cody got a clue. The coyotes were probably after the party-leavings of the social affairs in those neighborhoods. The did not seem to be bothered by the high-traffic volume of that hour-- they just trotted along side the road with purpose. When we stop to look (or boof), they will get a bit more cautious and duck behind a bush to peer out at us but otherwise seem blase' about people.

Today was a trip to the Sepulveda flood control area for martes to get some more fish fry. Hot, but not as hot as it has been. Doused the husky with water to keep her cool and she did just fine. Saw a great egret posing on a high wall, dramatically back-lit by the sun, a kestrel, soaring flock of pelicans -just- overhead and an ospred perched on a branch with a talapia in its talons. Oh, and a sad frog cracker on the trail. The end.

Comments

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

I remember once a coyote actually trotted up to our car and alongside as we slowed in curiosity, while we were driving through death valley... we had just gone to "Scotty's Castle" and it added to the cool experience :>

Mooch-masters!

[furtech.livejournal.com]

Oh! The Death Valley coyotes are well-known for being notorious moochers! They've learned to sit by the side of a road, sucking in their gut and cheeks and looking soooOOooOoOooo pitiful. The smart ones hang out at intersections.

If you stop by the ranger station or the general store, there are all kinds of warnings to not feed the wildlife (*especially* the coyotes) because of danger and making them dependent (too late). We saw one sad coyote doing his best to look starving and pitiful (anyone with a master-treat-begger dog can spot a phoney). He was cute, though!

Re: Mooch-masters!

[c-eagle.livejournal.com]

hehheh! *skreeeeee*

Amazing... it's good to know that's an established phenomenon there...
I do hope though, that there is plenty of non-handouts in that vicinity for them, and that the rangers aren't just blowing a lot of hot air about them not needing the assistive visitor victuals that are offered :>