Not our name, but our passion
The eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) lives in deciduous wooded areas and urban parks throughout the eastern United States and southern Canada. It prefers areas with rocky outcrops as it is mostly a ground dwelling animal. Alex took these pictures from our living room looking out on the deck as it was eating birdseed that had been scattered by marauding Gray Squirrels.
Matthew’s Island Preserve off the coast of Eastport, Maine in Cobscook Bay protects a 14 acre island and its surrounding water. The island is accessible at low tide and is surrounded by mud flats during this time. We used to camp on the bay when we were kids and once attempted to cross the mud flat to the island which resulted in a very muddy journey sinking up to our knees in spots. We did not realize at the time that there was an easier route from this parking area. There is a small hiking trail on the island. I hope that one day this will become part of the Bold Coast National Seashore if or when it is rewarded with that declaration.
Alex adores Indian food so he was really looking forward to this curry dish from HelloFresh. The dish did not disappoint not quite as good as the vegan curry we had previously but still excellent 9 out of 10.
An interesting selection from this month’s Coin and Currency Club subscription. Transnistria is a unrecognized territory within Moldova but is occupied by Russia. Along with the disputed territories of Abkhazia, Artsakh and South Ossetia they form the Community for Democracy and Rights of Nations. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union these areas came under conflict. The Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic (Transnistria) is comprised of 29.1% ethnic Russians, 28.6% Moldovans and 22.9% Ukrainians. I have an interest in micro states and breakaway republics and enjoyed teaching Alex about these areas. As I am writing this it is October 2022 and it is relevant to the ongoing Russia Ukrainian conflict.
Flag of Pridnestrovian Moldovan Republic (Transnistria)
Front of the one Ruble bank note is Russian General Count Alexander Suvorov
Transnistria’s Coat of Arms
Coin and Currency Club for the month is from South America – Colombia. Colombia is nicknamed the “gateway to South America” because it sits in the northwestern part of the continent where South America connects with Central and North America. It is the fifth largest country in Latin America and home to the world’s second largest population of Spanish-speaking people. Colombia has been inhabited by various indigenous peoples since at least 12,000 BCE, including the Muisca, Quimbaya and Tairona. The Spanish landed first in La Guajira in 1499 and by the mid-16th century colonized parts of the region, establishing the New Kingdom of Granada, with Santa Fé de Bogotá as its capital. Independence from the Spanish Empire was achieved in 1819, with what is now Colombia emerging as the United Provinces of New Granada. The Republic of Colombia was finally declared in 1886. Panama seceded in 1903, leading to Colombia’s present borders.
Flag of Colombia
Colombian artist Debora Arango Perez is on the front of the 2,000 pesos bank note
Caño Cristales the rainbow river is on the back of the note
The back of the 50 pesos coin is the spectacled bear native to South America
