Survival of the Fittest

                                                                   
                                                                        HAWKS

1. Cooper's hawk is a medium-sized hawk native to the North American continent and found from Southern Canada to Northern Mexico. As in many birds of prey, the male is smaller than the female. 
3. Scientific name: Accipiter cooperii
4. Rank: Species
5. Higher classification: Accipiter

                VS

1. The sharp-shinned hawk is a small hawk described from Hispaniola, with males being the smallest hawks in the United States and Canada, but with the species averaging larger than some Neotropical species, such as tiny hawk.
3. Scientific name: Accipiter striatus
4. Mass: 1.8 – 0.25 lbs (Male)
5. Wingspan: 17 – 23 in. (Male)
6. Length: 9.1 – 12 in. (Male)
7. Rank: Species
8. Lower classifications: Puerto Rican sharp-shinned hawk
9. Higher classification: Accipiter

"Mom, come look quick, look at this" Baby Bird cried out to me on Mother's Day morning--I rushed out to the breakfast nook with no idea of what I would see, she pointed to the railing of the deck about 20-25 feet away was a hawk pulling the feathers from a smaller bird which looked to be  robin--By the time we arrived nothing much remained of the robin, appeared to be just a skeleton and feathers, but the hawk continued to strip off all the feathers and then flew up into the big cottonwood tree above the deck and from there it flew off over the rooftop of the house behind  ours

Though I cringed at the thought of a robin being picked apart by the hawk, it was an interesting sight--I thought that the hawk was a Cooper's Hawk, but after some research on the Internet, Baby Bird was convinced that it was a Short Shined Hawk--apparently they are almost indistinguishable to casual observers as the pictures above shows--I remain convinced that it was a Cooper's Hawk as they are more likely to be found in suburban areas and the Short Shined Hawk usually inhibits forests and woodland areas  Robins are one of my favorite backyard songbirds so interesting or not, I was distressed about the robin, oh I know, survival of the fittest, circle of life, but I would have felt better if it was a grackle instead of a robin--

Rain, Rain, Go Away

                                                            ANOTHER RAINY DAY     

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby. ~Langston Hughes
   

Coming from a state with an average rainfall of about 23 inches of rain and a county that gets 10 and living now in a state that receives and average of 14-15 inches of rain; the past week has been very unusual--there seems to have been rain every day and the last two days it rained pretty much all day--a search on the Internet states that the last few days we have had 6 inches of rainfall--If I had to guess I would have put it higher, but it does matter where the rainfall is measured and it can vary wildly from place to place here  I always thought I would love to live somewhere that received frequent rainfall and I never really minded a cloudy, rainy day--a perfect time to slow down, sit down and read a book and maybe munch on a big bowl of hot buttery popcorn, watch movie after movie, bake cookies (and of course eat most of them)  After a week of grey skies and pretty steady rainfall, I think that maybe there can be too much of a good thing! Or too much of a good thing all at once  I found myself almost singing "Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Some Other Day"--I guess I should have remembered that you should "Be Careful What You Wish For" because the next day we woke up to:

Instead of complaining about the current weather I think I should heed the words below, because there is absolutely nothing I can do about it:


We often hear of bad weather, but in reality, no weather is bad. It is all delightful, though in different ways. Some weather may be bad for farmers or crops, but for man all kinds are good. Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating. As Ruskin says, "There is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather." ~John Lubbock, "Recreation," The Use of Life, 1894

Heart Overwhelmed

This post was meant to be about something else, but after reading the previous post by Baby Bird, a change of topic is in order--When I decided to post today I didn't expect to find the following comments from Baby Bird: to say that I am overwhelmed is putting it mildly!

I think the thing to do is to say THANK YOU--it's nice to know that the things you do are noticed and appreciated--I love you all! And Happy Mothers Day to Baby Bird, a GREAT Mom!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day seems like an appropriate time to finally post.  Mama Bird is right.  This bird is just too dang tired most of the time to post, but in honor of my Mom, I am blogging to thank her for all she does for this family. Not only does she cook for us most nights (something for which I am profoundly thankful for), but she also cleans, feeds animals, keeps our plants alive and even pitches in caring for the littles when they need it.  This week is a prime example of this.  One of the littles was peeling a kiwi and managed to peel her finger instead of the kiwi.  The gushing wouldn't stop so off they went to urgent care for some medical advice.  Luckily, it wasn't too serious, but that is beside the point.  She always steps up to help those in need and doesn't look for anything in return.  So Mama Bird, for all those times you have helped us, even with the small stuff, I raise my glass and say a heartfelt THANK YOU.  We love you with all our hearts.  You are the best mom anyone could ask for.  Not only are you my mom, but you're my best friend.  Love you oodles and oodles.

On Writing

                                                            ON WRITING
                                                                             
                                                                                 

Yesterday I went with a friend to a book signing by a local author of his newest collection of stories--this is the 3rd book singing I have attended and most them are organized in pretty much the same manner, with the author talking first about himself or herself and about the newest book, then the author will usually read a passage from the book and lastly usually take questions from those attending; it is always interesting to hear an author read his or her own work and to hear about the process he/she goes through when writing  When I was younger I often thought I would like to be a writer--why? Did I think that I had something to say, that it was a glamours life with a large income, prestige and fame? I really don't know but one thing I do think now that it is not all that it seems to be; writing is a lot of hard work, rejections, frustration and probably joy and satisfaction--There are hundreds of quotes (google it) from authors about why they write, how they write and how writing influences their lives  I love to read and I am so grateful there are so many different authors, but I am pretty sure I could never be one of them! (one author suggested that using an exclamation point is like laughing at your own joke)

 Writing  isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid, or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. It’s about getting up, getting well, and getting over. Getting happy, okay? Getting happy.... Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink.
      Drink and be filled up. ~Stephen King, On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft, 2000

To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it's about, but the music the words make.
 Truman Capote


“I just knew there were stories I wanted to tell.” – Octavia E. Butler

                                       

A Different Experience

Two days after my "breakfast alone" I had a much different restaurant experience--I had lunch with a group of friends from my Book Club on the patio of Lucile's Creole and Cajun Cafe; there was lots of talking and laughter! One of the ladies was the former "leader" of the Book Club who moved to another town, turning over her leadership to me--we all miss her and enjoy her company, so much so that at least some of us try to meet her for a meal now and then somewhere between where she lives and where we live--Once we chatted for a while, we finally decided on our orders; we started out with Beignets, coffee and tea, then two of us ordered the Blackened Salmon and Mashed Potatoes, another had "Wash Day" Red Beans and Rice, another a Shrimp Po'Boy and another the Oyster Po'Boy--there are other traditional items on the menu, such as Collard Greens, Andioulle sausage, Gumbo and Crawfish  Everyone enjoyed their meals but most of all I know we enjoyed the conversation and the continuing friendship  After several hours we had to head home and of course there was the "splitting of the bill" routine--

Instead of a solitary meal, I had an enjoyable one with friends and good company and I did not look around at any of the other patrons having lunch, nor did I pay any attention to other conversations being held! 

On the way home, the four of us stopped at The Cheese Importers, which also houses a little restaurant and "all things French" and Italian--sunny pottery, brightly colored table linens, books, mugs, olive oils, pastas and a large cooler (so cold that they provide jackets you can wear when entering) filled with all types of cheese's--there are samples of some to help you make a decision--it is a fun place to visit (this was my second visit) and I can never leave without buying something!

Bar Inside The Cheese Importers

Gifts, Pastas, Breads

When I eat with my friends, it is a moment of real pleasure, when I really enjoy my life.

Monica Bellucci

Breakfast Alone

Generally I don't go into a restaurant and eat a meal by myself, but the other day after fasting for 12 hours before having some blood drawn for my physical next week, I was so really hungry and I decided I would try a little cafe on the way home for breakfast --(I am using these dashes instead of a period because that key on my computer keyboard won't work) It was later in the morning so it was not crowded and I guess that made it less intimidating--The sign just inside the door said "Please Wait to Be Seated", so I stood there waiting for the bustling waitress to seat me, when she finally did I was placed at a table between a older woman like me seated by herself and two other women who were talking animatedly at the other table--after looking over the menu and deciding to have the "one on one" (1 sweet pancake, 1 egg and 1 slice of thick cut bacon) I looked around at the other tables and the other patrons of the restaurant; a mother and her young daughter, a man and his two boys, grandparents, parent and three grandchildren--Later a man on his own and a man and a woman were seated, all near my table--I brought a book with me and I was reading while waiting for my breakfast to arrive, but found it more interesting to observe people--the man by himself was working on a tablet, the other woman alone next to me was also reading a book--By the conversation of the two woman next to me, I took them to be "soccer moms", talking pretty much non-stop, their conversation had a gossipy tone to it, sprinkled with she this and she that and "she knows her stuff". Another lively conversation was taking place between the man and the woman who came in after I did, something to do with things that she would like to do (hitchhiking  was one thing mentioned!!) and that the man had apparently done long ago--she was talking with enthusiasm and many hand gestures, he was answering in a calm, quiet voice--by the time I got ready to leave almost everyone had gone, except for the excited woman and her quiet male companion, the man alone and one other couple seated at the counter--As I walked out into the bright sunshine, I wondered why I had been so reluctant to go out for a meal alone--I guess maybe it was mostly due to feeling self-conscious, is everyone watching me, where do I look, what do I do without someone to talk to? That breakfast alone made me realize that there is no need to feel uncomfortable in that situation and it can make for a pretty interesting morning, though I can't say I got much reading done!

A table by the window 
Yes that would be just fine 
One knife, one fork, one spoon 
And just one glass of wine