An ordinary Saturday, turned extraordinary

It was a pretty laid back day here at Sand Creek. I lounged in bed until the ridiculously late hour of 7:30, when a cat and dog tag team (Blue Flame and Sally) finally ousted me. I sipped coffee and watched the usual chickadees, nuthatches (white and red breasted), redpolls, blue jays, goldfinches, and pine grosbeaks at the feeder while I finalized my garden seed, potato, and onion orders and made them online. I have marked my calendar to plant tomato, pepper, and eggplant seeds in three weeks! By then I just might be seeing pairs of Canada geese flying around, maybe even a robin or bluebird.

Then I had a great banjo practice session, although for some reason I found it difficult to actually sit down and start practicing. I don't know if it's that nagging thought in the back of my mind that something, somewhere, needs to be done, or the apprehension about the mental effort it takes to learn something, and be disciplined enough to keep repeating things until they become second nature to me. I think I succeeded in overcoming whatever mental hurdles there were.

It would have been easy to stay there in that room, bathed in sunlight, and making music. But there were a few things that needed to be done, and it was nice enough outside that I really didn't mind doing them. The Hermit came home from a three day business trip, and we put together a new rabbit cage we can use indoors or out. Much nicer than the dog kennel the rabbits were staying in.

Then two friends of Calvin and Starflower's came over, so The Hermit and I got away for a short drive. I had just mentioned to him that, along the road we were driving, I had seen a barred owl three or four times within the last month. Then, we almost drove right by THIS:

This barred owl was enjoying the afternoon sun so much it didn't seem to mind us backing up to gawk at it. What a beautiful sight! No, of course I did not have my camera with me at the time. But after we got home, The Hermit took Mr. Attitude to see if they could see it. And take photos. I would have gone along, but I was already shoveling the pond. Again.

The Hermit said he could not get a picture of the owl straight on; it kept turning its head in that amazing way owls do.

Mr. Attitude's excitement as he was telling me about the owl was precious. "It had a big round head, and he could turn it all the way around!" I am SO happy it was still there and they got such a good view, and pictures. I don't think Mr. Attitude had seen an owl before.

I'm not keeping a year list this year, but I will make note that I have never seen barred owls as frequently as I have this last month.

Great photos, Hermit.