The Pond

Joe spotted this bird in the pond across the street. He came home to get his camera and we both headed for the hole in the fence where we could spy without scaring it away. Actually there were two but one was hidden.

I looked in my bird book and we decided it was a Hooded Merganser

Angelic Distraction

Stacey brought Sophia to mass today. She parked the stroller right next to the choir.   Stacey is devoted to her little girl as is the nurse who helps with her care.
It is an inspiration to see them.  Joseph and Clint both  visited Sophia. It was very touching.
I pray that Sophia will continue to improve and Stacey's prayers will be answered.

Swept Out To Sea

The news of the quake in Japan is a  sad and  heartbreaking reality.
Joe & I listened to Obama, looked at all the photos on line, then decided we needed to take a break.
We drove to Kent, checked out a few antique shops, snooped in thrift shops and just walked.
In one of the thrift shops I heard a women say that Crescent Beach, Ca. had been hit with a tsunami. 
A man taking a photo had been swept out to sea.
Something so catastrophic makes all your problems seem so small and trivial.

You hear this phrase a lot but it says it all so I'll repeat it.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who were affected by the quake.
Special prayers and thanks for those who are willing and able to help. Inspirational!

Sweet Smell of Success

Having finished my shopping at Costco, I opened an insulated bag to store perishables and was greeted by a stench that permeated the entire world (slight exaggeration).  The bottom of the bag was filled with a yellowish
liquid that smelled like rotted shrimp.  When I arrived home the cleansing rite began.   I filled the bag with soapy water, let it soak.  After drying it out, I placed a vanilla soaked paper towel in the bag. Voila!

I know this is an old remedy but I wasn't sure it would work.

Canis latrans

I doubt the following information will interest anyone.  ( except me)
Animal feces was discovered near our compost pile.  We have seen deer, raccoon, possum and coyote
on our property. 

I went on line to look for an identification chart. Success!  It belongs to a coyote, maybe the one I saw in the woods last week.  I will probably remove it as it may be marking it's territory and I'd just as soon  the  toilette be in the woods.


I don't believe I'll display of photo of my discovery.

Ain't it Fine

I found this while trying to de-junk our home.   Maybe if I share this, I'll be able to put it in the give-away sack.

Flowers for the chickadee & Psuedo Rain Forest

A sweet little chickadee got trapped in one of our bird feeders. Joe noticed it and told me about it.  I got the ladder so I could reach in and grab the poor bird.  I had to bury it. I didn't sing" In Paradisum"  but I did say a few kind words.   " You are so cute, even when you are dead. It must be the feathers."


We love the rain forest.  Our woods are as close as we'll get for now.