I read that last night the full moon was closer to the Earth than it has been since 1993, making it look 14% larger and 30% brighter. According to the director of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, CA, “Typically we don't have the full moon phase and perigee (the position of an object at its least distance from Earth) coinciding at the same time, so that makes (last night’s) event particularly special.”
This morning, the program at church focused on transcendence in the Native American culture. The speaker described several interesting occurrences during some notable tribal events: a bald eagle appearing out of nowhere to fly over a respected tribal leader during a talk he was giving; two hawks playfully chasing after one another and circling over a couple at the end of their Native American wedding ceremony.
The idea of the natural world sending signs to mark auspicious times isn’t a new one in any culture and is probably almost as old as the first time a human being gazed up at a full moon.
After church, while eating a late lunch, Kurt and I happened to glance outside my kitchen window to see a red-tailed hawk circle lazily over the river and land in a tree along my riverbank. It floated so slowly on the air currents, perfectly centered outside my window and so close to my house, that we could clearly see not just its reddish tail feathers, but the white, dark gray, and ochre markings under its wings.
And, with the morning’s discussion in mind, I now wonder what notable event its aerial pirouette may portend…
Showing posts with label Bald eagle. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bald eagle. Show all posts
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Winged music lovers...
My friend hOOt came over to visit about a week ago. It had been a few years since I'd seen him -- or heard the wonderul music of his magic mandolin -- so it was a very heatwarming four days filled with a lot of laughs, reminiscing, a few tears, and hours of singing.
In its own way, the homestead welcomed him and his music...
On his first day, during a rousing rendition of Queen of Argyll, a bald eagle and one of my resident blue heron decided to share a breakfast of fresh fish together on the riverbank right outside my porch windows.
And on his last day, while we sang songs on the river, one of my blue herons returned. He stood on the opposite shore listening intently for over an hour, and as the last echoes of our last song died away, he flew off.
In its own way, the homestead welcomed him and his music...
On his first day, during a rousing rendition of Queen of Argyll, a bald eagle and one of my resident blue heron decided to share a breakfast of fresh fish together on the riverbank right outside my porch windows.
And on his last day, while we sang songs on the river, one of my blue herons returned. He stood on the opposite shore listening intently for over an hour, and as the last echoes of our last song died away, he flew off.
Like the eagle and the heron, I'm looking forward to hOOt's next visit...I'll be sure to leave the lights on for you, old friend...
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Animals everywhere...
May 2nd, saw my resident groundhog for the first time hanging out under the porch:
May 29th, adopted 2 adorable kittens! Hopefully they'll grow up to be great mousers. Luckily Sammy warmed up to them pretty quickly and they seem perfectly fine with having him as an adoptive brother:
June 4th, had a bit of a hellgrammite problem. After a night of heavy rains, found several in the milk room, 2 in the kitchen, and over 2 dozen crawling out of the dirt outside. Becky collected over 40 that same day. I'm told they make great bait if you're fishing for largemouth bass:
June 12th, saw the first fireflies of the season dancing over my main field.
June 14th, while not on my property, I have to mention that I saw a black bear for the first time. He was trying to cross the highway not far from the exit ramp leading into town. He was a cautious bear, looking both ways, and probably marveling at all the polite humans slowing down so that he could safely cross.
June 17th, saw Groundhog Jr. scurry under my porch.
And since I've moved here - other than the almost expected deer, ducks, and geese - I've also seen a mink, ring-necked snakes (unfortunately they were run-over), a Baltimore oriole, a blue bird, a bald eagle fishing over the river, and a red-tailed hawk:
May 29th, adopted 2 adorable kittens! Hopefully they'll grow up to be great mousers. Luckily Sammy warmed up to them pretty quickly and they seem perfectly fine with having him as an adoptive brother:
June 4th, had a bit of a hellgrammite problem. After a night of heavy rains, found several in the milk room, 2 in the kitchen, and over 2 dozen crawling out of the dirt outside. Becky collected over 40 that same day. I'm told they make great bait if you're fishing for largemouth bass:
June 12th, saw the first fireflies of the season dancing over my main field.
June 14th, while not on my property, I have to mention that I saw a black bear for the first time. He was trying to cross the highway not far from the exit ramp leading into town. He was a cautious bear, looking both ways, and probably marveling at all the polite humans slowing down so that he could safely cross.
June 17th, saw Groundhog Jr. scurry under my porch.
And since I've moved here - other than the almost expected deer, ducks, and geese - I've also seen a mink, ring-necked snakes (unfortunately they were run-over), a Baltimore oriole, a blue bird, a bald eagle fishing over the river, and a red-tailed hawk:
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