Unflappable...

We had more snow today. We are averaging more than one storm per week. Today's started pre-dawn and dumped more than 8 fluffy inches. At some points, when I looked out the window all I saw was a wall of snow. It was like the house was wrapped in cotton.

We went for a walk- the wind was very cold on my face. There was a red tailed hawk circling the meadow across from us, looking for small dark rodents. Every branch was frosted.
Heading home we saw a large bird winging silently from the pine trees that shelter one of our bird feeding stations. It was a barred owl, hungry and hunting in the light of 3 PM. She flew from the pines to a tall tree at the edge of the meadow and looked at us. Hard.

We looked back and snapped a memory. Plow trucks lumbered by, rumbling. We dashed to get out of their way.

The owl was unflappable.

An owl of our own...

If we are trying to welcome bluebirds...
We are doin' it wrong!
This beautiful Barred Owl has staked out our property as part of its territory. In the evenings she comes out and sits on the electrical wires that run along the street. More silent than a whisper she dives to the dry grass to snatch an unsuspecting mouse. Then, ghost-like she ascends back to her wire perch. Still as a porcelain statue she waits. We watch, transfixed, until dusk shrouds her from our human eyes.

Yesterday morning, when the dew was heavy on the goldenrod and asters, I spied our owl, sprouting like an extension of the bluebird house. Why she was still out hunting when the sun had already climbed over the treeline I do not know. But I was so glad to see her there, and so pleased that she stayed long enough to pose for some photos.

Want to hear the wonderful voice of the barred owl? Click here: http://www.tooter4kids.com/owls/sounds_made.htm

Slivers of beauty...

Each day has slivers of beauty. This afternoon was cold- when I was filling the bird feeders my fingers ached. I happened to glance towards the top of the meadow, and saw a large bird perched on the wire. I grabbed my camera and headed up the road.

There I found a barred owl, puffed up on a wire, looking for a warm meal on frigid day. It posed, magnificently still, while I took several photos. And then it lifted its broad wings and in one silent motion dissapeared into the woods. Just one slice of beauty in a magical day.

Night owls...

Sometimes I hear the question asked, "What is your idea of a perfect date?" Answers from others vary from trips to Paris to wild champagne filled parties to romantic starlit cruises.

We had a perfectly lovely date tonight. It involved none of the above. After 25 years of marriage we think a great night is a quiet dinner at home... but tonight we were "night owls!"
We went to hear a lecture given by the Chewonki foundation, all about owls. The focus was on the owls commonly found here in Maine. Three live owls came to the event, this Horned owl, (which treated us to a smattering of seductive hoots) a wee Screech owl and a lovely Barred owl. We have Barred owls living near our house, I hear them calling often. I love to lie in our quiet room at night and hear them, their call sounds like they are saying, "Who cooks for you, who cooks for you all?" Sometimes two of them will call back and forth, chortling and chatting each other up.

After the interesting lecture we went to a favorite haunt for a yummy meal... and conversation about plans for the future. I remember that when I was a little kid I figured that life was pretty much over at 50. Yet, here I am... pushing 50 hard and still making big plans for exciting changes and projects for my tomorrow.

Yup, sometimes going out and being a "night owl" is a welcome change.