It's amazing! A few minutes ago I was out mixing up some fertilizer to water my plants with and from my peripheral vision I noticed something big flying close by. I looked up and this owl flew right up to a branch just about 15 feet from where I was stooped over. He or she perched up on the tree branch and just looked down at me. We did a little non-verbal communicating, well mine was verbal, and then the owl flew off. He or she was definitely there to visit. No doubt in my mind.
Wow. They definitely are watching us. It just could be that the owl who visited this evening is the same owl that was in the blog picture I posted yesterday. More synchronicity.
There is no owl in my picture today so don't strain yourself looking. It is just a place on our little road out here where Maggie and I stopped on our walk yesterday. It does have some significance though. It is where a ferry dock once stood. A ferry that carried people across the river when our community was first established. There's a lot of history out here.... and I can feel it.
87 comments:
Didn't really have anything special to say today until my owl came to visit. I guess it knew I needed some inspiration!
Carol, I am 'so' glad that you brought the synchronicity concept to my attention. We tend not to notice these things that happen for a reason, unless we are aware of their importance. And I thank Ivy for making me aware that these things are choice bringers (is that the right word, or is it choice givers?). I'll have to look it up tomorrow, unless Ivy comes on and reminds me again.
Another great shot of your river. Have you named your owl yet?
nite
... Carol, I wonder what that little owl is trying to say to you?
I think Chloe that the owl just knew I had been thinking of it. It's likely the same owl in the pic yesterday. It wasn't a big owl. I'd guess maybe a teenage owl, that is, in owl growth time.
Remember when I wrote on TM about how after the owls left their birth tree that year, I was worried about if they all made it? Just as I was having that thought, I went out to the front of my camp and happened to look up and there was an owl sitting on the top of a telephone pole.
As soon the owl saw that I noticed it, he fly off across the street to a wooded area and four other owls joined him. They flew back and forth through the trees like they were saying, look, we all made it. After that short display, they all flew off. That was really weird too.
I'm not pulling your leg Chloe. It's the honest truth. I called my older sister that day to tell her. She was down here visiting when I noticed my first owl family in the big bald cypress tree. We enjoyed watching them together. Birdwatching is something we both love to do.
You sure have a lot of little friends out there in the wild Carol. What makes it so meaningful is that they communicate with you. Maybe they do that with lots of people, but you're one of the few that notices and searches for the meaning in it.
I watch for signs too. And the times I've gotten really into watching for them, there is no shortage. I haven't been looking enough lately, but you've inspired me to open my eyes and pay more attention.
I love animals and wild life as much as you do Carol. Rewards are always built in, so I rarely have to look any further than right now. All the answers are right there in front of our nose. Nature.
Glad you write about your experiences. They mean even more when you share them.
ps (sounds like you and your sister had a lot more in common than you talked about when she was here.)
I forgot to answer your question. Yes I remember you were worried about your little owl family. I'm glad there still with you. (I remember you linked a picture back then too.)
there=they're
Well Chloe it's really only the birds lately that I have noticed trying to communicate. Maybe it is because here at the camp, I'm up in the trees. in their space. They might see me as a very big bird with a bigger nest.
And let me tell you, the squirrels are like everyone else here in Louisiana. They don't cotton to change very well. I put my Hopi blue corn snack out there on a little block of wood and nothing has touched it. They may be thinking that I'm trying to pull a fast one on them.
Don't need to correct your little mistakes Chloe. It will make too easy to read.
I have a friend out there who drops in and is still trying to figure out how to get to read the comments. I told her that the comments are the most interesting part. I hope she has figured out how to read them. Send smoke signals Linda if you got it.
I hope everything is OK with Ivy and Solar. I didn't see them on the Trail yesterday. Must be taking a cyberbreak like you were trying to do. Something about this cyber stuff, it's like chocolate in the frig. When it's there, it keeps calling your name until you go get it.
'Trying' is the key word there Carol, but I didn't succeed.
I usually don't correct my mistakes, but once in a while one really bothers me. Usually, there are so many, I don't even bother.
I'm up in the tree's with the birds too. The room where I spend a big part of my days with Emma is all windows on two sides, and I'm looking out at birds (not many squirrels on this side of the house), but the dragonflies come up this high sometimes. (I'm about 20' up, and keep my small pair of binoculars sitting next to my laptop at all times.) We used to have owls toward the back of the property, but I haven't heard them in a few years now. They probably don't like Cats. The squirrels are so high (probably because of the cats) and jump from tree top to tree top, without ever coming down to the ground. Smart squirrels. I sure wish cats weren't such predators, that bothers me a lot. But they did rid us of our copperhead snakes.
That sweet chocolate helps raise the serotonin level. Maybe these blogs do the same thing.
Came home for lunch to check on these tree guys who are suppose to be cutting down some dead trees I need getting rid of. No trees guys in sight. They are out fishing. Can't let a little work interrupt something that important.
In fact, I'm taking a vacation day tomorrow to go fishing. The weather is beautiful, a Fall like day today and suppose to be again tomorrow. I'm so excited, I just can't hide it, I'm about to lose control and I think I like it. Now where have I heard that before? I'll just bet Tony would know. I bet he was a disco queen. I do know but you'll just have to guess. Correct guess gets to go fishing tomorrow.
I sent Patsi an invitation to author a blog post because she is southern girl ya know. My blog was so excited that they put her name up as a contributor. I haven't seen anything from her yet and I don't even know if she stops by here but the blog must know her and love her already. Maybe some more synchronicity. We'll see.
Well, I'd better get back to work. I need to discuss my fishing plans with one of my nurses who is going to join me tomorrow. We just might try to get in a little work also.
Carol,
I would like to take a cyber break from it all. To tell you the truth: Im a little tired of it all and should take a break from it. What I did not count on when I started posting: Is that is didn't know how close I would get with some of you, this makes it hard to take a break; but if I do, don't worry......
Chlo,
That sounds like a very nice place to have your office.....birds to watch, and little Emma's happy noises. Hugs t o both of you....make that to all of you :-)))
I'm taking off for a few hours, but am sending a hug back at you Solar. Sorry to hear you're getting tired of chatting, but I understand.
Chlo,
I should have said, talking about the same things, over and over, at tm....here it is all fun, and can get serious if we want it too, over there it gets a little tiring but, that doesn't mean any thing......
I have been singularly lacking in any original thoughts. Some kind of mental burnout, I 'spose. I really don't know.
In the absence of brain synapses, I will offer a hopefully timely excerpt about owls from my trusty "Bird Watcher's Handbook." Have you ever heard an owl fly past? Probably not.
"Nocturnal owls are formidable, silent hunters. Their silence on the wing derives from the structural modification of the first primary feather on each wing, a trait shared by all owls. The forward edge of the feather is serrated rather than smooth, which has the effect of disrupting the flow of air over the wing in flight and eliminating the vortex noise created by airflow over a smooth surface. Thus equipped, the owls arrive upon their prey without a sound."
Correction: The book is titled "The Birder's Handbook, A Field Guide to the Natural History of North American Birds; The Essential Companion to Your Identification Guide."
That takes up all the space on the book's cover.
Well hi Ivy. Nice to hear from you. We missed you. What ya been up to?
Very interesting information. I would never have heard that owl if I wouldn't have seen it fly in out of the corner of my eye.
I've been outside preparing for the fishing trip tomorrow. Haven't seen any owls yet but it's not dark enough. You can hear them all night. They are yaking it up out in the woods. Sometimes it sounds like they are having a party.
I came in to eat and give my back a rest. I have a long list of what I have to do before morning but I'm enjoying it.
I love the sound of owls Carol, and miss that sound.
Ivy, If original thoughts were required to make comments on a blog, I'd never say anything. Thanks for sharing that owl info. I thought all owls are nocturnal, but Carol gets pictures of hers during the day, so I'm not sure now.
Ivy, If you're still around, I was wondering if you could post that link you had on synchronicity (I think it was Jung's work)on TM when Carol first brought it up. The information on 'choice bringers' (I think that's what you called it).
I have often seen owls during the day. Sometimes they are roused out of their siesta by their arch-enemy the crow. When a flock of crows discovers a roosting owl, they will gang up on it and drive it off in a behavior called "mobbing." It's not hard to fathom why crows hate owls. One time in the woods, I came upon a pile of bones and black feathers. I looked straight up overhead, and there was an owl's nest.
Most of the owls I see show up late afternoon, evening or early morning. The pic I got was a baby. The babies, when they are old enough, come out and hang out on a limb near their nest during the day. Mom and dad fly in, trying hard not to be seen, to feed them.
I have seen other birds, couldn't tell what kind, harrassing the owls. The owls just yawn with disinterest.
Did you say you had the barn owls Ivy?
That pile of bones and black feathers sounds awful. You mean the owl did that?
Ivy, do you know which one screams? There is one, I'm not sure if the barred owl does, that screams like a woman. A blood cuddling scream. Scared me more than a few times.
curdling? not cuddling.
Was that revenge on the crow? Black feathers?
No, don't have a barn, therefore, no barn owls. Used to have barred owls and great horned owls. The woods that used to abut our development was cut down three summers ago by developers to build spec houses which today sit mostly unsold. Currently, I have no owls, and I miss them greatly.
Yes, Chloe, crows are the great horned owls favorite meal.
We have lots of woods out here that can't be cut down, fortunately. Across the river is a swampy island. Lot of trees and owls and other creatures. Maybe swampfoot? I have heard some scary noises coming from over there at night.
Lotta meat on 'dem crow bones. Tastes like chicken.
Joey cruise by this evening. I think he was giving a couple a swamp tour. I snapped a pic. He's the river rat I told ya'll about that stayed on his houseboat during Rita.
Tried a few, huh Ivy?
The owl with the screech is the Barn Owl. Although there is a little owl called the Screech Owl.
I wonder if my friend Linda ever figured out how to read the comments. She was wondering if they were private. I said no way. The comments are the best part of this blog.
Linda, are you out there somewhere? She's a very cool lady. You guys would like her. She's one of those people who make you happy to be around her.
"curdling? not cuddling."
Lol Carol, I like cuddling better!
Did you tell her to just click on comments and how to sign in and all of that Carol?
You know barred owls have been known to attack people. One night, last year when the babies were here, one flew down at me. I was standing on the steps. Fortunately, just before it got to me it swooped upward and went over the camp. I didn't even have time to turn to head back in the door. Scared me good.
I didn't know that about crows being a favorite meal. Yuk, I just hate the thought. Every time I see crows, they're the ones harassing all the other birds around here. And boy, are they noisy.
Yes I did. She did add herself to followers.
Ya'll don't piss off the crows. Remember that NPR program about how they will tell all the other crows in town and they will all harrass you everywhere you go.
Crows don't forget.
You going to post that picture of Joey Carol?
You can add yourself to followers, without have a sign in, can't you?
"Crows don't forget."
.. and neither do I.
Chloe, generally, crows harass the ones who they feel threatened by...next, they'll be showing up at town halls.
I was away when you posted that NPR piece, Carol. But I have it saved, I just haven't taken time to listen to it yet.
yes Chloe but I'll have to do a new post. I can do that.
Carol, tell Linda to get herself in here. Tomorrow's Bird Topic: Tyrant Flycatchers. She wouldn't want to miss that!
Ha, good one Ivy. I have mostly cardinals and blue birds, and the crows come in making a lot of noise. I always thought they were the bad guys. Now, I guess, they're just feeling threatened, right? But it sure doesn't look that way.
We have really high trees, 50, 70, maybe a 100 ft high, and I know there are an unbelievable amount of birds up there nesting. I see the babies when they first try to fly, and it's so cute. But it's difficult to witness the ones that don't make it.
I do hear a lot of bird fights out there though. I usually try to control even that. I guess I really am a control freak.
Tyrant Flycatchers. I know 'I' don't want to miss it!
Linda, come and join all of the crows, and get acquainted. U like jokes....I have one or two, that U might like.
Chlo, Im going to post a pic, on facebook of the place that I would go into, and never want to come back, just blend in and become part of the vegetation. I Think that Carol was asking what happens when we die....well it's like this......
Let us know once it's posted Solar. (you get around!)
Did he just call us old crows Carol?
Chloe, you never see just one crow harassing anybody...they need to be in a gang. Sound familiar...?
Remember, Jamie posted the other day on TM...General Grant's whiskey of choice was "Old Crow."
Huh, Im innocent over here.!! I didn't say notinnn, Ivy, I get harassed by a few-cpl of the pinks at the club.....are they.....?
Solar, I'm not a Facebooker...am I still able to peek?
Yes Ivy, there's always a gang. That's why I assumed they were bullies. But the blue jays are really fighters. Not so much the cardinals.
Well, at least you didn't call us witches Solar. But still...
The cardinals are sweet, especially when they show up in pairs. They mate for life.
One beleaguered male cardinal flitted in last week for a glimpse of the crowd at the hummingbird feeder. Wrong color to be wearing that day.
Ivy, I didn't know that cardinals mated for life. They are such sweet, beautiful little birds. And the sounds they make, I love them.
Carol, Where are you?
Ivy, I will post it here (can we post-pics, like we do at tm?) in a day or two, I like to change pics often on my facebook page. Hey did you see that I was going for rib tips for lunch and invited you...nice going, u, just stood me up....I waited, and waited, and then after 3-4 min. I took off......
Ivy, you going to do a post tomorrow? Great. I can't wait.
Hi Solar. I needed you today. I needed a man to do all the hard work that going fishing requires. It's just not a woman's job. I'm cool saying that. When it comes to hard work I will give up my feminism for a moment.
She is fighting with the owls. hahaha
Solar, Are you talking about your profile space picture? That's where you'd want to be forever?
Carol,
I swear, that if I was even a cpl of hours away, I would do all the heavy work around there, at least every other week. I wish that someone shows up there that can be trustworthy...maybe get the chain-gang once in a while...
Chloe I went and did a quick new post. Included a pic of Joey but too small to see. Maybe if you click on it?
Solar you are also on the author list. That means you guys have to start authoring OK. This is our homey place so just have fun.
Carol, You should get Solar to do a post too (the following day?), and post the picture on it that Ivy wants to see.
Thanks y'all. I'd better get going.
80, 79, 78....
Ya'll get after it. You are all on the author list and I have been waiting.....
No. Chlo,
I have a pic of a man, climbing into a mountain, and one can see for miles, and miles of trees, and forestry, that no man has ever put foot on.....I think it was Peru, or somewhere..but I will get it up by this time tomorrow for us to talk about.
Sorry, Solar, I didn't check in there today. Were those crow-ribs being served? I heard they taste like chicken.
I have been following all the bird talk. Out here in New Mexico we have lots of roadrunners. When I was a kid, I loved the cartoons with Wily Coyote and the roadrunner. Well, roadrunners were not so cute anymore after I saw one grab a littler bird with its beak and eat it whole in a about a minute. I still like watching them though. Jan
77,76,75
I guess it's time to jump to Carol's new thread...
Carol, I enlarged the picture and I could see Joey just fine. All three shots are nice, but I won't read the posts until the morning. Thanks. (You sure got that done fast)
Jan, I've driven through New Mexico, and it's absolutely beautiful. I'm looking forward to hearing more about it. Glad you're joining us.
Hi Jan...nature has no compassion. It's a bird-eat-bird world out there!
Ivy,
The only thing that doesn't taste like Chicken, is Chicken, at least not where i get my foul from....
.... sweet dreams
Hi, Jan, glad you found your way in here.
How long have you been back in New Mexico?
Carol,
Whats this about guest Author? I can hardly spell it, let alone do it.....
I sent you a author invite so now you can go up to the top of the page and where it says New Post, click, and add your own post. You will then be an author. Did you know it was that easy?
Yeah, its real easy, after you point a gun, to show the way. You and Chloe, just have to stop hanging around each other so much......and don't go affecting Ivy, she is just right; although she has given me a cpl of zingers, while smiling.....
I am just beginning to get the hang of this blogging. I didn't think to look at all the comments after each posting. I think I am getting it now. Hi to all. Thanks for responding to me. I feel a little like the new kid on the block and was a little shy about posting a comment. I have been back in New Mexico for 6 years. I came back because I have sons and grandchildren here and I realized how important it is to be near the ones you love. Thanks for letting me join you guys. You all have such interesting things to say and talk about. Jan
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