Never eat like a bird

Not all the birds at the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge are waterfowl.  There are other birds who find the refuge a fun place to visit.  But I was a little concerned about the following two birds.

Okay, it looks like this bird has eaten enough to hibernate through the winter.  And, um...I'm assuming it is a male.   Then, on another branch, probably its mate?  See below.

Seriously, I've discovered my mistake.  All my life I've been trying to eat like a bird.  Perhaps that is where I went wrong.

A pictorial story of my life

Have you ever felt no matter what decision you make, no matter what path you choose to follow, you get nowhere?

Me too.  Especially in the past week or so (ever since I dumped the coffee into my most favorite of all time computer that my brother-in-law gave me).  I snapped this picture yesterday.  Never thought I could sum up my life in 1000 words, but here it is all in one picture.

My Life

Hopefully after using "Windows 8" more, I'll not be as frustrated, and I'll be able to post a happier picture.

(Maybe I should send a link to this blog to Microsoft as my editorial comment on Windows 8.)

Northwest Wildlife

Another wildlife photo taken at the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge in Washington State.

Queen Anne's Lace and Charlotte

If I were a duck

Contrary to popular belief, I am not a duck, but I have a few duck friends at the Ridgefield Wildlife Refuge. If I were one, I'd be very nervous to have this guy sizing me up for his next meal.

Bald Eagle

Those cute little ducks in the background don't seem all that worried, although one or two appeared to be sweating.

Bald Eagle

Usually I see eagles up in the trees, so this pose was delightful.  In fact, admission to the wildlife refuge was free all weekend because of Veteran's day and the place was packed with cars driving the winding route through the lakes and marsh.  Because this bird stood out in the open, there must have been fifteen cars stopped, taking the perfect picture.  After I took this one, I squeezed past each car, mentioning as I went by that the bird was plastic.  I think of few of them wondered, at least for a few seconds.

I get this from my father, who said the moose we saw from deck twelve of the cruise ship in Alaska was on a leash, and the caretaker was hiding behind a rock on the hillside.  He told people they bring the moose out every day so people feel they get their money's worth.

Thanks, Dad, for making me smile, and for serving in the Army Aviation division during WWII.

Crisp Air and Apple Cider

I like this time of year.  Makes me long to scuff through leaves and press apples.

What will (aliens) think?

When I see something like this, I wonder what alien geologists and archaeologists (from another country, or another planet--take your pick) will think in a thousand years, when they uncover deposits of red rock underneath all the moss, mold, lichen, and mushrooms?  Will they scratch their heads and wonder?

Bizarre Deeds

Partial lunar eclipse 10/18/13

Last night while dining with friends at Hidden Bay Cafe on Hayden Island, Portland, the news spouted an impending partial lunar eclipse.  We only saw masts eclipse it, even though we kept watch as we shivered through an entire steak dinner outside, overlooking the marina.

Later, when I pulled into my driveway in the dark eeriness of my property where bobcats and bears and black-tailed deer abound, I noticed someone had dragged my garbage can from the top of the driveway down to my house.  If that wasn't weird enough, someone had raked my leaves.

Seriously.

Raked Leaves

This morning I took photos for evidence. Some unknown perpetrator trespassed onto my property (with their own equipment) and raked all the leaves out of my driveway onto the center circle.  I'm caught between a thrill of ecstasy that someone would do such a thing, and a vast curiosity about the miscreant.

Will I ever know?