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I woke up to this the other day…
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Which made it a very good morning indeed.
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Because just when you get mired in the day to day drudgery that is life in the Covid era…
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Mother Nature slaps you up side the head and says, “Snap out of it!”
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There’s beauty all around us.
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You just have to know where to look. (And have a big ass backyard.)
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I’m knee deep in an extremely detailed and comprehensive biography of a fascinating First Lady.
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How detailed and comprehensive you ask?
698 pages worth. It weighs a ton!
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While I don’t usually read biographies, this tome has enough action, scandal, politics, intrigue, and history to satisfy fans of any genre.
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I thought I knew a lot about Nell.
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I was wrong.
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Part two of the Photo Ark for birds.
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Black Crowned Crane
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Those are magnificent hairdos, no doubt about it.
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Verreaux’s Eagle Owl
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Sleepy owl is not amused.
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Wattled Curassow
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This poor guy looks like he’s balancing half a walnut on his nose.
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Purple Starling
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We have starlings, but they’re nowhere as impressive as these.
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Palm Cockatoo
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A beak that could crush cocktail ice in no time flat.
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White Naped Cranes
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I totally want to want to animate that photo to music.
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Tawny Frogmouth
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The little guy looks pissed. Whoever stole his mouse? Give it back…
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Northern Bald Ibis
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Wow. If anyone was ever in dire need of a toupe, it’s that guy.
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Common Bay Owl
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Owls.
They’re da bomb.
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But I’m not done sharing wonderful photos from Joel Sartore because he has another book.
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Great Blue Turaco
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A book full of birds.
Northern White Faced Owl
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Our fine feathered….
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Baby Golden Parakeet
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And not quite feathered yet friends.
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Golden Pheasant
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Being an avid bird watcher and feeder, this book warms my soul.
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Kea
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I’ll try not to overshare.
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Andean Cock of the Rock
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But look at these beauties.
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Vulturine Guineafowl
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It’s going to be tough.
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Whoever dreamed up this card game is a genius.
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Apparently it’s some kind of memory game…
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But that doesn’t matter.
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Because even though I’ll never play it?
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I adore it!
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I mean really…
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How can you not?
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* Disclaimer – a mistake was made in scheduling. This post should have been viewed before yesterday’s, so please forget you saw that one. My bad. *
Our (magical, never to be caught actually working, might be an elf) contractor was by the other day to put the first coat of stain on our bar top.
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So while the husband and I were checking progress, I took pictures.
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And it wasn’t until I started posting them that I realized the damn thing appeared to be 2 different colors.
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At first I thought it was a matter of angles and shadows but the picture above and below this text are basically the same, just taken 12 minutes apart.
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And I swear I didn’t alter the hue or color on my phone.
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I have no explanation. Although now that I think about it, this might be a fun bar game after a few toddies.
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Just for the fun of it I placed a few fronting pieces to get an idea what the finished product would look like.
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And I think while not a perfect match to the chairs we ordered…
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It might be close enough.
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Yes, these are the last photos I’ll post from this truly wonderful book.
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Malay Tapir
But look at that face! I couldn’t help myself.
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Sulawesi Stripe-faced Fruit Bat
I’m so very glad Joel Sartore followed his dream.
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Victoria Crowned Pigeon
The wonderful and wacky diversity of nature should be celebrated as well as protected.
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Watusi Cow
So that’s where the Watusi dance craze came from…. who knew?
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Varied Capuchin
I think we’ve all been there.
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Spix’s Macaw
Sadly, this lovely bird no longer exists in the wild.
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Florida Panther
And this graceful cat is hanging on by a thread.
We share our world with some fabulous creatures… please respect them and their need for a small corner of it.
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He’s still here.
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And still showing up despite losing his mom.
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He’s much smaller than the other yearlings but seems healthy.
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And his eyes are still a little blue.
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Husband thinks he’s a buck.
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 Time will tell.
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It was recently brought to my attention that our barn was in need of comfortable seating in which to kick back after a vigorous session of drinking. And to that I say…
I’m way ahead of you.
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Okay, so it’s actually just the porch furniture we store inside every winter… but I’m thinking come spring, when it heads back outside? Two leather club chairs with a small table in between.
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Husband hung a few appropriate signs behind the (soon to be bar) the other day.
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Armpit lemon? Remind me not to over indulge in Puerto Rico.
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A no sewing required spot was found for the husband’s assorted patches.
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And a few more photos were carefully hung… while standing on a safe.
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As you can see, I have arrived … and finally been given representation in the man cave.
Yay me.
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A magnetic bottle opener was installed on the staircase.
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And a recent antique store purchase was displayed.
It’s time for Name That Crap!
What is it?
(Kerry, you be quiet. 😉)
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Sadly our snow is all gone, but here are a few pretty pics from our last storm.
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We have a few cardinals visit our feeders now and then…
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But it always surprises me that they show up en masses during a blizzard.
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Perfect winter scenes if ever I saw one.
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They spend most of their time huddled in the small apple tree.
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But every once in a while make a dash for the seed.
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With light fluffy snow? It doesn’t always end well.
🤣
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River's world..... 