Povey Prattle

I stepped outside for some cool fresh air at about 6:15 p.m. today (26th October 2013) to find that right on cue (after yesterday's blog entry) a Sandhill Crane had decided to stand in my driveway. We looked at each other for a full five minutes.  I did not want to go inside to get my camera, I simply wanted to admire the stately beauty of this bird. Sandhill Cranes mate for life and are often seen in threes - mother, father and chick.  Today's bird was alone  -   he/she has been around the area for two or three days, and our best guess is that, judging by the "calls", she/he is looking for a mate. These two photo's were taken using my zoom lens when she/he had wandered away a bit. Soon afterwards I set out for an evening walk with Penne and with my neighbour Dawn. We were rewarded with the sight of a Great Blue Heron. Sandhill Crane 1 Sandhill Crane 2 Great Blue Heron ==================================================================...

May I never take for granted the beauty of Earth's/God's/Evolution's (take your choice) creatures which I frequently see here in South West Florida.   All of these photo's were taken in Florida (but none by me). Sandhill Crane  Red tailed Hawk  Bald Eagle Nesting Ospreys  Anhinga ("Snake Bird" in Mexico) with fish for dinner.   Anhinga with wings outstretched to dry. I call this the "Christ-Bird" - with wings outstretched to embrace the entire creation.       Perchance I could also learn to appreciate my least favoured  neighbours the crows and the squirrels Wretched creatures.   Crows:  Collective Noun -  A Colony, or a Dray, or a Scurry  (but in my lexicon a "murder" of  crows)       

It must have been my blog entry yesterday wot dun it. F.P.L. sent a man and a truck to our street today and all the street lights are now working. (On the negative side, this leaves me with nothing about which to complain). Speaking of complaining, there is also non-complaining.  I was reminded of this at yesterday's Resurrection House prayer service.  One of the homeless men prayed for those who are less fortunate than us. Most days in the late afternoon I encounter an amiable old duffer who takes his constitutional around the pond. I keep a few yards between us since he claims to be allergic to dogs. The man always wears a short sleeved shirt, and sweat pants which are held in place by braces/suspenders.  That's a wise choice for a skinny and waist less older person. He also carries what we used to call a "walking stick", but since his is modern and metal I am not sure what it is called. The other day the man paused.  Then he used his "walking s...

The Tories in the U.K (with their hapless and gelded allies - the Liberal Democrats ), and The Coalition in Australia (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coalition_(Australia ) ) and The Republicans in the U.S.A. and The Conservatives in Canada all subscribe to the myth of the free market (a.k.a. "unfettered capitalism") The free market (they say) will bring:  the best benefits, the lowest prices, the most efficient services to we the consumers. Oh yeah? (1)     I protest -  the American "free market" is skewed in favour of so many businesses by taxing zoning, "anti-green", and de-regulation policies. These policies are certainly in favour of business , but they are  against the best interests of the consumer. In the U.S.A. we describe this as " Of the people, by the people, for the oligarchs. Oh yeah? (2)        Here is an unfettered  account of how  capitalism works for the "hoi ...

League bowling today.  I did not shine. My scores Game 1 -83 Game 2 -83 Game 3- 79 Utterly dismal!

I cleaned my bathroom today. I mean cleaned it.   Down on my knees to scrub the floor. Scrubbing the shower stall. Making the sliding glass doors sparkle. And the vanity is ultra-clean;   the "throne" immaculate enough for a Queen. SO NOW I DO NOT WISH TO USE IT.  It's simply too clean for use. It's a bit like the new shirts, trousers or shoes which I buy, and then do not wear  for month after month -  'cause once they have been worn they are no longer new. Is this a male thing, or a human thing?

So, as I was trying to settle down to sleep last night (Oct 19th) I heard rain. That caused me to get up to shut some windows. Before I could do that, I discovered Junior cat Ada in the very act of stealing the dog's food in the un-lighted  house. Just as soon as I turn on a light she scurried away, guilt writ large on her face. "Cats love darkness rather than light because their deed are evil"  (or naturally feline). I went outside for a moment.  We've not had rain for about a month, so the smell of the gentle rain on the parched earth was simply delicious. And the rain  dripping off the roof made for a lovely sight, and for gentle sounds.