fast week

It felt like I went to bed 

Sunday night

and woke up

Saturday morning.

That kinda fast.

It all started when I bumped

into my brother

Tim

at the local grocery

and he began talking about 

the Snowy Owls

let me back up a bit to explain

that bird watching

is his newest passion

and he can't help himself

but every conversation

comes back to birds

I don't care if you're talking about

the fact that he has never

tried the

Starbucks at Kroger

gasp!

somehow it will remind him

of the Colombian cockatoo

or whatever...

it is so much fun to watch

and learn.
So
 when he invited
or did I
insinuate myself?
whatever!
to go on a hunt for
the Snowy Owl
before
they head north
I was all in
with James of course
so we could call it a field trip!

we saw the 

Horned Larks

American Kestrels

Red Tailed Hawks

Turkey Vultures

a critter or two

and there he is

the Snowy Owl

if you click on the pic

it will enlarge the image

good thing Tim was there

because I would have driven right on by

without noticing

it's like he has a

birdey (like Spidey) sense or something

and in a snap of his camera

he captured the moment

for James and myself

known as

a life bird

marking the first time

we viewed a Snowy Owl in his

natural habitat

so very cool

Thank you Tim for sharing

your passion

and those amazing pictures.

Then we got slammed

like the rest of the 

Midwest

by 

not just any snowstorm

but

I can't remember its name

maybe

Vulcan

or something

very scary like that!

sends shivers

up and down the spine.

But wait!

I skipped right over

field trip number 2

The Walk in the Garden

before 

Vulcan hit.

the sun was shining

people were out and about

in short sleeves no less!

beauty at 

every turn

there was a small sailboat race

planned

and I was able to capture

the colors of the sails

as they

danced on the breeze

then turning my camera

to sepia

I focused

my lens on the images

around me

yes

all the beautiful images...

he was a given

she was quite 

majestic

as well.

Ah yes

 it was a resplendent day

yet these are but mere photos

of the originals

as we walked

the Louvre's

Tuileries Garden

right here

in Toledo, Ohio

they allowed me to take 

these sans flash

Once I get started

it's hard to

reel me back in

which is why

Joe and James

were so very happy that

the museum

was about to close

I did manage a quick picture of

the Cloister

thanks to Sue and Mom

for joining us

next time 

we will make a full day of it

with lunch at 

The Beirut

and we will leave those brats

(I think its terrible when adults speak

of their kids in such a manner!)

at home!

Then scary storm Vulture hit

with a Level 3 shutdown

and cancellations of just about

everything

except

television watching!

Thank God!

Oh yeah,

throw in work

and a little girl turning 5

and

sister Mary coming into town...

like a whirlwind

I tell

ya.

Feeling a little breathless

as I sip my morning brew

and

peruse Isa'a cookbook

for my next

exotic food journey

from 

Milan to Minsk

(I know, I'm weird)

Leaving me dizzy

but then again,

depending on who you ask

that's the 

way I roll.

Enjoy your weekend

cuz i'm gonna!

:)

my yoga studio

I've tried others

but it seems I always

return

to my sanctuary

my bedroom

where true calm

can be found

where 

hot yoga

can happen with the

flip of a switch

and there is always

time

for a few poses

or a whole session

often times

guided

with videos from my

laptop

right within reach

to create

a successful

comfortable practice

the essentials

mat

blocks

strap

zafu & zabuton

yoga socks

a lavender-filled eye pillow

and finally 

myself

because when I show up

and sit quietly

in meditation

as the asanas

wash over me

feeling strong and capable

to greet what the day holds

it is a simple reminder

an encouraging

to 

show up more often.

weekender moments

that for whatever reason
had me reaching for
my camera

and in the blink of a

shutter

the weekend

 was done.

Which makes me wonder

why do Wednesdays

last so long?

nature's heartbreak

This is not for the faint of heart

or the weak in spirit...

this cleaning of outdoors

that will change with the wind

as the maple decides

like a little joke

that this is the night to drop its

seeds...
"whirlie-birds"
 everywhere.

Michiganders

have a rule...

Don't clean your windows

until the cottonwood

has dropped its

"cotton"...

Save yourself from doing the job

twice!

But as the weather warms

and the sun shines

its hard to hold-off

on some of the jobs you want to have done

before the heat of summer

saps your energy.

And so
you clean house
and invite unregistered guests

to come for a spell
with enticing accommodations.


They take the hint
but prefer their own
construction.

Thank you very much!

A good
sturdy
location for her babes
to grow until they're
ready to
leave the nest.

She chose wisely.

Another robin did not.
Unfortunately for her
she decided my dryer vent was an
ideal location
for nesting.

With care we removed the nest.
Gloved...
we gave it a relocation
with its 6 precious
robin blue eggs.

I was concerned.
As any good hostess would be.

"you live here now..."

Joe cleaned the air vent
but when he heard
a clunk and roll
was sure one of the
eggs got away.
I agreed that
this must have been the case
since
my clothes began to reek
as they came from the dryer.

We had a big job ahead
that involved
power vacs
leaf blowers
power tools.

No egg was found.

Warning!
This is where the story takes a turn for
the morbid.

After removing the back of the dryer
we found the stink source.

Let's just say mama bird
must have been in her
nest at the time
of our relocation
and flew away from the light.

It was a sad night here
at the Ondrus home.

Joe said he thought we should put a screen
over the outside opening
to prevent such a
horrid accident from happening again.

Good idea.

Or add to the waiting list
that has come from living in these parts:

Wait for the whirlie birds to fall
before cleaning the deck.

Wait for the cottonwood to fall
before cleaning windows.

Wait for the eggs to hatch
before clearing-out nests.

Learning the hard way.

visions of easter

For He is Risen!

He is Risen, Indeed!

sorry...but

I don't know about you

but I'd like

about ten copies

one for each room

in case those who enter

missed it on their way in

Oh I can fool you

on the blog

with

close-up

just right

angles

of a family room

mantle

with stockings

hung with care

lights glittering

on an heirloom tree

cleverly 

side-stepping 

the surrounding view

of a leg-flex machine on

the coffee table

a husband snoring on his

temporary bed

 a recliner in a previous life

piles of important hospital

papers and rehab exercises

on every flat

surface

Ah heck...

who am I foolin'

those posters are needed

even when there

isn't a man

sleeping

on my couch

Now

if only I can

tap into my inner

Roseanne

and be at peace with it

After all

I find I am most

comfortable

when I visit others

with real-life

used like

crazy

paper piled high

kids stuff cluttered

we

live

here
 homes.

Aren't you?