Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Squeaky Stairs

Our house was built in the early '70s, and in this city that makes it old, but I love it. We have gigantic trees and we have gigantic squeaks going on upstairs. Most people, including my husband, find these types of squeaks annoying. But, for some reason, I find them comforting. They make me feel connected to my kids before I even see them in the morning. I know they're awake and moving around. I can tell which kid is which. They're not sneakers, but they couldn't be if they tried. The stairs and hallway would give them up. Believe me, Phil and I have tried to sneak upstairs to deliver birthday morning gifts to their bedrooms and the stairs and hallway snitch on us every time.

I find squeaks in cars a real pain, but I'm very positive about the squeaks in my house. Unless it's a mouse squeaking and if that happened, believe me, I would not be positive. I would be positively screaming. Those nasty little creatures...oh wait, I'm suppose to be being positive.

Friday, June 19, 2009

Friday, June 5, 2009

New Visitor

We have a new visitor to our creek. I'm calling it a "he". Don't know why, just am. He is a beautiful Great Blue Heron and for some reason he has taken a liking to our neck of the woods. We actually live in the middle of a city, but...anyway. Something tells me it is the quiet park and a creek full of snakes, turtles, and fish.

He just finished sunning his wings. They were all spread all out while he faced the rising sun. It was almost like he was meditating. He just stood there looking completely relaxed soaking up the warmth.

When he gets agitated the long black feathers on the top of his head stick straight up and he puffs out all the rest of his feathers. That happened right after the Mallard drake almost took his head off while coming in for a landing.

The other day he was talking like crazy. I don't know what he was saying. I don't speak heron, but he was telling some kind of story or letting off steam. He was on a roll.

I would love it if another one came along and we had baby herons. Wouldn't that be a hoot to watch? I love watching baby anythings.

I need to read up on them.