Birds

So we've been having somewhat of a big year, although we're not really going anywhere.  It's just that we're becoming more and more aware of the large variety of birds in our area.  We're by no means experts, but we set up these feeders in the back yard, and we're setting up bird houses too, and the bird feeders are located in such a place that we have front row seats to this ornithology exhibit.  We'll be doing dishes or whatever when suddenly there's a call out for someone to grab the bird book.  We have two books that have lots and lots of pictures of various birds, because sometimes you want to be more precise about identifying a bird.  For example, the beaks could be all the difference in identifying a bird, or a marking on the tail.  Sparrows are such a variety, and we see the usual nuthatches, tufted titmouse, cardinals, chickadees, bluebirds, finches, warblers, mourning doves, and varieties of woodpeckers too.  Blue jays are finally back in town, or at least our area.  You can hear their cries, part car screech and part raptor.  But we'll have unusual visitors too, which have us racing to the book to see if we can figure out who are visitor is, and maybe even where he or she is flying to or from.

It was a good day today, although a quiet one.  I was walking on my treadmill through Kyev, or at least what it used to look like.  It's a catastrophe, and the world is sitting there looking on as if there's nothing that can be done, while those responsible keep moving forward with their reprehensible decisions.  It's just like watching the Russian figure skating girls after the final skate last time - everyone knows something is wrong, and no one does anything about it.  It's self-evidently wrong.  

I was teaching the college students again today, instructing them on something unique:  writing a skit.  That was kind of fun.  It'll be fun watching them do their homework:  writing a skit.  It's a left-field sort of thing, but it was kind of fun.  

Maddie had a good day, of course.  She's looking forward to the big trip coming up.  The weather should be ideal, and that's fantastic to see so much favor.  We read tonight, and we prayed too.  Then it was time for some rest.  Although we were peeking out the window to look down at the back deck before going to sleep - our opossum friends are visiting.  Mom left a nice meal for them tonight.