A QUIET MORNING ENCOUNTER WITH A GREAT HORNED OWL......ON THE GROUND

  

Saw an object on the trail ahead this morning that looked out of place to me.  As I approached there was a slight movement & I began to suspect a raccoon or large cat.  At the point where whatever it was should have bolted into the tall grass near the trail, it didn't.  As I cautiously drew closer I saw tufted ears & a large head with piercing eyes.  An owl!!  And what was an owl doing on the ground.  A couple steps closer & it spread it's wings & hopped back about 10 feet but did not try to lift itself into the air.  We did not approach any closer because we did not want to traumatize it in case it was injured.  Took some 300mm photos (new lens) & retreated from the area.  I know nothing about owls & don't know how large young owls coming out of a nest might be.  Could this have been a young fledgling owl.  It did not look injured.  Later, according to my bird book, I figured this was a Great Horned Owl.

The day remained cloudy & on the cool side.  Touch of fog & drizzle in the morning air.  Kelly spent a few hours at Deer Park Lodge helping with a new website under construction & I stayed in catching up on computer things at home.  I am beginning to think it is maybe not such a good idea for me to be reading other people's full timing blogs.  It just seems to make my 'at home frustrations' harder to handle.  I see the photos people are taking, I read their travel adventures, I understand only to well where they are, what they are seeing, & most of all......I know how the traveling folks are feeling about the lifestyle they are living.  I know that it is a far healthier lifestyle both mentally & physically they live too.  I also understand that at the age of 65+ time is slowly slipping away on me & like so many other countless people out there the time will come when an expected or unexpected bump in the night will occur & forever end any further traveling days.  I am finding it very difficult to be a totally happy camper these days & no, this is not pessimistic or negative thinking.....it is just a realistic reaction to a realistic situation by a realistic thinking person!!   There, that's my Sunday gripe for today & I am feeling much better now thank you very much...............10-4!!

GROANER'S CORNER:((  Got in a fight with my wife last night and it was totally my fault.  She asked me what was on the TV and I said: "dust."  The rest of the night didn't go too well after that.  And did you know there are 293 ways to make change for a dollar. And while your figuring all that out consider this....There are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: 'abstemious' and 'facetious.  And don't say AL didn't tell ya so!!

Tourists see the world, travelers experience it.

"UNTIL ONE HAS LOVED AN ANIMAL, PART OF THEIR SOUL REMAINS UNAWAKENED"

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The only thing better than right now will someday be the memories of right now...... AL.