Test Your Wings

Be as a bird perched on a frail branch
that she feels bending beneath her,
still she sings away all the same,
knowing she has wings. - Victor Hugo

Not Easy

Quit expecting life to be easy
because life's not that way...
(this little bird knows)

God gives every bird its food,
but He does not throw it into its nest.

~J.G. Holland

New Additions to Our Family

I am so excited. This is a sneak-and-peek of our new babies who are now out and about. They are the two little spots on the wrought iron fence. Had to snap the picture through my kitchen window with my cell phone as they are still very skittish - plus I didn't have time to get my camera. Our acre is filled with bird nests of various types of bird eggs but so far it has been only the jays making their debut. These little ones just started flying, and found their way to our fountain to bathe their soft, fluffy feathers. I think they might be slightly cold as they've huddled close together. There is a third one but he/she has already taken to adventure. I just love the beauty of God's creation.

Our Tenant (for now)

Our New Tenant.

She's a little camera shy and it's impossible to get close for a better picture. If you peek between the blinds, it shows her silhouette on top of the umbrella which does not have its cover on and is closed. Sorry that I missed getting her head. It's hard to get a picture because if you get too close to the windows she'll fly away. She's pretty much a loner.

About a month ago, a golden-colored bird took up residence in one of the eucalyptus trees bordering our property. At first we didn’t believe our eyes because that bird species would never end up in Nipomo. However, after much research and googling, it was identified – we were the proud landlords to one Golden Eagle. Yep, that’s true. "Goldie" as she is now known, is living on the Hopper property in all her majesty. Seeing her is pretty limited; however, once in a great while she hovers over one of our grassy areas, sits atop a patio umbrella, or meanders through the outer flowerbeds. She also has ventured out on the grass toward our patio - and taken a dip in one of the water fountains.

Speaking of "dips", I must tell the story I intended to when I started this post. My husband has been ill and mostly housebound (but in order not to go stark-raving mad), he went outside for a few minutes. His excuse? Check the watering system in a certain bed of roses. Said the days were warming up and he needed to make sure that our flowers got their daily drinks. Engrossed in his task, he didn’t anticipate what was about to happen and hadn't a clue that Goldie was near. She never comes around when we are out and about. However, this time it seems that she had taken a special interest in him. Well, we really think it was his silvery hair. His head down, surveying the drip system, he felt a tug on his head and a quick pain. It seems Goldie was trying to pull him up to take him to her nest to use as nesting material; or perhaps, he was too close to some prey she had in mind and she wanted him to leave pronto.

When the feathers...err, hair...settled, Goldie had made her point - and my hubby, in turn, ended up with slight hair loss and a 1-1/8 inch superficial cut to the top of his head. Her talon definitely left an impression on him.

The Cut

Moral to my story:

Always do a background check before you rent out space.

BTW: If we don't have to evict her for tearing up the place (or my husband), I'll try to snap a better picture in the near future when she makes one of her cameo appearances.

Hold Fast My Friend

Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly

- Langston Hughes