A Broad-Winged Hawk In My Own Backyard

Ooooo! Just a half hour ago I think I saw a broad-winged hawk in our backyard. Wow. It was the largest bird I've ever seen in the wild this close up. Now, these pictures are awful (taken through a window screen, etc.), but he'd/she'd moved to the tree by the time I got my camera. 

At first, he calmly sunned himself on the fence, facing me, where I tried to memorize him while I wished so much that Tom was home, he being the major bird lover of the family.

Anyway, when the bird flew into the tree I heard a "kree, kree, kree" shriek as they're known to make. I'd just fed the sparrows, but the many excited little guys at our feeders had vanished at the sight of the hawk (or whatever it was).

So cool! And you can bet I was thanking God for such a special moment. 

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Here's what a broad-winged hawk looks like when someone knows how to use a camera.   ツ


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You Probably Didn't Know...

In case you've wondered.....

No, I am not paying any attention to the current Republican shenanigans, presidential hopeful clownery, presidential election hopefuls race. I just don't care anymore. No single person will ever pull us up out of our present debauchery, for only God can do that and I don't believe He'll do it through politics. Ever.

Which reminds me, I didn't tell you, but after Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot--and Sarah Palin and her gang refused to admit their gun-toting campaign slogans were a mistake--I stopped calling myself a Republican. I want nothing to do with that group. I've been an Independent ever since.

What are my current favorite tv shows? NCIS, American Pickers, Person of Interest, Hoarders. In that order. I only watch them online.

And no, I'm not watching American Idol this year. Not for any negative reasons, really, I just can't stay up that late anymore and after all these years I've gotten bored with it. I know how it works. Been there, done that.  ZZZzzzz.

Who are we having over to lunch next? Cher, our realtor friend who helped us buy sweet Hobbit Cottage. She is a delight.

Is it snowing at our house? Yes, it is. Majorly at this moment. But I'm feeling very grateful Naomi had two clear, snowless birthday days in which to celebrate. Since she was born, her birthday has often fallen on the snowiest, messiest day of the year, making her childhood birthday parties a bust. 

But this year and last she had snow-free birthdays. Love that.



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And please.... I won't lecture you about your political convictions if you won't lecture me about mine.   ツ


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Debra and Tom's Night Out

So. Yesterday was Naomi's 32nd birthday. Oh wow--every January 27th I get that Methuselah feeling.  シ


And like last year, Naomi's band played at the restaurant where she works and Tom and I slipped in our ear plugs while the music played (making the decibels just right) and clapped and woo-hooed for our daughter with all the other parents, grandparents and patrons. We sat at a table with our nachos and sodas and with Naomi's buddy of 19 years, Kellee, and her sister. Here's Kellee--is she cute or what?:

We gave Naomi's server friend the size of tip God nudged us to and she thanked us genuinely. And while the guitars squealed and the drums thumped loudly, (music my favorite retro radio station almost never plays), I whispered prayers over this crowded room of people. That they'd all come to know Jesus. That they'd be protected, safe and that the ones who came only out of a fear of being alone at home would realize that --to God--we are all important, 24/7. 

I bathed that dark place in prayer which is ever so much more profitable than murmuring criticisms of the drinking and the loudness of rock music shaking the very walls ( and forcing us to shout into each others ears. Literally.). Prayer will always accomplish things far more valuable and eternal than criticism. Always.

It was a good, blessed time--and for me-- kinda like being at church. Kinda. For it was a place to put godly compassion and my prayer muscles into action. A place to test my heart and bring forth what's really down in there.

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Has anyone else seen the animated movie, Bon Voyage Charlie Brown?

 Of all of Charles Shultz' masterpieces, this one is my favorite. Unfortunately, it's not on dvd and if you can find a vhs copy, it costs a fortune,** but we taped it from tv eons ago while Naomi was young and she and I watched it together probably a dozen times. 

Last week I got it out and watched it and again adored the 1940's music in the bar where Snoopy goes and the French classroom scene where Peppermint Patty heckles poor Charlie Brown, still making me laugh till tears come. And the two funny car wrecks, the way Violet serves breakfast outside and the whole French feeling of the piece. Perhaps this is partly way Naomi took 5 years of French. Perhaps.

So anyway, I just wondered.... Does anyone else remember this seemingly-unappreciated film? I'm curious to know. For me, it's comfort tv at its very best.

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** Update February 2018-- Bon Voyage Charlie Brown is now available on DVD! I bought mine last year and have already watched it twice. I feel blessed to own it.

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Yay! Cozy Little House has worried lately about Blogger someday accidentally eating her blog (as some blogs have been eaten) and by reading the comments she received I figured-out how to back-up and save mine to my computer in a file. Though of course, if someday my computer bites the dust (heaven forbid, but hey...), so will the back-upped blog. But at least it's safe for now. (And yes, I really should put it on a disc, something I'll have to ask Tom about.)


Anyway, interested in saving your own blog? Through your dashboard click on Settings, then click on Export Blog. Then click on Download and follow the directions. Easy. I thought mine would take ages to download (2,500+ posts), but it didn't take long. No problems, either.


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