Sunday Smattering

Back on Wednesday, I was heading to Burnsville to teach my class when I passed a red-tailed hawk by the side of the road. I've seen him before, up in a dead tree nearby, but this time he was on the ground. 

I was past him before I realized what I'd seen but he didn't take off so I stopped, fumbled around for my camera (which I'd foolishly put in its bag, in the backseat -- note to self: keep camera out, turned on!) and backed up.

The hawk wasn't hurt, thank goodness. It had a goodsized black snake -- probably road kill, certainly the first I've seen out.)

To my amazement, when I backed up, the hawk didn't take off at once. Finally, though, he got his dinner firmly in his talons and flew. 

I was delighted with these two captures -- be sure to click on the pictures to biggify them and really see the hawk -- such gorgeous birds!

Hawk, shmalk, says Eddie. Biggify THIS!

 And the willows are greening...

And there was a fine moon on the rise last night.

Happy Sunday!

Miscellany

 Just some things that caught my eye: 

the diminishing grid of snow on the cabin roof . . .


  

...a  shadow tree ...

... a purple finch ...

... and the layered pastels of an evening sky . . .

with a tiny moon,  peeking through the tree branches.

Out Early. Home Late

Even the mourning doves weren't up yet when I left yesterday to drive to Greenville, S.C.

And it was still foggy down at the pond, though a burning bush lit the way.

The luncheon in Greenville was lovely and it was fun to see some old friends, and some I knew from emails, and some entirely new.

Jill of Fiction Addiction (who also wants to know about that cliff-hanger) put on a fine event and I hope to return to her wonderful store when the Birdie book comes out.

It was a pleasant trip in beautiful weather . . . and I was delighted to be greeted by the full moon -- the Hunter's Moon -- as I turned into our drive around six in the evening.

And now for something completely different:I have a new word -- why didn't I know about steam punk before this and why do I find it so intriguing?

Do you all know what steam punk is? According to my friend Mr. Google, it's been around for over 30 years.

You can expect to hear more about steam punk in a future post!

Variable November Skies

Look down, look up -- there's always something to see . . .

(Click on the slideshow to go to full screen viewing -- really, it's worth it!)

After the Rain

Thursday was another day of blessed, soaking rain, pattering on the metal roof and bringing healing relief to our long-parched fields and woods.

At last, in late afternoon, the clouds began to roll away to the east where the setting sun tinted them with pink and rose and gold.

And then a moonrise -- just two days shy of full.

So much beauty.

No oil to read by . . .
I am off to bed
But ah! . . .
My moonlit pillow

An appropriate haiku by Basho (1644 - 1694), probably the greatest of haiku writers.

Go here for Kay Byer's lovely poem "Full Moon."

A goddess, a bird or a moon.

What do these three things have in common?

My name.

Rhea.

I pronounce it "Ray" or "Ray-ah."

Probably one of the reasons I've always loved mythology was due to the Greek goddess Rhea.

She was a Titan, daughter of Uranus (the sky) and Gaia (the earth).
She married Kronus, a really bad dude who ate all his children for fear they would overthrow him.
Well, after Rhea gives birth to baby Zeus, she hides him away in a cave and hands her husband a stone bundled up like a baby, whom he promptly swallows (not a real smart god).
So, Zeus grows up, overthrows Cronus and becomes king of gods.
Rhea is considered "the mother of the gods."
Cool.

Then there is the Rhea bird.
It looks like an ostrich but it's called a Rhea (ree-ah).
I can relate, I sometimes stick my head in the sand, unfortunately.
Rhea Birds are said to have an implausible immune system that allows injured birds to heal rapidly without much intercessions from humans.
The fat of the Rhea birds is used as an anti-inflammatory salve. hmm...




Then there's the moon called Rhea.
It's one of Saturn's many moons.
I was reminded of this little fact recently when Pioneer Woman hosted a contest in which my namesake moon was the answer.
The moon is Saturn's second largest and was discovered in the 1600's.

And, as you can see in this photo below, this moon has tenuous rings around it.



I love having a unique name, even if most people say it wrong.
It's a family name.

Tell me about your name.
Or a cool name you like.
Or whatever you want.
I'm not picky.