First Sighting!

      A few days ago I saw a hen pheasant with a brood of chicks on the road. There were many chicks. Hens will nest up to three times if nests are disturbed. Each subsequent nest will have fewer chicks. Given the date and number of chicks this clearly was her first attempt.

   The chicks were very small, so newly hatched. Their food for the first weeks is insects which gives them the protein they need. Hatched this early they will be well developed before winter. That increases their chances of winter survival.

   There were many pheasants last fall. The winter was mild with no blizzards so most should have survived. The mild winter also means that hens go into nesting season in good condition. Nesting consumes much energy.  First attempt nest may hold up to fifteen eggs.

Takk for alt,

Al

Pheasant chicks can fly by the time they are two weeks old. This helps them avoid predators. 

One of those days!

       Today is one of those days without an original thought.  Just not much that seems worth blogging about. Living my routine in The Little House. Kaia and I have our daily routines that include walking for me and running for her.  All's well here.

Takk for alt,

Al

The Mt Fuji picture was taken at sunrise. Looking carefully by the lights in the lower left corner of  the picture you can see the outlines of our tent camp by the lights, 1961.

Honor Flights

      While waiting for a business to open I happened upon my cousin's husband. We had a good chat. During the conversation I noticed an Honor Flight decal on the window of his truck. He said they flew from Sioux Falls to Washington DC., at 5:00 am and returned at 9:00 pm. In DC they were escorted to see the war memorials. It was the first time he had seen them.

    Military Honor Flights are funded by private donations. They are appreciated by the veterans who take them. Each  participating veteran has a family member, or friend, who accompanies them. Though I'm eligible I'm not interested in participating.

   There are two reasons for my lack of interest. First, I've visited the memorials on several occasions.  Second, is my phobia of airports and airplanes. It's as if I've developed an airport/airplane allergy late in life. Driving a reasonable distance is fine but I'm very fortunate that I do not need to fly to see my family.

Takk for alt,

Al

 

One of my last flights was on this plane from Athens to Chania, Crete, Greece. Knees were firmly wedged into the seat in front of me.

Report

      The book on which I'm about to report is listed as a novel and that's perhaps correct. It's also a history, ecological report, fable, fantasy and psychological study. The author is a professor of psychiatry, so, perhaps it's not surprising that a significant character is schizophrenic. The book spans time from the Revolutionary War until modern times so naturally there are many characters related by their connection to a particular place. The setting is the north woods of Massachusetts, thus the title of Daniel Mason's book, North Woods. It's won many awards.

 Perhaps it would be fair to categorize it as experimental. It was oddly engaging, oddly because of the experimental nature. It's construction drew me in and I found myself drawn back to it so finished it rather quickly. Typically, I'm not fond of books with ghosts and other supernatural elements. Yet. this one was compelling even as I dismissed some features. Certainly it will be food for thought and reflection over a lengthy time. Yes, I'm very glad to have read it.

Takk for alt,

Al

PS In response to the query, if I know the persons buried around Joanne.  If I don't know each person I know the family.  I'll be buried quite close to the two classmates with whom I attended school for 12 years.

The marker for Joanne and I next to Grandma Sigrid Negstad.

Cemetery Serenade!

      Joanne's cemetery is ringed with mature fir trees. These trees provide an ideal habitat for nesting birds. Visiting Joanne's grave this morning I was serenaded by multi-vociferous bird song. It made the visit a sound treat.  

   This is what I heard: Killdeer,  House Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Pheasant, Mourning Dove, Song Sparrow, Yellow Warbler, Brown-headed Cowbird, Eurasian Collard Dove, Red-winged Blackbird, Robin, Chipping Sparrow and House Finch.  It makes me glad that Joanne's grave is in a place filled with song.

Takk for alt,

Al

Joanne is buried next to the large Negstad stone in the background. Note the fir trees that ring the cemetery. 

Plans Change!

      Last weekend when I was staying at the OFH I received two books as early Father's Day gifts. The plan was to read chapters in the books alternatively. This was to avoid the challenge of having to choose which to read first. Both are good reading but one's a report and the other a novel.

    Reading into them both the novel engaged to make the reader wonder how certain things turn out. That reality ended the alternative approach. Now the novel is three fourths complete and the end is in sight. No matter, I'll happily return to the other which is fascinating in it's own right. 

   In a station in life where I need little and if I do need something I just buy it, books are welcomed gifts. Both givers acknowledged a desire to read their gift when I was finished. These are gifts that keep on giving. Once I was given a book for Christmas that was checked out of a library to which I returned it when done reading. 😀 Like the married couple who would meet at a Hallmark Store. There they'd each pick out a birthday card for the other, after showing it to the other it was placed back on the shelf.

Takk for alt,

Al

For twelve years I volunteered at Noble Academy, a Hmong Charter School. The last several years there I read books with groups of the advanced students.   Now I live too far away and my hearing loss makes it not feasible,

Smidgen!

      Reports from the Minnesota Twin Cities are of significant rainfall. Not so much in Sinai. We do get a smidgen with more in the forecast. Last night the rain amounted to another  .2".  Better than nothing. Hopefully the forecast will be accurate and more will come.

    That's pretty much what passes for excitement here. Perhaps a random picture will serve to complete  this blog.

Takk for alt,

Al

Breakfast at the farm on Crete, 2023.