My neighbors

Our neighbor dumped another deer carcass in the valley across from our house and the eagles have come back in full force. There are several adults and a few youngsters. But the turkey vultures have discovered the free meal as well and there have been quite a few altercations between the two groups.

The eagles tend to hog the carcass and the vultures surround them in a ring, not daring to move too close. A bunch of crows hop around the outside and dart in once in a while, causing everyone to fly up. It's quite entertaining to watch all this activity in that ordinarily peaceful meadow.

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At lunchtime, someone new joined the crowd - a fox ! He watched the eagles for a long time until one of the birds saw him and they flew to a nearby tree. There was a long stand-off, each animal staring at the other, until the fox decided to curl up and take a nap and the eagles came back to eat some more.

Mr. Fox's patience paid off, however, and now the eagles have finished their meal and it's his turn to feast. You can just see the deer carcass at the end of his tail.

Read It - Michael Jackson Beat It Parody by SearchKindly.org

View it and ...do it !

Long overdue photos from a New Year's visit to the Galaxy!
Isn't it decadent to go swimming in the middle of winter?

Two bathing beauties.....

As if that wasn't exciting enough, we rocked the playroom!

Here's Wyatt and Em practicing balancing skills....

Here's Miss RhysE feeling the need for speed

Come back soon, we miss you!

xoxo Auntie Megan and Uncle Rolando

What a Weekend

We had two very young houseguests this weekend and there was never a dull moment. Rhys was so excited by her visit, that she woke up at 5 AM and came to see if we were awake. What do you do with a 4 year-old when it's still dark outside and everyone is asleep ? Breakfast in bed, of course, with a good book !
Then we went to the barn, where the temperature was a cozy 20 degrees, and Rhys single-handedly mucked out a 12x12 horse stall. Inspired by this feat, she then mucked the loafing area and some of the paddock. I am considering hiring her out as a stable hand - there's an openeing for one at the horse farm next door. Must check child labor laws...
Wyatt, meanwhile, elected to play farm indoors where it wasn't quite so cold.

When Rhys came back from her 2 hour pony ride, she engaged in a little interpretive dance.

Wyatt wasn't too sure about that.

Rhys thought it was just great !

Most astonishing moment of the weekend ? Rhys was playing with a large stash of knights and all their accessories, setting up a complicated scenario of a banqueting hall, someone absconding with the silverware in a wheelbarow borrowed from the farm, and a tournament in progress where knights get knocked off their horses , when she suddenly asked me " Where do all these people live in the United States ? "
Me : " You mean where do the knights live ? "
Rhys : " Do they they live in the United States ? "
Me : " Well, they lived in Germany many, many years ago, bla bla bla bla...."
Rhys : " Do they live in the U- Knighted States ?"
Me : " ?...!! "

Now I'm off to the sad task of cleaning up all the toys, putting away the highchair and settling back into our boring adult routine where life is quite predictable and quiet.

Secret message for Rhys

SSSssshhhhh... this is a little secret just for you....

If you click on the link below, you will see a sweet little surprise you and your Mom can make !

whip up » Blog Archive » tutorial: hankie doll

Post a picture and let us all see how it turns out !

Lots of love from Oma

A Fast Winter Get-Away

Ahhhh, exotic vegetation ...

Colorful flowers ....

The spicy scent of herbs ...

Orchids !!!!

The sounds of the teeming, steaming jungle, the smell of damp earth and vegetation ... well, almost ...

Where am I ? In my greenhouse, of course !

Good-bye

The deer have been eaten and the last eagle posed this morning for one last portrait before disappearing for good.

Our magnificent visitors and the past year 2007 shared some similarities : there was surprise, delight, awe, joy, some elements of horror ( two deer carcasses being slowly picked clean, revealing their interiors bit by gruesome bit ), excitement, content and each morning, curiosity as to what the new day would bring.

As we count down the hours until the new year starts, I look back with gratitude at all the new experiences 2007 brought, the love with which our family surrounded us and the good health with which we enjoyed every day. How fortunate we are !

As we think back to all the highlights of the past year and look forward to the next, I wish you the best for 2008 - may all your hopes and plans find some measure of fulfillment and when life's inevitable difficulties and setbacks occur, may you be equal to the task set for you and may you grow stronger as you work through them.

Happy New Year to you all !!