Thursday, February 21, 2008

Small Wonders

What have I done with my new found freedom you wonder? I spent a day working on the kitchen project on Tuesday, getting everything ready for sheet-rock. Yesterday I stayed home to work on a project I fell behind on while snowed in. I'm building some solid raised panel shutters for delivery on Saturday.

I had to run some errands, do some shopping, and I was going out to dinner last night and was low on cash, so I raided my piggy bank and watched in amazement as the coin-star machine counted it all up and spit out a voucher for $146.00. Woohoo!

Later I met up with 4 of the women I golf with, we hadn't seen each other for several months, so we had plenty to catch up on. I parked illegally, I almost have to, my truck with the plow on it is about 30 feet long. You try it! We had a great time laughing and causing a ruckus. I had the blackened Mahi Mahi over a black bean and sweet corn ragout and split it with one of the others, who'd ordered the butternut squash ravioli. Mmmmm. The waitress wondered if we all worked together, and when we told her we golfed together she thought that was hilarious. "You guys just can't wait, huh?" she asked, and was met with an enthusiastic, "NO" from everyone. When we left, my truck was right where I had left it, no ticket. YeeHa!

When I got home my Mom called me and told me to look at the moon. "I know, it's a full moon tonight, it's beautiful" I said. "No, go look at it now, it's almost fully eclipsed!" she replied. Sure enough, I had a great view of it, and tried to take couple pictures but didn't set up a tripod, so they aren't very clear. There are branches between where I stood and the moon too, but no ambient light to speak of, so they could be worse. Cool!

Today, I was having my morning coffee when I heard a thud. I know this sound, it's a bird hitting the window on the front of my house. I have lots of glass, and I hear this sound way too often. I looked out and saw a little nut-hatch laying on the deck in a face plant. I went out and picked it up. It was alive, but sometimes they break their necks and it takes a while for them to die. He was pretty stunned. I brought him into the house to keep him warm, and just held him for a while. He seemed to be getting a little livelier, so I put him down on the back step in the sun, he clung to my fingers as I tried to place him there, and then I just watched him. At first he had one eye closed and wouldn't open it, I hoped he hadn't been blinded in one eye, but couldn't tell. Then he started looking around slowly, his neck wasn't broken, but could he fly? It took about 10 minutes, but he became alert and started moving around on his feet, he opened his eye. His movements became quicker and then it happened. He flew to the pine tree by the feeder. I was very relieved. Yipee!

And the last wonder, Heartinsanfrancisco has given me an award! Best Blogging Buddies Award.

SWEET! I love this adorable little award, and I will display it with great pride because of the respect and admiration I have for the blogger who gave it to me, and no, I did not send her any money!

I would like to present this award to a couple of new bloggers in my community who I felt a quick and easy connection with. Slip from Accidental Farmer who visits me regularly, is a kindred spirit, and usually has something witty and interesting to say. Roro from Creampuff Revolution who is not only hysterically funny and bright, but also friendly and helpful! And last but not least, VE from VE's Fantastical Nonsense who is groundbreakingly nonsensical and fantastic! I admire all of you for your unique style and brand of humor. Blog-on!

30 comments:

Ed & Jeanne said...

Wow, I'm honored. Nobody ever gave me anything but grief before!

Now if I could just figure out what a blog-bling is. Is that like a sibling blogger? Is it a tongue-twister you say 5 times fast? Is it a new candy that explodes when you put it in orange juice? Is it a secret password to the "outernet", the internets crazy covert brother?

Anonymous said...

WOW did you type all that in one breath? From the birdies that often curse glass windows and face plant sundecks, we thank you for your care of Nut-Hatch69!!

tsduff said...

I'm so happy that the nuthatch (cutest of birds) didn't break his neck, or worse have brain damage which causes them to lose their equalibrium and become unable to fly. You are a good bird mom. Sometimes when the bird vs window stories end tragically I get sad the rest of the day.

I saw the eclipse too - sadly I'm saving for my zoom so my shots look like a pinprick white dot in a black sea LOL. Lovely pictures~

RED MOJO said...

ve, Yes, Go to the outernet and use the password! There you will find a picture of some kitties. Copy it and put it in your sidebar where you will pile all your subsequent awards! You may even pass it along to others more deserving than yourself it you wish!

anon, Was that all one sentence? I should go edit?! I hate those windows sometimes!

tsduff, I'm glad too. He did land on the tree a little weird, but I watched him, and he seemed to improve. It ruins my day too.

Debra Kay said...

I held a small, stunned hummingbird this summer. It was the most amazing thing. After awhile, it decided it wasn't dead and I moved it back to the feeder. It held on a bit and then flew off.

Cool eclipse photos-it was too cloudy here, saw nothing, nothing at all.

Anonymous said...

Hhehheee, no it wasn't all one sentence but you had SO MUCH to say! Must be that new unbound freedom of getting down that driveway :)

Unknown said...

Aww, cute. You helped revive that bird!

My in-laws have cutouts of other birds on the window of theirs that is the subject of repeated plowing.

RED MOJO said...

debra kay, Yes, I too had a hummer last summer that was stunned. I picked it up and a few seconds later it flew out of my hand. That was very cool!

anon, I was happy, today we are expecting 10 inches of snow. It feels like it will never end.

dorky dad, Sadly, I can't stand the thought of stickers on my windows. Oh the guilt! I hate it.

Slip said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Slip said...

Wow Thanks, I just hope I don't have to give a speech. I truly enjoy your blogs and your open nature.
Question? Do you have a cabinet shop or work out of your garage? I love building raised panel anything, even better using lumber I cut, dried, and planed myself.

You must be one hell of a golfer, hitting birdies without a club! I would not worry about the nuthatch too much they are noted for having bird brains. Be thankful it was not a wild turkey! I had one go through my windshield on my pick-up at 75mph. What a mess my truck looked like homicide scene.

I have no comment for a statement you made,and I quote;" Yes I too had a hummer last summer." Lucky Girl!

RED MOJO said...

slip, I have a seperate 3 car garage, I converted 2 bays into a workshop, I will email you a link to my company website. Part of it is pictured on the contact page.

I do have wild turkeys here, but have never had a violent collision with one. Why were you driving 75mph?

If you think last summer was lucky...then I'm very very lucky!;0

Debra Kay said...

There is a gang of wild turkeys that lives on my cousin's street in California. If you slow down to look at them, they will mob the car-they don't like shiny things.

Slip said...

MOJO
I was on the interstate at the time and 75 is like standing still. The bird strike happened at 11:30 at night.No idea what turkeys were doing flying at 11:30 at night but I hit three of them, only one went into the windshield. They did enough damage I had to have the truck towed.

Slip said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
heartinsanfrancisco said...

I especially love the bird story! How wonderful that you were able to save him. It doesn't always have a happy ending when birds collide with windows. Maybe you shouldn't keep them quite so clean.

I'll enjoy checking out your awardees. I am already familiar with Slip's delightful blog and have told him that he is living the life I wanted. The others are friends I haven't met yet.

Now I'm thinking about Mahi Mahi because I'm so suggestible. Maybe with a salsa of peppers, mango, lime and cilantro.

Charlotta-love said...

Woo Hoo! Sounds like a great way to start the weekend. :o)

RED MOJO said...

debra kay, don't slow down!

slip, wow, that's some major damage. Sorry for your truck, was it close to Thanksgiving at least?

heartinsanfrancisco, Enjoy "ve" and "creampuff" and some Mahi Mahi if you get the chance!

charlotta love, Everything was going my way until today. 10 inches of snow, my monthly movie night, canceled. Booooo.

kj said...

hey! my monthly movie night was cancelled also! :)

this was fun, reading about your comings and goings. as for the snow, i'm sick of it, i really truly finally am. of course that might be because i have the flu and can't yet walk in it... ok,ok, it IS beautiful. i hope your driveway is clean as a whistle (strange saying, actualy....)

be well, rm.

RED MOJO said...

kj. I KNOW!!! At least you have other forms of human interaction, so you don't need movie night like I do. I feel like I'm in a vacuum sometimes.
I hope you are feeling better, nice to see on the blogs again.

Anonymous said...

Hey, what happened to movie reviews here on the blog? Have you seen 'Bug' yet? It's the last good DVD I've seen but lots of blood ... like those turkeys :O

RED MOJO said...

anon, I wasn't that thrilled about the movie thing. Some weeks I didn't really see anything that bad or that good, so it was hard to write about. I guess I could just do movies I love or hate instead.
I haven't seen BUG, I haven't even heard of it. Is it horror? I don't do horror, blood and gore is not my thing, in fact it's my un-thing.

Anonymous said...

More a thriller but would be horrific for someone who doesn't do blood, so don't look for it! Heehee dramas are my un-thing - have enough at home! Your snowy driveway drama was enjoyed though HAHHAAA.

Anonymous said...

Aw, that's a great ending to the story about the nut-htach. I get that soemtimes, too. I bought a windhime for the deck, butI"m not sure what to do about the big window in the living room.

RED MOJO said...

anon, Okay, I won't look for it. I'm glad you find my pain amusing. I have enough to delight for years to come!

citizen, It does present a problem when you become as heart-sick as I do over the death or injury of an animal. I'm looking into some stickers that appear transparent from the inside but are reflective on the outside so the birds will see the window. I'll let you know if they are a viable solution.

Ces Adorio said...

Wow Red, you have a big kind heart! Love those cash from small changes. Have a great week. Hopefully no more snow.

robkroese said...

Birds are so stupid. A bird got stuck in the addition to our house. The whole downstairs was open, but the windows upstairs were closed, and it never occurred to the bird to go DOWN first and then up. So it died.

Debra Kay said...

Not many creatures could survive in an alien environment. I know many humans faced with the similar issues who will beat themselves against a wall when a gate is right beside them. It's called being stuck in a rut.

RED MOJO said...

ces, thank you!

diesel, I probably would've opened a window for it.

debra kay, yes, people can get stuck in way too! Unfortunately, it's not as easy to help them.

Anonymous said...

I'm so honoured to be part of your wonder-ful day!! And kittens make an award even better, don't they? thank you for your lovely words (and your hilarious blogs).

RED MOJO said...

roro, you're welcome! Thanks for having such a finely tuned sense of humor :)