why I can't sleep

It's nearly midnight. I've been sick as a dog and I'm exhausted. But, steroid shots = wide awake. I've had a monster case of Strep Throat, and visit #2 to the doctor today resulted in 3 shots. 2 steroid and 1 antibiotic.

So here I sit on the back porch with half a watermelon and a spoon in my lap. It's a yellow meat watermelon. Had one? I grew up on these things. It's comforting. I'm also yearning for ice cream or a Venti iced decaf extra shot skinny latte. Anyone? I'll wait for you to get here.

I could sit out here and rock for hours. I've got all the citronella buckets lit and the new rocker/glider chair is like a drug in itself. There are lots of tree frogs and one very confused Cicada. No owls, just me, the watermelon, and the cicada. Still that's ok. I'm happy here. If I have to be up there's no place I'd rather be.

humming a new tune

The humming birds are keeping me company since the owl family departure.

Now that I'm not glued to the owl watching chair in the back yard, I can get back to the business of..well..everything else that isn't owl watching. I've been a terribly neglectful Godmother. I missed Madeleine's 3rd birthday, which is borderline criminal since they are living in Turkey where there IS NO shopping mall. Gifts in the mail from Aunt Val are important. I failed. So, I dutifully went shopping today and loaded up on goodies for Madeleine and her brother Lanegan.

In addition to the usual haul of DVDs, tiaras, and clothes, Madeleine is getting ridiculous pink and purple rubber shoes that she will undoubtedly love, and my dearest friend Pamela, her mother, will despise. Muaaahhahhaa. Evil me.

Speaking of tiaras, I have doglet stories. The doglet stories have been on hiatus way too long. She's ready for a come back.

so long, farewell...

Our owlets have taken up roost somewhere beyond where I can see during the day. I hear them at night, and have seen one hunting after dark, but the day watching is definitely over. This may end up being my favorite photo of the whole season. A very satisfying end result to the long season of watching and waiting.

And here's a little video clip of one of the owlets trying out his wings. So sweet and wobbly! It wasn't long after this before they both flew clean out of the yard.

read in a fortune cookie

Love is a present that can be given every single day you live.

Elvis has left the building.

That's what I'm calling him. Elvis, the larger owlet, and I'll think I'll call the other Costello. They left the nest box sometime between dusk Thursday and dusk Friday. I'm betting it was late Thursday since I was out watching them till around 10pm.





They are roosting way up in the top of our Cypress, so It's been tough to get good pictures during the day. Last night a little after dusk mama owl coaxed them down with food but it was too dark by then to get any pictures. I did enjoy sharing the whole feeding experience with Fred and Joanne, and especially little Elise. She calls them the Portuguese name for owl "mocho" (Fred is Portuguese). Over and over she would say "mocho, whoo whoo". It was very sweet!

I'm a little sad that my nest watching days are over, but very glad they made it.

Credit for the photos in this post go to April. She has been great with her 21 year old eyes in helping me spot the owlets so high up in the tree.

yes there are two

Tonight I witnessed a shoving match when not one but two heads appeared at one time in the nest box opening. Good to know that sibling rivalry happens in the owl family too. Although I didn't get it in a photo, I can confirm that the owlet has at least one sibling! I got it on video, but I'm having some technical (read amateur) difficulties. Hoping to share that (the video not the difficulty) at some point.

I was able to snap some better pictures this evening. The little ones don't show themselves till right at dusk making it difficult to get a good shot. I don't want to use a flash. Not sure that would be the ethical thing to do since they are fighting off predators for their very lives and all.



I have thoroughly enjoyed the evenings this week watching the young-uns peer from the nest box. I've had to become a little less obtrusive as mother owl has gotten very protective. Up until this week I could walk out and sit right under the branch she was perched on. Now, if I so much as near the edge of our porch she barks at me and makes a close pass swooping in my direction. I'll keep my eyeballs thank you very much. I'm pretty sure she wants to claw them out.

rainy day backyard bird

owl babies

First sight of our Eastern Screech Owlet! I'm not sure if there is just one or maybe two. Fledging can't be too far away now. I'm thinking in the next day or so.

Flashback Friday

1985, sophomore year, LSU...check

ridiculous 80's hairstyle...check

Converse All Star High Tops...check

hanging in the ghetto at band practice with my rock star boyfriend...check

Volkswagen Scirocco that my parents paid for which said boyfriend later wrecked...check

soon to be seriously disillusioned adult in the real world...check

and now for something completely different

Just kidding. Check out today's Spock mug shots. I couldn't pick a favorite so I'm giving you the whole bunch. And did I mention? WE HAVE OWLETS IN THE NEST BOX!

that's Mr. Cardinal to you

The Northern Cardinal was the first bird we ever watched in our backyard, and we've had nests almost every year for the last 6 years. This one is hanging out in our pine tree. The very same tree that houses our Eastern Screech Owl family.

my what big claws you have

Spock has been spending evenings out of the nest box before dusk. She still spends the good part of the day in there though. Last night I watched and she is still in and out of the box as she hunts after dark as well. I'm still wondering and second guessing whether or not we have owlets on the way or here already. Too chicken to climb up and look inside. **update June 19th 9pm - we have just heard owlets making noise in the nest box as the adults come in with food!! WE HAVE OWLETS!!**




I love to watch her as she gets ready to head out for the evening. She has the routine of stretching each wing one at a time, and checking out the action in the yard pre-dusk. We just sit quietly in each others company. It makes me so happy. Who needs TV?

Tribute to Sasha

My friend Susan and her husband Harry lost their little dog-child Sasha on Monday. She went in her sleep while they were at work. Susan and I spent Tuesday morning being all weepy in my office.

This picture was taken at Mavis Pearl's 1st birthday party (you heard me right). Sasha was the reason there even is a Mavis Pearl in our life. We went to a Super Bowl party at Susan and Harry's in 2007. There we met darling little Sasha for the first time. Prior to that Chris was sticking to his "in 5 years you can have a dog" guns. We were still getting over losing our 2 cats Beaux and Pee-Wee in 2006. Sasha won him right over. The little princess will be missed so very much.

she's still here

Spock is still here cooking her clutch, figuratively I hope and not literally. It's getting hot out, and she has been coming out for a breath of fresh air in the middle of the day. I'm still hoping that she won't have a lost cause. Either way I'm honored that she picked my backyard.





A year ago today when I started this blog, I could have only dreamed that we'd have nesting owls in our backyard. Just one more reason it's my happy place.


I think for my 1 year blogiversary I'll spend some time learning more about how to actually make my blog design more purdy. I'm lazy and ignorant when it comes to the technical stuff, so don't hold your breath. It'll probably be 6 months closer to the next year mark before I actually get around to it.

over the river and through the woods....

to Grandmothers house...where someday I hope to call this my backyard...


where cousins make memories....



and the wild roses bloom....


where the land gently rolls...


and dusk walks to the creek have random beauty.

Flashback Friday

"The first time, ever I saw your face..."

reading by moonlight

Spent a few hours this evening out with a bright moon, a legion of lightning bugs, and a zillion tree frogs.

not so free food

(gratuitous doglet picture somewhat unrelated to this post)

I dragged the sleepy doglet to Sonic last night for a free float. Like they advertised. I wanted to stick to my plan for losing a little weight this summer and asked for a Diet Coke float. They said no, the special was root beer only. So out of my mouth flies "then give me a chocolate hot fudge caramel pecan mini bundt cake". I didn't want to sound wishy washy so I didn't retract the order. And so I wouldn't appear wasteful, I ate the whole thing. Stupid Sonic people.

Cactus Tales

Apparently the talent for cultivating a blooming cactus runs in the family. My brother who lives in San Antonio dug this one up at a friends ranch in South Texas and planted it in his yard. Where we might have lilies and tulips in the flower beds further North, they often have cactus beds. They are so beautiful, and xeriscape landscaping is so smart. Smart runs in the family too.

Guadalupe River Part 2

I've been a no good terrible lazy Aunt Val for not posting on my trip to the Guadalupe with my niece Ryan. I was down to visit earlier this month and got the chance to take my nephew Harris on a Sunday, and then to go back with her later in the week. We spent 5 hours that Wednesday just floating and relaxing. We decided to play hooky. Ryan called it a mental health day. Really? At 10, a mental health day? Sweetie, glad you are getting in the habit early. Take them on a regular basis and you will do just fine in life. So here are some pictures on how to take a mental health day. Take note:

Step 1: find a cool tree stump to stash your stuff at the river.

Step 2: Get your feet wet.


Step 3: Find fish eggs and mark them with a stick (technically this should have qualified us for a field trip, I'm just sayin')


Step 4: Catch a dragonfly....and so on. You get the idea.


We had a perfect day at the river. Because of that we both pouted all the way home. Leaving a perfect day at the river is torture.