Hopefully, today, Friday, I will actually post this, even if late.
This post was supposed to go up last Friday, but it didn't happen.
While calmer, things remain hectic,
and my days keep getting sidetracked by the unexpected.
Terry continues to improve and stabilize after his heart attack.
He still hasn't been able to get a spot in the heart rehab course,
because the number of participants has been limited by Covid.
Maybe in two weeks, fingers crossed.
South Denver Cardiology is in the process of adding more sessions.
Yay, because Terry is anxious to get back to pickleball.
Just after Mother's Day, I spotted a new hawk around our home.
It showed up during our last day of snow on Tuesday, May 11th.
It's most likely a red-tailed hawk,
but I haven't seen the underside of its tail feathers to confirm its identity.
This hawk hunkered down on the spruce tree
below our deck for over two hours during the snowfall.
A Red-Tailed Hawk Hunkers Down as the Snow Falls
The Snow Just Keeps Coming,
Even After Mother's Day!
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Two Hours Later!
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
On Thursday, May 13th, Terry and I did something so normal.
We walked along Piney Creek, and it felt amazing.
I zipped around everywhere with my camera,
while Terry stuck to the sidewalk and his walking goal.
It was the first time I didn't worry about his being
out of my sight away from our home.
Here are some of my favorite shots from that wonderfully normal spring walk.
Female Catkins on a Female Cottonwood Tree
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Who Lives Here?
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Mule Deer
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Weathered Wood Litter
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Reflections in Middle Pond
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Horsetail (back) and Mullein (front) Emerging from Last Year's Growth
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Horsetail (Scouring Rush)
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Grackle and Male Catkins on a Male Cottonwood Tree
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Vibrant Dandelions
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Plains Prickly Pear Cactus
Easy to Step on ~ Those Spines Hurt!
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
I See You!
Mule Deer
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Golden Currant
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Springtime Cottonwoods
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
New Leaves Sprouting on Rabbitbrush
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Wary Mule Deer
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Male Catkins on a Male Cottonwood Tree
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Tiny Golden Draba (my best guess)
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Lush Spring Greens
Along Piney Creek
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
The hawk also likes to perch in the female cottonwood next door.
When I enlarged the photo, I was really surprised to discover
that it was sleeping with its eyes closed.
I guess I never thought about raptors sleeping.
The Red-Tailed Hawk Returns,
Sitting in the Female Cottonwood Tree Next Door
Friday, May 14, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
The Red-Tailed Hawk Sleeps, Perhaps Dreams
Friday, May 14, 2021
Aurora, Colorado, USA
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
It's been 41 days since Terry was revived in the cardiac catheterization lab.
I don't take any day with him for granted.
I hope all is well with each of you!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Note:
1. Horsetail (genus Equisetum), also called scouring rush:
The horsetail was a plant I learned to identify when I was seven or eight. It was easy to remember because it was so unusual, with its hollow, jointed, and ridged stems and tiny leaf scales around its joints. It was fascinating to me as a child that these plants were the only survivors of a line of plants going back to the Carboniferous three hundred million years ago and that the coal we burned in our furnace came from 100-foot (over 30 meters) giant horsetails in swamp forests. Later, in geology at university, I learned that horsetails belong to the Class Equisetopsida, a class of spore-bearing primitive plants. In our arid environment, horsetails grow near streams and in wet forests and meadows. Horsetails contain a lot of silica which is abrasive. A common name for horsetails is "scouring rush," because it it useful for scrubbing pots.
Normal days are a blessing, and I,too, never take a day for granted. I was like one of your hawks for a long number of weeks, maybe months, watching for any sign of another attack. Hugh did not have the classic left sided pain, it was central and right sided, severe, he was so grey, clammy, almost not breathing, the ambulance men did not let him take even one step, brought the stretcher right inside. Your walk along Piney Creek , beautiful photos, the greenery, the birds, and normality for you both as much as you can make it to be. Hugs and love, enjoy the warm days and spring sunshine.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jean! I can certainly relate to a hawklike scrutiny of Terry! Poor guy! He does whatever he has to; he's a trooper, but that doesn't mean he's happy about his new situation. The weather is rumbly and unsettled here, with tornado watches throughout our area. I've been watching the sky and battling with a pair of finches who are determined to build a nest on our deck. This battle has been going on for days. I don't know if it's the same pair, but every day it's a new battle. I hope I have them outfoxed. I think I now have every possible spot stuffed with rocks, cans, knitting needles, even a scrub brush. We've had too many messy nest disasters on our deck over the years, and I don't want to go through it again. I hope that you and Hugh have had a lovely weekend together. Hugs and love to you both!
DeleteI am glad that Terry is on the way to recover by the grace of lord dear Louise !
ReplyDelete't imagine snow during spring omg
the hawk images are splendid indeed :) loved the deer pausing for you :) this walk sounds a perfect treat filled with exquisite splendor of nature :) you captured everything so magnificently !
i hope all goes smooth and according to your hopes my dear friend!
health ,happiness and peace to both of you and all you love!
can
Thanks, Baili! I say multiple prayers of gratitude every day for the gift of Terry's life. Springtime along the Front Range of the Colorado Rockies always means extreme chances in weather, often within the same day. Now we are moving into our monsoonal season which means rain, thunder, lightning, tornados, and heat ~ not like yours though! I don't know how you do it. I hope that all is well with you, Ali, and the boys. Sending you hugs and love! Have a great week!
DeleteWhat a calming walk. I am so glad Terry is getting better. I can only imagine my trauma if I were in your shoes.
ReplyDeleteI first discovered horsetail ferns (I think it's the same as what you're talking about) researching my prehistoric fiction books. Horsetail ferns are hundreds of millions of years old. I wanted to make sure if I mentioned them in my story 1.8 mya, I was right. This is an amazing plant.
Thanks, Jackie. I'm sure it's the same plant. It's just that I grew up calling them horsetails. I was the geeky kid who wanted to know the names of everything. You have a gift for bringing prehistoric times alive, my friend! I hope you have been enjoying a good weekend. I'm looking forward to dinner out at our favorite neighborhood restaurant. Take care!
DeleteThose deer sure know how to relax. That is good that you can walk away and not worry too much about him. Awesome shots. The capture of the hawk asleep sure is a rare one to get.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat! I was really excited about that sleeping hawk picture. My philosophy is that if you take enough pictures, you're bound to get a good one eventually. That explains my out of control photo collection ~ LOL! I should probably trash about 100,000 photos ~ no lie! Have a great week, my friend!
DeleteWonderful photos as always, Louise! I hope Terry gets into the Rehab Program soon and that life will each day get back a little closer to normalcy!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra! Photography is one of my greatest joys, even if I just work with a point and shoot camera. I'm too ADHD to deal with anything more complicated ~ LOL! Terry and I are taking it one day at a time. We are both grateful to be moving into late spring and early summer. It feels so good to be alive and warm! Meanwhile, go Jets! All my best to you and your Rare One!
DeleteHope Terry gets into those sessions soon.
ReplyDeleteRefreshing photos. Spring has sprung.
Yes, Alex! And thank goodness! The 20-21 winter was the longest ever, for a number of reasons! I'm happy you found my photos refreshing. They certainly fill my soul and give me hope in renewal. Have a great week, my friend!
DeleteSo glad your husband is improving. Hope he gets a spot in rehab soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Natalie! I'll be relieved when Terry is in rehab. He's doing the best he can without it, and I'm doing what I can from the diet angle. I thought I knew a lot about nutrition, but trying to balance everything and meeting daily salt, cholesterol, fat, added sugars, fiber, calories, and variety is challenging! I hope that you've had a relaxing weekend and have a great week!
DeleteThis is such a beautiful, healing, post, filled with much hope! You are right Louise! I believe in signs, you had many! Thank you for sharing these amazing photos. I hope Terry gets into the Rehab Program soon and that life will each day get back a little closer to normalcy! Big Hugs!
ReplyDeletePleased Tony is improving, I simply loved the photo's Louise. So good to see you back here.
ReplyDeleteTake care both of you.
Yvonne.
Glad to hear Terry is doing well and continuing to improve!
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of the "nest" in the tree trunk. "Who lives here?" you asked - the way my mind works, I don't think you'd want me to answer that question. :)
Beautiful images, Louise! I do hope Terry gets into the Rehab Program soon. Wishing him well, and you, too!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that Terry is doing better. Wonderful photos!
ReplyDeleteI’m so glad that terry is doing well. And that you could take a normal walk. It’s been so long since things have been normal. Now that Covid is ending I am hoping that we all get back to doing things we did before. It was nice to see all your pictures.
ReplyDeleteNice photos of nature
ReplyDeleteAnother great post! Love the pics, thanks for sharing!
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