Standing Into Danger

Friday, April 26, 2019

On the Hunt for a Silent Hunter

"Have you seen the owls' nest?" called a man
walking with his wife in the open space along Piney Creek.
We had seen each other several times in the past,
as I stalked deer and birds in the riparian area along the creek

"No? Where?" I answered eagerly,
jumping some small cacti and scrambling onto the paved path.

On the Hunt

Piney Creek Open Space

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

"Through the tunnel under Aurora Parkway," he gestured north.

"The nest is really easy to spot," added his wife.
"Just look for the gnarliest cottonwood in that stand along the creek."

"Do you know where we mean? On the left beyond the tunnel.
Just walk along. You can't miss it," said the man, eyes sparkling.
"You could take some pictures of it."

Through the Tunnel

Under Aurora Parkway

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 1, 2018

"I know exactly where you mean!
And I'm heading there tomorrow ~ with my camera!
Thanks!" I replied.

I have been roaming along Piney Creek for almost fourteen years.
I have rarely seen owls because they're nocturnal,
and I'm not comfortable walking along the creek at night.
There are coyotes and skunks about, and wild cats have been spotted occasionally.

Cold, windy, and rainy weather delayed my hunt for the owls for two days,
but finally the sun broke through yesterday;
and I was off, through the tunnel to search the cottonwoods.

Cottonwood Stand

Under Aurora Parkway

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

Long's Peak in the Distance

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

The couple was right ~ spotting the gnarliest tree and the big nest was easy.
Pushing through brushes, jumping the creek, and inching closer was not.

I've seen protective Swainson's hawks guarding hatchlings
send people to the emergency room for serious stitching.
I had no reason to think owls with their huge, sharp talons would be less aggressive.

Gotcha! A great horned owl and at least one owlet!

The mother's feathered ear tufts or plumicorns

and the white patch on her throat were dead giveaways.

Her large yellow eyes were partly hooded, but she knew exactly where I was.

She tracked my progress with her powerful eyes by swiveling her large head.

Great Horned Owl with Owlet

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

Following Me as I Move

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

I wasn't surprised to see the owls' nest so close to houses.
Great horned owls are found in a wide range of Colorado's habitats,
from forests to fields, mountains to deserts, and wilderness to suburbia.

This owl family's nest high in the cottonwood tree was surrounded
by more trees, wide open spaces, a creek, and marshes
teaming with prairie dogs, birds, rabbits, voles, skunks, and squirrels,
a great place to hunt!

Great horned owls usually hunt at night, swooping down on silent wings,
to snatch up their prey in their strong talons.
However, if owlets are in the nest, these owls will sometimes hunt during the day.

Prairie Dogs On the Alert

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

Happy Hunting Grounds

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

Great horned owls hatch their eggs in the abandoned nests of other large birds,
often ones made of large sticks high above the ground.
They typically use a nest one year, and may line it with bark, fur, leaves, and feathers.

Mother and Baby

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

In Colorado great horned owls are early nesters,
courting in December and January.
Usually the female lays two or three dull white eggs
and incubates them for 25-38 days,
while her mate brings her food during the night.
The babies are born helpless and blind,
opening their eyes after eight days or so.
After another four weeks, they venture out onto nearby branches,
and by nine or ten-weeks old, the owlets begin to fly.
They remain with their parents until the fall.

And Then There Were Three

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

I wasn't the only one observing the baby owls.
An older man had arrived with binoculars,
and others walked closer to see what he was observing.
Good idea, I thought. I'm coming back tomorrow with binoculars.

The Curious

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

Today I was back, binoculars in hand, to see the great horned owl family again.
The owlets looked like they had grown overnight.
I bet they'll be creeping around on those cottonwood branches soon.

The Owlets

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 25, 2019

One Gnarly Home

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 25, 2019

Ahhhh! Stretching a Wing

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

You can be sure I'll return to watch these incredible birds.
I can't wait to see the owlets exploring their world.

Three on Me

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

On the Chad and Sisters Two

On the Bay of Fundy
Out of Westport, Brier Island, Nova Scotia, Canada

July, 2018

For Map Lovers Like Me:

Location of Aurora, Colorado, USA

Wikimedia

"My" Open Space Along Piney Creek

Where I Often Walk

Google

Adapted from a Sign in the Park

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

Cairn

Red-Tailed Hawk Park

Aurora, Colorado, U.S.A.

April 24, 2019

Friday, April 19, 2019

Unbelievable!

Watching Notre-Dame Cathedral burn on Monday was heartrending.
Visiting that hallowed and gorgeous place was a highpoint of my life,
literally giving me chills and moving me to tears.
I can't imagine what this loss must mean to the people of Paris.

I thought I'd share a few photos I took of Notre-Dame.

Notre-Dame de Paris

(Our Lady of Paris)

Located on Île de la Cité (City Island) Paris, France

May 26, 2014

The Western Facade

And It's Three Portals

Left: The Virgin Portal

Middle: The Last Judgment Portal

Right: The St. Anne Portal

May 26, 2014

The Archivolts or Heavenly Court

The Right Side of the Last Judgement Portal

The lower portion shows Hell with a devil

crushing the damned souls of a rich man, a bishop, and a king.

May 26, 2014

Gargoyles

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

The Interior

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

One of the Cathedral's Lovely Stained Glass Windows

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

The Vault of the Cathedral

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

The Blessed Virgin and Child Jesus

Sculptor: Antoine Antoine Vassé

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

The Interior

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

A Moving Memorial

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

The High Altar

Descent from the Cross

Sculptor: Nicolas Coustou

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

Construction Began in 1163

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

The Cathedral's Massive Organ

Reconstructed by François Thierry in the 1730s

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

The Slaughter of the Innocents and the Flight into Egypt

Carved on the Back of the Choir Stalls

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

The South Rose Window

Notre-Dame de Paris

May 26, 2014

It is simply unbelievable that Notre-Dame has suffered such destruction.

I hope to visit it again when it is restored.

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Donnie and Me
Sisters are the best!

On Margaret's Justice
between Long and Brier Islands,
Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 31, 2018

Friday, April 12, 2019

Should We Stay or Should We Go?

I'm a mess right now.
Should we stay or should we go?

I'm biting my nails, sitting on pins and needles,
got my fingers crossed, can't decide if I want
luck to be a lady tonight or not.

Things will work out or they won't.
It's all good.

I can't focus.
I can't think.
I certainly can't produce a post.

At least this had me laughing last night.
Hope it makes you laugh too.

You Tube

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Donnie and Me
Sisters are the best!

On Margaret's Justice
between Long and Brier Islands,
Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada
July 31, 2018

Friday, April 5, 2019

Luck Be a Lady Tonight!

It's been a while, but sometimes the stars align,
and you hit that elusive Royal Flush!

A Happy Hit!

Upstairs at the D

Fremont Street, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

March 27, 2019

Photo by Terry Barbour

Now if I could just get lucky at home

and catch up with everything!

One of these days I will catch my tail.

Till next time ~

Fundy Blue

Along the Waterfront

Brighton, England, UK

September, 2018

For Map Lovers Like Me:

Location of Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A.

Google Maps 2019

Location of Fremont Street

Google Maps 2019

Location of Fremont Street

Google Maps 2019

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

IWSG Day: Wednesday, April 3, 2019 ~ Better Late Than Never!

It's the first Wednesday of the month,
the day that members of the
Insecure Writer's Support Group
share their writing struggles
and writing successes
and offer their encouragement
and support to fellow writers.

To visit the IWSG website, click here.

To become a member of the IWSG, click here.

Our wonderful co-hosts who are volunteering today,
along with IWSG founder Alex Cavanaugh are:
J. H. Moncrieff, Natalie Aguirre, Patsy Collins, and Chemist Ken.

I hope you have a chance to visit today's hosts and thank them for co-hosting.
I'm sure they would appreciate a visit and an encouraging comment.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Every month the IWSG that members can answer with advice, insight,
a personal experience, or a story in their IWSG posts.

Or, the question can inspire members
if they aren't sure what to write about on IWSG Day.

Remember the question is optional.
This month's featured question is:

If you could use a wish to help you write just ONE scene/chapter of your book, which one would it be? (examples: fight scene / first kiss scene / death scene / chase scene / first chapter / middle chapter / end chapter, etc.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Happy IWSG Day, Everyone!
I apologize for posting late today and for the fact
that I will be later getting around to visit today.
We arrived home late yesterday evening
after an intense week of traveling, community checking, and house hunting.

Not Quite Eight Miles High ~ Again
Sunrise Manor, Nevada, USA

April 2, 2019

March has been a month, and we have been working through a number of major things,
one of which is relocating to a warmer place.
We have possibly found a community and have possibly found a house.
More intensity to come and more writing to come.
I've had a lot of intensity this past month and little writing.

I am sad at the prospect of leaving Colorado after thirty-seven years;
but I know Terry's biggest retirement dream is to live in a sunny, snow free place,
and I support his dream.
He has made huge sacrifices for me throughout our decades together,
and now it is time for me to return the favor.

It will be hard to leave my beloved Piney Creek and my furry friends,
not to mention all the treasured connections I have with my friends, community, and home.

Upper Pool
Along My Stretch of Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 12, 2019

A Furry Friend
Along My Stretch of Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA

March 12, 2019

Terry has pointed out that, if we do move,
I'll have a much bigger open space to explore:
the magnificent Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area
just a few miles west of Las Vegas.

This conservation area is a world-renowned geological wonder
with some of the most diverse flora and fauna found on our planet.
It consists of 195,819 acres within the Mojave Desert,
and it encompasses 600 million years of geological history.
redrockcanyonlv.org

Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area
Mount Wilson (left) and Rainbow Mountain (right)
A few miles west of Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

April 2, 2019

For me the highlight of this special place is the Keystone Thrust Fault
where older gray Paleozoic limestones and dolomites have ridden over
younger red and tan Jurassic sandstones.

The Keystone Thrust Fault
Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area
Wikimedia
Attribution: Ken Lund
Originally Posted: Flickr

There are spots in Red Rock Canyon
where you can place one foot higher on ancient limestone
and the other lower on young sandstone,
and the temporal difference is 250 million years
(give or take a few million).

The paleoenvironments represented by the limestones
and the sandstones are equally impressive.
Five hundred million years ago,
an ancient ocean existed in this area,
where limey sediments accumulated for 250 million years.
One hundred eighty-five million years ago,
a vast desert of sand dunes existed in this location,
where windblown sands roamed for 10 million years.

Concurrent with the demise of the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous Period,
sixty-five million years ago,
monumental forces shoved the older rocks
on top of the younger like a plow pushing snow.

At that pivotal time, the ancient Farallon oceanic plate began to subduct or sink
below the western edge of the North American continental plate.
As a result the Sierra Nevada granite batholith intruded
(think Half Dome, Yosemite),
forming the core of the modern Sierra Mountain Range in California
and creating compressional forces that thrust the Paleozoic limestones
east and over the Jurassic sandstones in the Keystone Thrust.

Half Dome, Yosemite,

a classic granite dome of the Sierra Nevada Batholith

Yosemite National Park, California, USA

Wikimedia

Attribution: Jon Sullivan

And what does all this have to do with this month's IWSG question?
It is oh so much easier to write about rocks than to write a romantic, erotic scene.
I'd love to conjure up a genie to grant a wish for help with that!

The just-announced genre for the next IWSG anthology
is Middle Grade Historical: Adventure/Fantasy.
Perhaps I can come up with a rock angle!

Happy Writing in April!
I'm looking forward to visiting around!

On Southwest Airlines

Over Kanab, Utah, USA

March 26, 2019

Photo by Terry Barbour

Books Read in 2025

'A City on Mars" by Kelly and Zach Weinersmith
"6:40 to Montreal" by Eva Jurczyk
"A Fall in Denver" by Sarah Andrews
"A Gambling Man" by David Baldacci
"American Wolf" by Nate Blakeslee
"Cane River" by Lalita Tademy
"Determination: A Mother of Five Conquers College" by Victoria Marie Lees
"Football for Dummies" by Howie Long with John Czarnecki
"Imagine Hatt Season 1" by Patrick Hatt
"Just One Look" by Harlan Coben
"Little Fires Everywhere" by Celeste Ng
"Meditations for Mortals" by Oliver Burkeman
"Mother Nature" by Sarah Andrews
"Never Too Late" by Danielle Steel
"Nothing to Fear: Demystifying Death to Live More Fully" by Julie McFadden, RN
"Philosophy Now: Digital Philosophy" Issue 168
"Philosophy Now: The Politics of Freedom" Issue 163
"Philosophy Now: The Thoughts on Thought Issue" Issue 164
"Project Hail Mary" by Andy Weir
"Shadow of the the Wind" by Carlo Ruiz Zafón
"Tensleep" by Sarah Andrews
"The Cove" by Patrick Hatt
"The Deadly Rise of Anti-Science: A Scientist's Warning" by Peter J. Hotez, MD, PhD
"The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life's Final Moments" by Hadley Vlahos, RN
"The Light Eaters" by Zoë Schlanger
"The Power of Touch: A Story of Redeeming Love" by Pat Garcia
"The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
"The Warlord" by Gena Showalter
"Think Twice" by Harlan Coben
"Unless" by Carol Shields
"We Who Wrestle with God" by Jordan B. Peterson
"What Matters Most: Lessons the Dying Teach Us About Living" by Diane Button
Imagine Hatt: Season One" by Patrick Hatt

Standing Into Danger

Pages

Friday, April 26, 2019

On the Hunt for a Silent Hunter

Friday, April 19, 2019

Unbelievable!

Friday, April 12, 2019

Should We Stay or Should We Go?

Friday, April 5, 2019

Luck Be a Lady Tonight!

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

IWSG Day: Wednesday, April 3, 2019 ~ Better Late Than Never!

Translate