The big news at our house this month is the appearance of Hoary Redpolls. It's great to get a life bird (#633) right in our own yard! I got some pictures, which you can select off the links in the left hand frame. At first there was one, which we agonized over because of the similarity between the Common and the Hoary Redpolls. (I really think that they are really groups of subspecies of the same species.) But yesterday we saw two together, and then four! The foursome was not hanging out with the large redpoll flock. The Hoary was yardbird #84.
So we're jazzed about that.
We've also been graced recently by a visit from a Red-tailed Hawk (yardbird #83) and frequent visits from a red fox. The fox tried to catch a red squirrel in our backyard yesterday, but failed.
I went to a workshop and built my own Native American flute last month. I still have some final decorative touches to add, but it's finished otherwise. There is something calming and meditative about the sound of this flute. I don't intend to learn any songs, I only plan to meditate on it.
We are planning our trip to France for late spring. I'm trying to learn a smattering of French, with phrases such as "Where is the bathroom?", "I don't speak French" and "No, I don't have a speech impediment." I've spent so much time surfing Southern France websites that I feel like I've already been there. We're jazzed about this trip, too.
So wherever February finds you this year, I hope you are hale and hearty and warm.
Terry 2/18/02