We have a Barred Owl who has moved into the neighborhood. I was standing in the sun-room yesterday morning contemplating the beautiful sunrise and something huge flew by the windows, catching my attention. It landed on one of the garden fence posts. I went to see if it was one of our resident Bald Eagles, and was surprised to see an owl. Of course I ran and got the camera. My telephoto lens was all the way out for these pics.
Isn't he gorgeous?
He was sitting in the shade surveying the garden patch, when something caught his attention. He flew over to the corner garden post in the sunshine.
He spent a very long time (almost an hour) watching something there in the corner. I suspect a mouse.
He never did swoop down. Just sat there watching. His head swiveled around in a most amazing way.
I read a bit about him via Google. (Remember, Google is your friend.) It's a native species of eastern North America, but it's territory has spread across the country so they are now inhabiting the western side too. Locally, they're considered an invasive species. (Our local government sucks.) He's about 18 inches tall and his wing span is so impressive. I wish I could have caught it on camera. I probably took 200 shots but a nice wing span was not to be had.
I think I may have mentioned a few weeks ago a new chickadee species, Chestnut Backed, was observed at the bird buffet. It's still here and has a mate now. So I expect it's staying for the winter. I'm trying to get a picture of them, but chickadees are unable to stand still for more than a nano second and I have been unsuccessful so far. I've had lots of blurred shots of tree branches. No chickadees in them.
Had the right eye surgery. Not a pleasant experience. I felt this one and it hurt. Ouch ouch ouch! Starting with the marking. I bought the lens that corrects astigmatism-$1000 not covered by insurance, so it had to be installed just exactly. Doctor started by marking my eye with a big bright blue marker. Yeah. drawing on my eyeball! It was not painless. I didn't get as much numbing stuff as before. My asthma was acting up (can you say cough?) and they were concerned about it. I had to take a cough medicine. Anyway, I said ouch. She replied "I'm sorry. I'm almost done". I felt the first piercing cut too. I had pain for a couple days after the surgery. I guess it was worth it. My right eye sees very well.
In the meantime I've lost some of the clarity I had in the left eye. I'm having a hard time adjusting to not seeing close and needing reading glasses, but it's early yet. My vision will change a bit more over the next few weeks as my eyes heal and my brain adjusts, and I may end up needing glasses in the end. I have to say though, that the world is a much brighter place. I hadn't realized how much my vision had darkened over time. The nasty cataracts are gone! For that, I am thankful.
I have, over this year, mentioned a nagging cough that my asthma has become. I am so tired of changing medications trying to find something that will get it under control only to cough my lungs out every two to three days anyway. I finally got my doctor to refer me to a lung specialist. Unfortunately, I have to wait until January 15th to see him. It's a very busy clinic. That was the first appointment they had available. I'm cheering myself up with knitting.
I did stop working on Margaret until the eyes have healed some. So I started a new project that is much easier to see. The Crazed Scandinavian Cowl is turning out to be a pleasant project to fill my evenings with. It is an 80 inch long cowl with 20 fairisle charts in it. A total of 603 rows. A challenge that's fun. I have finished the first 2 charts and started the third (speckled diamonds). I'm at row 102.
I have also obtained new bobbins, loaded some up with yarn, and knit a few rows of argyle sock. I don't know why, but I chose black as the background color. As socks go, they will be very pretty (that's why, right there), but I can tell I'm going to regret that black before it's all over. And the tangled mess that sits on my lap! Keeping it all straight is proving to be difficult. Why do I do this to myself?
I suppose I should start the next layette set.
Weather update. The weekend was cold and rainy. Yesterday it cleared up and we have sunshine and temps in the 40's. Warm for this time of year, but still feels cold to me. There is no snow in the immediate future. I am enjoying the sunshine.
I'm looking forward to going to Rathdrum Knitting this afternoon. I feel a need for like minded company.
Live long and prosper. \\//
Isn't he gorgeous?
He was sitting in the shade surveying the garden patch, when something caught his attention. He flew over to the corner garden post in the sunshine.
He spent a very long time (almost an hour) watching something there in the corner. I suspect a mouse.
He never did swoop down. Just sat there watching. His head swiveled around in a most amazing way.
I read a bit about him via Google. (Remember, Google is your friend.) It's a native species of eastern North America, but it's territory has spread across the country so they are now inhabiting the western side too. Locally, they're considered an invasive species. (Our local government sucks.) He's about 18 inches tall and his wing span is so impressive. I wish I could have caught it on camera. I probably took 200 shots but a nice wing span was not to be had.
I think I may have mentioned a few weeks ago a new chickadee species, Chestnut Backed, was observed at the bird buffet. It's still here and has a mate now. So I expect it's staying for the winter. I'm trying to get a picture of them, but chickadees are unable to stand still for more than a nano second and I have been unsuccessful so far. I've had lots of blurred shots of tree branches. No chickadees in them.
Had the right eye surgery. Not a pleasant experience. I felt this one and it hurt. Ouch ouch ouch! Starting with the marking. I bought the lens that corrects astigmatism-$1000 not covered by insurance, so it had to be installed just exactly. Doctor started by marking my eye with a big bright blue marker. Yeah. drawing on my eyeball! It was not painless. I didn't get as much numbing stuff as before. My asthma was acting up (can you say cough?) and they were concerned about it. I had to take a cough medicine. Anyway, I said ouch. She replied "I'm sorry. I'm almost done". I felt the first piercing cut too. I had pain for a couple days after the surgery. I guess it was worth it. My right eye sees very well.
In the meantime I've lost some of the clarity I had in the left eye. I'm having a hard time adjusting to not seeing close and needing reading glasses, but it's early yet. My vision will change a bit more over the next few weeks as my eyes heal and my brain adjusts, and I may end up needing glasses in the end. I have to say though, that the world is a much brighter place. I hadn't realized how much my vision had darkened over time. The nasty cataracts are gone! For that, I am thankful.
I have, over this year, mentioned a nagging cough that my asthma has become. I am so tired of changing medications trying to find something that will get it under control only to cough my lungs out every two to three days anyway. I finally got my doctor to refer me to a lung specialist. Unfortunately, I have to wait until January 15th to see him. It's a very busy clinic. That was the first appointment they had available. I'm cheering myself up with knitting.
I did stop working on Margaret until the eyes have healed some. So I started a new project that is much easier to see. The Crazed Scandinavian Cowl is turning out to be a pleasant project to fill my evenings with. It is an 80 inch long cowl with 20 fairisle charts in it. A total of 603 rows. A challenge that's fun. I have finished the first 2 charts and started the third (speckled diamonds). I'm at row 102.
I have also obtained new bobbins, loaded some up with yarn, and knit a few rows of argyle sock. I don't know why, but I chose black as the background color. As socks go, they will be very pretty (that's why, right there), but I can tell I'm going to regret that black before it's all over. And the tangled mess that sits on my lap! Keeping it all straight is proving to be difficult. Why do I do this to myself?
I suppose I should start the next layette set.
Weather update. The weekend was cold and rainy. Yesterday it cleared up and we have sunshine and temps in the 40's. Warm for this time of year, but still feels cold to me. There is no snow in the immediate future. I am enjoying the sunshine.
I'm looking forward to going to Rathdrum Knitting this afternoon. I feel a need for like minded company.
Live long and prosper. \\//
