The Random Passing Remark Thread

[Meg]

Hey Holly, remember I posted over at RR last about that magnificent bird in my yard, the Kriders Red Tailed Hawk? I just saw him a few minutes ago, he's still around! Made my day!!

For those of you around here who didn't hear this story, this is the bird

http://k43.pbase.com/g6/76/621376/2/...5.xM1DjB9r.jpg

The first time I saw him, he was way up in a tall tree right out back, and try as I might I couldn't get a good look at him, all I saw was a big white bird. These guys are high elevation specialists, so you don't spot them often. Then one day, he turned up in another tree just off the back porch and peered down at me. The one I see is pure white underneath, and his head is pure white. His beak is short and sharply hooked, and he's a little bigger than a (live) chicken, absolutely magnificent! I saw him flying just a few minutes ago, and the topside is brown mottled, classic Kriders coloring, but underneath, this bird is absolutely pure white. He's just gorgeous! The white coloring underneath makes him hard to spot against the sky, making him the terror of local squirrels and when they had young this summer, the end, very nearly the end, of the nuisance Tyrant Flycatchers (who might have gotten themselves labeled "happy meals for Kriders chicks"... The person who said that might have gotten a dirty look from a couple of local teens... ) Its really amazing to still be able to spot such wildlife thriving these days.

[king'sbloomingrose]

Oh Meg! I'd forgotten all about that bird until you just mentioned him and now I do remember! Has he hung around all this time or just came back for the winter? He must be awesome to see in action!

One time two or three super rare red-headed woodpeckers showed up at our house and hung around for a day or so before they flew away.

They usually inhabit the eastern coast above New Jersey. They're so beautiful and timid. I wonder how they managed to get all the way down in VA.

[Meg]

Wow, cool! I know if I ever saw a red head woodpecker, its been 40 years or something! I'm fairly sure the Kriders hawks live here permanently, and that their territory is pretty large. One reason I saw him or them so often this summer, and 3 or 4 times was actually often, is that they were nesting somewhere close by. Since they "hang out", if you will, on the wing, at very high elevations, and since they must sneak up on very alert squirrels if they're going to eat, you don't see much of them. I think the people who got pictures must have known where the nest was, and photographed them when they were nesting. Otherwise, they travel widely like any other meat-eating hunter. This is why actually spotting one is so exciting. Later, when I find time, I'm going to do some more research on their habits. I love birds anyway, and it is extremely rare in my experience to see a hawk of any kind, even though I grew up in the Md countryside and now live in the SC countryside and have for 10 years. Unlike, say the Ferringous Hawks of Colorado, that we saw in Denver all the time, the Red Tails seem much less common down here. In my nearly 50 years, the white one or ones I spotted this year are the only Red Tail I have ever seen. Thats pretty cool too, because I always wanted to see a Red Tail, and the first and only one is the white phase! They are gorgeous too. Too bad the pic died, it was a good shot.

[Robert]

cheeseburger.

[Meg]

cheeseburger.

aww, come on, its Christmas! Roast Beef!!!

[notdecieved]

aww, come on, its Christmas! Roast Beef!!!

Hey Meg.... give him a break... at least he's got the right animal.

[Meg]

Hey Meg.... give him a break... at least he's got the right animal.

OK, I'' be nice then

[Robert]

aww, come on, its Christmas! Roast Beef!!!

Arby's Roast Burger.

[Meg]

Arby's Roast Burger.

I'm not convinced thats even real meat Arby's uses! Don't you recommend Red Robin? I like I-Hop m'self.

[king'sbloomingrose]

Please pray for my wrists...I have to use them in order to write or type on the computer and I'm doing a lot more of that now cause I'm trying to help get the gospel out more. And also trying to help move a website...

Merry Christmas everybody!

[Meg]

Please pray for my wrists...I have to use them in order to write or type on the computer and I'm doing a lot more of that now cause I'm trying to help get the gospel out more. And also trying to help move a website...

Merry Christmas everybody!

Praying for your wrists. You might want to do some exercises with very light weights or aerobic resistance exercise tubing to stretch your cramped muscles. I'll dig for some links here in a bit for you.

[Meg]

OK, Holly, I found a good video. This reminds me a lot of the physical therapy exercises I did when my back was hurt. You can do the basic curling without the bench or even without the weights. It might feel a little silly at first, but trust me, this sort of thing works. The idea is to gently stretch the muscles and get circulation going, which will relieve your pain.

About Wrist Exercise Equipment: Fitness & Exercise Tips | eHow.com

[king'sbloomingrose]

TY bunches, Meg! I'll have to try that cause it actually sounds like it would work! In the past I always thought that it was the beginning stages of carpel tunnel syndrome and so would live in fear that one day I'd have to have my wrists operated on. ( partly cause my mom is great at proposing worst case senarios!)

[Meg]

TY bunches, Meg! I'll have to try that cause it actually sounds like it would work! In the past I always thought that it was the beginning stages of carpel tunnel syndrome and so would live in fear that one day I'd have to have my wrists operated on. ( partly cause my mom is great at proposing worst case senarios!)

There's different causes of wrist pain, Holly. I've had carpal in both wrists since i was about 25, because i'm so athletic, the muscles press the nerves against the bones, and my hands go numb. What you're getting is from repetitive motion, and simple stretches like that will do way better than any surgery would likely do. I hop[e to hear if that helps, because I think it will. If you need a professional opinion, though, and insurance will cover it, see if you can get in to see a good physical therapist. In just a couple of visits, a well trained PT can show you why it hurts and how to stretch so it stops hurting and stays good. Prevention like that is always waaay better than cure!!

[king'sbloomingrose]

Praise God for Christmas blessings!

[Meg]

Praise God for Christmas blessings!

Amen. Mine this year was one of the best ever.

[Meg]

Best Holiday Pun 2010

"And A Cartridge In A Bare Tree..."

[Meg]

Aaaahhhh the college freshman learning curve...

[king'sbloomingrose]

So true! Meg, how is Chicken Dinner and Gibblet Gravy doing? Are they still around?

[Meg]

I'm not entirely sure if those same two birds are still around. It sure has been quieter lately. I finally figured out they belong to my newest neighbor, whose been developing a little economic collapse prepping homestead for the last 2 years. They started with just a garden on an undeveloped plot last year, and have been adding things all last (2010) year, including chickens. But between the stewpot and the Kriders Hawk, some of them might have... well, you know... I suspect the hawk might know something about all this, because I heard something that sounded rather like a panicking chicken screaming in terror about a week ago. Never heard anything quite like that noise in the ten years I've lived here. But it sure has been peacable lately... (who me??? )

But I tell you, the idea of fresh eggs and free range fried chicken has its merits, but the idea of plucking fresh chicken DIY in my own back yard is a bit of a pause there...