Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Swallow and the Hodge Podge

Sunday, since it was a gorgeous day outside,  Hubs and I went for a walk through Douglas-Hart Nature Center. One trail led up to an area preserved to look like the prairie did when settlers first moved here.
 I took this picture and then saw a bird land on the bird house. 
The swallow perched there, looking around, waiting long enough for me to take a couple of shots.
He wasquite a distance away, but you get the idea.


Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday


Moving on to today's Hodge Podge questions...

1. April showers bring May flowers or so the saying goes. Are you blooming where you're planted as we begin the month of May?

The most prolific blooms here are from the dandelions. I drove past a field Sunday that was about 50% yellow. I don't have any flowers blooming in the yard yet, but there are blossoms on the flowering trees. 

2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being no big deal, and 10 being full scale panic, rank your fear of spiders.

10! I once saw a spider about as large as my fist (or so it seemed at the time) crawling across the floor toward my son's bedroom. It was late at night and I was home alone. I was afraid to stomp on it or hit it with something for fear it would jump on me. I ran into the kitchen and searched through a cabinet for some kind of bug or spider killer...nothing! I grabbed a can of oven cleaner and ran back to the spider. I sprayed most of the can on him. He was covered in foam and still crawling. As I watched I saw he was slowing down... slower...slower...and then came to a full stop. His legs gradually curled up under him, signaling his demise. I went outside to get the shovel, scooped him up and deposited him outside in the edge of the woods. I now know it was a harmless Wolf Spider, but at the time I had no idea. In my mind he was a tarantulla and I was afraid it was going to eat my prescious little boy. 

3. May is National Salad Month (who knew???)...besides lettuce, what are two must-have ingredients in your favorite salad?

In the winter - cucumbers and celery. In the summer - fresh garden tomatoes and cucumbers.

4. I mentioned on my blog last week that my Daughter1 will be moving to Washington State after she is married. Of the following sites in the Northwest, which would you most like to see in person-Crater Lake (Oregon), Seattle (Washington), Vancouver (British Columbia), San Juan Islands (Washington),  Mt. Rainer (Washington) Oregon Coast (Oregon), Mt. St. Helens (Washington), or Olympic National Park (Washington)

This is one of the areas I've never visited. I once flew in to Seattle for a job interview, but only saw the area from the ariport to downtown. I didn't take the job. I decided it was too far away from my family. So, I would pick Seattle to explore first and then head out to each of the other areas mentioned. Because if I go that far and spend that much money on air fare, may as well get my money's worth.

5. This coming weekend marks the 140th running of the Kentucky Derby...when did you last race (literally or figuratively) to cross a finish line?

High school track. I like to catch trains when driving down a road beside a railroad track, but there isn't a finish line.

6. What is something little you love?

I have a pocket watch that belonged to my paternal grandmother. My grandfather gave it to her as a wedding gift. It doesn't work, but it is beautiful and the sentimental value is way up in the millions.

7. Would you say you are more of a visual, auditory, or kinesthetic learner? Elaborate.

Kinesthetic. I can watch someone else do something or be told how to do it, but it will not stay with me unless I do it myself and then practice. 

8.  Insert your own random thought here.

I've been doing a lot of thinking about retirement lately. Some of my friends are retiring or have retired.  I've pretty much decided I'm against it. It sounds nice in theory, but I think I would miss the daily routine. It isn't a decision I have to make today. Perhaps by the time I arrive at that magical age I will be ready.


Linking to Wednesday Hodgepodge

23 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

sweet little tree swallow!

must have encountered that wolf spider while you lived in texas... we get 'em like crazy here.

Karen said...

We have a lot of swallow houses on nature preserves, I haven't got a photo of one yet!

Margaret Birding For Pleasure said...

HI Roan He was very cooperative for your to get these good shots of the Swallow.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful shot of bird. It is also giving very good pose to click!

eileeninmd said...

Great shots of the swallow. They look beautiful with the sunlight shining on them.. I loved visiting Washington and Oregon.. just to see the Orca whale I would love to visit the San Juan Islands.. Enjoy your day!

Cranberry Morning said...

I'll have to remember oven cleaner for killing unwanted spiders. LOL That was a great story. And so wonderful that your have your grandmother's pocket watch!

What a beautiful irridescent (sp?) blue on that bird's head.

Lisa @ Two Bears Farm said...

Love the bird.

I wouldn't rank a 10, but I really really really don't like spider. Especially wolf spiders. Shudder!

Jhona O. said...

Oh my! I remember seeing a wolf spider for the first time. I thought it was a tarantula and wondered how it had made it to Kansas, ha ha! My kids were little and we were eating dinner when my son said, "Mama! That spider wants my burrito!" I had to get the neighbor guy to come and kill it because I was terrified(my hubby was deployed at the time). Silliness!

April said...

Beautiufl pics! I would have a heart attack if I ever encountered a wolf spider. Nope...wouldn't end pretty for me or the spider!

April said...

I'm your newest follower! :)

retired not tired said...

I have been retired for 2 years. It takes a lot of planning. Budget is a big concern. We have downsized to one car and we do a lot of walking.

A Joyful Chaos said...

The biggest spider I ever saw was a tarantula, I ran over it with the lawn mower and shivered for a good ten minutes afterwards even though it was a 90+ degree day.

Gillian Olson said...

Love the swallow, they never seem to stay still for me!

Anonymous said...

Great captures of the swallow. They never seem to sit and pose for me.

Rohrerbot said...

Gotta love Tree Swallows! So glad to see that they're thinking about nesting:)

Naquillity said...

nice capture of the swallow... i'd love to visit Seattle Washington one day. i've wanted to go for a long time now. have a great day~

Brian King said...

Tree Swallows are beautiful! They're common here in the spring and summer.

marilyn said...

Always good to see the swallows and they like insects more than we do. I don't kill spiders or snakes, they too eat bugs and mice.

Unknown said...

Swallows are so cute. I haven't seen any yet this spring.

Phil Slade said...

Your Tree Swallows are so pure blus and white. Lovely birds for the springtime and summer.

Stewart M said...

Poor old spider! But the big ones still give me the creeps - and we have BIG ones!

Great sheen on the head of the swallow.

Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

Jenn Jilks said...

Aren't you happy when they pause for a photo?!

Annesphamily said...

Swallows remind me of my late Auntie Ang. She loved the Mission at San Juan Capistrano and wanted to marry there. Unfortunately in 1946 the Catholic church said it was a no no and she and my uncle would be excommunicated! It was a while before my time, I was not even born than, but what I wouldn't give to have seen her response! Thanks for this lovely share.