Return From Terra Incognita

He was gone a long time, almost two years longer than the mission was expected to take. Family and friends assumed he had been lost in the wilds never to be seen again. Surprising them all on an overcast day in April, his plane landed at the base. It was too quiet; the others present reported that no engine could be heard. He stepped down from the craft, smiling but with a distant and detached look in his eyes. All appeared well. He seemed happy, healthy and not aged a day. His uniform showed no signs of wear and tear as any garment would after having been worn continuously for so long. He had not lost weight. He would not speak.

Then behind him appeared two other forms. He had brought back with him some new friends.

Torkus Glibstein Spots A Coalbottom Bicrusted Coot

At times, binoculars were simply insufficient.



[For all the bird watchers out there, and those married to them.]

Elspith Unaware

Elspith noticed neither the tiny moon that had found its way into her sitting room via the fireplace nor the creature lurking just behind her back as she sat absorbed in a book. The creature, on the other hand, was fully aware.

A New Year's Wish

This new year has begun in my house with a bunch of really bad things. I refuse to believe they are setting the tone for 2011. We spent new year's day putting down our beloved sheltie, Sean. We will dearly miss that soft, lovely if standoffish watch dog. Next was a very, very serious accident. For some reason a single tree is responsible for lots of broken bones, but also preventing a car from going over a cliff into a ravine, possibly killing the occupants. My feelings of thankfulness and grief are all jumbled.

Hoping you all are having a more positive start to this new year. Wishing all a happy and healthy 2011.