Hanging out

This is the Russell Orchards cat. I had kept my eye out for him, looked up as we were leaving, and there he was.

For some reason I am seeing blissed out animals lately even as I bite my nails over the economic downtown.

What would be nice is to simply trust that when push comes to shove we'll all still land on our (two or four) feet.

You can't tell me

this little guy isn't enjoying that peanut. David says I'm anthropomorphizing but it seems obvious his or her eyes are closed in bliss as she nibbles away.

A few days ago I grabbed the camera as well as the binoculars and headed to Halibut Point State Park. There's a vernal pond that normally would be dry as a bone by now but due to all the precipitation still makes a comfortable pollen-strewn home for this little green frog and his friends.


I crept into the cove and was as quiet as could be for minutes on end trying to get an angle with enough light to take the picture. I was obviously blending flawlessly because I suddenly heard something coming up on me. I turned with a cry and startled (right at my feet) a RACCOON. She looked as surprised as I did and immediately scurried up the slender white branch of a birch tree nearby. She got about half way up, looked down at me, realized I was still too close for comfort, ran down the tree and bounded across the path to another part of the park. I hurried after her: "Wait! I wanna take your picture! Come back!" Too late.

A stately branch

When I planted this purloined branch into the flower pot I knew it would make a good roost. These guys who are actually not sparrows but finches love thistle seed. When times are easy they get new seed socks fairly often. When times are tough they get the old one refilled until certain other visitors bite too many holes in them.