The Letter "K" - Alphabe-Thursday

K is for Kindness

Always be a little kinder than necessary. James M. Barrie

A kind word is like a Spring day. Russian Proverb

Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns. Author Unknown



K is for Kibitz

kib·itz (kbts)
intr.v. kib·itzed, kib·itz·ing, kib·itz·es Informal
1. To look on and offer unwanted, usually meddlesome advice to others.
2. To chat; converse.
[Yiddish kibitsen, from German kiebitzen, from Kiebitz, pewit, kibitzer, from Middle High German gbitz, pewit, of imitative origin.]
kibitz·er n.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition copyright ©2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.



K is for Kitty.

Kitties eat Kibble. This is a Kitty named Cindi Lou Who and she would like to say hi to her Kitty friends Kareltje and Kitty Diva Madi. She is also waving to Lautrec and Tiny, more of her Kitty friends.


And K is for KitKat, my sweet hubby's favorite candy.

And that completes my assignment on the letter K for Mrs. Matlock's class. To visit the other students and our teacher Mrs. Matlock go to Alaphabe-Thursday.

Guest Post by Suzie Gilbert

Hello my fellow bloggers, I am very excited today to introduce you to Suzie Gilbert. If you missed the review of Flyaway go here. Thank you Suzie for joining us today.
Judy



Hi, I'm the author of "Flyaway" and Judy's fellow bird fan .... it was such a pleasure to have my book reviewed on The Road To Here, and to be able to look through Judy's gorgeous photos. Such nice responses, and I do hope those of you who read it like my book. It's a universal theme - we all juggle so much in our busy lives, it's just that many of the balls I have in the air happen to have feathers. I would certainly never have predicted how my life would turn out!


One of my favorite stories that didn't make it into the book is about the bird pictured below. I had a call a few summers ago from a woman who said her son had rescued a big white bird, and the bird was hurt, and could they bring her to me? She didn't know what kind of a bird it was. I figured it was a gull or a swan. I opened the box and there, collapsed in the box, was a Great Egret. They are dazzling, breathtaking, extremely shy birds, and I had never had one in rehab.

As it turned out, the boy, whose name was Nate, had been sitting on a park bench, watching the egret stalk fish along the edge of a pond. All of a sudden something started towing the bird across the water and, then, slowly, pulling it beneath the surface. Nate ran to the edge of the pond and discovered that a huge snapping turtle had the bird by the foot. Now, I've seen grown men run away from snapping turtles - and with good reason! But this 16-year-old boy jumped into the water, and, I kid you not, wrestled the egret away from the snapping turtle. Then he rushed back to shore and stood there, dripping wet, wondering what to do - because once you've got a hold of a Great Egret, what do you do with it? (Answer: you call your mother on your cellphone, then you bring the bird to me.)

Egrets have four toes, three pointing forward and the fourth, the hallux, pointing backward; the turtle had severed the egret's hallux as cleanly as if he'd used a carving knife. The wound was brand new and the egret was otherwise in good health, so my job was to make sure the fragile, stress-prone creature survived captivity while her foot healed, and then to get her back home as quickly as possible. Each day I changed her bandage, brought her fresh fish, and tiptoed out of the clinic.

Eight days later she was ready to go. Normally I release shy birds with minimal fanfare, but this time I called Nate. "Would you like to release your bird?" I asked him.

He met me at the pond. He opened the crate door and the egret rushed out, a slender blizzard of white feathers, and launched herself into the air. She extended her wings, rose higher and higher, circled once, twice, and was gone. Nate turned to me with a huge grin.

"That was awesome!" he said.

"So are you," I replied.


Judy has asked me if I would do a question/answer post, and yes, I sure will ... so if anyone has any questions or observations about the birds or the wildlife in your area, or if you're wondering what could possibly have been going through my head when I started stashing herons in my bathroom and owls in the guest room ... ask away! I'd be happy to answer them.

Spring is Buzzing - Macro Monday

It is Spring, the weather is getting warmer and blooms are everywhere. And where there are flowers there will bee ............

The little honey bee was too busy to pose for me today.

To see more close up views of our world visit Macro Monday.

Cutlery Set

This is a review of the Zwilling JA Henckels International EverEdge Plus 13 Piece Block Cutlery Set. If you are looking for cutlery sets be sure to check the CSN Stores.

Overview
The Eversharp Pro knives feature a micro-serrated edge that never needs sharpening. Different serration by knife style. Each knife has the correct edge construction for the appropriate cutting job, and the blades are made of high quality stainless steel for stain and rust resistance. The stamped blades also feature a duo-finish for a professional look. Eversharp Pro features contoured black polypropylene handles with triple rivets and full tang which are sturdy, hygienic and break proof.

Set Includes:
* 3" Parer
* 6" Utility Knife
* 8" Chef's
* 8" Bread Knife
* 5" Boning Knife
* 4.5" Tomato Knife
* 6 4.5" Steak Knives
* Hardwood Block
* Bonus: Fork Tip Cheese Knife

My Opinion
One of the first features I noticed on this set was the handles. I have small hands and I find many knives just aren't a comfortable fit for me when I use them. The first thing I noticed when I picked up one of the EverEdge knives was how comfortable it felt in my hand, it was a good fit and not bulky. I also asked my husband to use the knives and he was very happy with the feel as well.

When I pick up a knife in my kitchen I like a sharp knife but often find myself wishing I had sharpened the knife before starting my task. Usually the sharp edge doesn't last very long either. The EverEdge knives are very sharp and the cuts were very clean. These knives made the task of slicing carrots and other vegetables quick and easy. For the same meal I also carved a roast and sliced some bread. All of the EverEdge knives I used preformed perfectly.

My conclusion, the EverEdge cutlery set is a good buy. The knives are sharp and the handles are comfortable to use. Also the hardwood block is very stable and compact, it takes up minimal counter space. I would recommend this cutlery set to my friends. These are strictly my opinions .

The Zwilling JA Henckels International EverEdge Plus 13 Piece Block Cutlery Set was sent to me by CSN Stores for review. I was not monetarily compensated for my review.

Birds of a Feather and an Announcement

Let the farmer remember that every bird destroyed, and every nest
robbed, is equivalent to a definite increase in insects with which he
already has to struggle. He will soon appreciate the fact that he has
a personal interest, and a strong one, in the preservation of birds.
Henry Oldys

Spring would not be spring without bird songs.
Francis M. Chapman

There are 8,600 species of birds in the world today. They are
found everywhere. Birds play a vital role in the balance of nature.
They eat insects, pests and small animals. Fruit eating birds are
best for scattering seeds for these plants. Seed eating birds
digest seeds and in so doing keep millions of weeds from the earth...
Birds have between 1,000 and 25,000 feathers.
Birds, U.C. Davis

I am very excited to announce that Suzie Gilbert, author of Flyaway, will be stopping by for a visit this Tuesday, March 30th. This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to learn more about bird rehabilitation and how we can protect our feathered friends. Be sure to come by and feel free to ask questions. Suzie will answer your questions in a follow up post.

To see more critters from around the world visit Camera Critters.

Pink on Blue - Sky Watch Friday

While visiting one of our local parks this past week I fell in love with this beautiful pink magnolia tree and the gorgeous blue sky.

Want to see more skies from around our world? Visit SkyWatch Friday!

Flyaway - A Review

About Flyaway

In this captivating memoir, Suzie Gilbert tells the rollicking story of how she turned her family life upside down to pursue her unusual passion for rehabilitating wild birds.

Through adolescence and into adulthood, Suzie Gilbert struggled to find her calling. But when she took a job working at the animal hospital near her home in New York’s Hudson Valley, her passion was born. She began bringing abused and unwanted parrots home and volunteering at a local raptor rehabilitation center, activities she continued for the next eleven years, even as she started a family. Then came the ultimate commitment to her cause: turning her home into Flyaway, Inc., a nonprofit wild bird rehabilitation center.

Gilbert chronicles the years of her chaotic household-cum-bird-hospital with delightful wit, recounting the confusion that ensued as her husband and two young children struggled to live in a house where parrots shrieked Motown songs, nestling robins required food every twenty minutes, and recuperating herons took over the spare bathroom. Gradually, however, the birds came to represent the value of compassion and the importance of pursuing even the most unlikely of dreams.

Often funny, sometimes painful, Gilbert’s encounters with these beautiful creatures reveal profound truths not only about animals but also about our own lives—lessons of birth and death, suffering and empathy, holding on and letting go.

Original, lyrical, and highly entertaining, Flyaway will forever change the way you see this amazing member of the animal kingdom.

My Review

Most of my long time readers know of my interest in both photography and nature. A book review is not something you would normally find on either of my blogs. When I was asked to review Flyaway I first hesitated but then read the synopsis and a little information on the author. The book sounded very interesting so I accepted the offer.

As soon as I started the first chapter of Flyaway I was hooked. This is a delightful book filled with humor, moments of sadness, discovery and most of all life. As I read I tried to imagine what it would be like to make the commitment to rescue and care for wild birds while raising a family. Suzie Gilbert takes her readers through all the adventures and misadventures she encountered while making her dream of a wild bird rehabilitation center come true.

When the phone rings it could be someone calling about a baby blue jay who has lost its parents or maybe a peregrine falcon. And even a woodchuck might need some assistance once in awhile.

The book is well written and has beautiful illustrations of a number of wild birds. You will also learn much about our feathered friends and what we can do to to protect them. This is truly a remarkable story and I highly recommend Flyaway to all my readers.



Suzie Gilbert also has a website you can visit. Be sure to watch the video of the release of a recovered Red-tailed Hawk. To purchase a copy of Flyaway look HERE.

Also, and this is very exciting, Suzie will be dropping by for a visit. Stay tuned for more information.

I was not compensated for this review.

Spring is in the Trees

And Spring is on the Ground!


Visit Wordless Wednesday for more photos without words.

Runway Approach - Monochrome Weekend

Gears down, approaching the runway.

This is a 1959 Piper Comanche PA-24-250 powered by a Lycoming O-540-A1A5 engine. The photo was taken two weeks ago near our local airport.

For more great monochrome photos visit Aileni at Monochrome Weekend.

White Over The Blues - SkyWatch Friday

Last weekend brought snow to the Blue Mountains of SE Washington State but the snow was followed by sunshine and these beautiful clouds.

To see more beautiful skies from around the world visit SkyWatch Friday.

I is for ? - Alphabe-Thursday

Racking my brain all day long trying to come up with something for today's "I" theme. I looked through my photo files but no "I's" were to be found. "Think", I said, "you can do this, it isn't that hard. Use your Imagination." Eureka, that's it!

I is for Imagination.

Imagination... its limits are only those of the mind itself.
Rod Serling

Imagination grows by exercise, and contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young. Paul McCartney

Imagination is born in the mind's eye. It can be awaken by the simplest of things, a falling leaf, a snow flake or a ray of sunlight falling on a drop of water. To grow and thrive it must be free to fly, tethered and caged it will surely perish. J Weber

What stirs your Imagination? It is usually the simplest of things. Is it a bird in flight, a beautiful spring blossom? Or perhaps you prefer something a little more magical?


Thank you Mrs. Jenny Matlock for this wonderful meme. Please go to Alphabe-Thursday to visit more of Mrs. Matlock's students.

Mystery Chicken - Wordful Wednesday

In yesterday's post I showed you the photo above with no comment from me. Many of you expressed concern for my feathered friend but there is no need for sympathy for this little hen. She has not been injured in any way nor does she have mange or other disease. She is a very happy, healthy chicken. She and her friend reside at our city park's aviary.

This breed of chicken is called a Turken, or Transylvanian Naked Neck. While they get their name from their appearance don't let the name fool you, they are NOT a cross between a chicken and a turkey. The Turken is one hundred percent chicken. The one in this photo is also a hen.

It is believed the breed originated in Hungry but it was perfected in Germany. The Turken has half the feathers of a regular chicken. This makes it easier to clean. Despite the lack to feathers the breed is very tolerant of cold temperatures. Having less feathers also keeps it cooler in hot climates.

They are a very calm, friendly chicken and it is said they are easy to train. While they are apparently somewhat rare here in the US they are very common in Europe. By the way, Lily figured out that this was a naked neck chicken. Lily, don't you need a few of these on your farm?



When you have a photo that you just have to talk about go to Wordful Wednesday.

Tuesday Tease!

Check back tomorrow for more information on our Feathered Friend. In the meantime tell me what you think about the photo.

Decorating Ideas

A friend of mine came over for lunch today. She was telling me that her daughter was thinking about redecoration her child's bedroom and she needed some ideas. My friend's granddaughter is six and likes all the usual stuff little girls of her age like but her favorite things right now are animals and princesses.

My friend and I went online to look for kids bedding at the CSN stores. We were amazed at all the different patterns available. The more we looked the more ideas we found. I couldn't believe some of the cute designs we saw.



I immediately thought of squirrels but we were trying think like a six year old girl. Which brings me to my question. Many of you have young daughters or granddaughters, what kinds of things do they like?

Little Things - Macro Monday

Look at the tiny world around us, visit Macro Monday.

Flying Low - Monochrome Weekend

I had intended to post only one of these photos but I couldn't make up my mind on which to choose.

For more views of the world in monochrome visit Aileni at Monochrome Weekend.

Branching Out - SkyWatch Friday

This week has been a little cooler and cloudy and today we had rain. But last week the temperatures were in the sixties with sunshine and blue sky. Do you see my little friend?

For more skies from around the world visit SkyWatch Friday.