"I have been but little in," said Ninian hastily...

At the apartment opposite, they have a bird feeder by the window. There is a squirrel who comes to eat the bird food. It was there today. A whole line of birds were standing behind it. And the orange and white cat that lives in the apartment was peering around a curtain, watching.

:-)

There are a trio of black-capped chickadees having a fight outside my living-room window.

That is all.

I don't have a house or garden currently, but here are some nice tips from the RSPB for those who do.

Making your garden more wildlife-friendly.

Nice things to do for breeding birds.

I had a "business meeting" with some of the lads from the office Saturday morning. A sort of off-site at a small DC convention site.

Then, after a recuperative rest, I took off for the country. The FAR country. I went on a jaunt to the Eastern Shore of Maryland, which is, according to the calculations I made with my astrolabe, behind the Sun and beyond the moon. I arrived at my B&B just as a wonderful storm was breaking, made plans with the friend I was meeting to have dinner, and watched while the wind and rain blew away all the heat and humidity we've been feeling. My friend, The Oracle, and I walked down the road to a riverside bistro, where we feasted on crab and good beer, then stepped next door for some of the best ice cream I have ever tasted

The next day I got up and wandered down to the beach and read my book and watched the morning develop. It was a truly lovely day, cool and pleasant. I had a delicious brunch at an inn just down the road from my B&B and met up with the Oracle, who whisked me off into the depths of this strange land to a huge marsh, which is a national wildlife refuge. This was absolutely stunning; even the large number of mosquitos and horse flies could not detract from a goregous blue sky filled with massive, white, puffy clouds, brilliantly shining water, and gobs and gobs of beautiful nature. We wandered about, seeing all sorts of wonderful birds, as well as several turtles and scads of minnows.

Then we got back into her venerable phaeton and sped off to an excellent gastropub nearby for a topping lunch/tea. After our meal, I reluctantly bid the Oracle farewell and headed back to DC. Despite my expectations, the immense and very alarming bridge did not suddenly twist and toss me headlong into the Chesapeake Bay (in fact, coming back it seemed not quite so huge and not nearly as scary). I arrived home, fed some very vociferous cats, and had a snack myself, downloaded my pictures from the weekend and relaxed with a little Brit TV. I had a great time, and I expect that, having found the distance not too great, the dangers not so fearsome, and the natives friendly, I may be going back again soon.

Forgot to mention (I think) that the other day I saw the first catbird of the season. And a downy woodpecker! My downstairs neighbours have had cardinals and chickadees and nuthatches (that I've seen) at their feeder, and we have the usual blue jays, robins, mourning doves, starlings, sparrows, and crows about.

I meant to mention: E and I were going out last Saturday morning and when we stepped out the front door there was a lovely wee hummingbird zipping around in front of the porch. Best guess is that it was a juvenile female ruby-throated. It had been a long time since I saw a hummingbird last, and I forgot how tiny they are!

There was also a perfectly nice chickadee on one of the feeders, but I fear it got short shrift. :-)

Nearby the place I went hiking last weekend is the Kunzang Palyul Choling temple. I'm sorry I didn't know about this when Mum was around; it would have been one more thing that *might* have persuaded her to come visit DC (IIRC, she and dad came to visit twice in the 20+ years I've lived here--once when Chris and I lived in Alexandria and once when we lived in Fairfax).

Among other attractions (a Peace Park and a Crystal Room--a room containing crystals, sadly, not one made of crystal), it has a rescue aviary. This would explain the incredibly strange noises I heard when I was walking behind the temple's grounds, which sounded like a creature that was half pig and half peacock being persuaded to do something against its better judgement. It was probably just a parrot saying "Yo, lookit me! I'm byoo-tee-full!" :-)

Whew! Not a lot less hot-and-sweaty making when I do the same route at 7 in the morning. Still what would be a lovely summer day if it where, not even that much cooler, but less bloody humid. I think my sandals may be better for walking than my running shoes, as they have a broader toe and don't squish my toes together where they rub. Also my Ex Officio boxer briefs may not be breathable enough for all-day wear, but they are *great* at reducing friction and chafing. Sorry, just sayin'.

Saw about the same density of people, which seemed right for a morning when only dog-walker and early risers are up but strange for midafternoon on a weekend. Saw several dogs and their people, but I'm not a dog-watcher, I'm a (novice) birdwatcher, so all that's new that I can report is confirming the presence of several grackles. Didn't see the mysterious woodpecker.

Item 1. I know the difference between male and female mallards, male and female cardinals, male and female peacocks. But since forever I've been trying to figure out what the type of sparrows are that gang around with the house sparrows here. After several years of searching fruitlessly, I finally realised that, duh, they're *female* house sparrows.

Item 2. Though I imagine it was very clear on the materials I got when I purchased it, I only just realised that my DVD player can quite easily play CDs. So I can easily listen to CDs in the living room without blasting them across the flat from the dining room. Which begs the question why the stereo is in the dining room, other than in here. Maybe things are a little too much organised here by what fits where easily rather than what's convenient.

Other observations that don't necessarily have anything to do with my being dim:

I love Noel Coward, though I vastly prefer his comedic songs (like "Imagine the Duchess's Feelings" or "Could You Oblige Us With a Bren Gun?" or "Mrs Worthington") to his crooning/love songs. His talent for wordplay is matchless and a thing of beauty to me.

The grrls were over yesterday for the football (Melissa has declined to be a sports widow and has clearly learned a good bit about the game, despite not being interested :-). They kindly helped me hang a number of pieces I got framed earlier in the year; it's nice to have them up where I can see them. They include a copy of Visscher's view of London that Dad had rolled up and stored for decades, an elevation of the the Royal Mile in Edinburgh that I got in a wonderful print and book shop there, and two prints by Avril Paton. I need to get my other of hers framed, along with the Napoleonic hussar print I got secondhand a while back. I have a couple of pieces of my mother's that I should frame too, if I can find some readymade frames for them (and a nice group portrait she did that which should get the full treatment).

Ouch! Poor Engerland. Time to trot out the old joke (Excited German: "Ha! Again ve haff beaten you at your national sport!" Tightlipped Englishman: "That's all right, old chap, we've beaten you at yours twice now.")

OK, time to finish the last writing assignments for my class, have some lunch, and watch Argentina v. Mexico. Come on, CONCACAF brothers!

ETA: I Meant to say, I really resent it when the day outside my window *looks* so nice (sunny, breezy) but when I actually open the door proves to be so beastly (humid, stifling, oven-like). If I wanted to be baked, I'd live in Greece. I want to be somewhere where summer is *enjoyable*.

Birds and my iPod.

I was half asleep the other night, about to turn off the light, when I heard a very distinctive bird call outside. I got my iPod, turned on my bird program, and checked to see if it was the call of the night herons that one of my neighbours introduced me to last year.

Nope. Checked the owls. Sure enough, it was an Eastern screech-owl. I listened to the (live) bird for a while more before I fell asleep.

I love learning about birds. I love my iPod.

:-)