Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Book Review - Destiny's Captive, Kate Lyon

Last night I finished reading a book I got last spring while at the MERWA conference. I don't know why I didn't read it earlier! Ms. Lyons has the knack of combining suspense, romance and paranormal elements in a pleasing cocktail. It was an easy read that went down smoothly and left a pleasing aftertaste. So yeah, I'm thirsty. What of it?

I think this is actually the third book in a series, but still stood on it's own rather well. There were references to other stories but they only served to wet my desire to read them as well. The story is about a man who has lived with the Comanche Indians since he was a young boy, who survived a horrific attack in which his entire family, friends and neighbors were killed. He decides it's time to discover the truth about the attack and returns to where it happened. There he finds a man whose suspicious actions raise red flags all over the place, especially when an attempt is made on his life when he leaves after a short visit. The man's daughter finds the white warrior on death's door and with the help of some friends manages to save his life. The sexual tension through the story is great and the twists and turns of the plot keep you guessing as you read. Just when you think you've figured out how the story is going to go it changes direction.

I highly recommend this entertaining and enjoyable read. Be sure you don't have much to do when you start the book because you may find yourself forgetting anything but the story. The best kind of reading, the kind that makes you lose yourself in the book.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Feeding the Birds

This past spring my parakeet 'Petey' died after living with me for 14 years. He was a beautiful blue and I've had him since he was 2 months old. When the weather started to get cooler I thought about all the birds that don't have someone to care for them and decided to start feeding the birds. I've considered starting in the past, but something always stopped me. So I bought a couple of inexpensive feeders and placed a nice flat board on the tree beside my deck, filled them with bird feed and waited for them to show up.

The website I had gone to for guidance said it could take up to a week for the birds to find the new feeder. They found mine in about 4 hours. I attribute that to the fact that my next door neighbor, who used to feed the birds, had moved over the summer.
When the weather started to get colder again the birds started hunting for a their old feeders and found them, just in a different spot.

Early on I even had a couple of hummingbirds looking for food, but I didn't get a feeder for them because I knew they wouldn't be sticking around for the winter. The Chickadees were the first to really flock to the feeder, followed by Nuthatches and little black and white woodpeckers and even a couple of Cardinals. Then it was discovered by an industrious little red squirrel who also found a warm place to live under the hot tub and has moved right in for the winter. Not that I blame him. The bluejays discovered me and have decided that they liked my feeder so I'll have anywhere from two to ten bluejays at a time surrounding the feeder. But when the gray squirrels come they clean me out. Luckily I have a couple of dogs to discourage them.

The feeder creates an interesting drama all of it's own. My toy poodle has taken up the charge to guard against gray squirrel invasions and given the chance chases them off with enthusiastic barks as he bounds across the lawn. Those gray squirrels run every time, despite the fence that he can't get through surrounding the bird feeder. The really funny part is that the red squirrel refuses to be chased away from his food. He simply climbs the tree and hides, the dog never the wiser. If I needed more proof that he considers this his kitchen, I got it today when I observed him chasing the bluejays off.

The bluejays perch all around on the tree and take turns coming down to the feeder, sometimes two or three at a time. This morning I watched with some amusement as the red squirrel chased the bluejays off their respective branches. They didn't go far but it was funny to see his frustration as he tried to discourage them. It almost looked like a game of tag.
Bluejays are not easily discouraged.

After some observation I think the best squirrel deterrent, for gray squirrels as the red seems to know the dog can't get him, is to leave the husky dog outside sleeping on the deck. They observe from a tree away but won't come any closer until he's been inside for a while. It is discouraging to come home after work and find the feeders on the ground with little chew marks around the openings and seed gone completely.

Feeding the birds has quickly turned into a passion. All the pictures on this post are from my bird feeder. We've had one freak snowstorm so far but the weather has turned very cold and more snow is on it's way. I know that while it might not be hard to find food right now, that will change when the snow comes. It's an inexpensive way to help the small birds and animals in my area and has given me some satisfaction to see their enjoyment. I think Petey would approve.   

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Fairy Tale Romance!

I have to admit that the story of Prince William and Kate Middleton is one that has my imagination stirring. I mean really, how often do you see a true royal romance? It's obvious from the way they look at each other and their easy manner together that they are truly in love and ready for marriage.

A sweet touch was using his mother's engagement ring to propose. I loved how Kate chose a dress for the formal announcement that complemented the ring. She obviously knows how much it meant to William. She may not have royal blood, but she has class and dignity. She will make a beautiful and dignified wife for William. In a way by making her part of the family William is honoring his mother's wishes by choosing a woman who is not royal. I'm sure Princess Diana wouldn't have wanted him to choose a woman simply because of who her family was. He chose a woman he loves, and has taken the time to have a lasting relationship with before taking the leap of marriage. It's hard not to admire that. He claims to have hopefully learned from the mistakes of his parents and so far it looks like he has. Princess Diana would be so proud.