Life with Andrea

I caught the hummingbird! Hurrah!

She's been quite happy to stay in the garden as long as we don't have a camera. I've even sat in a chair not three feet from her. But whenever I have a working camera in my hand, she flies off. So today, I sat at the picnic table. The camera was on the table as well. And, I could push the "on" button without moving significantly. So I could get just about set for the picture, and have the zoom ready, and then quick! zip! and take a picture. Here you go! One hummingbird at the bee balm in the back yard.

I say "she" because this type of hummingbird - at least we think it's a Calliope - has a less vibrant female, and smaller, than the male. It's one of the smallest on the continent. They don't have the red on the neck of most of the other western ones. Still, they're pretty cool.

Yesterday, Bob and I went to Salmon Creek Greeenway for a walk. We didn't do much of a walk, went to see Cait lifeguard, and she said, "What are you here for?", so we kept walking. Under the bridge and over the creek, we came to an occupied osprey nest. The little ones are no longer little, but they must think it seems like home. Bob got pictures of two, and we also saw them soaring, being bombarded by the little birds. They seem very fierce to me - I wouldn't mess around with one.

I'm done with surgeries for awhile - Soren says "No More Hospitals Ever!". This one has been a problem, not the easy in and out that was forecast to me by friends. Difficult surgery, painful, poor results, infected wound requiring return visits and heavy antibiotics, but 4 weeks and out I'm beginning to feel that I may recover. For now, I'll keep going for walks, and work on getting better.