Shaking hands with a god

There are many things people take for granted in life...moving about daily you might not even notice the beauty of a hawk literally soaring through the sky. In my wildlife work I am privileged to come face to face with some mighty amazing creatures, but I was unprepared for the awe I would feel facing this girl.
Since we are always short on available rescuers, those of us who wish to, cross train to be able to handle almost any type of animal. I had the rare and awe inspiring opportunity to attend a training course at the Ojai Raptor Center south of Santa Barbara last saturday, to learn how to catch and release, and administer meds and fluids to the mighty birds of prey. The photos here are not the bird I handled (we could not terrify her with cameras as she was actually a wild hawk being rehabbed) but a female the same size and species. Our goal was to catch this wild, beautiful being by both legs, and contain her for examination. I have never felt such power in my life...her feet held the strength of a very, very large man...I'm not kidding. It was an honor to hold you for a moment beautiful girl...and a privilege to learn how to help your kind.

Cloaked in Mystery

We all need cover. For warmth, comfort, style, many reasons. Humans do this with clothing, and possibly the most effortless and stylish way to do this is with a great wrap or poncho. Do you really have a few extra minutes in your life to fumble with buttons or zippers? No... Then proceed here and find something wonderful to cover up with. Also a splendid way to conceal one's identity when making a hasty back alley retreat...

A Time To Reflect

 

No matter what you celebrate or honor this time of year, the passing of another year gives us all pause to reflect on what has been, and what we see in our future. Like the crows I love, shiny things fascinate me, and this Virgins, Saints and Angels necklace is one of my absolute favorite pieces of jewelry. The antique feel of this line appeals to me, it has an old world feeling with a nod to spirituality and beauty. I made this little altar with some of my favorite holiday goodies to represent one of the prettiest collections we carry on BlueBee.com.

Oh how I love these little fellows

The opossum has its own unique niche in nature, I respect them for their will to survive and their quiet way of life. I've met hundreds and can recall almost each one and his or her story. These little brothers and a sister were found in a very tall flower pot, starving to death and extremely dehydrated. I couldn't believe they made it through the night...this is the morning after I found them and bathed them and got some fluids into them. I am grateful for the opportunities I have to give these little guys a boost in an often harsh and uncaring world. In general they present a far lower health risk to humans than do dogs and cats! They seem to have a naturally high level of immunity to most diseases. Example? Opossums are more resistant to rabies than any other mammal; cattle, goats, dogs, cats, sheep, and the ice cream man are far more susceptible to rabies!

Hope is the thing with feathers...

The most delicate of beings...yet also very resilient. I have handled many hummingbirds in my time and they never cease to amaze me. Whether an adult who smacked a window such as this lovely in my hand...or a baby who was knocked from a nest...each of them inspire me to face life's challenges no matter how small I feel at times. Thus my favorite poem, from Emily Dickinson...

"Hope is the thing with feathers
That perches in the soul,
And sings the tune--without the words,
And never stops at all..."

My Two Halves

I've been thinking lately about the different aspects which make up a life. I have my foot set firmly in two worlds. The other day I made a rare appearance as a lighting test model in our new photo studio. Wearing two of a working girl's best friends, James Perse, and Splendid. I find having lots of fabulous knit pieces key to getting dressed easily for the work week, and both of these brands do it well for me. You simply can't have enough pieces like this to layer and mix together. Easily found of course at BlueBee.com