Observations

Owls in the morning and Walmart at night. That was my day yesterday. An odd, but satisfying mix. The owls were amazing. A mother barred owl and her two young ones learning to fly. We squatted on the ground to watch them. They swiveled their heads to watch us. The kids eventually grew tired of watching and returned to the playground. I could have watched the owls all day. One moment cursing under my breath that I didn't have a better lens to really capture what I was seeing and in the next moment happy to just be there, soaking up what I was seeing. Fluffy little heads. One feather floating down to the ground. Protective mama owl changing position. Piercing eyes. Curious eyes. They must have been here all along. Perched in these trees above the playground, yet we never noticed them until yesterday.

And late last night a trip to Walmart. By myself. I know that some people make a conscious decision not to shop at Walmart. I am not a big fan either, but I do love my occasional late night field trips. Observing, listening, and taking in the roaming characters. Late night at Walmart is not the same as morning, not the same as weekend. It's a different crowd. Foreign languages punctuate the aisles. The pace is slow. No need to rush. I amble and enjoy feeling as if I am the only one in the store. And when I happen upon other shoppers there is an uneasy sort of comradeship. I spend too much time studying the wild bird seed and realize that I am becoming one of those kooky bird people. I hear the shift change as the new crew arrives to stock the shelves. They rumble out of the back with their bulging, beeping loads. A night of work to prepare for the next day's onslaught of shoppers. Unlike my typical, mad rush shopping trips with kids in tow, when I leave Walmart late at night I feel sated and strangely revived. It satisfies my introverted desires to shop without others whining or pushing and my voyeuristic desires to peek behind the scenes.

Picnic

I had busy plans in my head for the weekend, but instead we spent most of it in our back yard on the big rainbow quilt my mama made many years ago: reading, watching a woodpecker, munching on a hunk of cheese, and discovering what can be done with an old rake handle. It turned out to be a much better plan for the weekend.

Travel Photo Friday: Koinobori

Koinobori: Flying carp flags in honor of Children's Day in Japan. One of my favorite signs of spring. This photo was taken in Okinawa, Japan (2005). These are part of a small town's annual festival. An amazing collection of hundreds of koinobori flying over the water. I loved seeing these each spring, but I have even fonder memories from the first time I lived in Japan (1996). Living and teaching in rural Japan, I remember riding my bike through the countryside and admiring the koinobori flying in front of homes: so enchanting and festive.