so much has happened....do people even blog anymore?

6 years ago was the last post I made here at The Front Porch...since then I went back to college(USU, undergrad speech therapy), joined a singles branch, lived in a Victorian mansion( wadsworth old house) dated several men, got married to Joshua Black, have a step daughter, have a bird named Skipper.

Midnight Snack

             As the sun goes down and the rest of the world goes to sleep, an owls’ senses awaken. The owls’ wings cut through the stillness of the night as silent as a stealth airplane. Precise and careful the owl searches for a satisfying dinner.

            When an owl flies, his wings flap almost silently. The feathers on the wing are jagged, soft tipped and flexible; almost finger like. These features help muffle the sound. The bones of an owl are hollow like which makes them very light. This helps the bird fly fast and quiet. The soft wings of an owl give it the ability to bring its’ wings in close to its’ body. This characteristic will help the bird change its’ shape and size in an instant. The owl may look like the shape of a tree stump!  Using this unique skill, an owl can catch prey by surprise.

            Owls are raptors; this means they hunt, kill and eat other animals. Raptors have strong talons and sharp hooked beaks. The claws of an owl are called talons. They have a fourth toe facing backwards, it looks like a thumb. This thumb like claw makes it easier to catch prey. They use these features to tear the flesh of its’ prey. Different species of owls eat different prey. For example, a larger owl may eat squirrel, skunk, and rabbit. Smaller owls eat birds, insects, and small snakes. The claws of an owl are called talons. They have a fourth toe facing backwards, it looks like a thumb. This thumb like claw makes it easier to catch prey.

            Owls find food in many interesting places. An owl can hear a mouse that is hiding under 18 inches of snow! Barn owls will find their food in the fields or hills. Farmers purposely build barns with holes in them for the owl to fly into. Owls help farmers control the mice and other pests on his farm. Each species of owls find their food in their territory, the place where they live. From woodlands to grasslands, and from towers to church steeples, each species of owls find their prey. They will find their food on the ground, in the trees and even in midair!

            Most owls are nocturnal; they sleep during the day and hunt for food during the night. They have special senses to help them hunt. For instance, an owl has exceptional eyesight. Owls have very large eyes. At night the pupils grow large so that light can enter giving them better vision. The eyes of an owl do not move from side to side however, the owls’ neck is very flexible. It can turn 260 degrees. That is almost completely around! An owl may have exceptional eyesight, but they depend on their excellent hearing skills also. An owl can hear a mouse over 60 feet away! Studies have been performed on owls to prove that their hearing is so accurate that an owl can hear a mouse on a leaf littered floor with 100% accuracy.

            A fun way to learn more about owls is to observe their behavior. A great way to watch owl behavior is to spend time at your local zoo or a local bird aviary. Contact your regional fish and game office to learn where to find owls in your area. Groups such as Audubon sometimes plan night time field trips to go owl watching. Serious owl watchers will buy infrared equipment to watch owls at night (however, not all owls are nocturnal, some species like the burrowing owl are awake during the day). So, go out, have fun, take your family and enjoy a nice day of owl watching!

My little Buddy

My cute little fluffy head dog Winston died on Saturday February 25, 2012. We took him to Lonepeak in Draper. There are such wonderful people who work at Lonepeak. They all loved Winston dearly. I am grateful for good friends who understand how hard it is for me to let go of an animal. Animals are a huge part of my life, they make me happy. Winston was a happy, sweet, humorous dog and very loved by me.

Small

I have lived a small life. I want to live a small life. I don't need a big house, a big yard, a big family to be happy. I don't need to be a boss of a high end job. I like being the helper. Sometimes I feel I need to be doing more in life... like being the boss. And then I realize how happy I really am. Sometimes less is best. Small things make me happy, or should I say simple things make me happy. For example, I love to go for car rides. Just put me in a car and drive around and I am the happiest girl in town. I love rolling the windows down and letting the wind whip my hair. I don't even need the radio on. In fact, the radio would be a distraction. I am so grateful that I can be easily entertained, it makes life a whole lot easier for me and those around me.

My front porch

I love my front porch. I heard once that it was a little trashy to hang out in your front yard. I say fooey on you..ee. I have two plastic, white chairs with a plant in between them, I know it's not much but it is pleasant and comfortable. Dusk is my favorite time of night to come out and enjoy my front porch. I live across the street from a horse pasture. I love watching the horses and feeling the soft breeze in my hair. In July the crickets come out. What a relaxing sound.. the humming of crickets. I also love listening to the old sprinklers. The ones that make a sprockety sound.

I have fond memories of my front porch. When I was little I used to paint my mom's toenails on the porch stairs. We used to have a picnic table on the porch. We would eat dinner outside if it wasn't too hot. I would have time to sit out there for hours watching neighbors walk by. It just seems that nowadays I just don't have time to sit on my front porch and meditate. I choose to do other activites like write this blog. However, I notice in life that we go through phases and seasons. This apparantly is not the season to sit and ponder. Maybe in a few months things will slow down. Well, until then I need to remember to take deeper breaths.

" Never To Do List"

A few posts ago I said I would never be on facebook, get a cell phone etc. Well, there is one more thing that I said I would never ever do...ever. Join a singles ward again. And guess what? I did! And guess what? I love it. This particular singles ward is different from the typical single wards out there. It is for people aged 31 to 45. It serves those who have been divorced or who have never been married. I fall into the divorced group. It is so nice to be around other LDS people who have been divorced. They truly understand what I have been through. Now that my "never do list" is complete, I wonder what is in store for me now!...I'm scared.

Where have I been?...sheesh!

Wow, I am so sorry blog. I do not mean to neglect you. I have been away... far away. I don't know where to begin. I was in Kentucky a few times. It is beautiful there. I met some interesting people there ( to say the least). But I don't want to write about that. Right now I am very grateful for wonderful friends and a mother who has supported me through everything. Life is a kite sometimes. It can be flying high and then if it doesn't hit the current just right, it can end up in a tail spin.
I miss the sun.