the moderate epicurean

a quest for measured pleasure...

Friday, June 30, 2006

A little chipmunk tartare, that's what I believe this huge raptor (hawk? falcon?) chilling on our deck this morning had a hankering for. WOW. He (or she) was very carefully looking under the table, around the herb pots, perhaps hoping for a bit of tarragon as seasoning? I've often seen the birds circling overhead, but never before perched on our deck! Sent a little chill down my spine to watch it so clearly hunting. Pretty intense. Eek. Good thing Sigs is a big dog, I would be mighty nervous to let a little guy out with this dude flying around...

Tom, Cam, and Allegra arrived on time this evening, it's sooooo good to have them here. Valerie arrives tomorrow, she's overseeing this day's beginning of their rather complicated move in NYC. Nathan, Allegra, and Cameron immediately took off together, into the park, back into the house, up and downstairs, playing and playing. I made veal for dinner tonight, scallopini with sauteed arugula, basil, garlic, and capers. Green beans sauteed with tomatoes and herbs. Pasta with oil and garlic. For an appetizer, little toasted sandwiches of tomato and fresh mozzarella. For dessert, John and Tom totally dug into Blue Sky Creamery double chocolate ice cream, laughing the entire time. John's so happy with his Boogles here... (Me too!)

Here's the dream end to my evening...wash up, climb full and content into my cool, softy bed, and read a bit of Anna Karenina, which I am absolutely buried in, I'm so enjoying it. Good night!

6 Comments:

At 11:34 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wow! That thing IS huge! How cool is that...he's just chillin' on the deck. That's kind of funny that he's so comfortable there.

We used to have one that was constantly flying over our backyard but he never landed on the deck. Although we didn't see very many of our bunnies in the yard that year.

 
At 11:58 AM, Blogger Stephanie said...

If he/she is eating mice or bunnies,I think it's great - there are too many around here. Especially mice - ugh. The fewer of those the better. Every fall it's a battle to keep them from coming in the house...

Have a good 4th weekend!

 
At 12:49 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

OMG! I had a similar huge raptor on a low branch of my apple tree yesterday afternoon. I ran out the front door and chased it away. CoffeeBean was thankful! Whew...a brush with the Grim Reaper for the mini-doxie!

Have a great 4th.
Kathie

 
At 6:50 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

....about 22 inches or so in length it looks like a Red-Tailed Hawk...according to my 9yr old bird enthusiast!! The tail is too short to be an accipiter...so its a buteo...red tailed hawk...again according to my kid the bird guru!

 
At 9:01 PM, Blogger Stephanie said...

Thank you, I looked on the U of M raptor center site, and I thought red-tailed hawk looked most likely, but their guide really included seeing it from underneath, in flight, so I wasn't sure. Thank you! Have a Happy 4th, everyone!

 
At 8:38 AM, Blogger Suz said...

I LOVE that photo of John and Tom--they look about 12. That brotherly love is priceless.

 

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