UFO? Dangerous Encounter? Jokes - Books & What I Did with a Pencil

My sister has been back in Colorado for over two weeks now and I truly miss her company. Of course we've both been back to our own routines, but each time I have some idle time, I'm thinking of her. I used this last photo that Bud took of us at the airport when she was getting ready to board her plane for her return, and did a pencil sketch of the two of us. It has taken me quite a while to get this far with it 'cause I erased, drew, erased, tried again, and erased her features several times. Over and over, until I was almost ready to throw it out and forget about sketching it all together! Her hand is TOO BIG also! It didn't turn out like I had 'pictured' in my mind. But, still, this is my finished sketch and I texted it to Sharon; her approval was enough for me to decide to keep it in my portfolio...

There are two new books I'd like to 'discuss' today. One, I found at Barnes n Nobel when Bud wanted to go there to pick up an ordered book from a few days ago. The newly published book, just put out on the shelves, I found while waiting for him, is of a favorite subject line...the questionable and popular to historians/debators alike...President Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. The book: Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings. This book has mixed reviews, and creating somewhat of an uproar...but still of interest and so unique in writing style, I'm enjoying it immensely.

The 2nd book, I ordered through Amazon on Saturday just minutes after I left Phil's blog "Another Bird Blog". His personal review of the book so enticed me, I wanted it NOW...as in yesterday. The shipment will arrive this week, and I can hardly wait to delve through the pages in anxious anticipation. The book is of another favorite subject...birds and birdsong. But it's so much more according to Phil and other critiques...a cross country excursion of cycling, a father and son duo travel across the USA, listening for birds singing, recording their song.  Also, promised in reviews,  more of the country, the history, the landscape, and most of all, in some part, my home state of nearly 50 years, Colorado. I was listening online from one of the excerpted sounds the author shares throughout the book of a Lark Sparrow...in Sterling Colorado, several miles northeast of Denver, near the Nebraska border [Nebraska, being where I was born]. Reading more praise of this book, well......did I say I want it in my hot little hands?  Listening to a Continent Sing A 5 star book, published in 2016.

As I type this up for the day, there is thunder in the distance. Again? For the last two days it's been sultry and the temps are soaring. But no rain. Without the gray sky, I'm being blinded with the bright sun. LOL Irene, our daughter, texted this to me the other day. I'm sure she found it on Facebook since this is where she frequents in her spare time. Still, it was funny enough for a good laugh even tho the matter of all the rains here aren't laughable, what with all the floods across Texas!

Q: What's worse than raining buckets?
A: Hailing taxis!

While out walking the salt flats Monday morning, I was nearly at the end of the 2 mile walk, just before hitting the gravel path to head to the two observation stations where the Spoonbills, egrets and cormorants were congregated...lo and behold, just as I was about to step off the boardwalk, I happened to notice some movement in the high prairie grasses [with the precipitation we've had lately the grass is nearly as high as I am tall]...I spied, moving rapidly toward me on the path I was about to take...a tawny colored creature, being a bit too stealthy for my well being. There are bobcats in the vicinity! I stopped 'dead in my tracks' and waited....thinking as I reached in my pocket, "My pocket knife I take along on my walks will NOT do me any good if attacking me was on its mind!" I froze....watching! As it came out of the tall grass, it was a coyote. "Ya, ya, Anni" I thought to myself, "It's more afraid of you than you are of it!" Uh-huh, right. But, it continued from the grass to the water's edge and crossed in front of me...occasionally watching ME. I took photos....

...once it got across the flats to the other side of the water [about 50 yards from me] did I exhale!! And I then turned around and left. Too close for comfort this time 'round!!

Extra, Extra....view the UFO
Or, what is it? I was taking a video of the lightening storm just outside my home early in the morning...when I came back into the house to view it, I saw this white object in the sky...dancing. Is it from another world? Can't be a helicopter, or a reconnaissance plane. Strange things are a'happenin' in Texas' sky!!!

Here's the link. Remember it's dark outside (around 4am)...so the video will be very dark also. I'd suggest you open it and then do a 'full screen' for better viewing.