DAY 145 - COUNTING DOWN TO THE 50TH

Good Morning, Class of '64

Ruffed Grouse and Young - Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait - 1865 - 
http://www.artnet.com/artwork/426167789/424443262/arthur-fitzwilliam-tait-ruffed-grouse-and-young.html

"The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in His heaven -
All's right with the world!"

Robert Browning

Sundays with Larry

 Mama Grouse

Larry See

Corner Covey-Ruffed Grouse - Jim Kasper
http://www.gallerydirectart.com/ww-5298.html

      One beautiful sunny spring day, I was walking along a dirt road when I spotted a ruffled grouse hen in the road. She appeared to have a broken wing. She was screaming as if in severe pain as she struggled to fly and dragged herself on the ground. I wanted to catch her and treat her injuries so I pursued her. I could get close to her, but just as I reached for her, she barely managed to avoid my grasp, time after time. After two or three minutes of that, about seventy-five yards from where I had first seen her, she easily flew away. I was thoroughly baffled.

Nested Grouse - Jerry Gadamus
http://wildlifeexperience.com/OriginalsGadamus/Gadamus526.html

 Dad got a real chuckle when I told him about my adventure. He explained that was her way to protect her babies, to fake an injury and lure a predator away from them. I marveled at God’s creation, giving a bird such an instinct.

Young Grouse - Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait
http://www.cottoneauctions.com

     A year later, at the same place and probably the same hen, the very same thing happened. That time, I focused my eyes at the point on the road where I first saw her. I refused to let her distract me. I cautiously approached that spot. Finally, I was able to see the baby chicks. They were an inch or so long and squatted flat on the road. They were motionless. The sun was shining through the leaves creating a mottled pattern of light and shadow on the road. The chicks were perfectly camouflaged on that surface. The mother became increasingly frantic so I carefully circled and left the area.

Sean Seal - Grouse Post
http://www.littlewatercolortrees.com

      Years later, I was walking along an old log road. When I heard several birds fly up from my right, my first thought was “Sounds like grouse only smaller.” Before that thought was complete, Mama Grouse flew up. Ruffled grouse are famous for two things when they flush. First, the noise. They are loud. You will flinch even if you are watching one and know it is going to fly. Second, they have an uncanny ability to put a tree between you and them, immediately. But this one flew almost straight down that log road for at least seventy-five yards. She deliberately made a target of herself to distract my attention from her half-grown chicks. I marvel at God’s creation.

Fawn
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/white-tailed_deer.htm

      That same day, I spotted a young fawn lying under the edge of a bank. As I approached the fawn, its only movements were an ear and an eye - they followed my approach. It remained motionless until I was about eight feet from it. Then it ran away. An hour or so later, it was back, back where Mama had left it. Another example of the marvel of God’s creation.

Bless the Beasts and the Children

Perry Como

Bless the Beasts and the Children

Bless the beasts and the children
For in this world they have no voice
They have no choice

Bless the beasts and the children
For the world can never be
The world they see

Light their way
When the darkness surrounds them
Give them love
And let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children
Give them shelter from the storm
Keep them safe
Keep them warm

Light their way
When the darkness surrounds them
Give them love
Let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children
Give them shelter from the storm
Keep them safe
And keep them warm

Spring, Spring, Spring
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

All at once one day it’s spring!

First Days of Spring - Michael Schofield
http://www.artbrokerage.com/Michael-Schofield/First-Days-of-Spring-61240 

"Autumn arrives in the early morning, but spring at the close of a winter day."

Elizabeth Bowen