guild

I knew the weekend would be a busy one, with two different Audubon responsibilities and the not-awaited Super Bowl. I think being a non-early riser prohibits me from reaching my maximum potential. I really need some tips on how to get up earlier without too much agony. I know the sunshine streaming into our living room and a cup of coffee with an “official” breakfast would do wonders on the weekends….how do I achieve it?

It was cloudy but pleasant out as I drove toward Sauvie Island on Saturday for Audubon’s Raptor Road Trip. I checked in at Kruger’s Farm Market and then continued on to my post – a tall ridge dotted with telescopes, overlooking a lake and rolling farmland. I spent some time up on the ridge, fielding questions that I was completely unprepared to answer. In the midst of all that, I somehow learned how to identify the call of Sandhill Cranes flying overhead. I also was able to spot pure white Tundra Swans floating in the distance, a Great Blue Heron waiting in shallow water, and a mature Bald Eagle sitting in a tree far in the distance.

After a while of feeling like the most uneducated birder on the island, I decided to head down to the parking lot to play greeter to those arriving. After saying “hello” and “welcome” a bajillion times, I was ready to depart. I decided to take the long way off the island, as I’d never had a chance to explore it before. I hadn’t made it far from my starting point when I noticed several cars pulled off the road on either side. A few people milled about, aiming binoculars and cameras toward a tree right next to the roadway.

I couldn’t believe my eyes – a giant eagle sat calmly perched in the branches, soberly eyeing the crowd of humans below. I managed to get some photos and upon later examination, I am nearly certain this is an immature bald eagle. It was an incredible find considering the whole reason I was there was to hopefully check out some new species!

I needed to get a Valentine’s Day package together for Chloe, so I maneuvered through downtown rather than heading straight home. It was a very nice, overcast day, so I dropped coin after coin into a parking meter and set out on foot. After browsing through Finnegan’s Toy Store for quite a while, I grabbed a cup of soup (Mama Leone’s – my local favorite!) from the Flying Elephants branch of Elephant’s Deli and sat outside to eat. (Side note: Oh, bliss – look what I just found.)

 

I continued walking around for a while longer, feeling happy and relaxed, and then returned home to clean up a bit and start a sewing project. I’m so pleased to have finally dusted off my gifted sewing machine. This new hobby has been such a great fit for me – providing precise, detail-oriented projects that are both therapeutic and fun. And you can see progress both in the speed of completion of your projects and your skill level overall.

The next day, I had my usual 4-hour Sunday shift in the Care Center. It was a fairly uneventful day - spent getting ready for next weekend's Valentine's Day Open House. I did manage to snap some photos of a variety of our creatures while I was there.

Screech Owls

Aristophanes

Sweet Hazel

Jesse picked me up afterwards and we drove back to our apartment, where several friends had convened to watch the Super Bowl.  Thankfully, Clara came over shortly thereafter and we made drinking beer and chatting our priority.  The night passed quickly and before long, we were faced once again with an empty house. 

It was a fast, productive weekend full of fun, new adventures, and restorative weather.  This year continues to impress!

raptor road trip

Tomorrow I will be volunteering at the Portland Audubon Society’s Raptor Road Trip. I wanted to share the details of this event in case anyone is interested in checking it out.

The Raptor Road Trip is held annually on Sauvie Island in Portland and will occur both Saturday and Sunday, the 5th and 6th of February. The cost is $10 per vehicle and visitors will have the opportunity to spot a variety of birds, potentially including Great Blue Herons, Red-tail Hawks, Kestrels, and even Bald Eagles. There will be donuts and coffee available, along with binoculars to borrow if you don’t have your own.

Peregrine Falcon & Bald Eagle

Photo by Jim Cruce

According to Weather.com, there is only a 20% chance of rain on Saturday, and a 30% chance on Sunday – so some pretty good odds for great bird watching!

Click here to be led to the Audubon’s website for more information about this event.

piglet

For Chloe’s last weekend in Portland this summer, we decided to head to my friend Teresa’s house for a small, impromptu barbeque. Chloe and I had gone berry picking on Sauvie Island the day before with our wonderful friend, Maria, so I whipped up a mixed berry trifle and also pressed and fried some fresh corn tortillas to share.

Allow me to digress. Saturday, as we drove toward the island on which we would do our berry picking, we stopped at a red light on Highway 30 in north Portland. A big dump truck came motoring through the intersection just ahead of us, with its, um, clutching mechanism not quite tucked into the proper spot. As we gaped, open-mouthed and wide-eyed, the top of the truck caught on the overhanging light signal and power cord. SNAP! The power cord split and went flying through the air as I rushed to roll up my window. I envisioned the end of the cord jumping into the car and electrocuting us.

Nothing ultra dramatic happened as a result. I called 911 and confirmed for dispatch that no arcs of electricity were shooting up from the sidewalk. Emergency over.

Back to the barbeque. We packed up our supplies and drove to Newberg, the sleepy townlet where Teresa and her kids live. Upon arriving, we learned that Teresa’s daughter, Ali, had come down with some awful sickness and a fever of over 100 degrees. I had to hold Chloe back from running into Ali’s room to hug her.












We ate mass amounts of guacamole and tortilla chips and drank mojitos. Chloe and Tristan, Teresa’s son, sequestered themselves in Tristan’s room, playing with Hot Wheels. My Jesse provided complimentary dream interpretation services to another Jesse (I feel as though I shouldn’t capitalize the latter Jesse’s name!) while I snuggled with T’s darling new puppy, Winston. Badminton, flank steak tacos and 80’s music completed a lovely summer Sunday.


The next day I got the phone call. “Sara, the doctors think Ali has swine flu.”

Oh boy oh boy. For the next five days I closely monitored myself, feeling my forehead every few hours and pursing my lips in worry with each telltale cough. The CDC website instructs those who may have been exposed to swine flu to carry about with their usual business and to continue going to work. Now it’s Friday, the last day we would have likely come down with this evil sickness, and I’m feeling pretty good.

It’s been a harrowing week, but luckily we’ve all survived it.