Random Thoughts
This is for the birds. See what happens to me after Christmas.
My mother had a canary. She loved that bird. Talked to it and cared for it with all her heart. Mrs. Sparks who owned the Elgin Hotel had several canaries placed in ornamental cages encircling the attractive dining room.
There was much to-do about two cranes shot by hunters. My son-in-law, Bob, tells about putting a pheasant he had shot, feathers and all, in the freezer. When he went to get it, it flew out.
Now, New York is in a tissy over two hawks who have been nesting on a balcony of a fancy hotel. They are not wanted, so the bird lovers are shedding tears. Hawks are big, almost as big as our famous patriotic symbol, the ferocious and powerful eagle.
Once on a trip to Catalina Island, my children and I walked a long way up a hill to see the talking birds.
From my hotel room in Amsterdam I could see a dead dove lying on a small balcony. Now that was a sad sight.
The Canada geese who come every winter to Marion County Lake are fun to watch, but no one wants them in their yard.
It used to be fun to read about the carrier pigeons the caretaker at the lake raised. He kept the time it took them to return after sending them out.
Once a bird got in my bathroom. I don't know how, but he was scared, and so was I. I called on my son for help.
Do you have any bird stories?
I hope you had a merry Christmas and are looking forward to a good 2005!
— NORMA HANNAFORD