The first lilac the lady visits is leafless yet offers chi and good bones.

From opposite sides of the window we froze in mutual wonder, or perhaps his rapture merely reflected the glorious, red-winged creature we both saw.

JAKARTA (UCAN) – Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran has stressed the importance of dialogue in meetings with Muslim leaders in Indonesia.

Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran (in white and red cassock) with Catholic and Muslim leaders in Jakarta

Continuing his first visit to the country, the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue met with Muslim leaders at the two largest Islamic organizations in Indonesia — Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah.

He also spoke with Abdurrahman Wahid, former Indonesian president, at the Wahid Institute he founded. During each of the visits the cardinal stressed Pope Benedict XVI’s official position.

“Dialogue is not optional but a necessity,” he told his hosts.

He urged schools and universities to help play their part in encouraging interreligious dialogue that “is based on tolerance, mutual respect and cooperation.”

At the Muhammadiyah headquarters in Central Jakarta, the cardinal joined Muslim leaders in a dialogue session on “Building Trust for Social Justice.” He began his speech to the 70 Catholics, Protestants and Muslims gathered there with birthday greetings for the organization, which celebrated its 100th anniversary on Nov. 25.

Cardinal Tauran also wished Muslims “Selamat Hari Idul Adha” (Happy Id al-Adha). Muslims celebrated Id al-Adha, which commemorates the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son, on Nov. 27 this year.

Din Syamsuddin, chairperson of Muhammadiyah who acted as the dialogue moderator, said the cardinal’s visit would help continue Christian-Muslim dialogue in a more concrete way.

These talks had been derailed due to Muslim-Christian clashes in Ambon and other provinces. Three years of such clashes left up to 6,000 people dead and displaced thousands before a peace pact was signed in 2002.

“From my personal assessment and evaluation, there is a good Muslim-Catholic relationship in Indonesia,” said Syamsuddin. “But I have to say there are still problems between Muslims and Christians, especially at the grassroots level.”

These problems may have religious overtones but were not fundamentally religious in nature, he said.

Earlier on Nov. 26, Cardinal Tauran visited NU headquarters and spoke with its chairman Hasyim Muzadi. Both men agreed that they believed in a “true brotherhood,” which is more meaningful than dialogue.

Cardinal Tauran was accompanied on his visits by apostolic nuncio to Indonesia Archbishop Leopoldo Girelli, chairman of the Indonesian Bishops’ Conference (KWI) Bishop Martinus Dogma Situmorang of Padang, Jesuit Cardinal Julius Darmaatmadja of Jakarta, Coadjutor Archbishop Ignatius Suharyo Hardjoatmodjo of Jakarta, and KWI’s general secretary Bishop Johannes Maria Trilaksyanta Pujasumarta of Bandung, who is a member of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue.

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http://www.ucanews.com/2009/11/27/vatican-cardinal-meets-countrys-muslim-leaders/

I don’t guess this is a good time to give thanks to the Christian God for much of anything.  Especially since He watched as hundreds, if not thousands of children were molested.  The Christian God heard their cries for help and did NOTHING to stop it for decades!  It seems we can’t trust the Christian God to watch over our children and keep them safe.  He can’t even do it in his own house with his own servants. Just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas, no wonder they now prefer to say “happy holidays”.  Not much Merry in the Christmas for those kids.

The full list of reports can be found at the following link:

http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PB09000504

The summary of the report is provided below:

The Roman Catholic Church is said to have covered up DECADES of child abuse by priest in an attempt to protect the church’s reputation.  This was discovered after a three year investigation into the matter.

Several government investigations into chronic child rape, beatings and other cruelty in Catholic-run schools, children’s workhouses and orphanages in 1975-2004 were conducted.

The government indicated their investigations “shows clearly that a systemic, calculated perversion of power and trust was visited on helpless and innocent children in the archdiocese.”

With respect to the abuse cases the government stated: “The perpetrators must continue to be brought to justice, and the people of Ireland must know that this can never happen again,”

The 720-page report – delivered to the government in July but released Thursday – analyzes the cases of 46 priests against whom 320 complaints were filed. The 46 were selected from more than 150 Dublin priests implicated in molesting or raping boys and girls since 1940. Eleven priests convicted of child abuse are named in the report, but 33 are referred to by aliases and two have their names blacked out because they have yet to face justice.

The report also rejected past bishops’ key claim that they were ignorant of both the scale and criminality of priests’ abuse of children, showing that the Dublin Archdiocese negotiated a 1987 insurance policy for future legal costs of defending lawsuits and compensation claims.

The report states that  ”the taking out of insurance was an act proving knowledge of child sexual abuse as a potential major cost to the archdiocese.”

Investigators spent three years poring over 60,000 previously secret Dublin church files. Among the files were more than 5,500 that Martin’s predecessor, retired Cardinal Desmond Connell, had tried to keep locked in the archbishop’s private vault.

“One priest admitted to sexually abusing over 100 children, while another accepted that he had abused on a fortnightly basis during the currency of his ministry which lasted for over 25 years.”

“A few (priests) were courageous and brought complaints to the attention of their superiors. The vast majority simply chose to turn a blind eye,” the report said.

In May, the government published a report on decades of child abuse in Catholic-run schools, workhouses and orphanages. More than 12,000 victims of rape, beatings and mental abuse have received compensation payments from a government panel exceeding euro800 million ($1.2 billion).

I am surprised that anyone can feel it moral to follow this Christian belief after what has already been exposed.  It is likely this is not all we will come .

Yet, fools (dumb sheep) will still look to the Church for answers on “morals”.   We have Christians of all types now making excuses for child abuse, child rape, child labor, and in America we have Christians supporting the re-election of a Christian President that sent American troops to die for his war based on lies of WMD and ties to 9/11.  A President that used God as an excuse for it all, to include torture.  Christians in overwhelming numbers supported and re-elected Bush and thus approved, supported and condoned his immoral acts.  Yes, they are just as accountable for those acts.

Just because these people follow some superstition that millions respect doesn’t mean they are above the law or that they can commit any immoral act and get away with it.  Ted Haggard, Jimmy Baker, Jimmy Swaggert, Mark Sanford, Larry Craig, Vittner, John Ensign to name a few high profile Christians, seems to slide past any real accountability.

Imagine how many low profile individuals are getting through the cracks.  If the most “moral” of the “moral” are doing such sick acts, then the Christian idiots that come here and leave comments like “fuck off you piece of shit” are likely hiding many other vile acts while they claim to follow a “moral” God.

What happened Christians?  You attempt to tell us that we have no morals without religion and it appears the opposite is true.  With religion, we discover how to be immoral and claim it is moral, hide it with money and power and praise God while we tell others how they should live!

Pathetic!!

It is time for the world to wake up to these superstitious claims, stop believe the lies that are spread because threats are made of terrible harm that will come if you don’t follow.  Grow up, stand up and be honest to the children.  Stop threatening them with your God’s great punishment and torture for eternity.  Let them have a chance at life and escape the lies you are forced to live with.

Hand screenprinted, 3-color art print 'Winter 2009', part of my seasons series and available now. Click for more info!

Yay for cold weather, hot cocoas, snow and bar branches! Yes, that’s right, I mean it. I am a true Northerner because I love Winter. And my newest print is a love letter to an under-rated season.

I just love that absolute quietness that falls with snow in a forest. We have Cardinals here in the winter, and their brilliant red always darts out from the winter pattern of color behind them like a signal, reinforcing the magic of a winter’s day.

Hey hey! So you looking at my Winter 2009 art print, a part of my new Seasons series. This is the fifth print in series of seasonal, limited edition prints that I’ll be releasing. Ready? Here’s the mind-blowing part = there will be 4 per year.

Winter 2009 is my 3-color, all hand screenprinted art print with icy blue, bark brown and scarlet red hand mixed and non-toxic water based inks. Edition of 119. Size: 16 x22 inches (39.4 cm x 55.9 cm.) Paper: acid free & archival Cougar, White 100lb cover weight.

As always, here are a few photos of the print in progress, and you can see more at my Flickr page here too.

3rd & final color ink, ready to go!

Gerardo Hernández with bird

This is How it All Began - Español

By Alicia Jrapko

Translation: Machetera

Once upon a time, a bird made friends with a prisoner.  Both were incarcerated in the United States and both were unjustly imprisoned for defending Cuba from terrorist activity.

This is how the story began.  On June 4, 2009, the same day as his birthday, Gerardo Hernández heard about this creature.  He found out about it through a prisoner whose last name was Lira, who worked in the prison factory.  Lira and a guard were cleaning the roof with a pressure hose and without meaning to or perhaps without knowing, they destroyed a nest that contained three chicks.  Two of them died instantly but one remained alive.  They were so tiny that they didn’t even have any feathers.  It’s possible that they had just barely hatched.

The guard was visibly moved, and feeling responsible, allowed Lira to bring the chick secretly inside the prison to try to save it.  The prisoner arrived with the chick in the palm of his hand and not knowing what to do with it, began to ask the other prisoners what to do.  Someone suggested: “Ask Cuba [the nickname the prisoners had given Gerardo]; he likes animals and surely he will know what to do.”  That’s how Gerardo came to be summoned, and he came to the cell where they kept the bird.

Gerardo’s first reaction was to whistle, imitating what he imagined the chick’s mother would have done.  He moved his fingers as though they were little wings.  Miraculously, the little bird opened its beak.  Gerardo began to give it breadcrumbs and later, dipped his fingers in water and let the drops fall softly into the little bird’s beak.

Gerardo didn’t want to take the bird to his cell, but every day he went to feed it.  The problem was that at the beginning, the bird didn’t want to take food from anyone except Gerardo.  One day it occurred to Gerardo to offer the chick a few slivers of fish, and afterwards the rascal didn’t want breadcrumbs any more.  His feathers began to grow and so Gerardo taught it to eat on its own.  He put the bits of food in the palm of his hand and the little bird came fearlessly.

However, the prisoners were worried.  If an inspection were to happen, the little bird would be a problem.  Since he was already quite a bit bigger, they let him loose in the patio so that he might fly free.  The bird flew a little while and then returned to Gerardo’s shoulder.  Every time he tried to fly with the other birds, they rejected him with little pecks.  Little by little he gained confidence.  Gerardo went alone to the wing where his cell was, but when he returned to the patio, the bird also returned to see him.

Once there were many prisoners in the patio.  Someone told Gerardo that the bird was perched on the concertina wire surrounding the prison.  Gerardo whistled, and in front of all the prisoners, the little bird appeared out of nowhere and landed on his shoulder.  Incredible.  Everyone talked about it.

The little bird was named Cardinal, because Gerardo had painted its tailfeathers with a red marker to distinguish him from all the rest. The ink affected the bird a bit.  It lost its tail feathers but only for a little while.  Later they grew back, in their natural color.  However, the name remained: Cardinal.

On a different occasion another prisoner found the little bird in the patio with its beak stretched open.  It was very hot, and the bird was thirsty.  Gerardo gave it water.  He hid the bird under his hat in order to go inside without the bird being seen.  Of course the guards realized he had something odd on his head. “What’s under the hat?” they asked, and Gerardo answered, “Nothing.” Cardinal answered as well, whistling like crazy.  “Don’t tell me you’re training him to take messages to Fidel,” said one of the guards, laughing.

The story didn’t end there.  Gerardo brought the bird to his cell and made a nest for him to stay there with him.  He played with him, letting him rest on his shoulder, or on his head.  When Gerardo was writing, the bird came to play and Gerardo would pet him gently, to calm him.  So Cardinal would run along his back, where he’d be out of reach. Sometimes he curled up inside Gerardo’s collar and slept there.  Or he pecked at his friend’s ear and when Gerardo moved his head, he’d go for the other ear.

Once when Gerardo had let Cardinal go, he flew toward the cafeteria and landed on the plate of a very large, tough prisoner who was eating a piece of chicken.  The prisoner caught the bird in his hands, meaning to strangle him and someone shouted, “Don’t kill him!  He belongs to Cuba.”  The outcry took the prisoner by surprise.  He let Cardinal go and asked, surprised, “And who the hell is Cuba?”

Gerardo was actually very worried.  A certain guard was not showing any mercy toward the little bird.  During an inspection, the guard had forced Gerardo to let Cardinal go, and closed the door behind him.  The little bird returned later, completely exhausted.  Gerardo let him rest for a few days inside his cell.  And then came the lockdown (solitary confinement as punishment for all prisoners), and whenever there’s a lockdown, there are inspections.

When Gerardo heard that they were checking all the space between the floor and the door, he pushed Cardinal outside.  Cardinal flew, within the wing where Gerardo’s cell was located.  When the guard arrived, he saw the box where Cardinal lived.  Gerardo said that this was where his friend lived, of his own free will: “The problem is that I take him outside and he returns; it’s not my fault.” “Look,” said the guard, gesturing as though to say he thought Gerardo was nuts, “if you think I’m going to believe that bird is going to return…” Gerardo whistled from his cell and the guard froze in his tracks as he watched the bird return.  Cardinal had no problem picking out the cell belonging to his friend, among the huge array of cells on two floors that looked exactly alike.

Cardinal arrived at Gerardo’s cell.  He looked at him through the bars but couldn’t enter (since this was lockdown).  He waited there nervously, until Gerardo couldn’t stand it any more and opened the slot where food was delivered, and Cardinal came in.  A few days later there was another inspection.  When the guards arrived at Gerardo’s cell, he told them that he had a small bird, so they wouldn’t be scared if the bird should happen to fly overhead.  He was told that he had to release it, but since none of them could catch the bird, they brought Gerardo to the entrance for the entire wing so that he could let it go himself.  Since they were in lockdown, Gerardo and the little bird walked down the passageway, escorted by the guards.  All the other prisoners saw them through the bars of their cells and began to shout: “They’re taking Cuba and the bird to the hole!” as they banged their doors in protest.  The guard shouted, “Calm down!  He’s not going to the hole; we’re just going to free the bird!”

That was the last time that Gerardo saw Cardinal.  The lockdown lasted a month while the wing was completely shut down.  Gerardo couldn’t leave and Cardinal couldn’t enter.  The little bird had been inside this rough high-security prison since Gerardo’s birthday, from June 4th, and he remained there until July 16th, one day after the wedding anniversary of Gerardo and his wife, Adriana.

And that’s the end of this (true) story.

Alicia Jrapko wrote this story from memory, two hours after hearing it from Gerardo during a visit to the maximum security prison in Victorville, California.  Gerardo later revised and corrected the text, which Alicia plans to present to Casa Editora Abril so that it can be published as a children’s story.  Gerardo is incarcerated under a double life sentence plus 15 years, for unproven charges made against him in a highly prejudiced trial in Miami.

Gerardo Hernández Nordelo was born in Havana on June 4, 1965; the third child of Gerardo Hernández Martí and Carmen Nordelo Tejera, both deceased.  He is a graduate of the Raúl Roa García Foreign Services Institute (ISRI).  One year before graduating, he and his wife Adriana Pérez O’Connor were married.  He is a cartoonist and graphic artist who has worked in both Cuba and the United States.  In the mid-1990’s, he served missions in the United States, designed to protect Cuba from the terrorist actions planned and executed by counter-revolutionary organizations located in Miami.  On September 12, 1998, he was arrested along with four other men and subjected to a trial plagued with irregularities and prejudice, in Miami.  He was convicted, without any evidence whatsoever, and sentenced to two life terms plus 15 years, which he is serving in a high security prison in Victorville, California.

Machetera is a member of Tlaxcala, the network of translators for linguistic diversity. This translation may be reprinted as long as the content remains unaltered, and the source, author, and translator are cited.

My mother, Ruth Rumney, was born in 1922 in Westport, New York on the shores of Lake Champlain. At the age of eight she discovered her natural artistic talent. Her only formal training was a few lessons with a family friend who ran the lighthouse on the lake. Growing up in the depression she made due with the only resources available to her sometimes painting on cans and old wood-to this day she continues to paint on weathered barnwood-mostly animalsand flowers.

She is primarily known for her canvas oil paintings of landscapes

and fantasy paintings.

Her works have found homes throughout the United States and Europe as well. For over 50 years the name RUTH RUMNEY has become synonymous with ADIRONDACK ART. Under her brush Animals, Birds, Landscapes, By Gone Eras & images such as Mermaids that dwell only in Fantasy come alive!

In her eighties she still paints daily creating new wonders.

However in the years past she use to display her Barnwood paintings in crafts stores all over the Adirondacks. Of late since she has not been displaying them in such stores.

I suggested that they should still be available in some manner and to that end I set up an Ebay store where art lovers can still have an opportunity to obtain a select few of these hard to find Barnwoods. The intial offerings were fairly quickly snapped up by people wishing to expand their collections of Rumney art.

To see what’s currently available I invite you to CLICK-ANYWHERE on the FAWN below and that will take you to the store . Happy viewing and thanks for visiting.

>

Sincerely
Adam Carson

P.S. In the Gallery you will see some of the acrylics & oils (with the exception of the Mermaid WATERLILY) that sold out in the batch I put up in the store this spring.

i bought this for myself last night, i couldn’t resist:

it’s from ObjectsOfAffection on etsy. 

last year i bought a nightlight from her and planned the decor in the spare bedroom around it, i loved it that much!!  she’s got some really cute things in her shop – and some great gifts, too!

*****

 i made these a few nights ago- the clothespins are a special order, but the box might just stay here with me, i love it!!

i’m working like mad to get all my stock listed in my shop, and i’ve got my next craft show this thursday, so i

am a flutter of crafty activity today!!

*I love the birdfeeder that my biological father made.  It’s in the front yard, and I have a perfect view of it through the picture window from one of my flea market chairs.  I cannot wait until the wintertime to see what other sorts of birds stop by.

*I taught a yoga class yesterday for someone that has the swine flu.  It’s at a studio down the street from my home.  Convenient indeed.  Felt good to help out and start a week earlier than I planned.  I’ll be teaching a Saturday rotation there.

*I love my new car.   It feels really good to have waited for something for like 10 years and to now finally have it.  During those 10 years, I drove two different mini vans.  One was gold, the other one blue.  My new car is silver and I was over being picky about the color.

*I’ve already paid $500 towards the Volvo loan and my first payment is not until December 2.  We pretty much live debt free with the exception of our house payment.  I don’t feel guilty about borrowing this small amount for the car at all.  We only use credit cards for plane tickets or wholesale yoga supplies for the boutique.  I think we’re unAmerican.

*I went to yoga this morning, not to teach, but for myself.  I meditate here at home almost every single morning.  I like the early darkness and the quiet of the house before anyone else gets up.

*Lauren and I made a run to Target today for a birthday gift.  It was 11:30 a.m. and the place was jam packed.  What’s up with that?  I thought the world was broke.  We checked out these awesome chairs my sister is buying.  They’re green and blue and made out of one piece of wood.  Very sleek, modern and comfortable.

*Our son has been invited to a track meet that will take place in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii.  I want him to go.  Of course I want to go with him!  Hopefully, we can figure out how to send him.  We will get all the details this coming Sunday, Nov. 22.  The G.I. Joe’s are going on e-bay soon.

*We attended a choir concert last night.  Our daughter sang in that same Children’s Choir for 4 years and lost interest.  Our niece is still in it.  She sang a solo from Phantom of the Opera.  She looked beautiful and was simply amazing.  She also played her  flute a couple of times while the other choirs sang.  She’s 15, very smart and very talented.

*My sister totally hates her new job and says it just might be the most jacked up company in the world.  On the other hand, her husband is working on a massive resort in the Bahamas that’s being built by Tiger Woods and his bud.  Water features galore.  He’ll be busy for awhile.

*Frank has not had a day off since September 22, that is, until yesterday and today!  Finally, someone wants to work.  What did he do on his day off?  He went deer hunting.

*I’ve been working on serious organization around here.  Our office is full of crap, mine and Frank’s.  I finally purchased a nice book shelf for the hallway and now all of my yoga stuff is in one location.  I am so totally happy.  Yes, simple pleasures rock out.

*In my organization spree, I found several books that I need to read.  Winter weather and tea, oh yes.

*Today was the first day to drive the new car in the rain.  The head lamps have windshield wipers.  Cool.  I wonder if they really make a difference?

*Ghiradelli brownies are totally dangerous, and one should never, ever make them.

*My husband is addicted to watching Star Trek on the computer and I wish he’d put the head phones on.  I love sharing this small office space and bumping chairs often.

*My daughter informed me that the new Volvo commercial features the Twilight cast.  Funny.  She’s totally into the new car now, at first she was sad to see the van go.

*We’re not doing anything for Thanksgiving.  The last few years, we’ve held the dinner at our place.  We’re not having any company.  We’re just going to walk next door.

*I’ve fallen out of love with my hair dresser.  I’m not liking the hair style enough to maintain it, so I’m going to bolt.  Now, what kind of cut do I get?  My hair gets really heavy on the top and it’s driving my crazy.  Of course, my family says, “Let it grow long!”  Riiiight.  I teach yoga.  I need easy, short and low maintenance.  That includes NO flat ironing.  I need blow dry or toss wet and go. 

*My sister got a great haircut one time when she visited here.  I think I’ll go there.   She said it was the best haircut she’s ever had.

*I’ve had my hair professionally colored once and that was before we got married in August of 2004.  Some of my gray hair is not silky and straight.  It’s kinky.  I figure I’ll be the 50 year old yoga teacher with a white fro.  Check me out in seven years.

*Tomorrow is my last class at Jordan Valley Community Health Center.  They’re wanting a winter intersession and I hope the Y will pay me to do it.  I so love that new group, it’s close to home and the space is nice!

*This week is also my last week at MSU.  I’ve done an intersession for them for years.  Otherwise, they’d be without yoga until the end of January.  That would really suck.

 *I have not taken a bike ride or a walk in a few weeks.  Now that it’s raining, I want to!

*I’ve been blogging for a year and half now.  The post I did about the Christmas trees around the world and Hot Yoga have been the most popular.  Who knew?

I am so pleased with how this turned out!…I just love the cardinals…too cute!!! 

For this one I tried a patterned red and white dots for the middle layer…

Here is another option where I used a white shimmer textured paper for the middle layer.  I also made the middle layer on this one slightly larger than the previous one.

The leaders of the Roman Catholic Church traditionally couch even the harshest disagreements in decorous, ecclesiastical language.

But it didn’t take a decoder ring to figure out what Rome-based Archbishop Raymond Burke meant in a late-September address when he charged Boston Cardinal Sen O’Malley with being under the influence of Satan,

Source:
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1934924,00.html?xid=rss-topstories

by Carl Strang

It has been a while since I have shared one of my species dossiers. One of my practices is to keep records of what I have learned from my own observations of various species, as opposed to reading about them in other sources. Today I bring out my dossier on the Cooper’s hawk. In reviewing it I see that I have left out a lot of observations of this species, which has become common in the Chicago suburbs over the past decade or two, but those other observations would be much like the ones below. The observations begin with my date codes.

13SE85. Spring Valley Nature Center, Schaumburg. A Cooper’s Hawk pursued a frantic, cheeping young thrush in and out among the trees, in sharp twists, turns, and vertical climbs and plunges, for a good 15 seconds. Then the hawk broke off, and the thrush escaped. This took place in an old field between stands of trees. Could the cheeping have been a signal to the hawk that the thrush had plenty of wind? As soon as the hawk turned back into the woods, the thrush continued its flight over an open field.

2AP88. One passed through woods at Hartz Lake (in Indiana), occasionally calling “kip.” Flew and perched, flew and perched its way across woods.

12MR92, McDowell Forest Preserve. A Cooper’s flew, northerly, high above woods. Pursued by a crow that occasionally swooped at it, but the hawk itself was nearly crow-sized, and it often turned and flew at the crow. Flight faster and more twisty then, but the crow turned to pursue the hawk when the latter resumed its path. Three such cycles observed.

18AP92. Hartz Lake. Pair of Cooper’s hawks hanging around a clearing in the woods, often calling: a wild-sounding, almost woodpecker-like “eh-eh-eh-…” (15-20 repeated syllables).

20AU92. Cooper’s chased a couple crows at Herrick Lake F.P., not seriously. They rattle-called afterwards.

18MR99. An immature plumaged Coopers appeared, hung around the Willowbrook riparian area (SE corner of preserve) for the rest of March, calling frequently, but vanished in early April.

1SE99. Cooper’s hawk soared above Nature Trail area of Willowbrook, moving north to south. They soar from time to time.

15JE00. Morton Arboretum. Near Parking Lot 7, when I arrived around 8am, 3 robins were giving the high‑pitched thin call repeatedly, and the forest otherwise was relatively quiet. After 10 minutes, a Cooper’s hawk started calling nearby, then flew out away from the forest edge until an eastern kingbird started to chase it. It immediately turned around and flew back the way it had come, and kept going. The robins then were quiet.

16JE00. Willowbrook. In the afternoon, a Cooper’s hawk perched near the west edge of the prairie, drawing alarm calls from a robin (the hawk‑whistle warning call) and a cardinal, and a chorus of 7 loudly mobbing jays.

18JL00. Willowbrook. In the early afternoon, a Cooper’s hawk soared low above the marsh and areas east and west of it, while 3 red‑tails soared high. One of the visiting red‑tails called once, but the Cooper’s, which has been resident all summer, called repeatedly.

26FE01. A Cooper’s called for a long time from the top of a tree near the islands in the river at McDowell Grove. A harrier was flying overhead, but the Cooper’s did not appear to be looking at it while calling.

14AP01. 2 Cooper’s, possibly a pair, at West DuPage Woods. One made an unusual flight through the open air, with exaggerated, moth-like wingbeats reminding me very much of a short-eared owl.

5MY01. A Cooper’s hawk incubating a stick nest high in a tree at Wayne Grove Forest Preserve. Tail visible from below.

10JA02. Two jays newly arrived at Willowbrook (for weeks there had been one, at most, and these were in addition to that one). They were mimicking crow caws, with lower volume and a brighter tone that made the mimicry clear, but an interesting sound. One of them also repeatedly imitated a Cooper’s hawk’s calls, both the string of notes and the isolated single notes. Again the volume was lower than in the hawk, but tonal fidelity was very good. They were in brush, low to the ground and close to me (the Cooper’s imitator was within 20 feet and clearly knew I was there). Before long I saw a Cooper’s hawk, almost certainly the same one that we saw hunting the day before by sitting and waiting on a tree branch for a minute or 2, then moving to a new perch. Today the hawk was perched about 100 yards from the jays.

12MR02. As 2 Cooper’s hawks began to call in the woods at Willowbrook, a jay flew to the treetops above them and began the bobbing “teakettle” call. Another jay arrived and began to “jay” call as the first continued on away in the direction it had been going.

26OC07. A Cooper’s hawk still calling at Fullersburg.

2006-2008. Cooper’s hawks nested at Fullersburg. The great horned owls there prefer to use a hawk nest from the previous year. In at least one year the Cooper’s were successful, as fledglings frequently were to be seen. In at least one year, and perhaps two, the hawks started to incubate but then abandoned. In one case this happened shortly after a pair of broad-winged hawks arrived and began to advertise their territory nearby.

24MR09. Mayslake. Scattered feathers of a Cooper’s hawk in the prairie south of the stream corridor marsh. The location, and nature of feather damage pointed to great horned owl as the predator.

 Late summer 09. Mayslake. One day a Cooper’s hawk caught a young-of-the-year robin in the woodland east of the mansion.

 Autumn 09, Mayslake. A Cooper’s hawk, flying low, could see through the windows of the library wing, and attempted to fly through as it would a space within a forest canopy. Unfortunately the windows were closed. It was not flying fast, and after bouncing off flew away, apparently unharmed.

With the winter’s slower season arriving, I expect to be sharing more dossiers. I encourage any student of natural history to be careful in separating what you know out of personal experience from what you have heard second hand.

This piece was made for a friend for his new baby. He’s a huge sports fan – I even found a stamp from the first Superbowl!

It just crossed my laptop screen while in Rome and I want to share it without further comment:

VATICAN CITY (CNS) : Condoms are not always effective in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS in Africa, said Cardinal Peter Turkson of Cape Coast, Ghana.

Abstinence, fidelity in marriage and universal access to antiretroviral drugs are the strategies the church continues to promote in the fight against AIDS, he said. The cardinal, who will turn 61 Oct. 11, made the comments during a Vatican press conference Oct. 5, presenting some of the issues to be discussed during the second special Synod of Bishops for Africa. Cardinal Turkson was asked about the AIDS epidemic in Africa and what position the synod will take, specifically concerning the use of condoms in HIV prevention. He said when “people propose the use of condoms it becomes effective only in families where they are going to be faithful.” However, condoms give “people a false sense of security, which rather facilitates the spread of HIV/AIDS,” he said.

Condoms cannot be relied upon to provide 100-percent protection against HIV transmission because “there are condoms which arrive in Ghana, which in the heat and whatever burst during sex,” he said. Because there is always a chance condoms might break during sexual intimacy, he is reluctant to recommend condom use even to married couples in which one partner is affected with HIV, he said. The priorities for African bishops at the synod will remain “abstinence and loyalty and fidelity” within marriage, he said. During pastoral counseling, he said he presents the issues and discusses them with the person seeking advice, which “allows the person to decide, to (make) his own decision.” He said he does not “undervalue the possibility that somebody who has AIDS recognizes his own Christian commitment (and) would simply just decide to refrain from sex,” even if he or she were in a faithful marriage, in order to prevent the spread of HIV. “Some would in such a situation have advised the use of condoms by a partner who has HIV so that it doesn’t spread, but again, in our part of the world, even the use of condoms is sometimes risky,” he said.

“If we have proper, top quality condoms, then one can probably with certainty speak about” the effectiveness of an infected partner using condoms, “but that is also not the case” in Ghana, he said. Cardinal Turkson said he would rather see the resources spent on manufacturing and providing prophylactics to Africa be earmarked for subsidizing antiretroviral drugs for the people there. “Let us use those resources to support the production of antiretroviral drugs so (they) would be more available to people,” he said. “That’s probably the big favor that we can do for the people suffering from HIV/AIDS.”

Our beautiful Cardinal in the Burning Bush.

        As I sat one morning this past week, eating my breakfast and watching the falling rain outside the dining room window, I thought I could faintly hear a bird singing. Surprised at this possible occurrence with the present weather conditions, I listened more closely and decided that it was indeed a bird softly singing and a Cardinal at that. Listening more intently, I realized that I could actually make out what it was singing, and it went something like this, “I’m singing in the rain . . . just singing in the rain . . . since there isn’t any sunshine . . . I’m singing in the rain” Haha! I’ve decided one must find humor in weather like this to keep from going stir crazy.

Chippy looking precious and waiting for handouts.

        I know that I’ve shared photos of our Chippy before, but this one was just so precious with her looking immensely cute and waiting patiently for handouts. At times her cheeks are so fully packed upon leaving our top deck that I expect to see cheeks dragging the ground and a little rump up in the air as surely the front end must certainly be heavier than the back end! Such a sight to see indeed! They now have figured out to come when I’m feeding Dovecakes and I will toss them nice fresh peanuts which they promptly eat right up! Happily, today I had a little Titmouse join in on Dovecakes’ feast. The newcomer, Vole, that now lives in secret garden is continuing to enjoy her peanut treats in between rain showers. Excitedly, the weather forecast brings wonderful news for us this next week. After much rain and gray skies, it’s suppose to be mostly sunny and beautiful for several days!! This is great timing since all of my family are arriving this evening for a week long visit.

"A Change of Heart" by Rachelle, measures 2 3/4 X 2 3/4 inches.

        My miniature painting shown above, was done from a photo we took while enjoying a ride on Wes’ brother, Greg’s boat, one day this past summer in southern Indiana. I thought it would make a great little miniature and particularly loved the bit of humor in the setting. For a little history on the subject, I was born and raised in the deep-south and Wes was born and raised in the North. As you may well suspect there’s always been a bit of humor pertaining to our coming from opposite sides of the Mason Dixon line. This being said, I just couldn’t resist this miniature, what with that name on the boat and the fact that it was being moored in Indiana. The ducks obviously living on the back and the “for sale” sign led to the title, which Wes gets the credit for coming up with, “A Change of Heart”. Humor is good, so one must find something in life to laugh about.
Well, we’re all ready for my family to arrive later this evening and are looking forward to spending a wonderful week with them! I will have photos to share from our adventures next post, especially of my nephew Tyler!

Until next time ~ Rachelle

I’m really trying not to take too many bird shots for this project but when they’re this cooperative how can I resist?

Cardinal

It definitely didn’t look quite this romantic, but it did snow today for the first time this fall.

We are supposed to have snow for the next three days, off and on. We’ll see.

My mother is taking time today to yank the rest of the garden things – beans and peppers, the last of the tomatillos, and of course, lots of green tomatoes. They should ripen fine placed in sacks and boxes in a warmish place. We’ve already had to do this with some, as the grasshoppers keep munching large holes in them, but they taste great anyway.

It feels grand to have the garden things done. At least dwindling.

Next on my list of wonders: Thanksgiving!