It was a Seven Eagle Day

A friend of mine would often call me up when she had a “five star” day—a day in which many good things happen!

Cleaning up today I found an old journal of mine. It was nice to thaw out that old memory. I hope others will post their own “five star” days! Sometimes just reading or hearing about someone else's good vibrations will re-tune our own.

It was a Seven Eagle Day!

Omens of the air reminded me today of my reasons for living here, reasons I sometimes forget. My first steps out the door this morning put me under the wings of a hawk flying directly above. The air was clean and frosty. We have such wonderful air and I get to wake up to see snow frosted mountains looming above the tawny fields. My morning walk started a flurry of activity in the creek, ducks shooting upward to escape my approach and a blue heron doing a graceful pirouette as he aborted his landing.

Eleanor came to help on this lovely spring-like day and we were both blessed by the sight of Ravens in flock-like flight, some twenty-five or more flying south east, heading towards the Puget Sound. They wheeled and dove and talked as they flew overhead—of mysteries spoken and not understood unless it be of the heart. Eagles flew by next, seven in number. A most magical number. They soared on by and unlike the Ravens did not take note of the humans below.

This was my day today, bird feeders replenished and all manner of songs bursting forth. The Varied Thrush by the creek so noticeable in its song, and finches and chickadees supplying the smaller voices. Red-winged blackbirds being the chorus girls, the main attraction and always singing while I have my lunch.

March continues to approach on hesitant, frosty feet, but the days are noticeably longer the warming sun fuel to the soul. Everyone is more spring like. It was a day made all the more lovely by Eleanor and the visit of Janet and Sylvia who brought seeds to sow and pictures of New Zealand to share. Their rocks for the medicine wheel garden are now in place. (((1982))) Janet is by far my most enduring customer. I shared some of my latest writings with her. All sparked in no small measure by the recent conjunction/cupping of the crescent Moon, Venus in her bowl. This occurred on Feb. 24 and was definitely one of the most remarkable celestial couplings this man has ever seen. I hope your own letters written were filled as brightly as that brilliant night. As Mary Ann would say “It was a Seven Eagle day!”

I hope others, offer remembrances of their own special days!

For Deb.

© Herb Senft 1994

It was one of those days!

This is one of those pictures that was sent to me knowing that I am an Arborist.A warning?. Today I just checked out my chainsaw sharpening job at a place and ran into another guy. We reminisced about the gruesome fatalities we have known of. I will not go into them. Nothing like a meeting of two tree fallers in a chainsaw place.



In England there is an attempt to re-introduce this specie. It is being fought because of fishermen who fear the beaver will eat their fish. Even some of the experts have agreed. Utter stupidity of experts and why so much is miss-understood about animals. "Beavers will eat the fish." Bullocks.

They are opportunists and will eat dead fish, but they are not hunters of fish. Maybe, your European version (and where did they get the pups they introduced) are different than the N. American one.

Ours will eat whatever they can find in their habitat. This includes aspen, willow, alder, cottonwood and should an apple tree be nearby, that too might go.If they eat fish, it is usually dead fish found in the vicinity. I have never seen a beaver with a fishing pole, although I see a lot of two footed salmon killers.

Personally, I think we should Norplant (shoot with a birth control dart) all those fisher persons... not the beaver.

My introduction included favorite music groups.

Since I view myself as part Canadian, though no one as yet has cross-border adopted me yet.

Two Canadians on another gardener blog were promising hopefuls; but the weather in their provinces stopped me short. I prefer Vancouver B.C. I nearly began to contact the three primary schools I went to, hoping that somehow some older gal would remember the young rake who had passed out so many Valentines. Sigh!

Follow up.

Canadians seem to be ever so humble about what they have. Americans have the Rockies, the Dolly Parton of the Grand Titons. You have banff in small caps.

Get to advertising!

You have the hottest Governor General. WOW! You had Treudeu. Valerie Pringle -- also hot and interesting. The weather gal who does that strange sport of rolling stone pizzas down the ice. 'Curling' (like hurling) it is called. The Scot's seem to take to it as well.

On music alone. Canada stands proud.

Celine Dion comes to most minds, but she is not one of my favorites. Do remember I am a 60's kind of guy. I do respect her though.

My favorites:

Susan Aglukark!!!
Leonard Cohen!!!
Nelly Furtado
Kate Lang
Gordon Lightfoot !!!
Anna McGarrigle
Kate McGarrigle !!!
Rita MacNeil some
Joni_Mitchell
Buffy Sainte-Marie Oh so very much.!!!
Stan Rogers
The Weavers
Ian and Sylvia Tyson!!!

and a no on Neil Young.

That said Canada has produced exceptional artists, songwriters performers and T.V. anchors. Why don't they write about their accomplishments. Being ever so humble is a crock.

I would love to hear what the Canadians would add to that list.

Now, I would add Sinead O'Conner to my favorites as well, and even Dolly Parton for her Garden Song. Also, Kate Wolf for her Apple and the Lilac tree ... since we are so into gardening.

I had challenged a Canadian on another blog if he could arrange to get a National Anthem sing off between Leonard Cohen for Canada and the Austin Lounge Lizards for America. He never replied.

I would love to post a picture of Dolly but I think most of it is copyrighted.
Her comment of "I have got little feet because nothing grows in the shade." is worth thinking about.

As far as good lines, few actors or singers have her one liners.
"I was the first woman to burn my bra - it took the fire department four days to put it out."

-Dolly Parton

ARCHIE ON THE COMPUTER - skyline

Now, I just dragged up some old photos and saw one of Archie, a superior breed of the U.K typing away at my computer terminal. Mind you, it was in DOS in those early years. That was one brilliant animal. Not staged at all, John and I just walked in on him and snapped the shot. Doggy Porn I suspect. He did look sheepish at having been caught.

Not only was this red-headed canine caught red-handed but if you will note he is also right pawed. Taking notes of the site address I suspect.




I think sometimes we forget how devoted dogs are to their companions. Both in my own case and in Johns; their losses, were final breaking points. Mine was a half-breed cross of Australian Shepard and Cocker Spaniel. Don't laugh; he was all of the former, only with the damn ears and begging eyes.

He was run over and I found him squashed..

John had the most sensitive dog I have ever known. An Irish Setter/Retriever. He died of natural causes and we made a nice memorial for him and planted a nice tree over him. He is near the brook he always loved and I think he is peaceful

Both of us had been dealing with rather eventual deaths in our respectful lives. Cleaning out the sons flat after a suicide, both of my parents that sort of stuff. Both of us handled that.

When the dogs died, so did we. I suppose that is how we found each other

And unlike some others, I have never had the courage to get another dog. It is now approaching the same with making new friends.