Cherish is my favorite word, and I cherish the ability of turning the routine into a beautiful moment.
Nature creates in me, a spiritual and meditative time to bring peace, harmony and balance, into an otherwise ordinary day~
Mary Howell Cromer







Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Nana, is That a Cat?~

~ December 21... First day of Winter and day of my birth. Whenever we arrive at our birth date again, that alone is reason to celebrate ~

For the past couple of days, it appears that I may have been slightly missing in action, not completely though, for I have enjoyed scanning some of my favorite, old and new blogs...such fun too.
This morning, I traveled further out into the country to snatch up 2 of our 4 grandsons,  and my youngest daughter. It was our annual Christmas cookie baking day.
I had collected the boys and we were driving through my favorite section of horse country, when 8 year old Thomas announced...
"Nana, is that a cat?" 
No, not a cat, but a large Red-tailed Hawk protecting a raod kill of fresh Cottontail Rabbit~





The field on the opposite side of the lane was enchanting following a morning rain~








The hawk took a couple of breaks while we observed it from a distance~


The spring and summer colours may have been spent, yet the autumn grasses look amazing in the starkness of winter's chill, arriving officially at midnight tonight~

The boys enjoyed the lessons they were learning on this outing, though we all felt sad for the Cottontail...~





A handsome horse watched us, watching the hawks~





A younger looking Red-tailed remained on the fence, some distance from the carcass~

17 comments:

  1. Magical captures Mary! Love the weathered wooden fences and beautiful fields, the watching horse and of course that beautiful "cat". Great captures over the kill.

    Do link it to World Bird Wednesday for so many more to enjoy. The link is on the logo on my sidebar.

    I'll be back to read previous posts when things have settled a bit.

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  2. beautiful hawk shots! and you HAVE to link this to Friday's Fences at www.lifeaccordingtojanandjer.blogspot.com thursday afternoon!

    :)

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  3. Brilliant photo sets, as always. I never tire of admiring birds of prey. Hawks are such special creatures. Thanks for sharing your captures with us.

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  4. Excellent captures!
    Definitely not a cat. :)
    Thanks so much for your visit.
    Merry Christmas to you and yours!

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  5. Those are gorgeous flight shots of the hawk.

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  6. Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Mary, happy birthday to you.

    Grand images.

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  7. What a beautiful bird, and lovely captures.

    And a Happy Birthday. :-)

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  8. The photos are amazing, Mary! I love your beautiful countryside. I do miss the country life very much. A special moment with your special little ones; what an awesome day. Thank you for sharing it with us.
    Happy Birthday to you!! I wish you happiness and peace.
    Merry Christmas,
    Brenda

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  9. Happy Birthday, Mary! You've given us a gift on your day, these amazing shots. God bless you, and have a wonderful Christmas.

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  10. Happy Birthday and Happy Holidays!!! wonderful photos of an awesome raptor....Michelle

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  11. What a beautiful bird to see.
    Many thanks for sharing your lovely images..

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  12. Great shots! Did they think it was gross or cool seeing a hawk eating the rabbit?

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  13. A great series of photos. How lucky to be there at just the right moment - and to have the camera as well.

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  14. Beautiful shots of the RT and the countryside Mary! Happy Birthday to you and have a wonderful Christmas! I bet those cookies are tasty ;-)

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  15. "Nature creates in me
    a spiritual and meditative time to bring peace, harmony and balance"
    Wonderful words there Mary!Fantastic post of a chilling encounter. Nature brings it home no holds barred. So majestic!

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  16. Pictures up to your usual standard Mary! Love the red tail shots and I'll bet that rabbit keeps the hawk fed for a while.

    You found a great shot across the field and over that fence Mary, the way the path snakes across the field, and all those lovely colour contrasts.

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  17. Beautiful countryside and wonderful hawk sighting.

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