You Never Know Until You Take a Chance~

 

Some may remember when my car was wrecked back on Mother's day morning...  
One day, shortly after, I found myself sitting in the collision department of a local Ford/Lincoln dealership, waiting.  When one waits, you find something to do and for me, it was to take my camera in and review and delete images.
  
While sitting and doing just that, the manager of the service department came to sit and chat.  Our family has known him for many years.  In fact our middle daughter and her family live on his road, which is 9 miles further out in the country from where we live.  He asked me what I took photographs of and then he really perked up my paying attention antenna...  He said "you know the 2 homes at the bottom of the hill,  right across the property line from where your daughter lives"...yes..."well, did you know that the gentleman that lives there is a Falconer?"  
Well no, I did not, and wow how great is that!!!


All this being said...every Monday all summer for the past several weeks, our 9 year old grandson Thomas has been staying with us as much as he can.  About a month ago, when I had driven out to get him, I thought about the man that was a Falconer as I drove by.  Once I had collected Thomas, and we were leaving his driveway, I suggested that we stop and introduce ourselves.  Thomas was all for it too. 

I was a wee bit hesitant, going up to a stranger's home, out in the middle of the country... however, it turned out to be a remarkable meeting.  
June and her husby Beau, were just wonderful, what a sweet couple, and both Thomas and I made new friends that day!  We were warmly invited in and ended up visiting for a couple of hours.  We found that we had so much in common, as well as love and appreciation for Birds of Prey.  

That brings me to my entry for today, which will also be linked up with Stewart at:

Wild Bird Wednesday
To view other bird images shared from around the world, visit at :

(http://paying-ready-attention-gallery.blogspot.com.au/) 

Let me introduce you to Beau and his  beautiful Red-tailed Hawk Olivia.  She was in the process of molting, but to me, she was still absolutely gorgeous!  
Beau is a Master Falconer, with a compassionate heart.  His wife June and I also has some amazing similar connections...it was a heaven sent meeting, and I was so thankful that I took a chance and stopped in to inquire...you just never know, until you take a chance~

 

Those intense eyes, their vision is amazing!

 

 The image above, one of 140 taken, was just about my favorite~

 

 

 

Below, in the middle, you will see Olivia's very first red tail feather begin to emerge;')~

 

Beau asked us if we would like to hold Olivia and I would love to have had the opportunity, but I wanted Thomas to have this chance, as well as get the images captured.  I was impressed with how soft spoken Beau was, as he explained what was about to happen, when he handed Olivia over to Thomas.  I was also impressed at how well Thomas handled himself, he was so proud, and it was some special memory making moments~

 

 

Those smiles say it all~

 

 

 

 

 

It turned out to be a thrilling day and I so look forward to getting to spend time with June, Beau and Olivia again in the future.  Beau has promised to take me to see Great Horned Owls come winter nesting season and I am so looking forward to that!
Have a great week~