Hot, hot, hot!

We have had quite a spell of steamy weather lately. Normal for this time of year is in the 80's, and we've been in the 90's for over a week. And it's been all the more uncomfortable because of high humidity and afternoon storms, so we're all a bit frizzy and frazzled. Even Simba has taken to spending most of his time lying on his back, I assume because it exposes what little bare skin he has!

Relaxed & cool ...
Yep, he's a boy, all right.

Major fauna sightings!

What a day it's been!

This morning as I sat at my laptop downstairs, I heard a hawk calling repeatedly. I was busy typing away, but finally I looked out the window because I know if a hawk's around, then my songbirds are at risk and I often will run outside and make noise to scare the hawks away. And when I looked out the window, I got the best hawk sighting I've ever had! It was sitting on top of the pole that anchors all the utilities that come onto our property, just behind my perennial garden. Big guy, maybe the size of a very large crow, white bands on the tail, some white on the wing, banded breast, beady yellow eye (I got the binocs). He got nervous with me watching, turned his back to me & looked over his shoulder, then took off toward the road ... carrying a honking big, very dead snake! Todd says it was probably a broadwing hawk.

Then this evening, again I was sitting at the table using the laptop when I heard what sounded to me like a furious cat, but not a domestic one. It was sounding off down near the neighbor's house, and moving our way. It really sounded like a movie panther, but not that big. Bobcat? Fisher? We've seen both around here. It passed behind our house, getting Simba very excited, continued on, and then stopped sounding off. Never did figure out just what it was.

Finally, late this evening when I went outside to get the dangling feeders off the line for the night, I spotted a beautiful luna moth. They're so huge, and just unearthly beautiful. It was attracted by our lights out back, of course. I called Todd to look at it, and then didn't it just land right on the kitchen window. We were able to lean over the sink and get a fabulous close look at it from the underside. Gorgeous.

God is cool!

When I got on the telephone with the Anchorage Traffic Court yesterday for the hearing about my speeding ticket (received when I was visiting my pal Lyn in April), I was prepared. I had written up what I wanted to say. I had a copy of the letter I sent requesting the hearing and explaining the situation. I had the hearing notice and the ticket itself. I had asked my mother-in-law and the twins to please pray. I had prayed. Todd had prayed.

Here's how the phone call went, after I was taken off hold:

"Patricia, are you there?"

"Yes, I am"

"Did you hear what was just said?"

"No, I didn't."

"Your case is dismissed."

"I certainly didn't hear that!?"

"The primary witness has not appeared, so your case is dismissed. There is no violation."

"Oh, my gosh! Thank you!"

Is that a picture of God's grace, or what?