Neat!

Cool, huh? She was right outside the door while I sat there, less than a foot away, taking her picture. She didn't even mind the flash.

She's welcome to all the pet food she wants, as long as she leaves the bunnies alone. That's their bucket of treats in the background, and the cage is directly above it. The bunnies didn't seem the least bit alarmed by their visitor.

I don't know if you can tell in the pic, but the raccoon is definitely a female, either pregnant or nursing.

Who moved my rock?

We found this little guy today while doing some yard work. Isn't he cute? Judging by all the bugs around him, he was visiting the buffet. I saw one of his bigger relatives later, but didn't have the camera handy.

Hummingbird

Miss Hummer smacked head on into our window this morning. Lucky for her, we were having coffee on the patio when it happened, and I was able to grab her before the cat did. She was only stunned, and flew off after about five minutes.

Little Sis gave her a snack before she left. How cool is that? I love seeing the hummers, and holding a live one was just incredible!

more bunny pics

These guys are growing up fast!

40!?!

This weekend, I turn 40. The big four-oh. My friends keep asking if I'm upset, shocked, depressed, etc, about hitting 40. I just shrug and say it beats the alternative (ie being dead).

I suppose 40 is a milestone, and maybe a time for reflection, but I don't feel any older than I did this time last year, or the year before. In a way, I'm surprised to look at my birth date and see it happened 40 years ago. In another way, I'm surprised that it happened only 40 years ago.

I feel as if I've lived a lot in just 40 years. Actually, I feel as if I've lived several lifetimes in the past 40 years. Forget past life regression; all I need to do is pull out a photo album. I've been a yuppy, a Martha Mom, a city gal, a model, a goth, a hillbilly...you get the idea. Some of those photos...you'd never know it was me. I'm pretty sure that until I met DH, I was just wearing someone else's skin.

I don't feel that I'm at a mid-life point. I'm not even sure when that whole midlife crisis stuff is supposed to surface...40? 50? I could be at the middle of my life now, or I could die in a week, or I could live another 100 years. Who knows? I'm hoping for the latter, myself. ;)

I've learned a lot in my life, but the important things are:

*hug your kids/spouse every day

*always speak kindly to those you love

*take time to smile, to walk in the woods, to play with the kids

*never lie, cheat, or steal

*never say something about someone behind their back that you wouldn't say to their face

*never never never speak ill of your spouse or children

*realize that you still have a lot to learn

*as cliche as it sounds: Live, Laugh, Love

So...enough reflection...where's the cake??