#Sandhill crane dance

[serpuntine]

Sandhill Cranes Dance - Sound Up!!!

My MIL sent us this video today and I’m going absolutely fucking feral over it!! I wish I could have seen this in person, I’m awestruck and obsessed. This pair of cranes has lived in the neighborhood for years, it’s amazing to see them when we drive through.

Sandhill cranes mate for life and perform their dance year-round to strengthen their bond and teach it to their colts. If one pair in a group of cranes starts dancing, surrounding pairs will join in. The dance begins with the partners bowing to each other. They then start picking up leaves in their beaks to throw in the air while leaping and flapping their wings, calling loudly. Sandhill cranes are notoriously secretive, so watching this video filled my heart with a joy that I can’t express in words. I hope you guys like it as well.

[rustandsky]

I met you long ago

When the sea was still peaceful

And the bay it seemed to glow

We danced and sang

[keeskiwi]

So much more of the natural world feels close and accessible now. When I started birding, I remember thinking that I’d never see most of the species in my field guide. Sure, backyard birds like robins and western bluebirds would be easy, but not black skimmers or peregrine falcons or loggerhead shrikes. I had internalized the idea of nature as distant and remote — the province of nature documentaries and far-flung vacations. But in the past six months, I’ve seen soaring golden eagles, heard duetting great horned owls, watched dancing sandhill cranes and marveled at diving Pacific loons, all within an hour of my house. “I’ll never see that” has turned into “Where can I find that?”

-Ed Yong, When I Became a Birder, Almost Everything Else Fell Into Place

[oddman-the-oldman]

Sandhill Cranes dancing the Crane dance

Ridgefield NWR

.

[gamingstar26]

more stuff, and a new dt17 oc, a sandhill crane named carlo, who is a dance instructor. might draw him more in the future.

[jojoseames]

Supporter reward art! A pair of sandhill cranes engaged in their mating dance!

(Patreon.com/JoJoSeames)

[wowbright]

Fic: One Body

Klaine Valentine’s Challenge 2023: “I'll Never Not Love You” by Michael Bublé (Day 4 prompt)

Words: ~4,500 words

Rating: Teen and Up

Summary: Over dinner with the elderly Catholic lesbians, Kurt has a lot of complicated feelings.

I’m back with more vignettes from my Mormon!Klaine universe for Klaine Valentines 2023! This vignette takes place after Plain to See. Mutual pining, and Kurt thinks Blaine is straight.

Notes: Jana and Liesl are Jan the jeweler and Liz her partner from 4.22 “All or Nothing.” English version of the children’s hymn alluded to: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIAMDF81w8k German version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1fijOx1Jn4

--------

“This is my wife, Jana,” Liesl said, beaming.

Kurt’s reaction wasn’t what Blaine expected. His eyes didn't go in wide in shock. He didn't glance over at Blaine in question or confusion.

The only sign of anything out of the ordinary was a slight straightening of his already ramrod shoulders. A small adjustment to a new reality. “Nice to meet you,” Kurt said, shaking hands with Jana. “I'm Elder Hummel.”

*

Kurt considered, briefly, telling the women that there had been a misunderstanding. That this was just a quick visit; they were expected for dinner elsewhere. (It wouldn't have been an outright lie. No person was expecting them, but the rules were their own set of expectations. It would have been too awkward to outright explain that two boys barely out of high school couldn't dine alone with two grandmotherly women because something sexually untoward might happen—particularly considering that the women in question were married to each other and one of the boys in question wasn't attracted to ladies of any age. Saying they were expected elsewhere would be a less complicated way of saying, we're expected to not be here.)

But Jana had a way of holding herself that reminded him, despite her age, of his own mother. On the best of days, Kurt could barely remember his mother's face without looking at a picture. He had vague impressions of dancing with her in the living room to Bruce Springsteen and showtunes, of her lower body swaying, her hands reaching out to him at just about his eye height, his palm clasping with hers as she twirled him about the room.

It was Jana’s hands, he thought. The shape of her palm against his as they completed their greetings.

Or her eyes: green with flecks of gold, and a warmth like embers.

Or maybe it was the frame of her body—willowy and birdlike, long and reedy like a sandhill crane, even as she stood almost a foot shorter than Kurt himself.

It suddenly occurred to Kurt that his mother, too, had probably been shorter than he was now. She had always been so big and lofty, like a skyscraper or a white pine. No matter how tall he grew, he would always remember her as bigger than him. Bigger than life.

Their hands parted. Out the sliding glass doors at the back of the living room, Kurt saw a patio and a table set with placemats and cutlery and two large bottles of mineral water. Jana followed his gaze. “Your companion said there was some rule about meeting alone in the homes of the opposite sex, yes? We figured that should take care of it.” And then she winked.

Kurt felt his heart tip toward her—not falling, not the feeling of alternately plummeting and flying that Blaine filled him with. More like that warm feeling he got around Mercedes: here was a kindred spirit, someone who could understand him and he could understand in return, someone who saw him for who he was.

*

Ten minutes into dinner—after they had gone through the standard small talk of how long each of the missionaries had been in Germany, where they lived in Ingolstadt, whether they had been to the Audi Museum, and why was the name of their church so incredibly long; and during which Kurt was reminded once again how easy his rapport was with Blaine, how effortlessly they built off one another, how much Kurt enjoyed hearing Blaine speak, even when he was saying things that Kurt had heard before, and how that was probably a quality one wanted in a marriage: the ability to see your companion anew, day after day, and to find even the pedestrian things about them charming—Jana set down her fork and leaned forward, intent on hearing something that had not yet been spoken. “You make a charming couple. How long have you two been together?” she asked.

Kurt almost choked on his bite of Jägerschnitzel.

“Nine weeks,” Blaine answered breezily. “Our missions last two years, and we always work in pairs, following the model Christ set out in chapter six of the Book of Mark. But we alternate companions throughout. Elder Hummel has been in Ingolstadt for longer. I met him when I moved here in March from Leipzig.”

“Oh,” Jana said. “I never would have guessed. You seem so close. I would have thought you two had known each other much longer.”

Blaine shrugged. “Maybe we have. March was the first time we met in this life, but in our faith, we believe that we had a life before this, in heaven with God. I have a feeling we knew each other then.”

Kurt moved his foot sideways in search of Blaine’s. When he found it, he gave it a sharp jab with his toe. Yes, they were supposed to share their faith. But they weren't so supposed to make it sound so weird and hippy dippy.

“Ah.” Jana smiled and reached toward Liesl’s hand, giving it a fond squeeze. “Liesl used to say that kind of thing to me. She went through a sort of Hindu phase when we were younger.”

Liesl rolled her eyes. “It does disservice to actual Hindus by calling it that. I was just looking for something less binding than Catholicism. I dabbled in a lot of things.”

“And where did you land?” asked Kurt, hoping this would steer the conversation away from—well, Kurt wasn’t exactly sure where it was heading. But he couldn't get rid of the nagging feeling that, despite Blaine’s answer, Jana thought they were boyfriends, and if they continued on a Jana-led path, she would outright say it sooner rather than later. And Blaine, being as oblivious as he was, would keep answering her probings in a way that mistakenly confirmed her beliefs, before finally realizing the error and saying, with a kindhearted laugh, Oh, I’m sorry. My German’s still not what it should be. I misunderstood. I'm straight. I love Elder Hummel, but not in a romantic way.

And Kurt couldn’t handle hearing those words.

“Where did I land?” echoed Liesl. “I suppose you could say I landed back in Catholicism. Obviously, I'm not orthodox. But there are many, many people in Catholicism who are not orthodox. There is a sort of expectation in our version of Christianity that we're all going to fail. Catholicism is not a religion that demands perfect faith and perfect obedience. And if you end up with a priest that does—well, you ignore him. Find another parish to attend. Not that I attend much, either. But when I speak to God, when I want to connect to something bigger than myself—Catholicism is the language I use. It’s like a mother tongue, you know? You don't pick the language you were born into, but once you learn to speak it, it resonates like no other. You two—” Liesl gestured at the missionaries with her fork “—were born speaking the language of Mormonism, and that feels like home to you. All religion is like that. Like languages, none is better than the other. They are just tools for understanding.”

Jana scoffed. “I can't agree with you that none is better than the other. None is completely right, and none is completely wrong, but what about those crazies who poisoned the Tokyo subway?”

“Wait—did this happen recently?” Kurt said. “We don’t follow the news.”

“No, no,” Liesl explained. “In the 1990s. Maybe you two weren’t born. Now I feel old. Some weird Buddhist offshoot pumped mustard gas into the subway at rush hour and killed at least a dozen people.”

“Oh,” Kurt said. “I didn’t know. Did you, Elder Anderson?”

Blaine shook his head. “I thought Buddhists were pacifists.”

“Well, you’re old enough to know about 9/11,” Jana said.

Liesl sighed in exasperation. “That’s not real Islam. Most Muslims don’t go around flying planes into buildings.”

“I'm not saying they do,” said Jana. “I’m simply saying that not all religious beliefs are the same. Some are objectively better than others.”

“Yes, but the examples you bring up aren’t religions,” Liesl said with conviction. “Those are cults.”

Jana shrugged. “People in cults never believe they're in cults. They believe they have ‘the truth.’”

Kurt had to change the direction of this conversation. The mention of cults was never a good sign. It too often led to questions about whether the Mormons were a cult, and did they still practice polygamy, and why were they so secretive about what went on in those temples, anyway? “Well,” Kurt said, “if there's one thing we can all agree on, it's that those people didn’t have the truth. God doesn't condone terrorism or mass murder.”

Liesl chuckled. Kurt obviously didn't know her well, but it sounded like a mixture of half discomfort, half relief. “I hope we can agree on more than that!”

Blaine took that as his opportunity. “I’m certain we can,” he said. “For example, what do you feel is foundational to faith? The most important thing one could learn from religion? I bet we have some things in common there.”

“God is love,” Liesl answered without a pause.

Jana took longer. “‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.’ And you? What's foundational to you?” Yes

Kurt knew what Blaine's response would be before he spoke. “What Liesl said,” Blaine answered.

But Kurt had to think about it. Jana’s answer covered part of it, but was incomplete. As for Blaine or Liesl—they weren’t wrong. Not exactly. But it wasn't his answer. He could believe that Jesus was love or the Holy Spirit was love. Even Heavenly Mother, he could believe was love.

But for God to be loved, the sentiment had to apply to all of the Godhead. And he wasn't sure about God the Father?

Sometimes Kurt felt Heavenly Father’s love so clearly. But other times, when he scrutinized the Plan of Salvation too closely, it was hard to believe in that love. How could an all-knowing God create a plan that required every single one of his children to marry a member of the opposite sex and be fruitful and multiply, while knowing that this very plan would be misery to a portion of those children?

If the Plan of Salvation wasn’t for the happiness of God’s children, then who was it for? Whenever Kurt asked himself that question, he was lead inevitably to the thought that Heavenly Father had created that plan not for the benefit of humankind, but for his own benefit. That he had created earth and all its inhabitants for the sole purpose of having people to rule over.

There was this idea in Mormonism that Heavenly Father was not the first of his kind. That he had once been a man like Blaine or Kurt, but became a god by faithfully obeying the rules that his own Heavenly Father had set out for him to follow. As a god, he created his own worlds and populated them, and imposed those same rules on his creations. Those of his children who managed to obey and persevere could in turn become gods, who could then create their own worlds and subject their own children to the same rules, ad infinitum.

As the deified descendants of Heavenly Father grew in number, he grew in glory. If Kurt had children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren who all maintained faithful membership in the church and entered the celestial kingdom, he would have greater glory than if they became Lutherans or Baptists or gave up on religion altogether. He would certainly have more glory than he could ever earn as an unmarried, chaste, childless homosexual.

It was like a divine pyramid scheme, with no ultimate purpose but to enrich those who played the game right. In a divine plan like that, the capacity of a god to love or not love seemed inconsequential. It was simply about following the rules, taking the right steps, repeating a pattern simply because that was the only pattern one knew.

Kurt couldn't believe that was his ultimate purpose—to become a god who repeated the mistakes of the previous generations of gods, and who compelled his own children to repeat those same mistakes. Such gods weren’t gods at all. They were powerless cogs in a providential machine.

No. Kurt couldn't believe in this kind of Heavenly Father. And yet he also did, without wanting to, because it was the language he had been raised in.

What languages were complex, expansive things. The English language had 400,000 words, most of which Kurt probably can't even encountered yet. German had six different ways to say the word “a.”

The language of Kurt’s heart had the same sort of complexity. Amid the confusion, there also lay beauty. A memory left into Kurt’s mind from the previous Sunday. As he had walked past the primary room, he'd heard one of his favorite hymns from his own childhood.

He heard the refrain now in his mind, and realized it was a summation of the simple faith he’d had as a little boy, before his mother died and everything became complicated.

It was the faith he wanted to have now.

“Love one another,” Kurt said. “That's the most important thing.”

*

They met when they were sixteen. It was love at first sight, but it took a while for either of them to admit it. “I knew I was gay already—well, not in those terms, but I knew that I didn't like boys and that I liked girls,” said Jana after clearing the last piece of potato off her plate. “Liesl had a boyfriend she’d been dating for three years. I figured they were going to get married.”

Liesl laughed. “Except he was gay, too. I was gay, and he was gay, and we dated for—what was it, now, Jana, five years?—and we never spoke about it. I had my suspicions. He never wanted to make out with me. Little kisses, yes, but nothing passionate. I felt so lucky to have a boy who was so respectful! I found out years later why he was, when I came back from college. He’s in the Netherlands now, with a husband and stepchildren and everything. You know, they got married in a church before it was legally recognized there—maybe before you two were even born! Jana and I have talked about getting married in a church, but then we’d have to become Protestants first, and that would be ... well, it just doesn’t fit.”

“So how did you two get together, then?” Blaine asked. It wasn't an appropriate question, but Kurt did not poke Blaine with his big toe. He was curious, too.

“Oh. Well. That’s complicated," Liesl said. "There were some things in high school when I was still with this boy, but I won't go into the salacious details. And then a falling out, and I was never going to talk to her ever again—”

“With good reason,” Jana chimed in.

“—but two years into college, she contacted me, and I couldn't not see her, and—” Liesl squeezed Jana’s hand, their faces transforming into something much younger, as if they were in the first flush of love “—it's been 40 years and counting, and I wouldn't have it any other way."

“That's so romantic." Blaine’s eyes were practically sparkling with sympathetic joy. “Meeting so young and really, well, growing up together.”

"I don't think a lot of gay people find that,” Jana said. “so many people don't even know they're gay until later in life. And even if they do, there's the closet and all the pressures from the outside world. Plus, there’s fewer of us. For a lot of people, it takes years to meet the right person. Though I suppose that can be true for straight people too. When we were younger, you know, in the seventies with sexual liberation and everything, a lot of our friends thought we were a bit silly to commit when we were so young. And of course, some people in our family thought we were too young to know that we were gay. But when you’ve met the right person, you know. Youth and inexperience is no reason to lose out on being with them.”

“So true,” Blaine nodded. He looked over at Kurt with a smile, and something welled in Kurt—a feeling of both pain and exhilaration, pushing into his breastbone, as if Blaine was thinking the same thing that Kurt was: You’re the person I don't want to lose out on.

Blaine looked away, and the illusion passed. But the ache in Kurt’s chest remained.

*

“Two years?” Jana said later in the meal, after setting out generous slices of apple cake in front of the two missionaries. “You each are in Germany for two years, yes? And then what?”

“Then we go back to the United States,” Blaine said with a wistful, almost sad, expression.

“And you are missionaries there, or?”

“No. Then we go to college.” Blaine poked at his apple cake, breaking off a small piece and stabbing it gently with his dessert fork, but not yet bringing it up to his lips.

“And what do you study for? To be priests?”

“No,” said Kurt, who had already sampled the cake—delicious—and wanted to release Blaine from the obligation of talking so that he could taste it, as well. “We're already priests. It’s different from Catholicism. Or Protestantism. Most boys get ordained into the priesthood at the age of 12.”

Liesl’s eyes almost bugged out of her head. “That's quite a commitment for a 12-year-old.”

“Yes, but— Perhaps not the same commitment as one of your priests. The priesthood gives us the power to do certain things in the name of God. At the very beginning, one can do things like distribute the sacrament. Later, one can bless it. As one progresses, one can do other things like bless the sick and perform baptisms. But for most of us, it's not a full-time calling like it is for your priests. I mean, it is—we're always mindful of the privilege with which we have been entrusted and of the need to fulfill our callings—but we aren't performing the administrative functions of running a church, or conducting mass every day, or hearing confessions.”

“All right,” Jana said. “But what I'm trying to figure out is, what exactly is a missionary in your church? You see, when I was your age, I became a novitiate.”

“Novitiate?” Kurt and Blaine repeated in twin confusion.

“A candidate for becoming a religious sister. A nun,” Jana explained. “So having dinner with you tonight, talking about God, seeing the fire in your eyes… it reminds me of myself when I was younger.”

If Kurt had been asked to guess which of the two women had been a Catholic zealot in her younger years, it certainly wouldn't have been Jana. He thought better of saying so, however, and instead placed another piece of apple cake on his tongue.

“When you are exploring a calling to become a religious sister, there are stages to it,” Jana explained. “As a novitiate, you live and work with the sisters, but it’s an exploratory period. You are not asked to commit yourself yet. You experience the life, you talk with God and your spiritual director, and after months or years, you gain clarity whether or not you should take your vows. You know the basic vows, yes? No? Chastity, poverty, and obedience. Anyway, I wondered if being a missionary is like being a novitiate?”

No, Kurt was about to say, but Blaine spoke first. “Yes and no. We’ve already taken vows of chastity and obedience. Not poverty, though. For better or worse, Mormons aren't fond of poverty. And the vow of chastity is that you won’t have relations with anyone other than your spouse. It's not a vow to never get married.”

Liesl perked up. “And when you do get married—does this vow permit you to marry a man? Or only a woman?”

“The vow itself?” Blaine asked. “It doesn't specify. It does say that your marriage should be legal and lawful in the place where you live.”

“It’s state by state in the U.S., right? So is it legal to marry a man where you're from?” Liesl asked.

“No,” Blaine said, in a tone that sounded almost deflated. “But in America, you can always move to a different state if you want to. It's like the EU that way.”

Kurt knew that Blaine had good intentions. but it was irritating, all the same. “Elder Anderson is wrong.”

Blaine looked like Kurt had just stabbed him in the thigh. Kurt had the urge to reach under the table and comfort the metaphorical wound. he ignored it.

“As a missionary, this isn't something I would usually discuss with people. But you have been open with us, and I feel I should be open with you. Elder Anderson doesn't want to offend you, or me. So he paints a rosy picture. Because he’s straight and it doesn’t personally affect him, he doesn't understand how being positive can actually hurt people like us in the long run. How hiding the truth can make it harder to deal with when you finally find out. I’m gay, though. And I can tell you with certainty that missionaries are expected to return home, find a compatible woman, and marry her for time and all eternity. That is the only way to the highest level of salvation in our church. And I will never reach it unless I marry a woman, not a man.”

Blaine’s lips were tight with frustration. Possibly even anger. Or was it hurt? “But—”

“And if I were to marry a man, or have a relationship with one, that would be seen as a violation of my covenants.”

“Well,” said Liesl, frowning. "When are you released from these covenants? Three years? Nine years? In Jana’s order, the temporary vows were renewed every—what was it, Jana?”

“I think it was five,” said Jana. “I never got that far, of course.”

“I don't understand the question," Kurt said. "Covenants are for time and all eternity.”

“No! No, no, no.” Jana shook her head vigorously, with a passion that sparked another sense memory of his mother, slamming an issue of New Era on the kitchen table in disgust and saying to his father, He’s the prophet, but he’s certainly not speaking as one.

“Humans can't make covenants for all eternity because we're humans,” Jana said. “We die. From where we are, we can’t see into eternity. We can’t even see into the future of our own lives. That's why the religious orders have periods of exploration, and when you take your first vows, they are temporary. They have an expiration date, because you don't know what it's going to be like to live those vows until you actually do it. Only then do you have enough information to make a permanent commitment."

“Clearly their religion does things differently," Liesl said gently, trying to dial back her wife’s intensity.

It didn't work. Jana set her sites on Kurt, her gaze piercing through him. “How do you feel about having made this covenant, Elder Hummel? Do you truly feel that you should spend the rest of your life alone or in a loveless marriage based on a value made when you were, what, eighteen? Nineteen? How do you ever even experience romantic love? Did you know what you were giving away?”

Shame and self-righteousness and rage—with Jana? with the church? with God?—warred within Kurt’s brain. He touched his mangled CTR ring. He took a deep breath. “I've said enough. I don't feel comfortable answering that question."

Jana's forehead wrinkled. “Well, I'll tell you how I feel. I don't like that. I don't like that at all. The Catholic Church doesn't celebrate relationships like mine and Liesl’s. But it never asked me to take a vow against them. And you’re too young to have taken vows already, before you even had a taste of the religious life. Elder Anderson, did you know what you were promising?”

“No. I didn't.” Blaine said with a pained look. “And I don’t think Elder Hummel did, either. And you’re right. That’s not fair. It's too much to ask of anyone, to never have real companionship or love.”

Kurt glared at him. He shouldn’t. Showing displeasure with your companion in front of investigators was highly unprofessional. But really, it was so annoying. Blaine was talking against the church, which is absolutely should not be doing in front of nonmembers. And why? He had no obligation to take on Kurt’s battles for him. Kurt didn't want him to. Blaine’s life was going to be easy, and he should appreciate that—not worry so much about any pain Kurt might be going through. Knowing Blaine cared that much just made the pain worse. “I wouldn't put it that way,” Kurt snapped. “I've been in the church since I was born. I know what it's about. We attend religious classes every day throughout high school. We received specific preparatory classes before we made our covenants.”

Jana remained skeptical. “Preparation requires more than classes and abstract knowledge. I thought I was exactly cut out for the religious life. I had no interest in marrying a man, I enjoyed material possessions but wasn't fixated on them, and I longed for rules and structure. The world—the little of it I had experienced—was frightening to me. I should clarify that I already had met Liesl at this point. We had gone to high school together, and I knew what I felt for her was not what a girl usually felt toward her female friends. I knew that I loved her, and she had told me that she loved me. And that terrified me. We didn't have legal partnerships back then in Germany. Even France and Denmark didn't have them. There was no place in the world where same sex-marriage was legal. I didn't know how we could build a life together. So when she started college, I went to the cloister. But my spiritual director—she could see through me. She kept asking me why I was called to a religious life. And I kept telling her it was because it was the only life I could see myself living. I thought that was a good answer. But she wasn't satisfied. Finally, one day—it before Easter, the crocuses had only started peeking through the ground and all the branches of the trees were still bare—and she said, ‘Jana, are you running toward this life, or are you running away from life outside?’”

Liesl was watching Jana speak, enraptured. It was clear she had heard this story before, but her eyes teared up all the same. She reached out and lay her hand on top of her wife’s, and Jana’s turned instinctively toward it until they were palm to palm, fingers wrapped together.

“That’s when I understood,” Jana said. “In or outside of the community, I was never not going to love Liesl. God knew that. God didn’t want me to live a life that I could live. God wanted me to live the life that I should live. And as hard as it is for many Christians to understand, that life is the one I've made with her.”

Against his will, Kurt’s gaze was drawn toward Blaine. His companion���s eyes welled with tears. Blaine blinked them back, but one still managed to trickle down his cheek. It seemed to enter Kurt's skin spread to his heart, making it cramp at the contact. Kurt wanted so badly to wipe the tear from his Blaine’s face.  He wanted so badly not to care what Blaine felt at all.

“Thank you for sharing something so personal, Jana,” Blaine said. “It's so beautiful.”

Jana gave him a bittersweet smile. “I suppose I was hoping your faith gives individuals the same room to discern their callings. Not to push everyone on the same path. The church should reflect the body of Christ, and ‘a body has many parts, but all its many parts form one body. …  If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? God has placed the parts in the body, each in their difference—just as he wanted them to be.’”

[jumping-jackalope]

haha well yes i do have many scientific grade observations on iNaturalist 😏 *does the mating dance of sandhill crane* *women flock to my charming athletic movements*

[butchniqabi]

(Email ask game) There is a large panicked bird flying around in your garage and you can’t get it out.

To whom it may concern (Animal Control),

I would first like to thank your representative, Katie, for her attempt to guide me through this process, she was tremendously helpful. Unfortunately, I was unable to remove the crane (Antigone canadensis) from my garage and I am afraid my intervention potentially made things worse. I've been advised to wait for your arrival, as I am stuck in the corner of my garage and incapable of reaching the door to my home or the button to lift the garage door.

I now realize my attempts to capture the sandhill crane's specialized dance in such a chaotic environment was a mistake on my part, and I take full responsibility for my present situation.

Thank you once again for your help. I appreciate all of your help and efforts in resolving this situation.

All the best,

The Guy with a Crane in His Garage

[finishinglinepress]

FLP CHAPBOOK OF THE DAY: Hard Feelings by Elizabeth R. McCarthy

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Elizabeth McCarthy lives in northern Vermont with her husband. She self-published her first poetry chapbook The Old House in 2020, and her second chapbook, Winter Vole was published by Finishing Line Press in 2022. Elizabeth’s poems appear in several magazines and literary reviews such as; The Washington Post, The Main Street Rag, Silver Birch Press, Blue Heron Review and many others. Elizabeth is a member of the Poetry Society of Vermont and an online member of The Lockdown Poets of Aberdeen, Scotland. #poetry #Vermont #nature

PRAISE FOR Hard Feelings by Elizabeth R. McCarthy

Hard Feelings, Elizabeth McCarthy’s second poetry collection, is filled with close observations of birds and other wildlife found in the Vermont countryside. Through metaphor and simile, form and imagination, the poet transforms these observations into the language of poetry. In the title poem, the last wild apples of the season are likened to grudges that linger and ferment, becoming “sour little/hearts that/rot in place.” In “Scuttled Memories,” an extended maritime metaphor evokes the sense of time passing when we leave our grief and regrets “stuck in the wooden hull/of memory.” Yet these are ultimately celebratory poems, full of the joy of discovery, like the old milkweed seeds that “burst open/the pod door — escaping/to whorl and dance/in the autumn sun.”

–Angela Patten, author of The Oriole & the Ovenbird, In Praise of Usefulness and other books.

In Elizabeth McCarthy’s beautiful, new collection, Hard Feelings, we enter a world of sandhill cranes, field crickets, spring peepers, odd cats, and cleansing rain. Present and thankful for ordinary moments, McCarthy shares her deep connection to nature and the whispered wisdom she receives. She speaks to us of her preferred world, “where understanding / is the sunrise.” Reverently hanging items of laundry in the summer sun, McCarthy writes about, “pinning them in silent prayer,” and we experience the day through her appreciative eyes. These are poems that offer solace, even when processing grief. Above all else, these are poems of hope, “for those who / believe in destiny / delivered in the night / of each new month.”

—Cristina M. R. Norcross, Founding Editor of Blue Heron Review; author of The Sound of a Collective Pulse and other titles

Please share/please repost #flpauthor #preorder #AwesomeCoverArt #poetry #chapbook #read #poems

[froggypondy]

M3gan Sleepover

Summary:

The frogs met at a new pond to meet M3gan, the AI doll that kills people (and a dog).

The Setup:

Frog Rune cleaned their pond, picking up debris, sweeping the stones, and putting away trinkets. They went to the Frog Supermarket and purchased delicacies; Red Vines,  chocolate covered rocks, and Rainbow Worms. They also got new bubbles for their friends to sleep on.

Frog Ash went to Amazon and bartered for a M3gan meet and greet (movie, decorations, and book). She also got a tiny M3gan to visit.    Frog Ink brought a werewolf to play games with (that we ignored and forgot about).

The Sleepover:

    Food was a whole event of its own. First came water (hydrate or die straight), then was the Sandhill Crane dinner delivery. The dinner was lovely, with only a few bird feathers as a treat. As soon as the food was all eaten, the frogs went to the treehouse to prepare the movie. They went back to the cottage kitchen, preparing all sorts of snacks. There was Red Vines, popped flies with trail spice, Rainbow Worms, chocolate covered rocks, and dirt discs.

    The M3gan movie (the unrated gory dvd version) was exciting and suspenseful. Us frogs won't talk too much about it, in case any other frogs reading want to watch it. It's definitely worth the watch!     Before the Sandhill Crane delivery, the frogs did crafts! Making friendship bracelets out of different colors grasses and twine. They explored Frog Rune's pond library, looking through many exciting tomes. (The Pocket Daring Book for Girls, The Dangerous Book for Boys, The Daring Book for Girls, How to Invent Everything, a lockpicking guide, and choose your own adventure Shakespeare books by Ryan North).     M3gan was there as well, in a miniature form. The decorations from the Amazon were great, including balloons for keepy uppy. There were cool stickers, which were rationed to each frog.

    After the movie, the frogs cozied up in their frog sleeping bags, and spent some time talking and bonding. Overall, it was a night to remember.

The Reviews:

    Frog Ash: Loved it more than anything. Favorite part: the dance scene in the red hallway near the end of the movie. Loved the Red Vines, loved the bracelet making, loved the balloons, loved talking before sleeping. The sky popcorn was stale (from an airplane).

Frog Ink: Liked the part where M3gan was walking purposefully down the hallway, as well as the conversation where Cady needed to grieve and not only have distractions. The part where Bruce showed up to fight was top three for her. Liked the chocolate covered rocks and talking. Friendship bracelet had a lump, sad.

    Frog Rune: Every part that M3gan sang was a slay. Movie was Camp 10/10, so fun to watch. Favorite part of sleepover was talking after movie, but crafts (bracelet making) were fun too! Least favorite part was when the pond dog was evil and homophobic.

Key:

Frog Supermarket: = Publix

Chocolate covered rocks = Whoppers

Rainbow Worms = Gummy worms

Bubbles (to sleep on) = Air mattresses

Tiny/Miniature M3gan = Aliexpress plushie 

Werewolf = Werewolf card game

Sandhill Crane =

Domino's

Popped flies = Popcorn

Dirt discs = Cookies

Colored grasses and twine = Embroidery thread

[kumarumang5566]

Winter Activities and Events in Moses Lake, Washington.

Nestled in the heart of Central Washington, Moses Lake transforms into a winter wonderland as the temperatures drop and snow blankets the region. Known for its vast water body and recreational opportunities, Moses Lake offers a plethora of winter activities and events that cater to all age groups and interests. Whether you're an outdoor enthusiast, a festival-goer, or someone who enjoys cozy indoor activities, Moses Lake has something special for you this winter.Read More

Outdoor Adventures

1. Ice Fishing on Moses Lake

As winter sets in, Moses Lake becomes a prime spot for ice fishing enthusiasts. The lake, which is one of the largest natural freshwater lakes in Washington, freezes over, creating ideal conditions for ice fishing. Anglers can catch a variety of fish including perch, trout, and bass. Make sure to check the ice thickness for safety before venturing out and dress warmly to enjoy a rewarding day on the ice.

2. Snowshoeing and Cross-Country Skiing

The serene landscapes surrounding Moses Lake provide perfect trails for snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. The Columbia National Wildlife Refuge, located nearby, offers picturesque trails that take you through snow-covered fields and along frozen lakes. This activity is great for those looking to enjoy the tranquility of nature while getting a good workout.

3. Bird Watching

Winter brings a unique bird-watching experience in Moses Lake. The region is home to numerous bird species that thrive in the cold weather. The Sandhill Crane Festival, although primarily held in the spring, sets the stage for winter bird watching as well. Spotting these magnificent birds against the snowy backdrop is a delightful experience for both amateur and seasoned bird watchers.

Community Events and Festivals

4. Winter Festival

The Moses Lake Winter Festival is a highlight of the season. This family-friendly event features a variety of activities including ice sculpting competitions, sledding, and a winter market where local artisans and vendors showcase their crafts and holiday goods. The festival typically includes live music performances, food trucks, and a fireworks display to cap off the celebrations.

5. Christmas Tree Lighting and Parade

Kick off the holiday season with the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony in downtown Moses Lake. The event brings the community together with festive decorations, caroling, and hot cocoa. The Christmas parade that follows is a joyous affair, with floats, marching bands, and a visit from Santa Claus, making it a magical experience for children and adults alike.

6. New Year's Eve Celebrations

Ring in the New Year with style at one of Moses Lake's New Year's Eve events. Local venues often host themed parties with live music, dancing, and special menus. Whether you prefer a lively night out or a more intimate gathering, there are plenty of options to choose from to celebrate the start of a new year.

Indoor Activities

7. Moses Lake Museum & Art Center

For those who prefer indoor activities, the Moses Lake Museum & Art Center is a cultural hub that offers a warm escape from the winter chill. The museum features local history exhibits, contemporary art displays, and educational programs. During the winter months, the museum often hosts special holiday-themed exhibits and workshops that are perfect for all ages.

8. Cinema and Bowling

A cozy way to spend a winter evening is by catching the latest blockbuster at the local movie theater or enjoying a game of bowling. Moses Lake offers both, providing great entertainment options for families and friends. The theaters often screen special holiday movies, adding to the festive spirit.

9. Indoor Ice Skating

If outdoor ice fishing or snowshoeing isn't your style, try indoor ice skating. The Moses Lake Ice Arena offers public skating sessions, figure skating lessons, and hockey leagues. It's a fun and active way to enjoy the winter season without braving the elements.

Culinary Delights

10. Winter Farmers Market

Although primarily a summer activity, Moses Lake's farmers market continues indoors during the winter. Here, you can find fresh, local produce, homemade baked goods, and seasonal treats. It's a great place to pick up ingredients for a hearty winter meal or find unique gifts for the holidays.

11. Local Dining

Moses Lake boasts a variety of restaurants that offer delicious seasonal menus. From hearty soups and stews to festive holiday dishes, local eateries provide a warm and inviting atmosphere to enjoy a meal with loved ones. Don’t miss the chance to try some locally sourced wine or craft beer to complement your dining experience.

Conclusion

Winter in Moses Lake, Washington, is a season filled with adventure, community spirit, and festive cheer. Whether you're exploring the great outdoors, participating in local events, or enjoying the comforts of indoor activities, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. This winter, bundle up, head to Moses Lake, and make lasting memories with family and friends amidst the beautiful winter landscape of this charming town.

[gunelle]

Photos and text: @ladzinski

1-. Blue Wax Bill's enjoying a mid day bath in the Timbavati Reserve in northern South Africa in a small pool of water

2-. Carmel. California

3-. A male Great Horned Owl sits perched and alert within eye sight of his nesting mate in the early evening

4-. Endless Chamonix

5-. Courting egrets mirrored up

6-. Chasing the Midnight sun. Iceland

7-. Dogs

8-. Exploring the covered bridges and foggy streets by headlamp in the lower Grindelwald Valley on the Alps

9-. Explosions under a falling sky, last nights lighting storm from Trail Ridge Road in Rocky Mountain National Park was unreal

10-. Fading light over the shivwits reservation in SW Utah

11-. Glacial runoff pouring down the rocky cliffs and mossy talus of the interior of south east Greenland

12-. Golden beams of sun breaking through storm clouds and warming up the hills of South West Utah

13-. Grindelwald valley, not a bad morning view with a cup of coffee

14-. I shot this photo here in Torres del Paine in february of 2014

15-. I'm not sure what kind of bird this is, ut it had a serious fearless attitude, even when I was at groud level with it. Everything in Africa is tougher

16-. It's hard not to love. Olympic National Park

17-. It's nice to be back in Grindelwald, Switzerland

18-. It's tough to beat the view of an electrial storm at 12.000 ft from trail ridge road in Rocky Mountain National Park

19-. A lone seagull chillin at sunset, bigSur California

20-. A paraglider floating high above Grindlewald, Switzerland

21-. A Red Tail Hawk on the prowl

22-. Nesting on the hunt

23-. Seagulls on the hunt for French fries near Westminster Abbey

24-. The Sintra Forest in Portugal just feels prehistoric, even more so when the fog rolls in

25-. The TowerBridge under a chilly winter night sky

26-. Light beams dancing and illuminating the Grindelwald Valley, Switzerland

27-. A Sandhill Crane in flight cruising over the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Preserve in Montana

28-. Blue Moon

[oddman-the-oldman]

Sandhill Crane Dance

Ridgefield NWR 20231008

[ryemiffie]

Pff, you think you can take me on the dance floor? You fool, you don't even know the sandhill crane mating dance.

You never stood a chance.

[wausaupilot]

Calling all birders: Volunteers wanted for Saturday Sandhill Crane count

By Rich Kremer– Wisconsin Public Radio Sandhill Crane enthusiasts in Wisconsin and six other states will meet the sunrise at wetlands and other locations Saturday morning for the 48th annual Midwest Crane Count. It’s organized by the International Crane Foundation, based in Baraboo.  The large birds, known for their peculiar dances during mating season, spend winters in the southeastern Unites…