Monday, October 22, 2012

News From the Old Neighborhood!

I've been AWOL on the blog this past week for no reason in particular.
I got my license plates and today I passed the test for my license and will receive it in the mail soon, I hope.  At the end of this week I will be travelling to Reno, NV, to visit and help my niece with her newborn, Theodore and his older brother, Sebastian.  Not sure how much help I will be, but I'm looking forward to seeing those babies, visiting with my niece and seeing what Reno looks like.

NEWS FROM ORLANDO
Courtesy of Center of Gravity, or CG, my good friend.

CG had an unexpected visitor this weekend in her house and managed to capture him on camera.  She's given me permission to share the pictures and her account of her time with the visitor.  Mostly her words:


Okay, about the picture.

Me:  Can you see him up there with the red eyes? 
Not a decoration!

  I was watching TV this morning about 7:15. T (her husband) had just left a few minutes before, when I heard a Styrofoam cup fall off my counter.  I thought that was odd.  Then I heard a metallic noise and I thought “oh no, I have a rodent in the house.”  I looked up and there on my curtain rod was a Screech Owl.  I was a bit surprised to say the least.  It was a really cute little bird only about 8 inches tall and very quiet.  Bird flew all over the house and kept landing on things like my living room chairs, the top support of the shower doors, the top of my kitchen door, top of my bulletin board, in some fake plants on top of my shelves in the family room and this branch on the wall above the fireplace. 



 I called T who was quite surprised by the news.  He came over with the camera and took pictures.  By that time the bird had pretty much settled in the family room.  So we closed that room off from the rest of the house and opened the outside doors.  The owl would not leave and even settled on a shelf next to the fireplace.  I tapped on the side of the shelf and bird looked that way to see what was going on but didn’t leave.  I was within inches of it and it didn’t seem frightened.  T finally decided to go back to work.  I closed the door closest to the driveway and kept the patio door open.  I went and sat outside and finally the owl flew out.  What was so funny was that Strider (family dog) didn’t get excited about it at all.  He goes nuts when there is a crazy fly in the house but not the owl probably because the owl was so quiet when it flew.  

It was a bit unnerving to have it fly so close to my head even when I was sitting on the sofa.  I would catch sight of it out of the corner of my eye and I could feel the air move around me but couldn’t hear it.  Anyway it was a fun morning.

Thanks CG for giving me a taste of home and letting me share it with my blogging buddies!

Let's all have a great week this week!
Keep your fingers crossed for The Maven!  She goes back for a followup interview later this week: employment seems possible!

20 comments:

Olive said...

Owls are fascinating Ann. Not sure I want one in my house. Their eyes are kind of creepy.

shohshi said...

Oh Wow! That is so cool. I adore owls! I would be thrilled to have an owl visit me. Thanks for sharing.

Patricia @ 9th and Denver said...

Oh wow! That is so interesting. I wonder how he got in there, undetected. And if he was there all night?
Weird.
Back in 2009 we had a pair of owl hatchlings in a tree next to the porch. They stayed there for quite some time only going off to eat. At the time...the field mice were rampant out around the house. The mice/ rats are gone now;and so are the owls.

Missed your posting. Was hoping all is well. Best of Luck to the Maven!
Our youngest Daughter was recently accepted into the nursing program...yippee to these young ladies being so driven!

Pat

Razmataz said...

You know fingers are crossed both sides for the Maven.

Chatty Crone said...

I like owls - outside not inside.

Kit said...

Wow! How cool is that? Beautiful bird. Thanks for sharing. Kit

Debby@Just Breathe said...

First of all congratulations on passing your test and getting your plates. So do you still have your license from Florida, since you will need a picture ID to travel.
Have fun in Reno, nothing like a new baby!

OMG, I can't believe the story I read from your friend. How the heck did it get inside the house?
Thought it was fake. So glad it left. We had a bat once at the cabin in Mammoth Lakes. Scared the crap out of me.

Angela said...

Too cool that she actually got some great pictures to prove that there was an owl in her house! He sure was cute! Great story! Glad you passed your driver's test! I had to retake the written part of the test when we moved back to WV because I was gone for 4 years. I was so scared I wouldn't pass. I think I learned more when I was older than when I was 16 and took the test! lol

Mullin Avenue Workshop said...

How interesting to find an owl in her house. I like that it seemed not particularly alarmed by being inside.
Although 8 inches sounds small, it still must have had a presence - I think CG was lucky to have such a mysterious visit.
I'm wishing The Maven success at her follow up interview!
Brenda

RURAL said...

Now that would have been an amazing thing to experience.

They are so beautiful.

Jen @ Muddy Boot Dreams

Val said...

Haha, that is awesome! Great pictures!

Mr. Connor said...

Wow ~ what a story ! GREAT pictures . Guess once you get over the idea of owl in your house things could go forward. Sounds like everyone is legal driving & car wise in California ?

the cape on the corner said...

my gosh, that sure looks like a decoration! insane!

Rose said...

OMG, an owl. That is the first I've heard of an owl getting into one's house.......Yikes!

BTW, Boston Lady. I was born in the North End and grew up in Revere. I've been living in South Florida for the past 22 years and would love to move back to Boston. I miss the seasons.

Hugs, Rose

Linda @ Itsy Bits And Pieces said...

Wow...we've had birds in the house before, but an owl? Now that is really something! Good luck to your daughter!!

LeeAnn at Mrs Black's said...

How unusual! I've never heard of an owl coming into a house, only barns and such. I hope it was well. Maybe just looking for a place to rest for awhile. They normally are nocturnal so perhaps something startled it while sleeping. What an adventure! Minerva x

Kathy said...

Awesome story & great pics. I wonder what Rocky would have done?!?!?LOL
Good luck to The Maven, how exciting!!!

Claudia said...

So neat! We have screech owls around here.

How did it get back outside?

xo
Claudia

Unknown said...

An interesting visitor indeed, one never knows,"whois coming for dinner. Yor visit to Reno will take you back to a long time ago and you will ask yorself. how did I do it.

Unknown said...

How fun!! Maybe he will come over to my house...
I have not even seen CG at the 4 way stop. How is she doing??