Little Chickadee

I am away for awhile visiting elderly relatives. I don't have many posts scheduled during my trip so I would recommend having a look back at some of my posts in 2012. You can simply click the "Older Posts" button below this post or check the side bar on the right and investigate the archives. I will catch up with your blogs soon.

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I spotted a little chickadee eating in the garden below the tree branches. I managed to snap a photo or two before it flew away. It is difficult to spot but you can see it's white marks on the side of it's head.

This chickadee looks like it's been eating well.

I was preparing to take my 3rd and likely best shot of the bird when it suddenly flew off!  Oh well, I will catch it another day, lol.

Here is what it looks like up close. This photo is taken by Kevin Bolton and is located at the All About Birds website.

The chickadee makes a lovely sound when it sings. Here is a short video so you can hear it.

If I get a change later I will add this submission to Camera Critters. Please go there by clicking this link and you will see more cute critters.

Dramatic Sky

I am away for awhile visiting elderly relatives. I don't have many posts scheduled during my trip so I would recommend having a look back at some of my posts in 2012. You can simply click the "Older Posts" button below this post or check the side bar on the right and investigate the archives. I hope to catch up with you soon.

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Join others by clicking here to see others from around the world who watch the sky above.

Our Outreach to the Slums

Friends,

I've been wanting to update you on Mama Linet and her family for some time. You may remember that she is the young mom whom we helped start a charcoal business so she could help to provide for her family. Jonah has recently come from a visit to her so please have a look at his update by clicking on the link below. If you could leave a comment too that would be nice.

I will be away for awhile visiting elderly relatives. I don't have many posts scheduled during my trip so I would recommend having a look back at some of my posts in 2012. You can simply click the "Older Posts" button below this post or check the side bar on the right and investigate the archives. I hope to catch up with you soon.

Kenya Missions of Hope: Our Outreach to the Slums: Hello, We had a short time this week where we visited with Linet and her family to check on their progress. I was so excited to see the...

Daily Concerns of Life at the IDP Camp

Friends, from time to time whenever we can, Kenya Missions of Hope visits the internally displaced people and tries to alleviate some of their hardships. You might remember we made a visit at Christmas to distribute candy and food.  If you missed that story, you can read it here.

Recently Jonah was able to make another trip there to deliver food, blankets and school books. It is a touching visit. Please read by clicking on the link below and be sure to leave your comments.

Kenya Missions of Hope: Daily Concerns of Life at the IDP Camp:   Hello friends,  I had a short visit to the Internally Displaced People's (IDP) camp and gave them a few books  before the schools o...

I Spy with my Little Eye

... something that is grey!

It is so seldom that I get to photograph the little birds that come to my patio. No matter how stealthily I move across the room (indoors) with my camera to try and take a photo, the birds fly away. I'm determined that this year I will capture some of them at the encouragement of my friend, Jo, over at Memorable Meanders.  So Jo, this one is for you *wink.

I'm not sure what it is but hopefully someone will be able to inform me.

Here it is "eyeballing" me, lol.

Whatever this bird is called, it is obviously eating well.
I will look up the bird later in my new Smithsonian Bird book for the western region.

This is my first submission to camera critters. You can find a link here and see a lot of other cute critters.

Drama in the Distance

These photos were taken a few weeks ago along Vancouver's waterfront in the West End.

Join others for Our World Tuesday to see more beautiful scenes from around the world.

Out of Africa

Have any of you seen the movie "Out of Africa"? It was released in 1985 and amazingly it was showing on the big screen in my city last Saturday morning.  I've seen bits and pieces of it on television over the years but I had never seen the movie from start to finish until this past weekend. The movie is based on the book of the same name, and other writing by Karen Blixen.  It is a movie based on Karen's love story and is described in one sentence on a website about movies

In 20th century colonial Kenya, a Danish baroness/plantation owner has a passionate but ultimately doomed love affair with a free-sprited big-game hunter.

What a powerful movie this was on so many levels. On the surface, it is a love story but it is a multi-layered story which is nuanced with so much about the meaning of life, love and loss.

The movie ran at 9:30 a.m. this past Saturday, and though it was open to the public, it apparently is part of a series of movies watched and discussed by local movie buffs.  These "regulars" get an introduction to the movies and a critique afterward and then they go off for lunch to carry on with the discussions.

It was lovely to hear an older woman talk about her thoughts about the  movie and of her journey to Kenya. It was also delightful to hear from an Indian woman who grew up in Kenya but now lives in Vancouver with her husband and children.  She had an especially personal account of the movie.  The director of the movie rented her apartment in Kenya while filming was occurring.  After filming was over, she was left with a copy of the screenplay. She was very emotional in speaking about the movie and her recollections of it because the movie had a powerful ending and people were still emotionally raw.

My friend and I enjoyed the movie so much that we went for our own lunch rather than join with the group luncheon.  However, we have decided to try and join these movie buffs again in the Fall and will likely take in more of the movies and discussions at that time.

What about you dear reader? Have you seen the movie? 

What did you think of it? 

Have you been to Kenya and how did that affect your viewing of this movie?
Perhaps you live in Kenya and have views you can share about the historical period this movie represents.
Whatever the views of my readers, I'd love to hear them.

Have a good week ahead.