Talkative Tuesday - Eagle Adventures and lawn mowers

On Saturday while the boys watched the first BYU football game I took my girls and some of their friends to watch a rehabilitated eagle be released into the wild. Unfortunately, this was the only photo I was able to take before my battery ran out. So you don't get to see the beautiful eyes or the bird soaring over our heads or the bird almost knocking down the reporter trying to take its picture. This eagle was rescued by Martin Tyner a wildlife rehabilitator in Cedar. I can't remember if this is the eagle that was hit by a car or rehabilitated to hunt rabbits instead of cows. Eagles that hunt livestock are often threatened by said livestock owners. Martin has had several eagles rehabilitated recently. Next Saturday they are releasing yet another eagle. They released this bird to honor cancer survivors and victims. According to a Native Indian legend an eagle can carry 7000 prayer to the Gods. One for each of its 7000 feathers. Tyner invited everyone to touch the eagle and say a prayer for someone before the release. I of course believe I can say pretty powerful prayers without an eagle but many people still said their prayer with the eagle or touched it. Lia's Papa took her to pet the eagle. It still had its blinders on. I could not believe she reached out and touched that intimidating bird. She has serious panic attacks everytime a fly is within five feet of her personal space. I just really think she trusts her grandpa. You can see him holding her in the picture.

Rebecca was pretty awed by the bird too and a little more afraid to touch it. In fact she refused. The woman that released the bird is a cancer survivor and represents down winder cancer victims. She was such a little lady and it was pretty amazing to see her release that eagle with a wing span almost as big as her. When Tyner removed the blinds the eagle just sat there until Mary let go and then he fluttered down the side of the mountain a ways. Like I said he almost took out the photographer located down the hill. The reporter had to do some serious ducking. The eagle soared above us for a good ten minutes, reveling in the air currents. He drifted off into the distance a speck against the red cliffs of Cedar and then returned and circled above our small party. Someone, who looked exactly like Mayor Rocky Anderson (and Bruce and I are pretty convinced it was him) remarked that he was returning to say thanks to Martin for helping him. We all strained our necks until the eagle was a tiny speck against the clouds in the sky.

Sunday I came down with a monstrous sore throat and spent the day sleeping and resting. Cedar City is petri dish for germs. Everything goes around at least once.

After Tom came home from a half-day of work on Monday, Isaac got to do something he has been begging to do for months. I don't really get the fascination with this event. But then I am not a boy. Tom finally let Isaac mow part of the lawn. I have to say that in at least one way I am spoiled. I have never had to mow the lawn. I don't really ever want to. But Isaac has been chomping at the bit to get his hands on that lawn mower. So Tom finally let him take a couple passes. Isaac was in man heaven. I keep telling him "once you know how to mow the lawn you can never be an innocent bystander again. Someday you will be sick of mowing that lawn because someday it will be your new chore." But he did not care. The best part was his squiggly mow line next to Tom's perfectly straight lines. There was something so poetic about that squiggly mow line. Afterwards, Isaac claimed he was going to use his rip stick as a weight to strengthen his arms so he could push that lawn mower straight next time. Boys, are they not the best? And by the way, I will make Tom teach the girls to mow the lawn someday also. I believe girls should have such talents, even if I do not regret my own ignorance in this area.

The rest of our uneventful labor day was spent touring a few homes in the newly dubbed "Festival of Homes" and playing a round of bowling with the kids. All I have to say is I am grateful for bumpers and not necessarily for the kids' use. Tom's score 158, mine 67. I tied with Rebecca and even Isaac beat me. Must have been his newly strong lawn mower arms. Of course, I was sharing turns with Lia. But really, I am no good at bowling.