Little Jewel

Two male hummingbirds were sparring over the feeders today. I can't say who won but this one settled to feed just outside the sliding door to the deck. It was during a brief moment of sunshine. I took this through the glass door and the screen door. Took a bit of work to get it this clear. Sure do love these Anna's Hummingbirds.

Arvin's older daughter Lynda arrived today from California. Helena and I picked her up at the airport and brought her home to settle in. Then the three of us picked up Arvin at Silverado and before we headed out, took a tour of the place. 

Lynda was not only impressed with the beautiful location but was delighted to see some of the things she had just been reading about in the book, "Being Mortal." (If you have not read that book I highly recommend it.) Among other things the author talks about having live things where elders are living. Since we were last at Silverado they got a resident dog, a female golden doodle who is black, not gold. She is mellow and sweet. They've also got a large cage with budgies in it. The fellow told us that even though they bought them separately the birds have self selected by color. They stood on the wooden bar, two green, two teal, and the white and blue ones in the middle. There is another large cage that will house something small and furry soon, perhaps guinea pigs. All of these animals add a touch of home and something to connect to that is alive. 

After the tour we shopped for the party tomorrow and then ate out at "On Rice" in the Barkley area. We enjoyed the dinner very much. Arvin was quite tired by the end of the meal so we all headed home. I dropped Helena off on the way. Tomorrow we'll all get together again. Friends are arriving from Seattle for our annual New Year's party. Arvin's birthday is December 31st so we celebrate that too. This year he will be 88. When I tell him this he gets wide eyed and surprised. "Really?" he says. "Yes," say I.