Downy Woodpecker

The rain returned, as predicted, in the night, and nobody has felt like setting foot out the door. We have had a most pleasant day reading, chatting, and getting caught up.

The missed blip opportunity of the decade came when John and Harold had gone to the store, and Anne and I heard an almighty bang from the TV room...the sound of a bird hitting the glass door. What we found was so heartbreaking that I didn't want to take a picture...a beautiful little hawk (probably a sharp shinned one) crumpled on the doormat, eyes closed, wings spread, still breathing but not looking long for this world. As we watched, it suddenly rose to its feet and sat stock still staring into the door. We left it in peace hoping it would recover. 

When the guys got home we went to look again and it was still there, peering into the house. I hadn't wanted to photograph it if it was going to die and missed the chance when it suddenly flew off. Surprising how relieved we all were to see that.

Harold has just presented me with a paper entitled "My Conspiracy Hypothesis" Here is just a smidgen :
"I use the term 'hypothesis instead of 'theory' for the following reason. Observations of behavior plus recognition of a pattern , lead to the formulation of a hypothesis. A hypothesis plus factual evidence lead to a testable theory. Hypotheses support explanations, theories support prediction. I don't have hard evidence  of a conspiracy, just enough observations to form a hypothesis.

My conspiracy theory is that President Donald J. Trump is giving aid and comfort to Russia because Vladimir V. Putin has very embarrassing, perhaps even incriminating evidence of misbehavior by Mr. Trump...."

Six well supported observations, complete with references, follow. This is quintessential Harold. He knows whereof he speaks, although we can't always follow...