Some Enchanted Evening

This past Wednesday, my Mom and I continued our annual event of Woodcocking. At a local park American Woodcocks can be seen doing their mating display at dusk. This consists of the male making its insect-like call in all directions. He then flies into the air after several minutes of his serenade and lands in the field again to repeat the process.

After a hurried gathering of binoculars, our trusty Peterson field guide, and a flashlight, we jumped into the car and were off. This is my favorite kind of bird trip. Spontaneous, impulsive, last minute. We pulled up to the park and it was still too light out for Woodcocks. This was fortunate because it gave us the chance to see the first Hermit Thrush of the year. It was becoming dark but, we were able to ID the little beauty by its rusty tail and subtle spots, just visible in the dimming light. Immediately after the Thrush, we heard the buzzing call of a Woodcock. We walked quickly, following the noise until we saw it. He was sitting on the outskirts of the field, up against the safety of bushes and saplings. We shined the flashlight in his direction and he was strangely undisturbed. The Woodcock bounced his funny little dance, turning quickly at 90 degree angles to make sure every being in the area head his pronouncement. After several minutes he flew directly up into the air and changed his tune to his musical flight call. We watched his routine for about half an hour until we lost track of him and his music.

"Some enchanted evening, when you find your true love,
When you hear her call you across a crowded room,
Then fly to her side and make her your own...."

Only a Bud (as of yet)

Hello and welcome to my blog! This is my very first post, so I am only beginning to learn my way around here myself. Thank you so much for visiting!

For a long time I declared that I would not get a blog. I would not surrender to the popular trend. Why should I write down my thoughts in a public setting instead of a private journal? Is it to get attention, to be noticed, to feel interesting and acknowledged? Or is it simply to enjoy sharing thoughts with friends and other bloggers? After much thought and deliberation I finally decided to sign up for a blog. It was inevitable. Every time I thought of something relatively interesting and original, the idea of a blog popped up in my thoughts. Each time I want to comment on my sister's blog I'd sigh at my lack of this popular, but useful (and fun) tool. So, here I am. I'm one of "them" now. The bloggers.

One of the reasons I deliberated whether or not to get a blog was my eclectic and unusual interests. I am a Catholic, interested in historical clothing and sewing, and birding, photography, and the environment. It seems that blogs usually concentrate on one main topic. However, I couldn't choose between my interests so I decided on them all. Hopefully, this is not objectionable to most people. Fortunately, I don't have much to worry about, considering most people who read this are related to me.

I do want to touch on my blog name before I sign off for today. The name, "A Rose in Bloom" was taken from the title of one of my favorite novels by Louisa May Alcott. I also used Sirach 39:13-14, one of my favorite passages.

"Listen, my faithful children: open up your petals, like roses planted near running waters; Send up the sweet odor of incense, break forth in blossoms like the lily. Send up the sweet odor of your hymn of praise; bless the Lord for all he has done!"

I love these verses; they inspire me to be like a "rose near a running waters" every time I read them. I have chosen them as part of my blog name because they are what I try (not very well most of the time) to live out every day.

Thank you for visiting and God bless you!
~Mandy