When Pigs Fly! No! It's When Turkeys Fly!

                Now I know that pigs don’t fly and I have never thought much about whether turkeys can fly or not.  Although they are birds, the turkeys that I usually see are walking around pecking the ground in the same manner as a chicken.

                Well, the other morning I was quietly reading the news online as I usually do every morning when I heard a noise outside my window.  Looking out, I saw a few wild turkeys climbing the slope between my neighbor’s house and my house.   In the last few weeks I have seen several flocks of 20 to 30 wild turkeys pecking their way from the woods behind my house crossing the road and going into the woods across the street from my house.  It is always exciting to see these proud birds marching along.  When I stand on my porch to watch them, they pretend to have no fear but they pick up their pace as the flock parades across my yard  These proud birds, as you may remember were recommended to be the national bird by Benjamin Franklin, but lost out to the eagle.  Watching several of them spreading their back feathers up into the classic turkey pose is fascinating to see.

                But this morning as I came onto the front porch to watch the birds, I almost had to duck (no pun intended) when a turkey came flying off the roof in front of me. I looked to my left and up to the roof and there were several other turkeys on the rood edge ready to take the plunge because of seeing me.  On bird flew up and landed in a nearby tree and still another bird flew into an electric wire and had to untangle himself.  I was amazed that these animals had been able to get to the roof as I live on a hill and most of my house is at least two stories high.  But there they were—turkeys in flight.

                I read on the internet that wild turkeys feed on the ground, which might explain the myth of their flightlessness. They can in fact soar for short bursts at up to 55 mph. But their tendency to stay on or near the ground contributed to successful hunting that brought the wild population of turkeys down to about 30,000 in the 1930s. There are now 7 million of them.

An Evening of Independence

                Last evening my grandchildren were given a very exciting gift—“temporary independence”.  Their parents were going out for the evening and the 16 year was given the responsibly to be the over-seer of her two sisters, aged 13 and 8.  They were allowed to do what they wanted within reason while their parents were out.  The fact that the 16 year old had her own car gave them even greater freedom.

                So what to do?  Well, the first thing was to pile into the car and head to the nearest recreation park.  It was time to swing, ride the slide and ride the merry go round and generally use up their physical energies.  They romped in the park until the dark ended their foray.  Now back into the car and a big decision as to where to go next.    Well, the oldest worked at the local yogurt parlor and was entitled to a discount to whatever they purchased.  So off they went for yogurt.  Each person got their favorite treat with big sister picking up the tab.

                It was still fairly early in the evening, so what were they going to do next?  Hey, a quick call to their grandmother and they received a special invitation to visit their Mimi and Papa.   So to the grandparents’ house they went.  After a usual grandparent welcome, the girls had some additional refreshments.  They enjoyed their visit with the older folks, but the younger was beginning to doze off.  So now it was time to return home for the rest of the evening.

                After each girl hugged each grandparent, they drove the six miles back to their home.  Then there was the required text to their grandparents that they were safely home.  The girls then settled down to bed or to relax for the rest of the evening while awaiting their parents return

                Now these three girls had any choices for this particular evening, but what did they choose to do?  In order, a playground, a yogurt shop, and their grandparents’ home.  As one of those grandparents, we felt much honored to be ranked in the top three things these granddaughters wanted to do in their evening of freedom.  We are truly blessed.

Singing in the Texas State Capital

The Texas State Capital Rotunda Roof

 

Group Sing in the Rotunda

In position for the top photo

The view from above

W in the Circle

Looking over the Railing