Birds in Spring

Yesterday I had the pleasure of watching two red-tailed hawks in a courtship flight, the company of two great horned owls perched in a spruce tree above me, and being able to observe the comings and goings of several other birds, squirrels and a single cotton tail rabbit.  All of this in my sister's back yard, as Rosie and I visited Boo.  Rosie chased a couple of the squirrels, but didn't see the rabbit; and, thankfully, she hasn't realized that a rufous sided towhee has built a nest only two feet off the ground to the east of the kitchen window...  Boo leaves the birds alone, but Rosie is interested in the local magpies.
  My guess regarding Vikings last night was correct - Ivar the Boneless was born to Ragnar and Princess Aslaug.  Floki sailed to Wessex in King Horick's boat, and the King is trying to purchase Floki's loyalty.  Once they arrived in Wessex, Ragnar sent Thorstein with a message to speak with King Ecbert.  Ragnar agreed that they would, all three (Ragnar, Horick and Lagertha), have a discussion face to face with Ecbert, after his son gave Ragnar Athelstan's arm ring.  On the way back to Winchester, all the guards with Aethelwulf were killed, and Aethelwulf was wounded, in a surprise trap by King Horick's men.  Rollo has been training Bjorn to fight, and has promised to always "have his back" in battle. -  I can't believe there are only two new episodes left for this year.  I have to echo the song in the opening credits for Vikings: "More, give me more, I want more!"
   It is another gorgeous day, with high temperatures forecast of 75 degrees.  We might have a few showers tomorrow, or Sunday, but the chance is slight.  And the Colorado Avalanche won their play-off game last night, and that has raised the hopes of local hockey fans.  It would be nice to win some kind of sports title...
 

Avalanche, Falling Rocks, and Snow

Well, yesterday started dry, then we had rain; then rain and sleet; rain, sleet, and snow; sleet and snow; and, finally, big, soft wet flakes of snow fell for more than 12 hours.  Due to the previous warmth and the rain, the snow melted until noon before it started to accumulate.  We had about 3 inches settle in the back yard, and I fed the squirrels and birds a little extra, just because it was nasty out.  Cashew came and begged at the door after sunset, so I gave him a handful of almonds....

 There was an avalanche on Berthoud Pass yesterday that buried three cars - luckily all the people in the cars survived.  And over 600 tons of boulders and rocks fell on Route 65 in Grand Mesa, closing that road until CDOT can blast the rocks away, and repair the roadbed.  Some of the falling boulders created holes more than 2 feet deep in the road....

Due to snow in the high country, an 18-wheeler jack-knifed on I-70, and that highway is currently closed in both directions.  There is also a 10-car accident on highway 6, which has closed it down.

  And, just as an aside, Loveland Ski Resort is reporting that, since the beginning of the ski/snow season, they have had 335 inches of snowfall - that's 27 feet and 11 inches so far.  (And March is usually our second-snowiest month!)