BIRD CHATTER POST - IMAGINATION

 

And that's how it goes on a 

Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder.

Thanks for stopping by and 

have a great weekend.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - I HAVE NO SPECIAL TALENTS EINSTEIN SAID...

“I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.”

~Albert Einstein~

(Picture from pixabay.com)

A few memories about Albert, and this is a bit of a ramble heads-up! The following is from an old blog post I wrote when we visited his statue in Washington DC. It is word for word from one dated in March 2009, and I had one of those 'good grief' moments when I read it. I am beginning to wonder if my earlier mishaps are revisiting me later in life. We went into the city a lot more often than we do now.

"When I was browsing through old photo folders, I found these. I haven't visited Albert's statue in several years but often see the top of his head over the hedge on our drive out of Washington DC on our way home. I told Gregg I think I am ready to go back. 

Remember my other persona, Clara Clutz? Last time I visited Albert I tripped up one of those steps and hit my shin bone so hard I can still feel the dent to this day. I hobbled around for months, and it took over a year before I could kneel down without wincing. It literally has been years since we've visited Albert. There have been other places I have not suggested going back to, not wanting to draw attention to the fact that I can be a complete nervous nelly remembering places and incidents that have caused me great pain. Anyhow, I've just told Gregg we should visit as it is truly a marvelous statue.”

Present day now but I am still looking back as another memory was when we watched two rollerbladers swoop in to see the statue, but they were coming in way too fast. In that slow motion effect about 20 feet away - I couldn't believe what was happening, especially as I hadn't long had my mishap and was still gaining my equilibrium - one of the rollerbladers caught a foot on a crack in the concrete and did a somersault landing several feet away. They were young and fortunately for him, it seemed he was none the worse for his mishap, a lot of bruises that night no doubt. Fortunately they were wearing helmet, elbow and knee pads. I was happy about that and also very happy to get out of there! 

This post started yet another conversation with my dear other half as the story doesn't stop there. We crossed the street and were walking back to our car, I was hobbling and going a lot slower than normal, staring down at my feet as I didn't want to trip over anything else. A young man on a bicycle rode by us and as I looked up, a few feet ahead of us, his tire slid on some dust and gravel, and down he went. He had a bloody knee. We asked him if he was okay, did he need any help? He was okay he said and grabbed something out of his backpack to dab on his knee, looked at his bike which was still ridable, and off he went. Gregg and I looked at each other and even he rolled his eyes that day.

And what a day it was! We had warm weather and a beautiful blue sky and mishaps galore, or at least three of them.  I remember putting a bag of ice on my sore spot that night and a slow recovery process followed.

Well, it was worth it to see Albert. I suppose I can say this all these years later. It is such a beautiful statue sculpted by Robert Berks and is on the grounds of the National Academy of Science. You will often see a line of people waiting their turn to sit on his lap for their photograph. We were lucky, I wouldn't sit on the statue itself but had been trying to sit on the step after the last couple left and that's when it happened. But, if you ever get the chance go visit him, do - but be careful of those steps! I think he must still be there, though I haven't been into DC for a very long time, or even traveled up the road where we could see the top of his head. These photos were before digital and were taken with a little point and shoot camera.

The following I read online: “In his left hand, he holds a paper with mathematical equations summarizing three of Einstein's most important scientific contributions: the photoelectric effect, the theory of general relativity, and the equivalence of energy and matter. If you follow his gaze, you will see he is looking down at the ground at a star map which is at the statue's base. It is a 28-foot field of emerald pearl granite from Larvik, Norway, and is embedded with more than 2,700 metal studs representing the planets, sun, moon, stars, and other celestial objects accurately positioned by astronomers from the U.S. Naval Observatory as they were on the dedication date.”

Here are some Einstein quotes.

"I never think of the future. It comes soon enough."

"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding."

"Imagination is more important than knowledge."

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."

"Look deep, deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better."

"I am content in my later years. I have kept my good humor and take neither myself nor the next person seriously."

My photos don’t do the statue justice, but there are great ones to look at if you go to this link. 

When I reread my post, I can say I am still retaining my good humor, though perhaps once again rolling my eyes. I wonder if the rollerblader remembers how he came a cropper that day, or the man on the bike?

(picture from pixabay.com)

Thanks for looking, have a great Sunday and week ahead.

 

WE STILL DO NOT KNOW…

 Happy 1st Day of November everyone.  

May this new month hold much happiness and many blessings for you.

“We still do not know one thousandth of one percent of what nature has revealed.”

~Albert Einstein~

A VISITOR...

A surprise visitor as though I have seen them flying from one neighbor's yard to another occasionally, one hasn't settled on the deck rail for a while.  I was walking by the patio door from family room to kitchen, to put the kettle on for a cup of tea, when I was aware that my peripheral vision had seen a larger shape than usual. I quietly took two steps back and there it was, head turned away, thankfully.  It gave me time to grab my camera (kept on a table right by the door for such occasions) and was able to snap a few photos.  I was spotted and with wings spread it flew to the next garden, through the trees and out of sight.I checked with my Google ID and two birds came up, a Cooper's Hawk and a Sharp-shinned Hawk, they are very similar.  You can click here to read an article about that.  A little while later I had a quick chat with Gregg's sister after sending her the first photo.  She takes amazing shots of birds in her area, and we are very happy when she shares them with us.  After checking her Merlin app she thought it was a Sharp-shinned Hawk.  I am not an expert and am always grateful for help with ID's.  I really do need to download the Merlin app.  

A thought came that it was a good job we were late replenishing the birdseed.  I know these birds of prey have to survive and this one looked like it was on the hunt.  However, I was happy it was all quiet out there.  I kept watch outside after he had left and when I saw birds and squirrels in the trees again, the birdseed was put out, the smaller birds arrived and all was quiet and safe, at least until the next visit.  Another thought came, I prefer nature's gifts far better than diamonds around my neck, true!  Also...

"Joy in looking and comprehending is nature's most beautiful gift."

~Albert Einstein~

Have a great day everyone and thanks for stopping by.