My Owl Story

Brace yourselves...it is not nearly as exciting as you may have hoped. Honestly, my true love for Owls only began about 8 or so years ago. I was always intrigued by the Owl, liked to look at pictures of owls and found something amazing in the eyes of the owl. For me it is as if they can see right into you. Believe it or not their eyes are not their main sense as ours are. Owls depend largely on their hearing and their sense of sound would knock your socks off.

Owl was my favorite character in Winnie the Pooh (and SHAME on Disney for removing him). Some might say the below description of this owl matches me to a T. Though a philosopher I am not, I do hate to be contradicted and I certainly can talk, and talk, and well, talk.

But my true admiration for the Owl started around the year 2000. When we moved into our new home shortly before Lauren was born. I would lie awake unable to sleep and listen to two owls that Hoo Hooed the night away on the power lines that used to be in the open space behind our home. Those owls talked all night long, my sleepless neighbor Mark and I listened to those owls many a night and compared notes via his wife Paige,often! They had the coolest hooos - 3 at a time most of the time and they talked and talked and talked.

There are also owls that live in the big pine trees by my parents home in Beaver Creek, I have not been blessed to hear them often but when I do it is a real treat. The sound echos a bit off the mountain side and gently reminds the amazing creatures are near by.

A couple years later we took Lauren to Arizona for a vacation. Lauren and I had to go ahead of daddy because something had come up at his company. We were their 4 days before daddy came. Our hotel room opened up to huge courtyard and we were on the top floor (not a tall hotel). In the wee hours of the first morning there I was awakened by the sounds of Owls. Not one, not two but many many owls. I rose to look out my window but it was too dark to see anything other than their eyes glowing in the dark. There were so many owls. It was amazing. I commented to the Hotel and they let me know that the owls come to those nesting places nearly every night. I was in AWE. I woke early each day just to listen and watch and try to catch a better glimpse of these intriguing creatures. Tried and tried I did, I could not get a photograph of these little guys - the best I got was this picture where if you look REALLY close you can see two glowing eyes, and you will have to take my word they are those of an owl.

That year my mom bought me my first owl at Christmas. A beautiful figurine that brought tears to my eyes. I have received four more and an amazing ornament from her in the following years. One sits on top of my mirror in my bedroom watching over me as I sleep, a crystal one sits atop my jewelry box and the others are near my computers so I can see them when I work.

A few years ago the County took down the power lines (as they had been burried years before) and the farm house nearby was torn down to make room for a school parking lot (cue Jonie Mitchel )and while the Owls stuck around for a short time I have not heard them in several years. When I am awake at night there are no more sounds to keep me company (unless Hailey is up) but I will always remember the two that kept me company when Lauren was a baby.

My wish is not to die leaving my children with so many owls that they throw them all in a box and give it to good will (all the while bickering about how crazy I was)...but I do wish to continue to continue to have some owls around me that I will treasure for the rest of my life. Owls make me smile, they bring peaceful thoughts to my head and fill heart with hope and joy. The owl will forever amaze and intrigue me with each thing I learn and see.

Well, there you have it. The owl story. That which it may be. Thanks for listening reading.

PS - If the owl in my last post was a little too rich for your blood (as it is mine) here are a couple more of my favorites that I have had my eyes on for a while first is the Emerson Owl, yes that is really was Jay Strongwater named that owl. I think he had me in mind that day!! Another must see is this awesome little Owl Clock.