love.

I have about a zillion and a half photos that most people have never seen. Albums upon albums of travel photos, pictures of my city, my family, my friends, bands that I love, gorgeous places and faces that I've come across. But tonight I'm snuggled up with my tiny, soft, furry, purry kitty cat Tasha. And I realized I've got more pictures of her than probably anyone else I've ever known.

She worships the sun, and can never be too warm. 

She loves to be snuggled. And she has the loudest purr I've ever heard.

She doesn't seem to mind being photographed from way too close. Which I love. 

My last cat, Charlie, had these fantastic enormous gigantic feet. Like a bobcat or a lynx. Really big paws, it was so cool. And she was a polydactyl, so she had extra fingers and toes on all four paws. One of the first things I noticed when Tasha came into the family, is that she has these teeny tiny little kitty feet. 

And they amuse me endlessly. 

At Tasha's last geriatric checkup, the vet pointed out to me that she is something like 17 years old, and will probably not need another rabies shot, because they are good for three years... I wasn't at all prepared to hear that. Because Tasha herself has promised that she will never leave me. This cat is going to live forever. 

But just in case she can't, I will keep taking a million more photos of her beautiful face. 

red-tailed hawk

Some of my friends may have seen the photos I've taken of my neighborhood red-tailed hawks. I've seen them for years in this neighborhood, and their nest is near my office building. I love to watch them sunning on the window ledges of the office, and frequently get to see them flying around during the day as well. Their wingspan is amazing, and to see the white and brown of their under-feathers as they fly overhead is fantastic.

Lately I have been lucky enough to see them hunting at midday, from some tall old trees very near my house. That these beautiful birds have been close enough to be photographed, just fills me with wonder.

And I hope they continue to visit often...

(click photos for full size)