The Crawdad Hole

I don’t think I have ever seen this outrageously colorful bird here, but Floridians and Texans might be luckier.

For fun: try and count how many bird you see this weekend.

Another fantastical bird that makes it home in Ireland, the scarlet-footed and black-billed Black Guillemot are black with white-marked wings in summer when come to the coasts to breed. When winter comes they magically turn into almost all-white marine birds with black stripes.

Ireland’s national bird, the Pilibin (or pyewipe or peewit or Northern Lapwing), looks like it stepped out of a fairytale.

Since St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, we are going to do an Irish theme this week.

Beware the Ides of March. And be on the lookout for this cute stabby-looking little bird, the Timberdoodle (American woodcock).

Image is from an old but fun Bon Appetit article – How Pie Got Its Name. (Lots of ads on that site, sadly).

Favorite Pie? I like savory hand pies, such as pasties and empanadas.

This is rather neat. The 13th edition of the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative, a Lenten period of prayer and confession, begins in the Vatican and worldwide on March 13, 2026. During this time, Catholic churches around the world will be open 24 hours Friday into Saturday to encourage people to pray. (Note to self: check if my parish church is doing this too.)

Pope Leo announced this year’s theme “I have come to save the world” (John 12:47).

How has your Lent been going? I always feel like I am so sloppy about fasting and abstinence but I try; and I am trying to pray more and be more open handed with alms-giving. Perhaps most challenging, praying for people I do not like too.

Minnesota’s state bird is the common loon. So are their state politicians, amirite?

Bonus click: Loon Lake Symphony by American composer Alan Hovhaness. 

Killdeer plover pretending to have a broken wing to lure predators away from its nest.

… for they shall be comforted.

In memory of absent friends.

Image from Printque