Driving north of the reservoir, a county road. A redtail left the trees at a home and flew at us, 15 feet up. A big girl, she passed directly through our view. It was simply awesome. I could identify all the feathers, that close. A wonderful gift from a magnificent raptor.

And today, east on the Slocum Trail, nearing Red Bridge, seemingly from nowhere, a turkey vulture, perhaps even lower.

These are huge birds, wingspans averaging over 5 1/2 feet. That low, that close, the wingtips seemed to span berm to berm, shocking, disquieting, heartstopping, all there was in the world.

My collie puppy has a wonderful nose, the best of any of my dogs, ever. We were walking a canopied road, he about 35 yards ahead. He caught a scent, went to my left, whirled back to the right side of the road, circled the scent again, went left, then hit the brush to the right at speed.

It was dizzying just watching.

Later, he picked up something and crashed into tall weeds on the roadside. But there was a small, hidden ditch, and a tiny whump, and the least little yelp, then he was off, running.

Sorry, it was a banana peel moment. Had to laugh.

Saw my first indigo bunting this week. Don't want to wear it out, but can only describe that blue as iridescent. If you know a better word for that deep blue with a radiance of its own, share, and I'll use it the next few times I try to impart the beauty of a singular North American color of stunning clarity and beauty.

I have a problem with calling people pigs, as I think it an insult to all swine, wild, feral, and commercial. Okay, "commercial" is better than the practice deserves, as pigs grown for slaughter live out their "lives" shot full of antibiotics, packed together on a slotted concrete floor over a foul, reeking pit of their own waste.

Enjoy that tasteless pork roast, those bleached chops where the only flavor is in the fat.

So what do you call people who "litter"? That is a cute term for those who befoul the world with their trash and refuse.

And what to call soul-sold legislators who vote to deny women the most basic protections, to strip the aged of basic medical protection, to deny needy children health care, to perpetuate draconian definitions of "terrorism"?

Republicans? Too legitimate, for soulless, heartless, human stains.

What, then?