The opinion seems to be: Cooper’s Hawk. I decided to delete a major portion of this previously published blog message. A lot of time and research went into preparation… but I don’t want to publish erroneous information. See my subsequent blog titled Cooper’s Hawk visitor.

Postscript, Tuesday, June 9, 2015, 6:30 AM: An answer arrived via email–from eBird–and I share it here.

**Lorraine – The bird in your photos looks like a Cooper’s Hawk. They are very localized breeding birds in your area and you may not run across them unless you are looking for them, or, as in this case, it visits your back yard. My guess is that either you had some water it was looking for or perhaps something that attracted a prey item (rodents, small birds, etc). Feel free to update your eBird submission as you see fit. Roadside Hawk is extremely rare in the US with only a handful of sightings. –Eric**

Lorraine comment: Yes, the fountain with fresh water was nearby. Yes, there are rodents and small birds in my yard.

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I’ve checked my several bird books–and the Internet–and haven’t identified my evening visitor. My “guess” is a hawk.

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Recommended reading: The NSA has not stopped spying on Americans… and it never will…

Another web link regarding Protect Internet freedom.

Major mistake!! It seemed like a good idea–the other day–to become involved with Facebook. Several volunteers, and CARE residents, want to promote the Escapees CARE Center. I’ve listened to others talk about their intimate relationship with social media. I wasn’t interested… but willing to help (repeat) “promote the Escapees CARE Center.” ~~ We want to attract volunteers.

“Stop”– I don’t have enough hours in my day for this!! ~~ First thing this morning, I removed my phone number from my FB account.

Activating allows Facebook Mobile to send text messages to your phone. You can receive notifications for friend requests, messages, Wall posts, and status updates from your friends. You can also update your status, search for phone numbers, or upload photos and videos from your phone.

Honestly, when I added information to my profile–including my phone number–I had no idea I’d receive an avalanche of text messages. OMG!! (Go ahead; laugh. I’m sure most readers find my frustration amusing.)

Not Bulldozer, not LeTourneau. Yours Truly moved soil that piled up from new paving blocks project one shovel full at a time.

Bright sunshine as I type this at 8:10 AM. Just a note; my mind is blank, I can’t think of anything to write.

Found my voice (lol 🙂 ) and share some morning pictures with you.

…in my Sanctuary, I meet with my Heavenly Father. He wipes away my tears and salves my heartaches. “What heartaches?” Only one family member was concerned enough to inquire about my home and health–and wish me a happy Mother’s Day. ~~ Oh, I’m not complaining because most folks my age say they, too, have been abandoned by family. Deplorable?!?!

Bottom line: Praise God I/we have the CARE community for a family.

“The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.”
― Richard Bach, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah

CARE residents, and Rainbow’s End RV Park residents (and interested others), are (figuratively speaking) walking the American Discovery Trail. We are currently in Colorado. Wearing a pedometer is a wonderful reminder of our need to “work” toward 10,000 steps per day. (I seldom reach that goal but I’m “working” toward it.) Let me emphasize that “collectively” we are figuratively speaking in Colorado. However, individually, I have only traversed Delaware and Maryland.

As if I wasn’t getting an overload of information from television… I searched the Internet for more details. This article spells out the sad story. ~~ Dylan Dreyer, on the NBC Today Show, said “Enough rain to cover the entire state of Texas with eight inches of water.” An Internet source says “Over thirty-five trillion gallons in the month of May.” How do we wrap our brain around those numbers??

Raining again–at 7:25 AM. It has been raining elsewhere in our area so Houston TV news continues and NBC Today Show has been preempted again. ~~ (Boring?! You’re weary of my repetitious messages?!)