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A Window On My World

This is not a daily blog.
Posts will be published on occasion and irregularly as I am able.
Some of these posts are from my web site The Garden At Crocker Croft.
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Monday, January 28, 2013

A Book


I finally have something to post about. I first learned of this book over on Inger's blog Desert Canyon Living.  I found that our library had copies, even a large print edition, which I borrowed. I am always happy to find large print editions which I can read without as much eye fatigue especially if it is a good book that I cannot put down. So was the case with this book. I read it in one day. Next day my husband read it. Needless to say, I do recommend this book, especially to people who care about animals.

Wesley the Owl, The Remarkable Love Story of an Owl and His Girl by Stacey O'Brien (Free Press, 2008) is a memoir of the nineteen years Wesley and O'Brien were together. The relationship was much more than scientific observation; from the moment baby Wesley opened his eyes and looked deeply into hers it was love. O'Brien spins the true story of their daily life together.  A story of bonding, love, and sentience between a human and a wild animal, a barn owl of complex abilities and sensitivities who smelled like maple syrup, and who first viewed her as mother, and then later as mate... making it necessary to pretend to eat the mouse he brought her everyday.  


O'Brien shares with readers the emotions and mental telepathy present in their communicating. She wrote of Wesley as: "a pioneer on this journey of exploration into the intelligence and sentience of the creatures with whom we share the earth. There is so much more to be discovered, and I'm sure in decades to come we will look back at this time as one in which we were emerging from the dark ages of understanding animals, their intelligence, and their emotional lives."


There is a website with photos: http://www.wesleytheowl.com/ 


and better reviews than mine. I noticed Temple Grandin in the list.
http://www.wesleytheowl.com/OwlComments.html


 

42 comments:

Inger said...

Thank you for mentioning my blog. You captured the essence of the book here and I hope it will result in more people wanting to read this wonderful book. Maybe Watching a Wild Snail Eating is next for you and your husband. It was another book about a relationship between a woman and a wild critter, a snail, no less.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

I've got the wild snail book on my Kindle ready to read.

Hi, Barbee. Hope all is reasonably well.

Spring comes! Does that thrill you or does the thought of the work seem overwhelming?

Very best wishes for 2013.

Barbee' said...

Hello Inger and Lucy, thank you for stopping by! That wild snail book sounds intriguing, I will look for it. Thank you for the tip. We have beautiful snow again today, and temp this morning was 7 degrees F. Pretty cold. I understand why people like to go to Florida this time of the year. Going to the grocery store and medical clinics is about all the exercise I get. I missed a good day to walk recently when the weather was warm. Not looking forward to the summertime heat, though. We have spring bulbs coming up. They are so confused!

ArcMail Defender said...

Great blog I enjoyed reading on it.

Balisha said...

I really enjoyed hearing about this book. It sounds like one I would like to read.
How's winter treating you? Your excursions out...sound like ours. I'll be glad just to sit on my park bench and feel the sun on my face. Have a good day, Barbie.
Balisha ((HUGS))

Barbee' said...

Hello Balisha, I thought of you when I was reading the book, knowing how much you enjoy birds. Well, winter has me penned in mostly. Thank you.

Barbarapc said...

Thank you for writing about this book. It seems like a terrific read. I'm going to tell my dear friend about it - it's just the sort of thing she and her daughter will enjoy reading.
Barbarapc

Barbee' said...

Thank you, Barbara. We read the library large-print copy so fast that I then passed it on to our local son. He is over here now, and he said he is half way through it already. He has one of the branch libraries near his apartment so he can drop it by there when he has finished the book. I still need to remember to check for that one about the snail. I couldn't remember where you are located, so I checked your info. Ontario is such a lovely area. I have had limited exposure to it, but thoroughly enjoyed what I saw one Aug. several years ago.

Barbee' said...

Barbarapc, I enjoyed your new photos. Had to smile about poor little Bart of the short legs in all that deep snow! Didn't see any way to leave a comment there; I guess comments capability is turned off. Thought I would leave it here, though I know you may not see it.

Pam said...

Fascinating, though I personally would not appreciate being brought a daily mouse... .

Barbee' said...

Hi Isabelle, neither would I, but it was charming behavior. Yucky though it is :)

Vicki Lane said...

What a beautiful blog! I've always wanted an owl for a friend ever since reading THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING -- Merlin kept dead mice under his cap to feed his owl.

Barbee' said...

Vicki, how delightful!! Also, thank you for your generous positive feed back.

Barbarapc said...

Hi Barbee,
Finished reading Wesley the Owl last week - thank you so much for the suggestion. Sat down at noon to start it, and didn't get up until I was finished to make supper. Just a lovely read.
Barbarapc
Will look at the comments section - to see what's up. Thanks.

Barbee' said...

Barbarapc, ha, ha, ha, I told you so. Thank you for letting me know. I love the feeling of sharing an experience. Love hearing from you! It makes the world seem so much smaller.

tina said...

I am going to go check out the link. This sounds like a wow book. Just imagine!

Barbee' said...

Hello Tina, I thought so, too. It was a major commitment for her. I'm so glad she wrote the book.

Danielle said...

I came across this book at my library and was wondering about it. So glad to hear you enjoyed it--will now put it on my reading list (sometimes all it takes is that little encouragement). Thanks for reminding me about this one--a perfect addition to my nature reading list!

Barbee' said...

Danielle, I'm happy that you popped over here to take a look. I suspect it will be a quick read for you. I enjoyed reading about her experiences at Cal. Tech., also, as well as, the owl.

Vetsy said...


what a beautiful story. I happen to love Owls...I think they are so unique. I have Owl tea shirts and Jewelry. I enjoyed reading and watching the Video...Thank you for sharing.

Barbee' said...

Hi Vetsy, I didn't know you are fond of owls. It seems many people are. Good to hear from you, thanks for popping over here to check on things.

Inger said...

Pearl Buck was an aunt by marriage of a friend of mine, so I have been interested in her -- both her life and her writings. I knew about her daughter, but I never read the book. I think I will look for it now. About a year or two ago, I read a recent biography of her. It was very good. I'm in the middle of purging all my stuff, I have already purged my bookcases once. But more needs to be done, maybe I should sell some on e-bay. It never occurred to me. I just don't utilize all the things that are available online.

Barbee' said...

Inger, that is interesting. The first book of hers that I read is My Several Worlds, and I'm glad I read it first for then I could understand better what was happening in the other books... and Why. I read her bio of her mother, and the bio of her father is on its way to my mailbox. I await the one about her daughter to be delivered to my nearest library. After reading that memoir first, I then read her trilogy House of Earth which comprises the three novels The Good Earth, Sons, and A House Divided I have a tremor, and I was amused to read that in the old days in China it was believed if a person had such, that they had been fed too many chicken feet as a child.

I've ordered several books off the Internet over the years when I couldn't find them in our library. I used to go to our local book stores, but in the past few years I do not feel well enough to enjoy that. Having them arrive in our mailbox is delightful.

It seems to me that the drawback to selling that way is that a buyer may be a long time appearing, if ever, and we have to have a place to store the books until then. If they would fly off the shelves, that would be great. I just donate ours to the library.

Pam said...

Goodness, I don't want to think about having a relationship with a snail. I have LOTS of snails in my garden and am not fond of them at all. An owl, I can see.

Em Parkinson said...

This looks like a fabulous book...I'll look out for it. Thanks for joining my blog and getting me over the 50 mark! Will go back and look at your earlier posts now.

Best wishes,

Em

Barbee' said...

Isabelle, I was surprised by that, too. I would like to read it, but would rather not purchase it. I may change my mind for our library system does not have it. We have some small snails here in Kentucky, but mostly we have slugs.

Em, Thank you for popping over here to take a look. I've been spending more time reading than writing.

LOLfromPasa said...

Super photograph! Thank you for stopping by in Coventry and identifying the flax. Appreciated.

Balisha said...

Hi Barbee,
It's just me, Balisha, checking in on you and yours. I've missed your comments and hope that you are well and just too busy to read blogs. We are having some cooler weather and I hope that you are too.I don't think for a minute that the hot weather is over, but I will enjoy this break.
Have a nice weekend.
Take care,
Balisha

quu said...

How are you? We miss you. :)

Barbee' said...

Thank you, everyone. I do not spend much time at the computer any more. I was having too much problem with feet and legs swelling. Also, over the years my chronic pain syndrome has gotten worse. I still get around and read blogs some. I've noticed that my comments no longer show up on most blogs. I still use the old standby version of Blogger that I started with, so now blogs that require I choose an identity from a small drop down menu do not recognize me even though I click on Google. Don't know what to do about that. No longer feel well enough to try new things so will just go with the old. I surely appreciate your visits and comments.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

Sorry to read you are having such a tough time with your health. We miss your posts but blogging isn't everything! Hope you feel well enough to enjoy your garden - being in it even if not doing much work in it. And bring with your family too.

Best wishes.

You are not forgotten!

Barbee' said...

Lucy, that is so sweet. Thank you.

Inger said...

I was so happy to see your comment on my blog the other day. I think of you often, and worry a bit about your health. I want to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hugs!

Barbee' said...

Thank you. Today is our 57th wedding anniversary. Moving at a snail's pace trying to do a little Christmas cooking prep.

Terra said...

This book sounds like one I would enjoy. I hope you resume blogging, leave a comment on my blog and tell me when you do. I am an elder gardener too.

Inger said...

Thanks for stopping by, I am feeling much better now. I hope you are doing OK and that you will, someday, sit down and write another blog post. Happy New Year to you and your family.

Vicki Lane said...

This sounds completely delightful! Thanks!

Inger said...

Dear Barbee, Thank you for stopping by. It is always so good to hear from you. I hope you are doing well with your health and everything else. Take care and many hugs!

Gail said...

I am often better with animals than humans. I shall put that on my reading list.

Thanks for visiting. I think I just have spring fever and want to get every thing done yesterday.

Barbee' said...

Dear Anonymous, I do not use other social media.

Easygardener said...

The book looks fascinating - I must follow it up. Somehow I never pictured an Owl striking up a relationship with a person, something to do with their nocturnal habits I suppose. They seem very enigmatic and rather mysterious.
Thanks for commenting on my blog.

Unknown said...

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