Even though the light was fading fast, I managed to keep shutter speed high enough to get some great in-flight shots. 

As if a great horned owl was not bounty enough, I also captured this osprey with a recently captured fish. He was calling for his mate for at least 20 minutes before he took off to look for her. 

On the way home from work, I stopped by the Rookery and was rewarded with a special treat. A great horned owl poking it’s head out of the blue heron nest it has occupied. This is only the second owl I have photographed in the wild, and now that I know where he/she lives, I will certainly be going back for another visit. 

I also came across this interesting building which looked nice against the blue sky. Later I explored Fort Independence which I have often admired from the air while on approach to Logan. From the ground, however, it is entirely impossible to appreciate the beauty of its design. 

After work this evening, I had to go to South Boston to pick up an audio receiver for Kyle. He got a great deal on Craig’s list from a guy who works at the Boston Design Center which is located across the street from a working dry dock. After consummating the transaction I had to check out this enormous floating medical hospital that was in for repairs. 

Two of a kind. 

This morning was a time for good byes as my parents got ready to return to Schenectady. 

There is no doubt in my mind that this child was a cat in a former life. The only thing missing here are the wiskers. 

Later in the day we host an Easter party for the families of several close friends. Here, Jeanine enjoys watching the kids hunt for Easter eggs in the yard. This year Nico and I had egg hiding duty and I must say that we did an exceptional job. I placed a number of eggs high enough in trees to require climbing and Nico hid the Golden Egg in a devilishly difficult location under pine needles in the base of a hollow tree. 

To the delight of the children, the Easter Bunny has once again visited our home. Naturally, Maya’s reactions are the most dramatic. Nicolai complains that his basket was too easy to find (a legitimate gripe given is was placed right outside his bedroom door. I offer to hide it and he accepts. After twenty minutes of futile searching, he gives up and I give him a hint which allows him to locate it just outside another door. The front door.  

Following in his brother’s footsteps, Kyle has also entered the workforce as a soccer referee. 

Nicolai’s soccer team opened their season today with a nice 2-1 win. Nico had a great game setting up several attacks on net with great passes from midfield. Here he continues to play the ball after losing one crutch. 

Where do you find your brain damaged son and his friend when all you can hear is the faint sound of guitars? Naturally you look on the roof of the house. Apparently, in the mind of a teenager, high altitudes and risk of bodily injury enhances the musical experience. Both boys were retrieved without incident and concluded their jam session on the new deck which is only 4 feet off the ground. 

My favorite egg, posing with a teapot. 

Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves, especially Maya who likes it when there are big girls in the house. 

My mom and dad are here for the Easter weekend and we were joined by Seth, Anna, and Maddie for a sequential egg decorating game. Everyone takes an egg, adds one facial feature and passes the egg to their left. In no time flat you have a bunch of funny looking eggs. 

After work, I was asked to take a team photo for Kyle’s soccer team. A guess you could say this is a good looking team (compared to the muskrat). 

On the way into work this morning, I stopped by Great Meadows with a long lens. The wind was really blowing and it was much colder than I had anticipated. Fortunately, I came across this muskrat before my camera operating digits became inoperable. 

Yesterday it snowed and I had to wait till this morning to get my camera out. Winterscapes are becoming one of my favorite photographic subjects. 

I worked with Nicolai to sell his Roland V-Drums (electronic) on Craig’s List where we also found a complete set of acoustic drums to replace them with. I don’t think Nicolai has ever thanked me so many times in one day. The only down side is that acoustic drums do not come with a volume control. 

Jeanine, not known for being a big clothing shopper, went a little crazy once introduced to the hidden Chinatown boutiques that require friend of a friend introductions and secret maps to find. 

After a late night on the town it was necessary for all participants to purchase new sunglasses to protect their eyes as they took an open air bus tour of the city. 

Jeanine required a massive dose of coffee to sustain her late night activities. She is normally fast asleep by 10pm. 

Jeanine returned late last night from her adventure to NYC where she joined her close friend Monica Frost and Monica’s sister and daughter for three days of entertainment, fine dining, and shopping. 

What day would be complete without Maya climbing on something? Brave Maya lives on! 

The triumphant golfers pose for their father’s benefit. 

For family night, Nicolai decided on miniature golf at Kimball Farm. With Jeanine still in NYC and Kyle at his OWL class, we invited Nico’s friend Kevin to join us. Naturally, golf would be followed by ice cream. 

We also met this little fellow, although I have since forgotten what type. Speaking of owls, Kyle attended his final session of the OWL course at First Parish. This is the same course on human sexuality that I attended when I was growing up in the Unitarian church. 

After attending a birthday party this morning at a pottery studio, Maya joined Nicolai and I at the Willard Science Fair. Pictured here is a juvenile red-tailed hawk that was part of a birds of prey presentation.