It's Been a Minute

But I am back once again!

Although I took my computer with me, while in Orlando it never seemed like the right time to spend two or three hours to write a blog post. Now, however, the timing is right, or as right as it's ever going to be. One would be tempted to think that we have a lot of time on our hands ,but one would be wrong. How in this world I was ever able to manage with four children is a mystery to me! 

Along the way though, it's been a beautiful ride.

Before we went to Orlando to celebrate my brother's 80th birthday, something exciting happened on Campbell Street and that is we had the huge stump ground up in the space we wanted to use as a small garden. 

I'm not sure if you can tell that there were actually about seven stumps from what must have been a very large and complicated Crepe Myrtle tree. It was an interesting piece of equipment that he ran back and forth over the stump.

Having a giant stump in the midst of what was planned to be a garden was not ideal, so Bruce found someone who could make it go away, or at least grind it up. In my next post I will show you how this looks today, but I've got a lot to cover from the trip so let's get going.

Our nephew Joey planned to surprise my brother Pat and he succeeded beautifully as Pat was so surprised when he got to the restaurant.

It was such a thrill for everyone, including our brother-in-law Hank who had also driven down from Murphy.

The truth is, Pat was in tears, as well as my sister Nancy on the right. Nieces and nephews were present, including our twins, minus Fallon who was at home with the sleeping Christian. You gotta respect nap time!

Rarely seen in this space is my sister Lisa in the pink sitting beside our son David, as well as her two daughters, Amanda and Emily. Indeed it was time to celebrate Pat turning 80, a milestone that seemed out of reach years ago. It must be his sweet wife Ruth who has supported him through several maladies and who I am sorry to report somehow escaped my camera lens. A very happy occasion, to say the least. 

When we arrived at the condo we were shocked at the dead foliage that, although the kids told us about, until seen in person it seemed impossible. 

Not every plant has turned entirely brown, but a whole bunch of plants and trees around the community have.

It is hard for anyone to imagine the damage, because frankly it is unprecedented, but apparently back-to- back- to back hours long freezes killed more plants than we could imagine.

Above is a Staghorn fern attached to a tree behind our condo. A much larger one down the way, had no green remaining. It is so sad because it takes decades for these type of ferns to get this large. So while the plants were a bit sad, the birds did not disappoint. I must say that just walking out the back door and knowing I will see birds in action is pretty darn great. Ducklings!! 

Over the four days since I discovered them. a number of them disappeared, either from a roaming hawk or perhaps the otter that lives in the lake. 

Below is called a Tri-Colored Heron.

This little cutie is a Palm Warbler.

Many days Ibises lined the shoreline.

Actually there were a ton of birds that kept me busy. Birding was also planned for Monday at the Orlando Wetlands Park, however, you know how it goes, the best laid plans oftentimes go awry. As was the case on Monday when we drove the twenty plus miles out there only to discover that it is closed on Monday! Our niece Amanda who came from Durham for Pat's party went out on Sunday, so after seeing her photographs of the Spoonbill babies, I could NOT miss it! With birding out of the question on Monday, we went shopping instead. 

For the longest time I have struggled with getting the battery out of my camera that I use for zooming in on birds. which I know sounds crazy, but it's been true. After months and months I finally did a Google search and discovered that it must be a swollen battery. How did I manage you wonder? What I would do is beat the living daylights out of the camera on an edge of, really anything, to dislodge the battery. Well, finally I could do something about it in Orlando and I did. Saturday, late afternoon following the party, while Bruce and Hank chatted, I went to Colonial Photo and Hobby where I bought the camera. Hank was spending the night with us before he returned to Murphy, seeing our condo for the first time. 

But, I digress.

Explaining my situation to the young man who waited on me, I could see the skepticism in his eyes. I have faced the discrimination against female photographers forever, so I am ready for it. He tried a few times, eventually heading to the back where several others tried removing the battery. No dice. So, they could not help me until the battery was removed. I left and noticed their cool window celebrating 70 years in business. 

Being old does not help when it comes to asking for assistance I can tell you that much. During all my years of doing art shows there were very few women doing photography and I think it is because loving gear seems to be part of the male DNA, and maybe it is for lots of women too, but not this one. I am always content with very middle of the road. Speaking of gear, you should see the big guns out to play at the Wetlands. 

Haha! The only one whose big camera. is visible is a woman! The jokes on me.

Anyway, Bruce beat the battery out after our wetlands visit, we went back and I bought two batteries that come out beautifully. The crazy thing is I was blaming the camera, and was thinking I would need a new one, but thanks be to God, I am now good-to- go. 

And so you ask, did we see our grandson? Why yes we did.

I got a kick out of how he loved playing with his feet. There will come a time in his life when the thought of grabbing his feet will make him laugh at the prospect. Poor Christian had a cold and was not feeling his best, but he eventually let me play Grandma.

At least for a little while. Looking at this photo of Fallon blowing bubbles for Christian makes me happy. Can you even imagine the delight that a child would experience with the magic of bubbles?

His sweet little hair is kind of like his Daddy's.

We decided on our last afternoon, instead of visiting at their home, Fallon agreed to meet us at the park for a walk. What could be better than a walk with our grandson and his Mommy, and birds? Not much friends, not much.

It was a little chilly so our poor little sick boy needed all the comfort he could get. 

He's much improved since we departed and even has attended his last swim lesson class where he has learned to float. Bill and Fallon have a fence around their pool, but you can't be too careful around water. 

The temperature was cool and the light was perfect. 

This is part of a very old apartment complex if you can call eight buildings a complex!

The morning light from my shower is golden.

Holy cow, one evening when David was visiting we took a walk around and by golly we saw a Pelican land in the water!

A most unusual occurrence that I was thrilled to witness.

David and Michelle met us for dinner at F&D where the light is pretty great too.

I took a lot of photos that I have been excited to share with you, but for now we are just catching up with the bare bones of our week away. 

Before leaving I saw Crocuses coming up in Jason's yard and it made me very happy to see that some of them remained upon our return.

Today at pickleball people were talking about what is coming up in their yards and I got so excited because I could add to the conversation saying that irises, tulips and hyacinth are coming up in ours.

There's definitely an excitement in the air knowing that Spring is just on the horizon. Woo hoo!

your friend,

Gail

Cedar Waxwings Strike Again!

 No sooner than I hit publish on my last post, I went through the back porch to take some trash out and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a small flock of Cedar Waxwings in our neighbor's evergreen tree! Naturally I was unequipped but ran quickly inside for a camera with a zoom lens. Folks, I was rewarded and I am passing on my good fortune to you!

Who knew that there was an abundance of berries on what I am presuming is a Juniper tree, although don't quote me on that, Those masks! Those super smooth feathers!! While I love Cardinals as much as the next person, this bird is right up there on my favorites list, especially when they show up unannounced which we will get to in due time.

I may have mentioned that Laura resigned her position with the town and as such John wanted to have a party to celebrate her retirement. Finding a date that worked for everyone was not easy, but finally it was settled for last night. Being a surprise party turned out to be more difficult then John expected, but since that was the original plan, he dropped the decorations off at our house weeks ago so we could do the decorating.  Eventually it was decided that it would work best for everyone if it was held in Jenn and Rick's new place that is anything but small and intimate. So, Bruce and I went last week to come up with a plan. They decorate for every holiday in a big way and Valentine's Day is included. We took advantage of her, well, what do you call it when it is a large area? 

Yea...large!

By the day of the party though, they were already switching to Mardi Gras. 

Indeed, I don't know about a legend, but she has been a HUGE asset to the town of Murphy and will be missed.

One day last week I joined with other folks for a walking group called, "Murphy on the Move" and as is typical, I was the slowest of anyone. I do not know why I walk, what other folks think is slow, but I do. When I mentioned that my partner had to be slow, a man spoke up and said he was also slow. Great! I've already forgotten his name, but our pace was quite similar.

Meanwhile this was part of the group leading the way.

I spoke with the lady in the burgundy after the hour walk was complete,

learning that she is an Appalachian Trail hiker and has done sections in most states. Held on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, it might prove difficult with my volunteer schedule, but we shall see. 

I am always so puzzled when I see something like this at our downtown antique store. Where, or who did it come from?

The weather has been all over the map; today is meant to rise to 62 degrees, whereas other days, the wet, cold and fog is pretty miserable.

Let's turn our focus onto beautiful days shall we? I put a different lens on my camera and did some practice shots of things you have seen many times before. 

How different Murphy must have been when the railroad still came to town. This is winter folks.

Plenty bare and brown, but it won't be too long now and this will all transform into glorious beauty. 

Meanwhile, one floor below, Bruce began work on a new project and can you guess what it was?

If you guessed a box to hold cans of gasoline and a gasoline blower, you are the winner!! 

When faced with the prospect of no power for a good long while, Bruce jumped into action, buying gas for the generator. Of course we all know we experienced nothing of the sort. but should we have, my dear Bruce was ready. Wanting to move the gas containers away from the house, he got very creative and went to work.

He painted it to match everything else out back that he has either built or refurbished and then put it in place. Shingles baby!

And here is the completed box in it's new home.

That's correct. Underneath the kayak! I took the photo above to talk about what is happening in the next day or so and that is having the huge stump ground out in order to turn this area into a small garden as it is about the only part of the yard, aside from the front, that has abundant sunshine. The grinding is costing a small fortune, but David keeps telling us to spend our money and so, on occasion, we are. 

Just think, if I am posting flower or vegetable photos, I won't be bombarding you with birds!! 

Speaking of growing things, I am not sure if I ever showed you the giant oyster mushroom I came across last month? 

Robins have been plentiful and I am so here for it. Only once a year do they show up in Orlando, which makes seeing them daily such a treat.

The same holds true with this tiny Song Sparrow.

Earlier today as I was walking along someone asked me what was I looking for as I gazed up into the upper branches of the bare trees. Tiny birds was my answer. The image above puts their size into perspective, although this one is taken in our yard. As were these two cuties.; one is a White Throated Sparrow and the other is a Dark-Eyed Junco. Here today and gone tomorrow! 

And while generally considered a nuisance bird by many, I do love the way a European Starling shines in the bright sunshine. 

All birds are beautiful, but all are not created equally beautiful which is something I am telling you that you do not already know. You may recall that I am recording information each morning on what birds are heard by Merlin, the most fantastic bird app available. 

But, I digress. 

As well as the birds, I record the time, the temperature, and weather conditions. And why is that you ask? Because I am trying to learn more about the North Carolina birds. We have discussed before how sometimes, especially my Bird Buddy feeder, when AI is involved with birds they are not entirely accurate. Mostly they are though, but I am puzzled as to why I am seeing on the app that Cedar Waxwings are uncommon right now because, much to my delight and surprise, as I was bemoaning that fact that seeing them at Daniel and Courtney's house was probably going to be the end of my season with CW. Holy Cow,  moments later as I was walking down the next street over, by golly I saw a large flock of birds fly into a huge tree ahead of me.

Every dark dot you see was a Waxwing.

Here are but a fraction of them!

You would be so proud of me because I did not take a hundred photos of this sighting! I mostly just watched and waited to see if they would fly off en masse. Eventually I continued my walk, reluctantly I might add, but if I was to get any exercise I needed to get moving. After about forty five minutes, I could stand it no longer and made my way back to the "tree" where, much to my surprise, they were still chilling in Chad and Erin's tree. Yup, we know the folks. I sat on a little rock wall watching and waiting. After another ten minutes or so, a few of them began drifting off into a tree across the street that was much smaller.

The best part though was when a group swooped down on a holly bush and mayhem ensued.

By my count there are ten in the above photo. And then there were a few doing some gymnastic moves.

You have been a witness to the fact that I have taken so many pictures of birds that it is crazy, however, never can I remember getting one that is holding onto the branch, upside down ,and with wings spread. Now that was fun!!

And while you may be a little tired of seeing them, rest assured it won't happen for much longer. Of course, maybe I WILL stumble across some again before they leave for the year.

A girl can hope, can't she?

your friend,

Gail