One Thousand, Three Hundred and Eighty Three

And that my friends is the number of photographs I took from early Friday morning, through Sunday late afternoon. And while I admit it sounds like a lot, and let's get real, it is, between award presentations and action shots, I could have taken far more with 177 participants in the inaugural Murphy Pickleball Tournament. Thank goodness I did not!! D'Anna and David's son Patrick married in February and they just received the digital images and there were around 2,000 between the various events associated with the wedding. When we married, the photographer was the only one with a camera and our budget allowed for twelve 8x10 prints and a handful of 4x6. I mention the only one with a camera because at the tournament when I was meant to photograph the winners, I kept having to remind them to look at me rather than their friends! Slightly irritating, but after a few days of it, I learned to do what I could! 

Big Brothers and Sisters benefitted from the registration as well as a raffle of some pretty darn amazing items. We won nothing, however, Grayson, Bruce's little brother, for those who don't know, won a new paddle. The age limit was lowered so that Grayson could play with Bruce and as it stood he was the youngest. Now, just try to imagine Bruce having to play against, not only big fellows, but YOUNG ones as well!

You might note the guys sweat-stained shirts and that is because it got so incredibly muggy by Sunday afternoon. I don't know what was worse, standing in the sun all day, or the mugginess. Both were very unpleasant for this volunteer. The good news though was that folks had fun, predicted rain did not fall, and money was raised for a worthy charity, although truth be told what they need are volunteers to be mentors. 

Grayson is experimenting with a new look in case you were wondering. 😀

Another crazy thing happened this past week and that was while walking on the river walk, I found a set of car keys lying on a bench. With not a soul around, I got in touch with Laura who runs the facebook page for the river walk, asking her opinion on how to proceed. Her suggestion was that she would put it on the Facebook page and I should take them to City Hall which is what I did. It was a bit of a trek, not to mention hot and sunny, but I turned them in hoping the owner would maybe look on the Facebook page. Thursday, while volunteering at Soul Table, where. we had a record 60 guests I might add, I thought to call the fitness center and pass on the information. Gosh I hope they got them back! 

Downtown Murphy is having a decorating contest for America 250 and the independent book store on Tennessee Street is doing their part.

Before all that happened I was imagining a leisurely walk, as is my wont, when I could observe and bask in the wonder of nature. 

What a privilege it is to walk out the front door and within minutes be surrounded by wildness. Of course man-made bird boxes are not wild, but you get my drift. In this post, which you may or may not have read,  there are some photographs of a Tree Swallow and Bluebird at odds with one another on who was using the bird box. Along the other end of the walk, I saw a Tree Swallow flying around and discovered it had won the box race with a bluebird and was flying hither and yon to find food for these hungry ones.

You've seen this type of bird before in the Camera Crazy annals, but I suspect you are dying to see one again, what with their beautiful jewel-toned coloring.

There were some goslings on the river who seem to be calling out to their parent leading the way.

While preparing to put posts together I scan through my photos and choose ones to share, however, sometimes I don't use them and they remain on my desktop, which is what happened with this photo that now that I look at it, I believe it deserves an audience!

So let's meander to the neighborhood and specifically to Campbell Street.

In the post that I linked to above, I asked for opinions on the frame color for our new painting. What I did not show you was why I chose the white to match the window frames.  

Please feel free to tell me it was not my best idea and share yours!!

Rose of Sharon are beginning their blooming season!! Yipee!

The early morning light is so good on everything. 

I wish I could tell you that I had a bumper strawberry crop but that would be a falsehood! It remains to be seen how many tomatoes we will have but so far so good. 

The new flower garden is coming along nicely. 

Bruce fertilized the yard last year and it shows. Now you can see why my garden efforts are a bit challenging because I took this at high noon and no sun in the yard aside from the sides.

I love the photo above because Bruce must have just mowed the yard and there are no magnolia leaves all over the back part, unlike what it probably looked like a few hours later. That tree is something else but man does it produce a lot of litter! Between a huge number of leaves and seed pods, it keeps us busy. 

Look who made a pie crust that turned out just fine!

It's not perfect, but it got the job done. As I recall, I made a quiche. 

Bruce is sitting at his desk, working on a new sign listing the new pastor's name. It is shocking how many things that the trustees are in charge of. Next up, a group of volunteers will be painting the interior of the parsonage; the paint Bruce had mixed is in our basement. Seriously, you would think he's gone back to work! 

Having a blog for nearly twenty years is just great for me because even though I don't do it often, I can go back in time. For some reason I did just that recently and came across the photo below.

Remember those days? It seems impossible what all happened during Covid doesn't it? I asked Bruce who I gave these masks to and he replied, "a bunch of people." 

The back yard looks so pristine in the photo above but truthfully we have piles here and there of grass clippings, magnolia pods (a gazillion), and sticks and lumber. This little Song Sparrow was having a little fun hopping amongst the sticks.

I forgot the landscape bricks too! 

My neighbor Becky has been sharing her blue bird box camera footage and to say it is remarkable is an understatement! I wish I could share it with you but imagine FIVE baby bluebirds in one little nest!! Fantastic clarity on the camera too. To watch the parent come through the hole, well aren't we the lucky ones?

Monday morning I needed to get away from looking at all of those weekend photos and what better way than to go outdoors? One thing that happened is my first cabbage, with all the outer leaves removed, came into the house!! 

I am like a proud parent!! Actually what I said to Bruce was that I needed to attend to my outdoor pets which includes the plants and the birds!! I came across an opened bird egg which we believe was one that came from the box that I saw the Tufted Titmouse going in and out of. Never have we seen any babies, so who knows, but those bird eggs are so small and delicate, it is a wonder it all works.

But then again, aren't most things a wonder? Seems like they are to me.

your friend,

Gail