Up With the Sun

As mentioned in this space before, Bruce takes the early flight to Dallas, and generally, on those days, I go ahead and get up myself, more often than not, wasting time online! Except the days when I think, why not head out early with the camera? Tuesday was one of those days when I did just that. Taking my camera and purse, the MINI and I drove just around the corner to photograph the sunrise over Lake Gem Mary. I was not disappointed, as the sky was just brilliant! More so than this photograph even shows.

It was then that I remembered that I'd left my phone behind, and as I am trying to have more of a presence on Instagram, don't ask me why really, but anyway, home was minutes away and so we scooted back there. Returning to my spot, the sky was dull as can be, proving once again, that when you see it, document it!!

Must have been on Monday afternoon that Pam texted saying there were a huge flock of white birds in Lake Pineloch as she was driving home from Publix. I knew just what she was talking about--the white pelicans were passing through on their way to who knows where. Last year David spotted them in the middle of March which I wrote about here. Just like everything this year, they are early. Except they weren't there when I drove over. Not that time, nor the next three times either! The same Tuesday morning, so I decided to go visit the only owl I can spot at the moment, and even she was in hiding, but my golly there was a ton of bird activity. So many flying around.

This is pretty much a horrible photograph because the sky was leaden, however, there were Robins galore in this tree!

You've got look very hard!

Nearby I saw this front yard with huge sunflowers, and all manner of vegetables. A few years ago there was quite the hub-bub around here regarding the growing of vegetables in front yards. That cabbage looks fantastic, doesn't it?

When I wrote the post about photographing birds, if you can imagine, I left out a few that I saw, including these geese who were wandering along on the sidewalk when I last visited. Tuesday they were in their natural habitat.

Watching them was kind of fun--don't know what this was all about, but here it is:

Because the beak was fully out of the water, I can't imagine looking for food was involved. Meanwhile the Gander, and don't quote me on that name because after spending time trying to figure out more about geese, that's what I think it is called. But I digress. You know what is happening here, no explanation needed!

Returning home, I finally had some breakfast that I photographed because I've got an idea for you.

I wish I could remember whose Mother introduced me to this yummy idea, it was a long time agao when I was in elementary school, I do know that much. Anyway, I love toast really dark ,as you can see, and in this instance it works perfectly for dipping into the V8 juice. Delicious! Please no lectures on how salty V8 is! Plain black tea should count for something here.

Finally I spotted the Pelicans!

Albeit from some creative trespassing. Actually, last year I did knock on the door, but this time no one was home. David and Michelle live in the complex across the lake. In case you are wondering, their dog Ginger is holding her own.  Although Google statistics tells me that my last blog post about our move has 476 views, to date we are still looking for a pet sitter. Perhaps seeing his adorable face will help?

I understand it is a big commitment, but I'm counting on a positive outcome.

So, my writing was interrupted because of an extensive search for our marriage license for the immigration lawyers. Although I was unsuccessful finding that, I found all sorts of goodies, including tax returns from the late 80's! That was fun. Then too I found a book of carbon copy checks from my bank account while I was working back in 2002. No wonder I don't care too much about money, I have a lot of practice spending it on others! A $250 Christmas check to my mother-in-law, tuition, tuition, tuition! Bill, Dave, and Jonathan were all in various stages of college back then. Although Matthew was not, there are multiple checks to him as well. The IRS is represented twice, as is my own Mother. I've no recollection of giving her hundreds of dollars in 2003, the year of her death. I just love those trips down memory lane. As to the marriage license? Ordering one from the County Clerk. :)

I veered way off path didn't I? Pelicans, we were discussing the Pelicans. Here you go...

They, like the Robins, only last a few days, and then they are gone for another year.

Much to my surprise, as I was about to get into the car in our driveway I heard some hawks shrieking above my head. Lo and behold, they landed in our Pine trees!

Finally we had some much appreciated rain on Wednesday. I ran over to Angela's house to bring her the gifts, and on the way home, the sun finally decided to show up for the day. As in a big way...

Exactly that bright! I was thinking to myself, this is totally rainbow weather and sure enough, within moments, this appeared!

Too bad I was on Orange Avenue when it happened. Oh my goodness, I'm pretty sure it stayed just that bright for like 10 minutes or more. Mesmerizing!

It has been a good long while since a butterfly appeared in this space....let's rectify that, shall we?

As seen today. 😁 So I was going to put a butterfly emoji there as well and if you can imagine, they have both an octopus and a boar, but no butterfly. What are they thinking?

yours truly,

Gail

Owl Watching

Once I learned the owlets were nearby, once again I have become obsessed with watching them. First, though, I've had to find them, and that has proved very elusive. I did discover that they have pretty much moved back to familiar territory, two yards I know well, belonging to Nell, and Victor. Saturday morning I did see them, however, the light was so dim, my photos were useless.

Folks in the neighborhood know my fascination as well, and people are always talking to me about the owls, and in some cases, texting me when they are visible. My friend Lisa did just that yesterday, and because I was heading out on some errands anyway, I stopped there first. Except it was not one of the owlets that she spotted. While we were chatting, I did see this; my first Monarch of spring.

Of course it took me about fifteen shots to get this good one!! Earlier that day, because I could not find the owls, I rode over to check on the eaglet--not a bad problem to have, right? I took this photograph to give you a little perspective on their location.

Way the heck up in the fork of that pine tree. At first I did not see the eagle because she/he had moved up a branch, and while looking through my viewfinder, I discovered why...the eaglet is getting big!!

Not nearly as cute as the owl, however, I'm not complaining! I count myself very, very lucky to be able to watch nature in the wild, or as wild as neighborhoods can be. :)

Riding home I spotted some ibis fly up into a mostly bare tree, doing their best to hang on for dear life in the wind. Eventually two of them had had enough, soaring high in our gorgeous blue sky.

Ibis are definitely unusual looking birds, but they are a delight to watch flying with those black tipped wings.

On another day that the owls evaded my search, I rode by a house on Delaney where a woman lives who is a wizard with orchids. Her husband used to sit outside by the garage with a table full of orchids to sell to customers in the passing cars, however, I've not seen him in quite some time leading me to believe that he may have passed away. I've been to a few orchid gardens, and of course, Tom Ritter's Orchids, formerly our most famous grower in the area, however, I've never seen an orchid quite like this one which proved very difficult to photograph. That said, I thought you might enjoy seeing it, nonetheless.

Each pot had multiple strands of these lovely blooms.

The things you see when you get out and about....

Okay, so about my doctor's appointment which ran 2 1/2 hours, btw. Dr. Spector and his entire staff, from the receptionist to the audiologist, were wonderful. The front counter had this super cool art project displayed.

Isn't that fun?

First step was having the built up wax removed from my ears with the right one being the worst! He poked some tool in there, and although it felt funny, it did not hurt. Next, he sprayed my nose with a mixture of Afrin and Lidocaine in preparation for putting a probe up and in there!! While that was doing it's thing, I spent time with the audiologist who performed the hearing test, with results I could have predicted....my left ear is way below my right on the chart. Once the results of that were in, Dr. Spector put the scope into my nose and looked at my ear. What was he looking for, you ask? A mass, which he did not find, thank goodness!! What next? The tincture of time. He quizzed me about how long this had been going on, and I told him it began with the flu in February, and because I am lucky enough to have this blog to remind me, I know it has been nearly two months.  According to him, most of the time the fluid which is muffling sound will dissipate over time; after three months they recommend drainage. Let's hope it does not come to that!! I was more than happy to fill this out with all positives, and coming from a curmudgeon like myself, that is saying a lot!

This morning Bruce wanted to be at the job site early, like 6 AM early, so I ended up getting up as well. Still super dark, so I waited for first light, and the rain to stop, before riding over to....you know where. First light was nothing to write home about, HOWEVER, for the first time in days and days, I spotted all four of the owls. Oh my goodness! There were birdbath photos...

Bird feeding photos as well. Most of them were horrible, due to the low lighting conditions, but this one at least serves the purpose of showing you the way they are fed. In this case, a mouse! I wish one of the parents would come get the two that are in our yard eating beneath my bird feeder!

Before the week is out, this tree will undoubtedly be filled with leaves, making them all the harder to find. If you can believe it, and I expect you can, on my way to pick up our taxes (OUCH!), I stopped once again. For those of you unfamiliar, it is only a few streets from my home, so not really out of the way. Anyway, the sun was finally beginning to shine, if only a little. Look who I saw way up there. Do you see how the wind was fluffing up the chest feathers??? So cute!

Try as I might, well really when my neck finally gave out from looking, I could not spot owlet #2.

For perspective on their location, they are in the highest branches in the twisted oak trees.

Can you spot my bicycle on the sidewalk? Victor's house is on the right.... now you know.

For nearly a week I've been meaning to include this in a post because I think you will enjoy it. In this blog post from January, I showed a quilt I'd made with a pinwheel block. Recently I came across a you tube video on how to make them, using a far easier method, that worked like a charm. Wondering who is this woman doing the videos? I mentioned her to Matt during our big Facetime chat,  and he said that the name of the company sounded familiar to him. Perhaps he'd read about them, or so he thought. Well, I guess he did....the Missouri Star Quilt Company is all over the news and rightly so (sew), because they have such an inspiring story even if you are not interested in quilting. Here's something about them from NPR explaining how they have revitalized a small, as in 1,800 residents, town. I absolutely love that kind of story!

As I do the story of Jordan Speith, who as I type, holds the first day lead in the Masters. I must go watch, hoping no one will catch up with him!!

Owl obsessed,

Gail

Urban Nature, Part Two

Strictly speaking, this picture of a triplet sunflower doesn't really fit into today's category, however, I thought it was so cool that I'm showing it because I can. Driving over to Bill's last week, taking a different route for variety, I came across a yard with a big patch of sunflowers, which I naturally had to stop and photograph, as they were adjacent to the street. I bet you would as well...

Isn't it gorgeous??? Not something I see every day that's for certain.

Then too, when was the last time I saw an owl except at the zoo? Now I have for two days in a row!! While watching the World Cup match Saturday night at David and Cheryl's home, she, or maybe the other guests, mentioned a home in Southern Oaks with more than one owl in their tree. Because we live just across the street from there, and I knew just the house because their gardens are so lovely, I rode over the other morning to see what I could see. I scanned and scanned the trees until suddenly I saw one way up there.

Having already told you, it is not so hard to see is it? Knocking on the door for permission to trespass, no one was home, so I did it anyway. Keep in mind I don't have super fancy equipment, like most folks who photograph birds and such, but I do have better than some, and my zoom is pretty good.

Woo hoo--look at those talons!! I was happy, but not completely satisfied, as I'd only seen the one. As you well know, when I get an obsession, sort of like my past eagle obsession, I'll keep looking. Hold that thought.....

That same Saturday night, taking something out to the recycling bin, (probably a wine bottle!), I heard something in the pool. Hmmm....so of course I went in to get my camera. It was not Saturday night after all, duh, which I could retract my previous sentence but I won't, it was Friday the 13th because I took this one as well that night.

At any rate, turning on the pool light, I watched the action of these two frogs, one of which was such a bright chartreuse!

So, it has the big bug eyes of the hated Cuban tree frog, but typically they have no markings, or none to speak of, and they are certainly not this shade of green. Well, it turns out there was more than one...

Now you see what I'm talking about. On the left is the typical coloring. What happened next is still a mystery because it was really only for a moment, but I was pretty darn glad I had a camera in hand when it did.

The mysteries of nature never cease to amaze! Nor does the fact that there is life happening all around us, and if we keep our eyes and ears open there is much to see. Such as, while standing at the kitchen sink, I saw the black racer on the walkway, not an unusual sight, but one that makes me glad I'm inside rather than out.

This is a harmless snake, despite it's creepiness. Calling Bruce to the window, I asked him how long he thought the snake was because it seemed much longer than the one I'm accustomed to seeing. 30 inches or so!! What happened next also surprised me....

Yup, a little drink from the bird bath!! Opening the door to take a closer look, just as Bruce was going to step outside, off the snake slithered away. Is it any wonder I don't like going in those front bushes to turn on the hose?????

Just prior to heading off on my bike ride, I did a little garden surveying and came across this slug on my salvia I planted after digging them up roadside.

What an odd looking creature, don't you think? The name doesn't help much.

When Sue came over on her bike after I'd already ridden, I told her about the owls, which she promptly went looking for. Texting me, she told me she'd seen them two doors down in a big palm tree. Obviously, on our way to Bill's house, we had to check it out for ourselves! Sure enough, as we pulled up, we saw a man in his driveway, with phone in hand, trying to take a photograph. Asking if we could join him, he said sure.

Not only were there the above two, there was yet another one doing his thing.

Sorry for that!!! The man, of course I've forgotten his name, turned out to be one of the major builders of Southern Oaks, claiming he and his wife were the first to move into the newly planned subdivision back in 1969. His was an interesting story, which he shared freely, which included a love of collecting, including plants. Our tour of the back garden was really something, as was this water feature he built.

Apparently there were once loads of koi in this pond, however, the egrets found them quite tasty. Speaking of fish, remember how I told you that the lake water was clear as can be? Checking it out in the daytime, I was amazed at the size of this fish which was happily swimming near the shoreline.

Naturally I had no idea what kind it was. You might be surprised to learn it is a tilapia according to Bruce. On the shore there were these prints of most likely a raccoon looking to eat a fish like the one above!

Isn't this fun? And aren't you super impressed I managed to post without a cardinal photograph? I'm trying to show some restraint! Because it is getting hot as the dickens, there are loads of butterflies.

Is there anyone who is not impressed with butterflies? I should think not.

Never one to pass up an opportunity to photograph something I find amusing, these geese certainly qualify.

Wearing their rain gear, they needed it last week, but in a little bit of freakish weather, we have had not one drop of rain since Saturday night. Clear, sunny skies have prevailed. It is a good thing I'm not the betting kind because after the monsoons of last week, I decided on Saturday night not to do the market on Sunday. I could not have been more off. Mostly I'm okay with a bit of rain because Mr. Bruce prepares out tent for that eventuality; during a Florida summer, it is pretty much a given there will be afternoon rain, however, it is the market managers who are not prepared, closing the market so early it is hardly worth all the trouble. Instead Bill and Dave brought lunch for Father's Day and the four of us spent a beautiful afternoon poolside making memories. :) There were no nature sightings to report.

Who Doesn't Want to See Baby Swans?

You may be happy to learn that I am back in the saddle, and I mean that literally! Today was the first time I've ridden my bike in over two weeks--woohoo!

Sunday, Bruce insisted on staying with me at the market, knowing how easily I was tiring, and it was nice to have him there. Lots of friends stopped by for visits making the day go pretty quickly. Happily, one of the small canvases, with the new frame Bruce made from scratch, sold, so that was worth the whole day as far as I'm concerned.

Our friend Ha stopped early on with a new camera in her hands. She'd bought it for a trip and was doing a little practicing around Lake Eola. I see loads of folks with cameras every Sunday, and I am one of them, however, my focus (!) is only on photographing the market. WELL, Monday I saw Ha posted a photo of some baby swans from her Sunday adventure, and that got me very excited to see them for myself.

I hope you will enjoy my stroll around Lake Eola in search of the cygnets. A Florida Spring can be quite beautiful because, although it is beginning to get pretty darn warm, the humidity remains low. Oh how we wish it were always so!

With camera in hand, I began my stroll, coming across a black swan on her nest with just one egg that she seemed to be trying to move into a more comfortable position.

I mention the one egg because before long, I came across a white one who is expecting a half dozen!

While I was taking a photograph of a blue heron chilling in the cool water of Lake Eola,

the white swan settled back onto her nest.  Keep in mind the big mound for later....

I have no idea if they are related or not, but some turtles were hanging together.....

none of which look any too young, so forget the Spring business here! This blue jay looked a little small to me, so perhaps it is a spring youngster.

Generally I am not a big pigeon fan, don't know why because they do have a lovely coat of feathers.

In fact, they are pretty darn colorful, aren't they, what with the red feet, orange eye, and all that iridescence around head and neck?

The vantage point below is probably everyone's favorite these days.

You might recall that Darden donated the sculpture. There are all brand new swan boats, replaced last year with models that have a roof if one cares to use it. In storage, they keep the tops down.

Well, this is all just fine and dandy, but where are the cygnets??? As I was getting close to where the market is held, I took a photo of the "bridge" which is filled with tents every Sunday.

Lovely, right? Well, lo and behold, as I carried on, I turned around, and THERE THEY WERE!!

A half a dozen darling cygnets! Now, remember that nest you saw? Well, their nest is up the embankment and I watched them scramble up and into the nest. Adorable!!

Time for a little rest after all that exertion!

Then back down they go again...

Obviously, I could got get enough of their cuteness; eventually I tore myself away, but it was not easy!

There are a lot of swans at Lake Eola, and it is hard to know how many of these adorable new ones will survive. Then too, swans can be kind of mean, as this poor little woman discovered.

She was hardly bigger than a minute, bless her heart!

Lake Eola is lovely, especially on a Monday morning when the crowds are thin to non-existent. Nothing like those beautiful parks in England, but it's what we've got! There is another side to Lake Eola which is all too sad, the homeless, who live in the park, or try to anyway.

Sadly those are probably the only possessions the man on the bench owns. :(

Working in the yard with Bruce this morning, I finally cut back my Paperwhite stems, something that I've wanted to do for ages, however, one must wait for them to start dying back if one ever hopes to have blooms again! This one was finally clipping away when I came across this little cutie sitting atop a weed.

Now that was exciting. A little later, putting the tools away, a Monarch came to say hello.

Can you stand any more cuteness for one day?  Of course you can't--it would just be too much!

I hope this has brought a little smile to your face....

Until we meet again,
Gail