American by birth, Southern by the grace of God.
Louis Grizzard, a great American
~~~~~~~~~~~~
It's choice ~ not chance ~ that determines your destiny.
Jean Nidetch

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Friday, February 27, 2009

Lessor Goldfinch.....

Back on 2-9-09, I spied this little yellow bird across the road. Someone had washed their car and the birds had a field day splashing around in the puddles. I took the pictures from inside the camper, through the window. They turned out pretty good and when I zoomed in, I was able to identify the Lessor Goldfinch. It is identical to the picture in my bird book. These guys are not found in the southern states, just the southwestern states from Texas westward.

In the first picture you can see another bird's head in the foreground. The Lessor Goldfinch is looking toward the camera and has the black eyes and forehead.

In this picture, his back is toward the camera and you can clearly see the black and white design on the wings and back.

Another one to mark off my Birder's Life List.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Nothing new around here....

There is just not much to do during the day when Sam is at work. He's working now Sunday through Thursday, 7 am to 3:30 pm.

My usual day, Monday - Thursday, consists of the following: sleep until about 8 am; get a cup of coffee and return to bed (with coffee) to watch The Waltons on Hallmark channel; get up at 9 and open shades to let the sun warm up the camper (it's usually 40's or low 50's in the morning); Watch Rachael Ray at 9 on ABC while having breakfast (usually Honey Nut Cheerios and Skim milk); 10 am on Tuesday is Ladies Coffee in the Rec Hall for about an hour +; other days I just go online and check email and read blogs; watch cooking shows on Food Network beginning about 11 am; lunch at 12 noon. By afternoon it's much warmer so if the WIND isn't blowing, I'll go outside and sit in the sun and read. I might walk a little or ride my bike a little. Once a month there is Ladies Day Out. Last Friday we had lunch at the Rec Hall. Three or four ladies brought crock pots of soup and everyone else brought salads or desserts. It was fun. Here's some pics of the food:

One or two days a week Sam will drop off the truck (when they go out in the morning in the Work Truck) and I'll go to Wal Mart. There is a couple near us, Betty and Bill, in a motor home with no other car so Betty will go with me to get her shopping done. We go to lunch somewhere in Del Rio and goof around for several hours.

I'll be glad when they open the pool - sometime in March. It's supposed to be in the 80's during the day and only 50's for lows beginning Tuesday so that will be better. More people will be out walking and riding around.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Not Wind-Chime worthy....

My beautiful glass wind chime is wrapped in bubble-wrap and stored in a drawer while we are in Texas. The wind here is too strong and I wouldn't take the chance of it getting broken. Anyway, the view here is definitely considered not wind-chime worthy.

View in Florida at St. Andrews S.P.

Current views...


'Nuff said.

Monday, February 16, 2009

Road Trip..........

Pecos River Canyon

Last Friday we took a short road trip up Hwy. 90 North to see the 'sights'. We were heading toward the Pecos River where it joins the Rio Grande. The Pecos has cut deep canyons in the land for about 60 miles before it reaches the Rio. According to the brochure, the canyon was one of the most formidable barriers to early-day travel and civilization. (Click on the pictures to enlarge to see the details).
This first picture shows a lone Ranch House in the distance.


This shot shows the same house with zoom lens.

This is the mouth of the Pecos at the Rio Grande with Mexico in the distance.

The Pecos River Canyons, looking north toward the Hwy.90 bridge.

More of the Pecos, looking north from the brigde.

Another canyon shot.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Looking forward to March 31...............

Flying Bye-Bye for a few weeks! Looking forward to Spring Break with the grandkids, Easter Egg Hunts, and Ethan's first birthday!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Little Boys Birthday......

Two of my grandsons have birthdays close together so their Mother combines the parties and celebrates 2-for-1! Logan, the middle one, was three and Tyler, the youngest, was two. The "older" brother, Kyle, was five in October.
Next Sunday my granddaughter, Mackenzie, will be seven (send pictures!). And May 1st, her brother Ethan, will be one! (I plan to be there for that one!).
In all, we have 8 birthdays and 2 anniversaries in January.


Logan is happy to be three! Cupcakes!



Logan is three! Tyler is two!


Look out....Bob the Builder is full of candy!




Tuesday, February 3, 2009

February already!


Monday, February 2nd - 7:33AM - GENERAL BEAU LEE DOESN'T SEE SHADOW; PREDICTS EARLY SPRING!

Every year, General Beau Lee, Ph.D., from the Yellow River Game Ranch in Snellville, GA, awakens to the ringing of the antique bell outside his "Weathering Heights" mansion, where he lives in touch with the elements year 'round-- unlike his pampered counterpart in Pennsylvania who lives in a climate-controlled environment in the town library where he is fed dog food and ice cream. That's why Beau can claim a 94% accuracy rating while the pampered impostor can only manage 85%.

Beau's House

We couldn't be home in Georgia this year to see General Lee on TV live, but we were able to follow him on the web!