Monday, April 29, 2013

Kasey and I drove up to the cemetery in O'Donnell to take a fresh flower arrangement for Mom and Dad's headstone. Hadn't visited there in over a year.
Found out Vic and Iona share the same anniversary date. Small world, isn't it.

April 28

Spent the afternoon with family at Kevin's house. He smoked the most delicious brisket, melt in your mouth tender. Anita made a great strawberry spinach salad and a heavenly strawberry cake with lemonade frosting. Tasted like spring!
Becky and Kasey were able to join us for the day. Chelsea didn't get to drive down from Lubbock, really wanted to spend time with her this trip, too.
All my grandchildren have grown up, don't have any little ones around anymore. The boys are both getting drivers license in a few months. Driving in Midland/Odessa scares the crap out of me and for them to be on the streets with all the speed freaks makes me crazy. 
Deb didn't make it over, she had Mummers meetings and had to prepare for class on Monday.

I am so proud of all my children, they are an unending joy to us even though we don't see them but twice a year.

Flashback to Saturday, a great field trip with Midnats to Buchanan with 49 species for the day. We sat for an hour by the big pond while the birds came to us. Sparrows, warblers, thrushes, terrific morning. Good news, the bee tree is active again after being dormant for several years. Wildflowers in abundance despite the drought conditions. A few weeks of scorching temperature will devastate the flora totally.

We did receive a few rain showers later Sunday afternoon but very spotty.
Counting down the days until we leave Midland.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

new record low temp



Too cold to walk outside this morning, 34 degrees, so after walking 2 laps at the mall, I checked out Resthaven cemetery for migrants. Located Wilson's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, Chipping and Clay-colored Sparrow. Sprinklers running full force created a winter wonderland. Cell phone photo doesn't show the beauty. Don't leave home without the camera!

Witnessed Great-tailed Grackle kill and eat full grown Mourning Dove. Don't like those guys at all.

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

April 23

Who turned the heat off?

91 degrees on Monday, ran both AC units all afternoon.
Wind switched to the north about 3 AM, gusting to 39 MPH and temp dropped to 40 degrees.
So much for walking I-20 preserve after breakfast.

April 22

I hate laundry mats... too noisy, too hot, too many weird people. I need to get back to the wilderness and away from the "big" city.

I'll take a trip down memory lane to relax and recover.
Our first RV trip was 2007 to Colorado in our new 23 ft Surveyor. We had looked at Casita but when I saw the bed and the bathroom arrangement, I knew we needed something much bigger.

We opted for a queen-sized walk around bed and a full bathroom.

First overnight stop was Palo Duro Canyon near Canyon TX on July 3. Basket Flower was wall to wall and taller than me. Enjoyed performance of "Texas" -   horses, flags, fireworks, and musical history of Goodnight and  early Panhandle life. Nice dark skies with brilliant Milky Way.
Gasoline was $3.16 per gallon in Dalhart. We thought that was high.
Lunch stop at Sierra Grande, at 8720' the tallest extinct volcano in NM. When we topped the next hill, the Rocky Mountains completely filled the horizon with layer after layer stretching west as far as we could see. I could imagine how overwhelmed the early pioneers must have felt at the sight.

Second overnight was Lathrop SP, near Walsenburg, CO. Raucous Black-billed Magpie took advantage of drippy faucet and entertained us until the thunderstorm rolled in. Cleared up in time for 4th of July fireworks.
Next morning used park shower paying 50 cents for 4 minutes of hot water.

Monarch Pass 11,312" was a real experience, had to stop half way down to allow brakes to cool off.

Arrived Montrose CO 4:30 CDT on July 5, our headquarters for the next week. We explored Black Canyon of the Gunnison, 5 miles down into the canyon at 16% grade.

Western Tanager and Black-headed Grosbeak were a treat, but bird of the day was American Dipper or Water Ouzel along the river's edge. Butterflies were Weidermeyer's Admiral and Sylvan Hairstreak.

July 8, we visited Ridgeway SP where mountain lion with 4 cubs was radio monitored and plans were to tag the cubs that week. Bears had caused all feeders to be removed but birds were still plentiful.


Box Canyon Falls at Ouray is noted for nesting Black Swift. We traversed the catwalk into the canyon where the sound of the waterfall was deafening. Located 5 Swift nests and my camera was back in the RV.
In the winter, this site is an ice park. As we started back to Montrose, White-throated Swift swarmed around the mountain meadows.

July 9, change of plans. Alvin is allergic to Cottonwood trees so we're heading east to lower elevation and more desert terrain.

Destination, Moab UT, OK RV Park. After roast beef with potatoes and carrots, we drove out to Ken's Lake. Strange little place that appeared to slant uphill. Vaux Falls was beautiful and unexpected. Primitive campground produced Black-throated Grey Warbler.

July 10 going to Canyonlands NP, the largest NP in Utah. With 20 miles of paved road, the Island in the Sky unit provides breathtaking scenic vistas and staggering diversity.  After the coolness of the Colorado mountains. the desert heat was stifling, so most of our sightseeing was in air conditioned comfort.


More to follow...







Sunday, April 21, 2013

Ice Cold Watermelon



After buying 2 small icebox seedless and  totally inedible watermelon during the last 2 weeks, from both Wal-Mart and Albertson's, we purchased a single slice, about 1 quarter of a whole melon at HEB this afternoon.
DELICIOUS! Thought briefly about making watermelon rind preserves, but after closing my eyes for a brief meditation, that idea evaporated.

April 21 Busy weekend

Started Saturday morning with birding at I-20 Nature Preserve with Midnats at a chilly 48 degrees..
.
Not lots of birds but we finished with 29 species. FOS Bullock's Oriole, 2 different ones, a 1st year male very yellow and a gorgeous orange male perching high in a bare elm and singing with all his might.

Bewick's Wren were observed entering one of the nest boxes along the trail and instantly tiny offspring loudly vied for the juicy morsel being presented. Enthralled, we stood mesmerized as both parents made multiple visits bearing tidbits to the hungry hoard. Hard work, but someone has to do it!

All of the water in the playa has disappeared and Benchmark Pond is going fast. A duel between two  Solitary Sandpiper presented an interesting display. Guess there's a good reason they're called solitary. When one finally went away, I was able to get a decent photo of the remaining bird.
 The Greater Yellowlegs has bloomed into full breeding plumage and will soon be headed north. Maybe he'll stay until the pond totally dries up.












In spite of the wind, a few b'flies flitted here and there. Mostly Checkered White, like this one trying hard not to blow away...


Sybil spotted this Metalmark ...










Later, we met half our family for dinner at Luigi's before attending Jesus Christ Superstar at Yucca Theater where second daughter Debbie performed as a member of the cast. Outstanding collaboration between Midland Community Theater and Midland College performing arts department.

Sunday morning started out slow and relaxing over coffee, catching up on our Numbrix puzzles for the last 2 days, and a late breakfast. Grocery shopping was definitely on the schedule, but we detoured by way of Hogan Park and Sibley Pond for a short bird break.
Yellow Warbler calling from dense oak tree near the building along with Clay-colored Sparrow. At the Pond good looks at a foraging Wilson's Warbler, not 4 feet from us. We managed to approach close enough to stand directly underneath him. He must have traveled all night and was intent on chowing down on those tasty little green worms.
A family of American Coot with 4 red-headed puff ball babies was a special treat as was the Blue-billed Bobber (Ruddy Duck in resplendent spring plumage). Alas, my camera was at home this morning.

We sat in the welcome shade on Ted's Bench to inhale the Russian Olive bouquet. I told Alvin, "I could smell here all day."

We met a young couple celebrating the impending birth of their first child with a photo shoot near the pond and on the golf course grass wearing cowboy boots with their birth dates painted on the bottoms of the soles, including a tiny pair for the new family member.

Those experiences almost made the madhouse of HEB on a Sunday afternoon enjoyable. ALMOST, but not quite. We are so ready for the solitude of NWR life again.



Thursday, April 18, 2013

April 18

Cold Front blew in about midnight; weather station says gusted to 25-35 mph, but sure seemed stronger to me in the middle of the night when Clyde was rockin' and rollin' and the slide awnings were flappin'. Temperature dropped from 95 yesterday afternoon to 43 at 6 AM. Crazy weather and still no rain. Yearly total for Midland is 1.57 inches according to RAWS weather station.

Pedicure at Midland Cosmetology Department this afternoon; Heidi did a wonderful job. Very relaxing foot massage and warm soak does wonders for the soul. I really am twinkle toes now.


Tuesday, April 16, 2013

April 16

 Found these strange looking Honey Daisy at I-20 Nature Preserve. Wonder what causes the deformity.



We had desert willows with the same thing on our place on CR 144.

Monday, April 15, 2013

They've paved paradise and put in a parking lot!

Another windy, blustery, dusty day. So much brush land has been scraped down to the bare soil for pipe yards or other oil field related business nothing stops the dirt and the wind never stops.

The habitat continues to disappear, so many old familiar birding places are now apartment complexes or warehouses and there is no end in sight.

Blah! TAX DAY, too.

April 14

Explored I-20 Nature Preserve with Midnats/friends Bill and Kathy. Fantastic enchanting place, never dreamed when we started birding there 20+ years ago it would every become so wonderful. Great boardwalks, terrific hawk tower and amazing blinds. Keep it wild and protected habitat for birds, butters, wildflowers, and all the other critters that depend upon such urban treasures. Way to go Nate and all the board members.

32 species of birds, 9 b'flies ID'd while others flitted away incognito, damsels, lacewings, and ladybugs, 19 varieties of wildflowers, I'm sure I missed some...

Swainson's Hawk pair building nest on the island and Verdin actively feeding young. Sadly, water is evaporating quickly and has almost disappeared with just a small puddle left in the northeast corner of the playa left over from the September rain. 

Saturday, April 13, 2013

April 13

Birded with the Midnats today... great to be with old friends doing what we love and enjoying nature.
So good to see John, Shirley, and Rose Marie and explore  familiar neighborhoods. Didn't see many species at Hill Park and just a few more at Sibley/Hogan Park, but the morning was most enjoyable.
Robin and Blue Jay competed with WW Dove and Brewer's Blackbird all around Hill Park. Chipping Sparrow, Pine Siskin and 1 Yellow-rump were the only little guys around. John and I spotted a Cooper's Hawk just as we loaded up to try another location.


Sibley was awash in Honey Daisy and the aroma was intoxicating! The pond had Western Kingbird, Song Sparrow, and numerous Cliff Swallow. The golf course pond provided Coot and several species of duck - Mallard, Shoveler, Bufflehead, Blue-winged Teal, and Ruddy Duck. The Ruddys were all decked out in spring plumage and displaying perfect form with stiff tail and head tucked back to show off that gorgeous blue bill. Wilson's Snipe announced his leaving from behind Ted's Bench with a loud SNIPE. We chased a very vocal Verdin through the mesquite.
Best of all was the pair of Roadrunner occupying the green on the fourth hole completely oblivious to the other putters on the grass.

Bill joined us for lunch at Casita Gerardo's where I enjoyed endless tortilla soup and celebrated my birthday with shared flan. Rose Marie supplied the birthday straw.

Who says you can't go home again?

Friday, April 12, 2013

April 12

We make plans and then life happens...
Looks like we'll be staying in Midland a little longer than planned. Alvin needs dentures replaced and I need a crown. Hopefully, we can up the timeline a little if someone cancels appointments with Dr. Etheredge, but for now looks like May 7 is D-day.
We wanted to spend longer than 2 weeks on our drive to Vermont, birding all along the way.
Que Sera!

Not very happy with Camping World right now. After 2 days of repair and maintenance and our request that the water heater be replaced, the D!@#$%$#@ thing quit working on electric and it smells like burning wires on propane. Plus the bathroom sink still leaks after purchasing a new faucet and it being installed twice.
After a rather testy email, we're advised to call and make arrangements to bring the coach back in so they can make things right.
Don't think that is going to happen soon.


Thursday, April 11, 2013

Great news for Big Bend NP fans...
Boquillas crossing is official, we can now legally cross into the picturesque village once again. Listen to the opening ceremonies on Marfa Public Radio
http://marfapublicradio.org/

Many people have worked diligently since the border was closed following 9/11 to gain access to this remote quaint village.

Remember to take your passport and enjoy a great visit.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

April 10

Holy Cow!  35° this morning while the high temp for the last 2 days was 96°. Somebody shut the door to the North Pole. Had to pull out the long-johns, Alaska coats, and winter shoes once again. At least the wind has ceased for a while.

Another day of necessary appointments. We did squeeze in lunch at Caramba's yesterday before Debbie cut Alvin's hair.

I hear rain on the roof!  Might be sleet? 9 AM

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

April 9 West Texas

West Texas dust storm creates unique sunset and oil field traffic makes me long for the peace and tranquility of Laguna Atascosa and Anahuac NWR.

April 5

San Angelo SP  for an overnight; county wide burn ban in effect, extreme drought conditions. Lake O.C. Fisher dry with 0.8 full.
Surprising pockets of water in Bald Eagle Creek, wonder if they are spring fed or if North Concho River still flows underground surfacing occasionally.
Still abundant bird-life, most surprising White-throated Sparrow.  Wild Turkey Toms were strutting their stuff down by the turn around, while the Hens  grazing among the campsites. Need to get together soon. A dozen American Wigeon spooked off one of the deep pools of clear water.

We didn't stay around for the Wiener Dog Races beginning at 10 AM.

April 4

South Llano River SP near Junction, one of our favorite parks in Texas. My favorite country music, a cacophony of bird song, Cardinal, White-eyed Vireo, Bewick's Wren,  Pine Siskin, Chickadee, Titmouse, Waxwing, Robin, Summer Tanager, Wild Turkey

Heavenly dark sky afforded first stars I've seen in 6 months without murky humid interference.  Using only the small spotting scope resolved Alcor/Mizar, double double in handle of Big Dipper, and Trapezoid in Orion Nebula. Moons of Jupiter, too.

Early morning, 6 minute flyover of ISS with  hooting accompaniment of Great Horned Owl.

April 2

2 days at Camping World in New Braunfels, routine maintenance and some needed repairs on Clyde. Worst part is the sitting around waiting for things to happen. We parked on the lot right next to Bay #1, that was the only good thing about the entire experience.
Rained all night Tuesday and all day on Wednesday. Couldn't even do any birding, even though we checked out Landa Park; Egyptian Goose has made the park home since we were here a year ago. A pair of Wood Duck added to the scenery.
We were able to leave about 11 AM on Thursday, only $1100 later.

April 1, 2013

 Lake Corpus Christi SP near Mathis, TX, the lake level is very low. Not many boats are
launched here.



Leaf cutter ants busily storing away before the food supply disappears with the drought.

April 1 Leaving Laguna

Texas Indigo snake came out on Buena Vista Boulevard to say good-bye as we left the refuge.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

A New Beginning...


Buy a motor-home, retire, sell everything, and hit the road. Sounds like the dream life and it really is a fantastic experience.

Life-long campers and outdoor nature lovers, our first encounter with the RV life was in a 28' Surveyor tag-along travel trailer we adored and used for 3 summers and long weekends before I retired from public school. Summer of 2008 we toured 16 states in 3 months. As retirement loomed closer and we discussed full-timing, we knew something roomer was required.

We purchased Clyde, a 38' Damon Intruder in April 2010. We did a few short check out trips before departing West Texas for 3 months with Florida as our winter destination. Winter of 2011 found us traveling west to Yuma AZ for 3 months. We took time away from the coach to celebrate 50 wonderful years together with a 15 day cruise to Hawaii.

Winter of 2012/2013 was another new experience. Volunteer work  for 3 months at Anahuac NWR and 3 months at Laguna Atascosa NWF in east and south Texas.

We're looking forward to a summer in Vermont at Quechee SP. Details of our journey cross country will be coming.