Where did the time go?

Howdee all,

Seems like we just arrived at Sickstas and Craigys and now we are gone..and in West Virginia..

When we arrived five weeks ago..there were no leaves on the trees…

When we left they were all leafed out..

Making it harder to see the birds… 

Unless they came out in the open like this Summer Tanager..

When we arrived the Bluebirds were just checking out the nest box…

Before we left…Craigy and I peeked in the box and saw three eggs..

When we arrived the Chickadees were in and out of the moon…building their nest..

Ten minutes before we left, I saw the Chickies fledge…What a treat! I didn’t have my camera, nor did I want to take the time to grab it…I savored every moment…as the awkward little fledglings left the Moon for their first flight.

I saw ferns unfolding..

I will see more here up north…seems like it’s a few weeks behind here…

Ballie enjoyed his daily walks…

When we are at New River he will be lucky if he gets a walk all week, we will be gone all day birding.

Seems like we just arrived and Craigy was starting to put in the new kitchen..All of the cabinets are in now…and the countertop is next…

Craigy likes to sit by his pond watch the fish…six Goldfish..Sicksta put some flowers in the pond.

And Craigy plays in his pool too…

Jeff is always busy killing Vampires…don’t even ask.

I found this dead, but colorful bug..

anyone know what it is? > I bet Sicksta Lori does.

Found a beautiful living bug also..

lots of bugs in Sickstas yard.

When we arrived the Iris were just budding~

Before we left we were able to see many different Iris blooming..

Love the colors of these…I had a love affair with Water droplets

And enjoyed the birds coming back from their trip south.. 

I enjoyed Sickstas Garden and hanging out with her…

After weeks of searching…I found some Morel Mushrooms!

We saw the first NC record Cassin's Sparrow.

We saw what devastating damage a Tornado can cause..

We did all that, yet it seems like it was no time at all…

Where did the time go?

The Warblers have just started to arrive in numbers…and we will miss that..

We will miss Craigy yelling at the Kitchen as he puts it together..

We will miss the Bluebirds fledge…

We will miss the flowers that were just about to show off…

We will miss Sicksta, Craigy and the pups..

Such is the life of wanderers….

Goodbye Sicksta and Craigy and pups…

See you in November..

I hope the time goes by slower then…

Tulip Poplar flower

Howdee all,

When I go looking for Morel Mushrooms, one of the trees I look under are the Tulip Poplar trees..

The trees have these beautiful flowers

Most people don’t see them because they are high up in the trees.

Sometimes wind will take a few down to the ground

…and then I can enjoy how beautiful they are.

Morel near a Tulip Poplar

Today is our Bittersweet departure from dear Sicksta and Craigys..

We are on our way to West Virginia

New River Birding and Nature Festival

May not have internet,or much time to blog..

…So if not…See you after the festival!

Water droplets on pink

Howdee all,

I know what you are thinking…

MORE WATER DROPLETS????

Yes, more…

They are so lovely on this pink Dianthus aren't they?

Wet Jewels..

With antlers.. :)

Be fair warned…More Water Droplets to come..

oh…and lookie what have we here?

I was walking with Ballie yesterday in Sickstas back yard…and as I always do, looked for Morels, because…its that time of year and you never know…Well, low and behold ~in the woods just a bit~there was a lovely little Morel…a few looks around and a few more were found…I will be looking around a bit more now!

My Camera for a Morel?

Howdee All,

I went out yesterday in search of the elusive Morel mushroom.

After dropping my sister off at work I decided I would drive the back roads of Sanford and stop when I was in an area that looked like it would have Morels.

The first place I stopped looked pretty good, a low area, creek, Tulip poplar trees. I pulled the car off to the shoulder and got out to look around.

I scanned the creek and low and behold…across the creek was a beautiful little golden morel glowing in the sunlight. I was so excited….but i had to cross the creek.

There was a fallen dead tree over the creek, a nice wide tree. The creek was only five feet across but about knee deep. I decided to crawl on all fours over the log to reach the beautiful Morel… I was half way across when …Plop….my camera falls out of the case on my hip and into the creek.

I had no other choice but to go in after it and I knew I needed to rescue it fast before the water damaged the camera….So in I went…clothes,shoes and all…up to my knees ..pulled out the camera and since I was already wet..crossed the creek toward the Morel.

My thoughts were now about my camera….I tried to turn it on…no go…dead….dead..

I could do nothing…..it was wet…..I took out the battery and shook the camera……put the battery back in…still nothing…

Oh well…I decided there was nothing I could do for the camera…..and picked the Morel…how bittersweet…I found a few more morels in the same area…and left when I was sure there were no more.

I would have loved to have taken photos of the creek, the log, the lovely morels growing in the woods…but my precious camera was no longer working.

Boo Hoo…

I searched several more areas that day and found about ten morels in all. Not a grand bounty, not big specimens that I have found before…but nice little ones…Proof that their are morels around.

I put my camera in the sun and let it dry out. By the time I went to pick up my sister, my camera was turning on but the screen was cloudy and it wasn't acting normal..but I had hope that it might pull through.

And so far….it is getting better each minute….

It decided to show off and take a few photos…at the nursery.. and last but not least..

the cause of its drowning…

Morel Mushrooms!

My camera continues to work and today it says it will try some bird feeder digiscoping.

Its still a bit under the weather and is in no mood for a Morel mushroom foray.

And, besides,the Blue Grosbeak showed up at the feeder today.

We have our priorities.

Stalking the Wild Morel.....who gives a Hoot?

Howdee all,

Yesterday, I wanted to find some Morel mushrooms.  I read online that some were found a week ago in Sanford at a local park…but the location was not given.  Mushroomers are very secretive about their picking areas…and it would be rare to have detailed information as to where to find them.

So armed with that information, and not knowing the area, other than a park, I decided I would stop by Big Bloomers flower farm, where my sister works, and ask the locals where I might find a park in Sanford.

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I had to look around a bit….I was looking for something to buy my sister Lori, for storing some of our stuff for the past eight years.

So…Lori..what do you like below?

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Armed With directions to one of the local parks…

Off I went to Stalk the Wild Morel. The habitat looked good.  A creek, Tulip Poplars, but the soil seemed a bit dry.

There were a few Mallards having some fun in the creek.

I decided to follow the creek into the woods.

Not a mushroom to be found! Not any kind.

I take that back I did find some…..

  Devils cups

I walked this park for over two hours.

No shrooms…

i found signs of critters with sharp teeth.

What were they thinking? Did they just give up here? Was the tree too big?

Or did they get tired or a toothache?

  No Morels,no signs or morels. Boo hoo…

Some nice spring flowers.

Ok so no Morels anywhere and I was very unhappy.

I had tromped through woods, along streams, up hills, down hills, for over two hours. Why cant I just find one lousy Morel..just one?

Then…

I heard something talking to me up high in the tree.

He said….several times..the same thing…

Who gives a Hoot!

Who gives a Hoot about Morels.

Look at me!

photo taken with camera thru my binoculars.