Winter Walk

Is there anything better than a brisk walk on a sunny winter day? Below are two viewpoints, first from today and then from December 2008.

Waiting

Unadorned, empty,

Bare-boned hillsides lay exposed.

Life in waiting.

Winter Forest

Stripped of excess green

The winter forest reveals

Its inner beauty.

Possum

'Possum up a tree

Hid in plain sight unnoticed

Caught a glimpse of me.

Look closely in the center of the picture for the 'possum.

January Images

For the second year, Bill and I made a day trip to the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge to the see Sandhill Cranes. We don't go on the official "Sandhill Crane Viewing Days," which is this weekend, but make the trip during the week on our own. We shared the observation deck with several dedicated birders - from New York State, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee - all hoping for a site of the rare Asian Hooded Crane that has been seen with the Sandhill flocks. I was also hoping for Whooping Cranes. Neither made an appearance during the two hours that I watched. I did get a glimpse of a couple of bald eagles. Nevertheless, the Sandhill congregation and choir was magnificent. You may have already seen my short video on facebook. The visual image is not great and the sound is not pure. The music of the great flocks was the best part of the trip.

Yodeled harmonies

Thousands of voices lifted

Sandhill symphony.

The first snow of the season fell today...enough to close school for the kids, but not enough to keep anyone in.

A dusting of snow

Makes the world seem prettier

if only briefly.

Happy New Year

2012 begins the third year of my blog.  In looking back I see that 2011 was not as prolific as 2010, but I've enjoyed reviewing the year. For me this has been a good year. The two most significant events were the birth of Owen Robert Whitaker on April 4 and my retirement on June 30. Lots of other good things happened, but those two are life changing.

I can't believe that I haven't posted since mid-October. Our month in Orange Beach was so wonderful: fishing, hiking, birding, walking the beach. Then family celebrations around Thanksgiving. I guess I was so busy enjoying that I didn't spend much time reflecting. Of course, December was a blur of holiday preparation and celebration. I'm looking forward to some enforced indoor time in January. When I look back to last December, I see that the weather was much colder with lots of snow. We are expecting a freeze tonight, but they have been few. Still eating greens from the garden today. The New Year's Day bird count at the feeders is low, probably reflective of the mild weather. Today I've seen Chickadee, Tufted Titmouse, Nuthatch and Crow - common birds, but few in number.

Here are a few pictures from November and December:

Bill's Big Fish

Coyote on the beach

Claire and Amand love the surf

 

 

 

Heron in the fog

Heron at sunset

Pelican waiting for fish

Pompano for supper

Owen's first walk on the beach

Hiking to Big Lagoon, Bon Seceur

Mimi enjoying the pool

Jane Clark's big fish

Owen likes the beach

Owen and Mimi converse

Cousins having a good time

Owen at Christmas

Cherohala Skyway Journal

October 17
11:34 am Entering the Cherohala Skyway near Tellico Plains

Santeelah Gap 5390 ft

Wind blown, wind stunted

High ridge trees fall leaves fallen

Santeelah Mountain

1:30 pm Picnic at Obadiah Gap, 3740 ft.

3:00 pm Indian Boundary National Forest Recreation Area

Harrison Bay Camping

In fading twilight

Heron stands, thigh deep water

Waits one last morsel.

Inland looking out

Or offshore looking inward

perspectives differ.

Camping at Harrison Bay State Park was fun despite one rainy day. Why don't we sit outside after dark at home? We enjoyed the capmfire with Amanda and Claire as well as the beautiful lake.

Morning Walk

Sunlight seeping through
Treetops holding leafy green
Air with hope of cool.

Change

Promise of autumn

Teases and relieves the heat

Steadfastness of change.

After a few days of much needed rain and cloudy cool weather, today was a good day to do some late summer maintenance and plant fall greens.  I'm anticipating spinach (bloomsdale), turnip greens (seven top), mustard (Florida broadleaf) and kale (dwarf siberian). If the winter is mild, they may last until spring. If not, they will provide for fall and early spring meals. 

Groundhog update: We removed three groundhogs from our property. We also trapped three raccoons but successfully removed only one. Two who were trapped together managed a get-away. We have not had any invaders for more than a week. Hopefully, the rain will restore some natural food supplies and they will not return this season. I think that next year I will plant them a cantaloupe patch outside the garden.

Through the Seasons

March

 

April

 

May

 

June

 

July

August

 

September

More change to come as seasons transition.