Surf Fishing

Today we were on the beach for the fifteen minutes of sunshine that we've been having each day. We spent a pleasant afternoon surf fishing, but didn't bring in anything for supper.  Surf fishing differs from sitting on the beach because of the possibilities. My observations:

Weather on paper

Weather outside our window.

Not at all the same.

The pleasures of surf fishing:

Sitting still and waiting

Looking toward the vast

empty sea and sky

Worries of life behind me.

Waiting, not in idleness

but with hope and expectation

The music of the surf filling me

Thinking of no more than

 the shape and color of surf foam.

In the stillness finding creation.

Seagull and Me

Wait resolutely

Good morsels will be coming

To the patient ones.

Wednesday Images

These two sheepshead will make a fine meal or two. They don't yeild as big a fillet as you would think given their size. The smaller is just over 12 inches. The view from our balcony is lovely.

Alternate February

We're here in Orange Beach for two weeks. I don't think of it as vacation, but as an alternate life. Bill and I have a different rhythm when we are travelling or living at the beach and it is good. On some days I have ample time for reflection and on other days I am busy all day. Each day has it's own blessings. I love to walk on the beach and we have a good location for walking, even though we have to cross the highway.

One day soft ripples,

Pounding, roaring surf the next.

Changling nature sea.

Sunday: north wind, calm sea

Monday: Changing breezes chop the surf

Tuesday: Storms to the south raise the surf, enclose with mist

Tuesday: My pathway to the beach

January Songs

January songs

Good for me but not for frogs

On warm winter days.

I am enjoying the warm winter days, but I'm worried about what it means for the environment. Frogs calling in January just doesn't seem right.

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