Guadalupe River Part 2

I've been a no good terrible lazy Aunt Val for not posting on my trip to the Guadalupe with my niece Ryan. I was down to visit earlier this month and got the chance to take my nephew Harris on a Sunday, and then to go back with her later in the week. We spent 5 hours that Wednesday just floating and relaxing. We decided to play hooky. Ryan called it a mental health day. Really? At 10, a mental health day? Sweetie, glad you are getting in the habit early. Take them on a regular basis and you will do just fine in life. So here are some pictures on how to take a mental health day. Take note:

Step 1: find a cool tree stump to stash your stuff at the river.

Step 2: Get your feet wet.


Step 3: Find fish eggs and mark them with a stick (technically this should have qualified us for a field trip, I'm just sayin')


Step 4: Catch a dragonfly....and so on. You get the idea.


We had a perfect day at the river. Because of that we both pouted all the way home. Leaving a perfect day at the river is torture.

Geeky Owl Stuff

I've been sitting out most nights for at least a little while with the owls. Since I've gotten the night vision monocular it's been really exciting for the nature geek in me. They really don't mind me sitting so close ogling. I've watched the missus hang her head from the nest box while Spock brings her a small mouse or bird. Even with the night vision it's tough for me to tell exactly what he's delivered, but it often seems to be the size of a small mouse or bird. Tonight they sat on the branch together just outside the box and just hung out for a little while. Eastern Screech Owls mate for life. I just love it.

Speaking of geeky, I've been trying to think of a way to use a camera through the monocular lens. My camera lenses are too big. Then I got the idea to use my iPhone since the lens is so small on it. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the iPhone night vision camera. Also my arm is about to fall off for trying to hold the monocular and camera at just the right angle. Small sacrifice. Next time you see me if I can't lift my arm to welcome you it's because I've been juggling devices in the backyard at midnight just so I can share with you. Feel special. You are.

Saturday Morning Shout Out

Just wanted to share with you what's new with my friend Bernie in Tennessee. She has become a special friend who I'm blessed to know and support. Amazing artist, lover of all God's creatures, and all around great chic. Check out her blog here, and follow her on Twitter here. Not only does Bernie provide second chances for dogs and cats who would otherwise be euthanized, she does an amazing job spreading the word of humane treatment for animals worldwide. Love you Bernie. Keep up the great job and don't lose faith.

Read in a Fortune Cookie....

Be both a speaker of words and a doer of deeds.

*and I was hungry so I ate 2 more*

To be mature is to accept imperfections.

and....

If you put up with small annoyances, you will gain great results.

*Dangit. The cookies are ganging up on me today. Seriously, I wouldn't make this stuff up. That was my last fortune cookie for a while. I can't take any more honest advice.*

Doglet's Day

Angel Doglet, loved Doglet, Doglet spoiled by Grandma, busy Doglet, and finally done Doglet. A rough life she has.

As Promised...

The rest of the blooming cactus story. I was out of town lolling around the Guadalupe River and Chris had to finish the photo-documentation. Good job and thank you honey!

Saturday Morning Surprise

My Eastern Screech Owls have been very busy at night, but this is the first time I've seen either of them in daylight since nesting began.

Brown Thrasher

In bird watching terms this Brown Thrasher is a life bird for me - meaning this is the first time I've ever seen one. Love my backyard.

Guadalupe River on a Sunday

While my brother and nephew fished, I enjoyed poking aroud the flowers.

8 Things

Ok, Joanne tagged me. And because I LOVE Joanne:) I will tell you 8 things x 3. I'm not a tagger, so no victim list. And I just didn't have the energy to list the 8 things I wish I could do. So, here you go:

8 things I’m looking forward to:

1. Growing old with my husband
2. Spending this Christmas in Germany with my best-est friend and God Children
3. Retirement – looking WAY down the road when we’ll be vagabonds in an RV
4. Living in the country again someday
5. Getting organized
6. Getting out of debt
7. Having grandchildren
8. World Peace (ha!) or at least community peace, or clan peace (hey we have to start somewhere)


8 things I did yesterday:

1. Stayed out of the drama at the office
2. Had a milk and honey pedicure
3. Watched the nesting Screech Owls in our back yard
4. Laundry
5. 30 minute telephone survey for fifty bucks
6. Was a good listener
7. Played with the dog
8. Took some pictures


8 shows I like to watch:

1. Lost
2. The Office
3. 30 Rock
4. The Dog Whisperer
5. It’s Me or the Dog
6. Fox and Friends Morning News Show
7. College Football (Geaux Tigers!!)
8. Chowder

Hello May

My favorite cactus is preparing to bloom. I'm going to try to journal it's progress for you. It makes the most beautiful blooms, but they only last a day.

Owl Sighting After All

I'm REALLY happy to report that we finally spotted our Eastern Screech Owl in the yard last night. Not only one, but two! One of them in the Owl house - I'm going to assume it was a female. We'll call her "the missus".

We were sitting out under the porch during a rain storm and saw one fly to a branch nearby. I heard him trilling, and alternately a trilling I had not heard before - kind of a more excited form (and not the B song - I know that one to be very different). It was difficult to tell where the alternate trilling was coming from until I saw a head poke out of the house for a minute or so. When she retreated into the house, it sounded like the excited call was coming from inside it again.

Now I'm wondering if Mr. Spock was really a mister since he's no longer roosting in his spot. Was that the missus all along? Is she inside the house now and not roosting in the old spot? Is he roosting in spot just out of sight? Man, this is driving me crazy. I got out my copy of "The Eastern Screech Owl" by Frederick Gehlbach. I'm skimming pages to look for any information to give me a clue. Also for anything that will help me know how to accommodate them so that they won't abandon the nest.

Stay tuned! I'm hoping I'll have more good news to report. Maybe even owlets!

Visit to Fossil Rim

With Chris working for a radio station, we sometimes have great opportunities to do fun stuff. Today we got to visit Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, and get a guided tour from one of the Docents who is also a donating Power FM listener. He hooked up the staff and families for a special tour early in the day.







They offer overnight stays in tent cabins at the overlook area of the preserve. The cabins sit above one of the big watering holes and would be an excellent place to sit and watch the sunset with animals coming to water. Putting that on my to do list for sure.