Camping at Oconee National Forest

We went camping last week end.  Was fun as usual.  But more importantly, serene, peaceful, quiet... no one around, just nature with its unique sounds. 
Oh yes! we saw new birds.  This post really shows you the basic items we use to set up our site.  We try to make ourselves a little bit comfortable.  But nothing beats your own bed at home or your own bathroom.  We settle for little inconveniences to enjoy the peace of the woods, the forest and nature at its best.

What is your passion?

We went for some birdwatching this week-end.  Twice!  Debbie and I. 

Yes, we saw some new birds.  And yes! we were excited like kids.  It's always fun to see new birds. These birds are not "new".  We just haven't seen and identified them before.  We now have some favorite birds that we're always happy to see again and again; such as the Summer Tanager, the Pileated Woodpecker, the Indigo Bunting...the Yellow Warbler... you get the idea.

Among some of our "new birds" are the American Redstart, the Prothonotary Warbler, the Hooded Warbler, and the Shiny Cowbird.  All of them are pretty.  Very pretty.

Then something interesting happens.  You see a new bird for the first time.  The bird gets nice and lets you see him (or her) real good.  Almost like saying "people don't see me often, so since you found me, I let you look".  You're happy, excited. Then you look in all your bird books and you can't find the bird!!!  This is the second time this has happened to us.  In the same area.  The huge Oconee National Forest.  I'm going to start naming birds: "Yellow-headed Coquerel Oriole" (Debbie and I have seen that bird!), "Coquerel Tanager" (we saw that one too!!!).  What if I write them in the library books and return them.  Mass circulation.  Oh, maybe we did see some "new birds".  I mean...like no one else has documented.  Hum.

As you can see, we're passionate about birds.  What's your passion?  Good for you!  Enjoy it!

A week in the Ozarks

Finally, a week vacation in the Ozarks, Arkansas.
We spent this pleasant week with two of our favorite people, Connie and Duane.

Did you know Arkansas has beautiful forests, mountains, rivers, caverns, nice people, wildlife? Now you know. It has all that and more.

We stayed near a Lake (Greer's Lake) and this lake has a mountain in the middle of it. To get that breathtaking view, you take a ferry or rent a boat, then climb the mountain. Only half a mile steep climb but lots of fun. The view is worth the climb.

The resort where we stayed was in a very natural setting. We even saw a bear crossing the road in front of our car! A black bear.  His name is Charlie.  Duane named him.  Every time we go out, we keep our eyes out for Charlie but we never saw Charlie again. He is afraid of people.

The deer in the area are not afraid of people. They'll say Hi! to you and even show you their fawns and does. The snakes were not afraid either. When we tried to cool off in a natural rock pool, the snakes just joined in happily, coming out of the rocks. Except we were not too happy with their company. They looked like a bunch of juvenile water moccasins to me. Hum, nice but no thank you. I bet they wondered why we had to leave so quickly.  Sure, they just wanted to "play". Little vampires! Debbie said they were creepy.

I have an assignment for you. Go see the Blanchard Springs Caverns before you die. I can't describe it. Let's just say it's Grand. You go in and you go...WOW!!! If you don't see it before you die, don't worry, I think that's gonna be one of the wonders that will be in heaven anyhow. It's still nice to see here for your first glimpse.
These pictures you're looking at are not lying. Everybody was happy.

Debbie and I saw our first Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher. This bird is beautiful and graceful with its long scissor tailed. It's on our bird-to-see list.

Additional pictures from the trip are on the top right corner of this page.

Did I say we played Rook? Connie won the most. Debbie won the first put-put golf game and Duane won the second one.  We stayed at a golf resort with 2 golf courses...but the place is known for it's award winning put put golf course.  Imagine that!
We just got back a week ago but I'm almost ready for the next trip. I forgot how nice vacations are.

Sugar Loaf Mountain. Top

Our cozy backyard and garden

We haven't been at any place exotic lately, except our backyard, and Connie's, and camping, and birdwatching...  So, I made a slideshow of our backyard for the last 3 years.

It's a garden, it's a cozy porch, it's a cool backyard, it's where we grill, it's where we read, it's where Debbie toils, it's a bird's place, it's...exotic! it's our paradise!!!

The sildeshow is on the top right hand corner.

Enjoy!

In memory of LC, the Lap Cat

Our dear LC (Lap Cat) has departed. She taught me a great lesson about "pets".
When she joined our family, we called her LC for LapCat because she wanted to sit on our laps as a kitten even tough we hardly knew each other. First day!

She chose us and no one else. She came to us. She was the most affectionate cat to us, but mean to everyone else, just about. Of course, she knew Kelly and Leah were part of the family. And she knew not to mess with Andre's kids...or else. She was a smart cat like that.

She was attached to Debbie and Debbie was her "mother". That's the lesson LC taught me. A "pet", an "animal" can join your family and become part of the "family". LC was part of our family. We love her. We miss her.

I was naive, thinking she has just a "pet", a "glorified animal" wanting to be petted. So, I pet her, I was nice to her, and "tolerated" her at times when she just wanted too much attention. But Debbie loved her. Like a mother.
I wish I knew how much she loved her. I would have been nicer to LC instead of just "nice". LC never mess with me because she knew I know "Cat's Judo". The one where you put the cat in a choke and she can't move nor breathe. Yeah, we played too!... and when she take out her claws, I take out my cat's judo moves. So, we liked and respected each other. No claws, no cat's judo. That was our deal.

Then she got sick. Bad genes. She could have lived a year or two longer. She fought for her life. And I noticed Debbie was already missing her. So I was nicer to her. The cat, not Debbie. I'm always nice to Debbie! Then I wished she never leaved us. Her last days, or months, were nicer. LC has been sick since January. Going outside, and experiencing TLC from both Debbie and I, made her stay longer. Or she would have been gone earlier. He passed away in our arms, with love. We'll miss her, and if there there is an afterlife for pets, we'll meet again. I've set the appointment, just in case. We love you, LapCat...and hasta lavista (till we meet again)...and I'll be nicer still, more for Debbie, because I love her for loving you.

Our vegetable garden

It's time to enjoy the vegetable garden now. Debbie has worked hard on this. We're reaping tomatoes and we've eaten cantaloupe. Delicious!
The squash didn't do too good this year. Everything else seems to be doing just fine. Once we figured out that a vegetable garden needs lots of water. The recent rains helped too.


Beside the vegetables, the peachtree is full of peaches and the figs have started getting ripe from the figtree. We're wondering about the peaches because they came quickly by the bunch and now they're growing and ripening very slowing. They're not quite sure what to do next. I've talked to them and explained the deal: you're supposed to grow nice and juicy, and we're supposed to eat you. We gave them fertilizer...so... what's the problem? They don't seem to like that deal.
A vegetable garden makes a backyard green and lush. It also attracts butterflies. With some extra bird feeders this year, we got to watch the pretty greenery, a nice variety of birds, and lots of butterflies.

Several birds have bred around the house. A wren was nice enough to make his nest in the birdhouse directly across from the patio. We enjoyed watching the whole process from nest building, incubating, hatching and feeding. It was cute to see these little bird beaks sticking out as the mother wren bring food back and forth. It almost seems like these birdies eat a lot!
Then, a few days ago, they were gone. They left the nest. But this morning, Debbie saw a little wren come to the patio and singing her heart out "I can fly now! I'm big now! Looky, looky, looky!". Or something like that.
We also saw baby Catbirds, Cardinals, Mockingbirds, Towhees even some baby squirrels.

I think I'm going back to the patio and enjoy myself.