Revamped yard for Summer 2012

We try to revamp our backyard every year so we can enjoy it with a new feel. 

Debbie likes to do a vegetable and flower garden but this year, we've done just flowers, plants, and set up new sitting areas.  The only vegetables are the ones in pots (peppers and tomatoes).  

Turned out to be a great idea.  Vegetables seem to require more work with mixed results.  Sitting areas are fun to enjoy by everyone.  

Blue Jay

With all the bird feeders, birdbaths, and shrubs, we do get visitors.  Birds, butterflies, squirrels, chimpmunks, frogs and toads.  I missed a few. Humans come sometimes.  We love them too! 

One nice thing for having several sitting areas in various spots in the yard is that you can move from place to place and stay in the shade.  

This area is now quite colorful with all the Canas blowing.

Yes, we grill in the yard! The yellow sign in the background says "Songbirds Crossing".

With plants, and flowers everywhere, you can enjoy a nice view all over the garden!   

I already have some ideas on what to do with Debbie in the garden next year.  Can't wait!

Do you have a garden? Fix it up nice to your taste and enjoy it.

Your comments are welcome.

Kelly graduated this month!

My dear daughter Kelly just graduated from college this month. 

 (For my french speaking friends, college is not "college" or lycée but université). 

She graduated with honors, Magna Cum Laude. 

We had a little party for her after the graduation ceremony.

Several friends and family came over including Connie and Angela all the way from Alabama and North Carolina, Jean-Luc and his family, George and Georgia and some professors and college friends. 

We're happy for everyone who came to share our joy.

Yes, I'm proud of my Kelly for this great accomplishment!



 





Tree Swallows at the Piedmont Wildlife Refuge

 We went birding at the Piedmont Wildlife Refuge recently.

Sure, we've enjoyed some pretty birds such as the Orchard Orioles, Eastern Kingbirds, various warblers and nuthatches...but the most fun was to watch Tree Swallows above the water.
 For non-birders, Tree Swallows may look like some black swallows doing acrobatics. 



Birders appreciate the iridescent blues, the contrasting dark colors with the white, the courtship dances of the birds, skimming the surface of the water for food...



Preening...








Feeding the little birdies...



It was all fun.  The simple pleasures of life!

Camping at Okefenokee

Just beautiful!

Stephen C. Forster State Park is right in the middle of the Okefenokee Swamp. 

That's where we went camping last weekend.

One of the big ones.

The Okefenokee is renowned for it's alligators but we went camping to see birds and enjoy a relaxing time.  The camping sites are well laid out with enough trees around to give campers plenty of privacy and the comfort areas (bathrooms) are well kept. 

Little Blue Heron.

The birding was great! Swallow-tailed Kites soaring above on our very first day, Northern Parulas at the camp site, Prothonotary Warblers, King Rails, Great Crested Flycathers, various herons, White Ibises...seen on our canoe trip.  Altogether, we were able to identify 63 different bird species over five days...

...and we relaxed quite a bit also.

A Great Egret about to strike.

It was just Debbie and I.  We loved waking up at the choir of birds singing in this beautiful nature cathedral every morning.  The owls made their hoots in the nights and sometimes, early morning.

Paddling through the narrow waterways.  Debbie in front.

I believe the best time to go is in the spring or fall, before it gets too hot and before the yellow flies come out. 

Can you tell I'm having a good time?

We're already looking forward to our next camping trip.  A different place of course.  Just too many beautiful places to choose from in Georgia, ...and Florida!

Visiting Helen, GA

We recently went for a week visit in Helen, Georgia.
Helen is a quaint town in North Georgia, recreated to mirror a Bavarian German style setting.


 We spent the week in one the villas/condo as seen in this picture. 





 Our purpose was to rest and relax, go out on birding trips, and explore the surrounding areas including the various State Parks.

At Brasstown Bald, highest point in GA

That's a lot to do in one week.  But we managed to do a little bit of all of the above.  The snow and cold days forced us to stay in, relax by the fireplace, play games. 

The Chattahoochee River going through Helen, GA

 We went out to Unicoi State Park one day, Vogel State Park on another day, and did a lot of hiking around Helen and the resort areas where we saw over 50 bird species.

Mama, Debbie's mother, was with us and has enjoyed the trip and outings as well. 

Some highlights of 2011

I make this little video from some of the activities we had in 2011.

Enjoy and make some comments.  Thanks!

New Year's Eve with the Prices

Family get-together! Always nice.



Was nice to see Angela and Matt again.

Don and Tim were here. George and Georgia, with Angela and Matt. Mama was already here. And Connie and Duane came later. Check blog below.








Yes, we had fun! Food, some booze including Champagne, and fun for the New Year's celebration! And everyone got along nicely.

So much fun we probably need to do this again. Anyone can call it at their place if they want. Family is just...precious! Thanks to all for been here to start off the year.