10 years ago today...

 

 

I married my best friend!!

 

 

 

 

 

 



Cattle Egrets...

or as the locals here abouts call them "Cattle birds!"

They were hanging around the cows today and a few weeks ago we saw hundreds of them in a neighbors pasture. They love grasshoppers and bugs and hang around the livestock because the cows and horses kick up grasshoppers and bugs as they move...I sure wish they'd go down to the property as there are a lot of grasshoppers down there!

 

 I was reading in the Texas Bird book and I found out this species is originally from Africa. They got caught in a tropical storm and ended up in Brazil then they've slowly moved North. They didn't arrive in Texas until 1955

 



 The gold feathers are breeding plumage.

 

 

I was a bit confused as the cattle egret on the right had a red beak and legs...From reading this also is due to breeding but it also says the youngsters can have dark red beaks and legs, hmm...

 

Interesting to me is that they didn't show up in Texas until 1955...

 

 

 

 

 

Cherry Berry...

Yesterday Michael was given a gift card to Cherry Berry for perfect attendance. We had never been but I had a feeling Michael wasn't going to like it...He's not fond of yogurt (frozen or not) and the only fruit I can get him to eat is apples. I wasn't going to take him yesterday either due to me not feeling good but he insisted and I wasn't in a mood for a fight so we went...We went in and looked around. He got birthday cake yogurt with M&M's and reese toppings and when he dove into that first spoonful and the look he made, I almost died laughing...He didn't say anything and got another spoonful and that did it...The look on his face was openly pure disgust and he finally said "Mom this is awful" and I started laughing...I wish I'd had a camera. Bless his heart as he was so excited to receive the gift card but I seriously doubt we'll ever go back in there...I'll give him credit he tried! (Later he told me "I wish I'd gotten the McDonald's gift card, lol)

The migration has begun...

 

and the hummingbirds are buzzing! We've had hummingbirds all winter this year but their annual migration has finally begun and they are a bit late (it's normally in March).

 

 

I'd estimate that I have about 25 to 30 birds hitting this one feeder at the property at the moment. It's a 1 quart feeder and I'm sure by this afternoon I'll be refilling it, they're hungry!

 

As soon as I cleaned and refilled the feeder this morning they were all over it!

 

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I could watch them all day long. I've also noticed if I wear a brightly colored tie-dye shirt they buzz me quite a bit too.

 

 

 

 

 

May 6th...Mr Jack-rabbit

As I was driving home from the property last night I spotted a Jack rabbit. Not hard to spot in a pasture full of green...

 

I love watching them, they're so strange looking...

 

 

And he was watching me too...

 

 

On the alert...gotta love those ears!!

 

And he's off to hide...

 

 

He really needs to practice that hiding though...Oh Mr Jack rabbit you forgot those ears! Every time I look at this photo it makes me laugh...Like I said you gotta love those ears!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Sunday May 5th...

I spent most of the day down to the property working...

 

 

I had a little visitor and every time I grabbed the camera he ran but when I'd look up from whatever I was doing he'd be right there once again. I finally sat on the deck with the camera and waited patiently and here came the little Whiptail...

They love ants and he can have all the ants he wants!

 

Love their colors and they sure are quick when they want to be...

 

Then I managed a few photos of a male ruby-throat hummingbird that was being a might aggressive and territorial over the feeder down there.

Love when they flash their colors...

A vintage military plane flew over. I'm not up on my vintage aircraft but Michael (who thinks he knows it all when it comes to the military) says it was a troop carrier...whatever it is it's pretty cool.

 

 

 

 

 

 

May 4th....Uh Oh....

 

Momma got a flat tire, oops!!

 

 

I had the wheel off before the boys even noticed what I was doing...

 

 I love Michael's expression here...He's so lively and his imagination runs wild at times!

 

 

Michael keeping his finger where the hole was at...This is the first flat Michael has helped change and I'm glad he's learning. I think everyone should know how to change and or fix a flat.

 

Gotta love my husband and his red shorts and white legs...Sexy man! Ha ha ha...He was attempting to put a plug in the tire. It didn't work and his excuse is they were cheap plugs...whatever. I had enough air staying in it that I managed to get to town yesterday and get it fixed properly...

 

I'm sure it won't be the last flat tire I get in the jeep, it happens when you drive off road down here!

 

 

 

 

May 2nd - After the rain comes....

 

the rain lilies!

 

 

A few days before the rain lilies bloomed we received 3 and 2/10ths inches of rain. What a welcome relief...We could use more but any amount helps.

 

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Jenny and I enjoyed the morning at the property. I knew things were fix'in to change. In the distance you could see the Northerner (Cold front) blowing in...

and 10 minutes later the clouds are getting closer, time to head home. And sweet Jenny always so patient waiting on me...

 

The temps dropped from the 80's to the 40's, brrr...I think we even set records for the lowest temperatures in May. The following morning it was 47 degrees!

 

 

 

 

May 1st...

I wasn't in the mood to take photos but I did manage a few and I liked them...

 

 

Breaking the surface

 

 

In flight

 

Just because

 

 

 

 

 

Ruby-throat hummingbird

 

 

Here and there I manage a decent photo of the hummingbirds!

 

 

 

 

 



April 27th Port Aransas - Mustang Island Beach

I love the beach. I have such fond memories of the beach with my grandparents when I was a child. I'm not talking about the beaches at the bays but the beach at the Gulf of Mexico or the Ocean. A few years back Fred, Michael and I went over to Port Aransas and since he had 4 wheel drive we went down the beach where most people can't get too (love the fact you can drive down this beach. Instead of parking in a parking lot and walking to the beach). I found out it's where the locals surf. Mind you the waves aren't big but they're big enough to attempt to surf...I loved it there.

 

 

 We take the ferry across to Port A, Mustang Island. Fred learned this time why I normally drag him and Michael up before Dawn to get to Port A by 7 or 8am...Other wise you get to wait in line for the Ferry. Fred wasn't happy but the wait wasn't too bad and we got to spend some awesome quality time in the Jeep together while waiting, NOT! LOL...Fred's not a very patient person and Michael was so excited and wanted to get to the beach, just use your imagination!

 

 

On the Ferry crossing and I had to laugh at Fred's expression...Makes me wonder just what was Michael talking to his Dad about?

 

We have arrived and Michael couldn't wait to get his feet in the sand and surf...Me either!

 

Fred was out exploring the jetty...We all put sunblock on but my silly husband didn't think his white white legs needed it...Yep he learned a valuable lesson!

 

Pelicans were flying over, love watching them.

 

Lots of birds...and I'm not even going to try identifying them...some form of Sandpiper I'm sure, well maybe?

 

I got to watch the surfers. Waves weren't much but they did manage a few...

 

 Wipe out...

 

 

He was so loving it, it was a gorgeous day for the beach!

 

 

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 We (Michael and I) built a few sandcastles...

 

 



Wouldn't be a trip to the beach without seagulls

 

 

I even found a whole sand dollar! I can remember finding tons of them when I was little with my grandmother and huge ones too. Now we are lucky to find a small whole one!

 

The end of the Jetty...with an oil rig platform in the background.

 

 

Love his smile

 

Afternoon siesta?

 

4 different species of birds...

 

Enjoying the surf and waves...It's a "Wish you were here photo."

 

 

Terns...

The one Tern was quite cocky and strutting his stuff...

 

Blue Heron checking out the beach from the top of a dune...

 

 

Michael and Fred exploring the Jetty.

 

Fred pointing out the distant sand bar...

 

Fred and I...we'll soon celebrate our 10th anniversary! I'm so glad we found each other. Life isn't perfect but we make it through together!

 

And on our way home waiting for the vehicles to get off the Ferry so we can load up and head home.

 

It was really a great day! Fred isn't too fond of the beach but he went and I'm glad!