tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-77804495183989230822024-03-13T22:26:19.764-05:00CWUAPFor our nature, landscape and wildlife photography. Our regular site is http:www.cwuap.comClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-71732080078849373132023-07-16T14:03:00.000-05:002023-07-16T14:03:33.461-05:00Through The Way-Back Machine<p> CWUAP was originally an abbreviation of Claire's and Walt's Underwater Adventures in Photography because we were doing a lot of underwater photography. We needed a place to put up our photos which we thought were pretty darn good. On a return trip from Indonesia (see the photos <a href="http://www.cwuap.com/gallery-A.htm" target="_blank">here</a>) which was spectacular with <a href="http://divetrip.com/wakatobi_resort_report.php" target="_blank">Island Dreams Travel</a> out of Houston, TSA broke my regulator, which was so awesome I felt like I was never having to breathe, broke in several places, and Walt and I were having consistent problems with TSA and traveling was becoming a huge hassle. We decided to start doing above-ground photography, and that's how we transitioned into the photography we do today. <br /><br />But even before Indonesia, we were doing some very fun diving. One year, Claire decided it would be fun to do a shark-feeding dive. Now here was the thinking on this: it was in the Bahamas, and if it was in the least bit dangerous, then it would be all over the newspapers: HEADLINE: <br /><br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><b>DIVERS MAULED AT </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>SHARK FEEDING DIVE </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>IN NASSAU, BAHAMAS!!!</b></div><br />Right? So what could go wrong? Really! <br /><br />Nothing, except that you felt like you were in the middle of a National-Geographic special on TV on you were right in the middle of it! <br /><br />It was a fantastic experience. We, of course, had our cameras, but we bought the video of us diving and have never been sorry - along with some priceless photos. <br /><br />Here's the video:<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="375" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/gCm_J7kpVOw" width="451" youtube-src-id="gCm_J7kpVOw"></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This came with some excellent photography!<br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJk5XhpTGzah_dtxWWxCy5VI4MXouHjK569blqFr8hK7xtb0urfqGqv9AR6P_HPVr9ZmsZy8oMHwPDF_RuJW8P2Nt4rIKYtxIJVANvTqhxPfowmEF6frFR_ZPGyEPzQT5LbQfGE_jrJffWXpeuXIut_l-jkUb_4JtxBsXnqV6r485cHb2ZKm8NH3O-lQ59/s3008/_dsc7016_%231.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3008" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJk5XhpTGzah_dtxWWxCy5VI4MXouHjK569blqFr8hK7xtb0urfqGqv9AR6P_HPVr9ZmsZy8oMHwPDF_RuJW8P2Nt4rIKYtxIJVANvTqhxPfowmEF6frFR_ZPGyEPzQT5LbQfGE_jrJffWXpeuXIut_l-jkUb_4JtxBsXnqV6r485cHb2ZKm8NH3O-lQ59/s320/_dsc7016_%231.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAEJsscB03yJcgYsKLomvZfO9C3_ojNRgNejjFYhWnVKYyrFSMlOutiMROpQZ6CxEWL0x-U4eKdB8IaEMGSJI_sE0Z_mOK7rYRLXM3mAq52JjMWDS2a8y_GGuQvDTOjwVONFUFxlv-T-YY_LBLtIhFWsSIr7Wj3BxGWLWjImMR75AtsgZfZ8qfgo-ReTr/s3008/_dsc2693_%232.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="3008" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYAEJsscB03yJcgYsKLomvZfO9C3_ojNRgNejjFYhWnVKYyrFSMlOutiMROpQZ6CxEWL0x-U4eKdB8IaEMGSJI_sE0Z_mOK7rYRLXM3mAq52JjMWDS2a8y_GGuQvDTOjwVONFUFxlv-T-YY_LBLtIhFWsSIr7Wj3BxGWLWjImMR75AtsgZfZ8qfgo-ReTr/s320/_dsc2693_%232.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />Proving once again, it's great to take trips and always take photos of your trips so you can enjoy them over and over. <br /><p><br /></p>ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-61786874651444188032022-05-15T09:56:00.005-05:002022-05-15T09:59:53.499-05:00The Eaglets Are Fledging - Sorta!<p> So another trip to our friend's farm in the eastern part of the county and we see some pretty neat stuff. We were told that crows were attacking/dive-bombing the eagle nest, which we thought was weird, but not unheard of. Since we are new to this sight (this spring was our first time there), that could be happening. But once we got there we saw the typically black juvenile and realized that it could easily be mistaken for a crow. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/44/e1/67/44e167a6a401542ac68049922c9d0629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="600" src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/44/e1/67/44e167a6a401542ac68049922c9d0629.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's really easy to tell if you see the two birds together. But if you don't the beak is the tell-tale sign. A bird of prey, hawk, owl, peregrine, and eagle will all have that curved tip on their beak, while the crow or raven or any of the crow family, will have a beak that has no curve at the tip of the beak. If they are side-by-side, like above, it's easy to see that the eagle is a lot larger than the crow, which is another difference. <br /><br />Even though the bird we saw on the nest was smaller than an adult eagle, the crook of the beak told us that it was one of the eaglets from the nest, but it was all black and from a distance, may appear to be a crow, except for one thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://avianreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Bald-Eagle-Heads_optimized.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="730" height="487" src="https://avianreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Bald-Eagle-Heads_optimized.jpg" width="645" /></a></div>An eagle has distinct phases of color. An eagle right out of the nest on the verge of fledging will be all black. This is to protect it from the elements because the eagle has a huge wingspan - 6.5 for the males and 7 for the females (and no snide comments about the women needing a larger wingspan for their larger size!!!)<br /><br />There is a fabulous article <a href="https://eagleskyenet.com/coax-their-young-to-leave-the-nest/">here</a>, but here's a quote from the article that makes you appreciate eagles even more than their stellar beauty. This blog location is Washington State so therefore some of the dates are off a bit as compared to Oklahoma. <blockquote><div><span face="Arimo, sans-serif" style="background-color: #dddcd2; color: #555555; font-size: 16px;">Some eaglets take their first flight and have no issues, but some may go crashing through the branches and injure their wing and won’t make it. Sometimes eaglets will fall out of the nest, due to some disturbance like fireworks, or a rogue puff of wind, and fall from the nest before they are ready or even able to fly. Those massive wings, 6.5 feet wide for males, and 7 feet for females, have their large feathers full of blood prior to being ready to fly, so if they are forced from the nest too early, they just can’t fly, and if not rescued will hide in the bushes, and usually will not make it.</span></div></blockquote><blockquote><span face="Arimo, sans-serif" style="background-color: #dddcd2; color: #555555; font-size: 16px;">So if you see an eagle on the ground, try and stay as far away as possible. It’s normal for eaglets to stand on the ground for 20 to 30 minutes while they are finding their way in the world. If you see a eagle on the ground for over an hour, then contact a professional or state or local game expert who can come asses if the eagle is injured and in trouble, or just resting and will be fine.</span></blockquote>This makes you appreciate the eagle-fledging process even more. Another fact that really makes you think, is that mature eagles only store enough energy to fly for 28 minutes a day. So any extra stress or worry on the bird will cause the bird to use energy that they may need to feed themselves or their eaglets. <div><br /></div><div>So here are the shots of the juvenile that is attempting to leave the nest, however, is not quite ready. The caretaker on the property noted that last year the adults left for about a week and then came back to help get the last one out of the nest. When we first arrived the juvie was flapping his/her wings to try and get out of the next, but I know we alarmed him/her so we decided not to cause any more alarm and left. The truth is that we don't stay long so as not to cause any additional stress to the stress that nature causes. </div><div><br /></div><div>But as usual Walt did get some killer shots.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu0e_NrdznbIrNbu8TtKWgH4iqBzdQgjTNiVNdMrgBdvrrGUFDtyQ-uA0arCMaqB7l0BP8cGUDe5vqYi-sKJ5Mr4swH-fh4A63oPEPL4NyMN-WZWDz7VK86hgfvu18lXjoe1Xp-ylI9PCRT_o1Pt9Ek0fYm31cOwkO_0Mxqi-UZ_tvwYy-VELYt_DSQ/s3172/AI5R1175.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2027" data-original-width="3172" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmu0e_NrdznbIrNbu8TtKWgH4iqBzdQgjTNiVNdMrgBdvrrGUFDtyQ-uA0arCMaqB7l0BP8cGUDe5vqYi-sKJ5Mr4swH-fh4A63oPEPL4NyMN-WZWDz7VK86hgfvu18lXjoe1Xp-ylI9PCRT_o1Pt9Ek0fYm31cOwkO_0Mxqi-UZ_tvwYy-VELYt_DSQ/s320/AI5R1175.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>A little wing-flapping action. Eagles don't really flap and the lift off the nest, they sort of point down and then grab a wind current and start soaring. So I guess you would call them soarers more than flyers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU7WYlxIux2_KnulvN3EHop1Hg_JD1hUaUnavyyxDj5SRV8svoLUAyHoo-7sBatmON_nlNs3URch7GPVE-TGTubS_WUzzom99nNIVb7aWF2Zspc0rx1A2EahKz1kPm_SdB7qL_eieY52bAUZAICKHu4dI-6hL2uA_YRPHLitvCeJObxmYJ0KdB5KOqw/s1600/AI5R1188.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1236" data-original-width="1600" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU7WYlxIux2_KnulvN3EHop1Hg_JD1hUaUnavyyxDj5SRV8svoLUAyHoo-7sBatmON_nlNs3URch7GPVE-TGTubS_WUzzom99nNIVb7aWF2Zspc0rx1A2EahKz1kPm_SdB7qL_eieY52bAUZAICKHu4dI-6hL2uA_YRPHLitvCeJObxmYJ0KdB5KOqw/s320/AI5R1188.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Aaaah - either the morning gargle or call of the wild! The later is probably more appropriate.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFR5cL5mSj-DPdxJBOKQeSD6cOgW6wVmsJfodLGpDvwtKvuRptNCK8k-oVRjqhhaVR5zpiiBkVOREQXwiwnZvJcTWly5Tq6qWiXySgtONKXwOkndNcRCYNd7lCk46IpLYwSr1tUP4wIHBKP_dNF_B-KVR4oVIDuDxg9m0UbXIRn5EjM0oxEqUcXQr8g/s1720/AI5R11971.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1720" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFR5cL5mSj-DPdxJBOKQeSD6cOgW6wVmsJfodLGpDvwtKvuRptNCK8k-oVRjqhhaVR5zpiiBkVOREQXwiwnZvJcTWly5Tq6qWiXySgtONKXwOkndNcRCYNd7lCk46IpLYwSr1tUP4wIHBKP_dNF_B-KVR4oVIDuDxg9m0UbXIRn5EjM0oxEqUcXQr8g/s320/AI5R11971.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>And this is what finally did it for us. This juvie is getting that "discriminating eye" that the mature eagle is so well known for.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDqGA7B5c1qGyrCw6OYkRn1mQkKad1QaQ3z0y2ATYQ5fuyYA_BIo73iVZcpGlAiqxF85hwx24MIt1_7nH7EVXAh3EhbqDNUvpb2QqCtwGK-CPJSs7cPy8MBBa0BgOXHjhvKs1hS2gR5Q2VSw7SNnFmORD2aNVUurIqIPUXMZ6q76z3kFir5pw4slumA/s5184/AI5R0750.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDqGA7B5c1qGyrCw6OYkRn1mQkKad1QaQ3z0y2ATYQ5fuyYA_BIo73iVZcpGlAiqxF85hwx24MIt1_7nH7EVXAh3EhbqDNUvpb2QqCtwGK-CPJSs7cPy8MBBa0BgOXHjhvKs1hS2gR5Q2VSw7SNnFmORD2aNVUurIqIPUXMZ6q76z3kFir5pw4slumA/s320/AI5R0750.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>In comparison, here's the parent (perfecting that "discriminating eye" look) and a pic of the nest which seems so much larger than this spring. This is about two months ago. </div><div><br /></div><div>We might get a chance to watch the last one fledge, but depends upon the bird's and our schedules. <br /><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></blockquote><p> </p></div>ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-185866338352247292022-03-27T03:45:00.002-05:002022-03-27T03:45:50.592-05:00Fun In Our Own Backyard<p> Even though there have been rumors of an albino eagle in the eastern part of the state, that was all it took to get us back on the road. Bald eagles are such a majestic species and they have this look like: "Who gave you permission to take my photograph?!" while checking out the local stream for the best fishing!<br /><br />But much to our surprise the eastern part of our very own county has some interesting eagle action, and we were lucky enough to receive an invitation to an eagle's nest not far from our home. We were in for a treat.</p><p>The eagles here are on a farm and because the small farm has about 11 dogs, and people wandering around, planting rye, cutting and bailing hay, and well, doing all the stuff farmers do, the eagles were rather blasé about humans. Then suddenly these weirdos show up with the lends that are about like an eagle's wing-span, and whoa!!! It's a whole new game. </p><p>And so the eagles had to put on a show for us. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz45i7Twl6RyU3M2A4vAE79pHmQUVScwgvfxFVYv0tRTIYplGvu8B8nOep1Un8wlNgvC0_i61YT8iQaqWyRG3iQd3QlqhZ2C_A0X1tSDxICoF-uFMm--m91nEAfV3Oewavd2oGuKz6OgoMZiVmxOLdXDpuDOztutAIT5_R7XOnVL5r6BUz7B6Dutjduw/s5184/AI5R0894.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz45i7Twl6RyU3M2A4vAE79pHmQUVScwgvfxFVYv0tRTIYplGvu8B8nOep1Un8wlNgvC0_i61YT8iQaqWyRG3iQd3QlqhZ2C_A0X1tSDxICoF-uFMm--m91nEAfV3Oewavd2oGuKz6OgoMZiVmxOLdXDpuDOztutAIT5_R7XOnVL5r6BUz7B6Dutjduw/s320/AI5R0894.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9AKRi4QqujFv92Xo5j0Rj_R2YLr8rZuLxrcCkUEzse53sLtLGwO3vfWVnsT1ouiajZVsqrlUNaeRbdXMBdZXJfFW-Bqm8BCYOKYo44dHnP4xm0T3cEmTbMZwrJtqfaCFEszdfCjBCrdRIwEGybAc4rXQHMn6blDA6zbql6X_bC-exn1wN4UZv6COAA/s2360/AI5R0952_easyHDR.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1473" data-original-width="2360" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9AKRi4QqujFv92Xo5j0Rj_R2YLr8rZuLxrcCkUEzse53sLtLGwO3vfWVnsT1ouiajZVsqrlUNaeRbdXMBdZXJfFW-Bqm8BCYOKYo44dHnP4xm0T3cEmTbMZwrJtqfaCFEszdfCjBCrdRIwEGybAc4rXQHMn6blDA6zbql6X_bC-exn1wN4UZv6COAA/s320/AI5R0952_easyHDR.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Aren't their "fingers" pretty? They really are beautiful birds. <div><br /></div><div>But we're getting the hint.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJ_KqPZb5X9A3uUT8u2CZg8C56S1AUpH7G-cUE_xxR-I-zSVR-idekm_RCmJ9ln-T18EFL47RajWXXVKSiCIHN3hfVOwG75hrtT3KEImP0AJa9lQmeHcI9RPXtWD9PN6ecBahaGNJDhvoCVPenACRz2teQ7mePUc72Gx4L_ju8cUISCy81TMHl92RWA/s5184/AI5R0915.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5184" data-original-width="3456" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAJ_KqPZb5X9A3uUT8u2CZg8C56S1AUpH7G-cUE_xxR-I-zSVR-idekm_RCmJ9ln-T18EFL47RajWXXVKSiCIHN3hfVOwG75hrtT3KEImP0AJa9lQmeHcI9RPXtWD9PN6ecBahaGNJDhvoCVPenACRz2teQ7mePUc72Gx4L_ju8cUISCy81TMHl92RWA/s320/AI5R0915.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We're getting the feeling that maybe we're not all that welcomed. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then suddenly Walt sees something really interesting over at the nest. Now this is my effort at making this fun, but if you look really hard at the left center, you can see something popping its head up and down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR41bME5qUJ5eZMRn-2DfSmF-H9f2L88ZvsbcyLhi4y8jkc_URDQrrYbr7cDl8fGJiDF7hmTnXs6XIA0ekwOWJjfw_xpRC_gXjYs0vOViS_WJTocvyX82eWRDpufMhslTnd9KD4WdgBynjgCEEJnT-J0JShSHaAMmYOEV7ZxH1_t_LqN5lCDEeUnlN8w/s518/AI5R0750eaglet.gif" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="518" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR41bME5qUJ5eZMRn-2DfSmF-H9f2L88ZvsbcyLhi4y8jkc_URDQrrYbr7cDl8fGJiDF7hmTnXs6XIA0ekwOWJjfw_xpRC_gXjYs0vOViS_WJTocvyX82eWRDpufMhslTnd9KD4WdgBynjgCEEJnT-J0JShSHaAMmYOEV7ZxH1_t_LqN5lCDEeUnlN8w/s320/AI5R0750eaglet.gif" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In case you're not sure where to look, here's where the little eaglet is.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2QlcYisK1Xg-NdrfeT_Z3LXFMOHdFfShpwp8b4wZxxcPU3fBFVBRI_APqvXxpRzgsHBFuOBxhNhM0RNOQrgtQ1YBiMKxrTDZlSmT1QjRIHVhqXNPaWuoMH8I2RDQz1ueKWrWgJVcGK04fNxmW1Wz5mOb0b47XCC3SfwwnJj7dDwPKaEUlWuSI1fHtA/s5184/eaglet.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2QlcYisK1Xg-NdrfeT_Z3LXFMOHdFfShpwp8b4wZxxcPU3fBFVBRI_APqvXxpRzgsHBFuOBxhNhM0RNOQrgtQ1YBiMKxrTDZlSmT1QjRIHVhqXNPaWuoMH8I2RDQz1ueKWrWgJVcGK04fNxmW1Wz5mOb0b47XCC3SfwwnJj7dDwPKaEUlWuSI1fHtA/s320/eaglet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We'll travel out again, but we didn't stay long. Mothers have enough troubles they don't need these weirdos with huge long tubes on a three-stick stand poking into their business. So we let them get back to the dogs, <a href="https://www.kubota.com/products/utility/images/img_hero.jpg" target="_blank">Kubota</a>, and running the farm! But with a little homemade blackberry preserves bribery, we've been invited back!</div><br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p></div>ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-73254831605640296632020-10-12T20:22:00.028-05:002020-10-13T07:53:40.711-05:00From the Miracles Never Cease Department<p> Let's be honest here. I'm not the fisherman in this family. I can clean and remove scales like a champ, but catching them is not my forté. That is until the White River in the Arkansas Ozarks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyQQb1bunt8OkeGASYEXOajXDnBWv95WojytUddi0UiyEJcL4_vi630aKCMCixF6r0r-ZvmEGojMofQUcygOXowtxIvW7mChMXoMac0OzOhJCpLIP-Po6YkKhNrFm8bSOMrtKV7lS3nJU/s2649/20201009_075658.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2649" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtyQQb1bunt8OkeGASYEXOajXDnBWv95WojytUddi0UiyEJcL4_vi630aKCMCixF6r0r-ZvmEGojMofQUcygOXowtxIvW7mChMXoMac0OzOhJCpLIP-Po6YkKhNrFm8bSOMrtKV7lS3nJU/s320/20201009_075658.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>This place is not only beautiful, but it has everything that we love. I probably shouldn't wax on and on about this cause then it will get discovered, and then it will be prohibitively expensive to be here and over-run with tourists and all that jazz. It's fall now, and the natives say that it's not as pretty as it usually is. Really? Not as pretty? I think it's pretty gorgeous myself.</p><p>Late yesterday afternoon, I was trying to capture these trees (above) in a really great backlight in a watercolor. I looked up and thought I saw a decent-sized, dark bird that mostly has been black vultures, but every once in a while it's a grey heron or even an eagle. A river, especially a good fishing river, is a key play for eagles to hang out. Well, it was an eagle. I ran up to get Walt and his super-duper camera and he gets a decent shot. We're going to make an effort later to spend some time trying to get a better shot as we found out where one of the main nests are on the river. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vFTxL8vaxpczIQO9O-YnXOhru89wIpthX3r6mRzNHkwnsSMJ8tVzrtSCr6G17h8fVEmeL-9MIXaXClHd7x6j7bMPdTSsyTtT4cVpsjDkkyk0ay7wFJvNsu3CzcCGIODofJuLuedBikiX/s1296/Eagle-small.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3vFTxL8vaxpczIQO9O-YnXOhru89wIpthX3r6mRzNHkwnsSMJ8tVzrtSCr6G17h8fVEmeL-9MIXaXClHd7x6j7bMPdTSsyTtT4cVpsjDkkyk0ay7wFJvNsu3CzcCGIODofJuLuedBikiX/s320/Eagle-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>He's picked up some to-go dinner from the river and headed home (on a branch across the river from our RV) to eat it. The surprises never stop here. </p><p>But that's not what this part of the country is known for. It's known for its fishing, more specifically it's trout fishing. So Walt and I trekked over here to check it out. We hired a guide, and he's a good guy - really works hard to make sure that we are having fun. </p><p>Here's the catch. From the first time we went out, I caught the first fish. I do not catch fishes - EVER! So I'm in shock. The first trip ended with me tieing Walt for the number of fish we catch. </p><p>The second trip, I'm thinking this will be fun and all and maybe some fall color, but I won't catch fish all that much. And plus our guide who we used from last time, wants me to try fly fishing. Uh, yeah. Fly fishing is the most artful way to not catch a fish!!!!<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1h4BlJQm1dDeQ5wGZ4ktNOk5LB65WQR4hEhW7Abn4g7xgFhev_kDzfTO7yFFVplJ01qm5qTgCB19D_i-sIwW7dJcXKhDjHDV_6UeiyDx3BVnpxuzOfYIxraoJoQ0UpmmZplNZVPrvZfX/s2048/Tenkiller.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1412" data-original-width="2048" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf1h4BlJQm1dDeQ5wGZ4ktNOk5LB65WQR4hEhW7Abn4g7xgFhev_kDzfTO7yFFVplJ01qm5qTgCB19D_i-sIwW7dJcXKhDjHDV_6UeiyDx3BVnpxuzOfYIxraoJoQ0UpmmZplNZVPrvZfX/w568-h392/Tenkiller.jpg" width="568" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I mean look at this - doesn't this look idyllic? But seriously - catching fish. That's for the movies or someone who devotes their life to fishing and that's not me!<div><br /></div><div>But guess what. Our fearless guide is so good and Walt is so patient, that I caught a fish (a cutthroat trout no less) on my first lesson with <a href="https://www.facebook.com/michael.decker.5473">Mike Decker</a>, our guide. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOy-5gOkhLpPYBOPUI4rHuhYMLdbYJhT3MQqRjk-wL33stFCHIlVyy0NOGb9BuC2k5d1YjC3D5L4pxI2TFeLzRgWBZfnQgNad76Gm_X0u7UWgNHxrrm6Wqfr0MjK3IMvQtfO13p8HK0L8/s750/My+first+fly+fish.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZOy-5gOkhLpPYBOPUI4rHuhYMLdbYJhT3MQqRjk-wL33stFCHIlVyy0NOGb9BuC2k5d1YjC3D5L4pxI2TFeLzRgWBZfnQgNad76Gm_X0u7UWgNHxrrm6Wqfr0MjK3IMvQtfO13p8HK0L8/s320/My+first+fly+fish.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Now this includes all the mistakes like setting too quickly and letting it go; setting the fish and letting the rod down; missing the indicator going about 6 feet underwater. I could go on, but for those of you who DO fly fishing, I'm sure you're rolling on the floor laughing your hearts out!<br /><br />Needless to say, this will be framed, and then people will be bored eternally while I tell them my exploits of my <i>first fish I caught fly fishing!</i> <br /><br />And of course, it sounds so cavalier and urbane to say that it was a cutthroat trout!!!!<br /><div><br /></div>ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-82823553471002198882020-10-10T19:53:00.001-05:002020-10-10T19:53:33.330-05:00Sometimes You Just Never Know<p> The day started out really dreary and cloudy and we figured that it was going to be a slow day. I caught the most about 3 and they were fun, but nothing to write home about. Walt was up to a grand total of ZERO!</p><p>So this is looking like a <i>Once upon a midday dreary, while I fished, weak and weary....." </i>cause we aren't catching nothing, no how, zero, nada, zilch!</p><p>So we head back up to the dam with our intrepid guide, the Professory of Fishology, who if anything is as perseverent as I am. I drop my line in the water, with a new lure - we've tried about 4 or 5 as our Fishology professor knows all the secrets to what works on a weekend (with heavy traffic) and cloudy day (when the fish are in a "Meh," mood)! I drop it into the water and immediately get it snagged so hand it off to Mike, the professor. Mike tells me I have a fish and the pole is <i>really</i> hanging down. If this is a fish, it's gotta be the Moby Dick of trout. He's working the pole and I'm still not sure that I'm not hung up in the grass or moss or something. Pretty soon the line frees and I figure that I'm out of the moss. Mike brings the lure onto the boat, and the fish, yes it was a fish, has straightened the little hook. </p><p>NOTE: In the catch and release area, you are only allowed to use barbless hooks.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.flyfishusaimages.com/images/2020-barbless-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" height="180" src="https://www.flyfishusaimages.com/images/2020-barbless-04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>The barbed means that after you set the fish, at least you have a chance of keeping the fish on the line cause the fish can't back out of the hook. Because this is a catch and release area, the fish, and game department doesn't want too much damage to the fish, but the down-side is that if the fish swims toward you the hook can easily fall out. This means you must keep tension on the line the entire time you are reeling in the fish. Sounds easy, but you can lose a fish very easily in the excitement if you don't work hard to remember to keep the pole up and keep the fish set in the hook. <br /><br />I sound like a pro, but just been schooled by the professor!!!<div><br /></div><div>And the professor says the reason I lost the fish was that the fish was a <i>monster </i>fish and it bent the hook. I didn't feel so bad, but to be honest, I thought the professor might have made that up to make me feel better. He fixed my line then we headed right back to the same spot. He knew exactly where I had gotten it and he was after that huge fish. I'm not so sure.</div><div><br /></div><div>We both drop our lines into the water, and almost immediately, Walt says he's stuck in the moss. The prof comes over and touches his line and exclaims that not only does he have a fish, he has a monster fish. I'm not kidding when I say they worked a good 4 to 5 minutes struggle to get that fish to the side of the boat, all the while Mike realizing that this may have very well been the fish that straightened my hook and he wants to get that fish on the boat before another hook is straightened. He's not worried about the hook, he simply wants to get the fish on board before it gets away. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cwuap.com/gallery/Fgallery16-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="426" src="http://cwuap.com/gallery/Fgallery16-4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>I think Mike is more excited than we are, simply because he knows what he brings out of this river, and this is one of the big ones. It was a very handsome male. They got it on board, and Walt gets a great shot.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://cwuap.com/gallery/Fgallery16-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="427" src="http://cwuap.com/gallery/Fgallery16-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>And after hardly any fish all day - one little 12-incher - and then to get this great 26" fish. Walt is beside himself, and Mike is overjoyed. <br /><br />Obviously, this is enough to feed about 10 people, however, this is the catch and release area, and Mike, being the schooled professor in all things fishology, as well as the Arkansas Fish and Game rules, knows that this goes back in the river so that some other fisherman can have the joy of catching him. He struggled mightily and Walt was a little concerned, but once in the water, we waited and made sure that he was recovering and on his way into another current awaiting another meal!</div><div><br /></div><div>So what looked like it was going to be a dud day, turned out to be a <i>monster</i> fish day! You just never know!<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-37321089191910364532020-10-09T19:03:00.006-05:002020-10-10T16:40:28.809-05:00When You Start Like This....<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEw0sJeuvk4Hy_Y5YpwgkqEAjpGwkftOWxZ-Tyrol3kwhyKMiE3HKH9Hlb-DeMp6UQReTBTdVnzyPHT0-2blBzq8my3StKLl0NgMktFhuoQHeHh5zUWNpiGOsjq34hM5fyCHJHHUjNe840/s2650/20201009_075658A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1187" data-original-width="2650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEw0sJeuvk4Hy_Y5YpwgkqEAjpGwkftOWxZ-Tyrol3kwhyKMiE3HKH9Hlb-DeMp6UQReTBTdVnzyPHT0-2blBzq8my3StKLl0NgMktFhuoQHeHh5zUWNpiGOsjq34hM5fyCHJHHUjNe840/s320/20201009_075658A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Then progresses to this (into the record-type size)...</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0ggqoN7wlzDXOe5KSkrCrB_LudHLML-acxq3il4FSGH1qDZaNeITC9iKDGW7CtWr99GO4i3N7oJjeHfD2AQI-8iFaPWqZ3MCyRCPxXGWkG2Zp8xLrYShjn7edUkcoK6_yT8A1MCkJsZj/s2048/e99da8505bd4b18c2564236bd59dacee91e953f3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0ggqoN7wlzDXOe5KSkrCrB_LudHLML-acxq3il4FSGH1qDZaNeITC9iKDGW7CtWr99GO4i3N7oJjeHfD2AQI-8iFaPWqZ3MCyRCPxXGWkG2Zp8xLrYShjn7edUkcoK6_yT8A1MCkJsZj/s320/e99da8505bd4b18c2564236bd59dacee91e953f3-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>I swear 3 minutes in the water and I'm pulling out a 20-incher!</p><p>Then a little of this....two at once - now that's a good fish guide who can handle two fish at once!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qt4htIjOiFEgRSmUkOpqAMFdaihJ2Wq5lwvrUMdQrjmISA9gIHvveGBAboweyoDqzVc6WsHGhxVkf-zwBm08OHopOj7hbaFE23EySu-OxlQIr1m4yEanIWQOLIggo-iX5Oq7z5nxKayU/s2048/7dbdeef105827d340ff7bf2580bac67601a2d31b-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1qt4htIjOiFEgRSmUkOpqAMFdaihJ2Wq5lwvrUMdQrjmISA9gIHvveGBAboweyoDqzVc6WsHGhxVkf-zwBm08OHopOj7hbaFE23EySu-OxlQIr1m4yEanIWQOLIggo-iX5Oq7z5nxKayU/s320/7dbdeef105827d340ff7bf2580bac67601a2d31b-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>With Walt's big catch.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9undgmn2Ta4uGnjwXr45ge0WZXODh_0JnNLp_tQq1gS4tDWphpQvjnp4tT35jTzHzC9n12dmhI55iz-sclId4cnQpBr5bCpyugexXE5jn-KWvim9xNe0JUtoWch7oEGcaofEboENWEtOs/s2048/41f648971454680eb66b83d65e966a19acdb88fc-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9undgmn2Ta4uGnjwXr45ge0WZXODh_0JnNLp_tQq1gS4tDWphpQvjnp4tT35jTzHzC9n12dmhI55iz-sclId4cnQpBr5bCpyugexXE5jn-KWvim9xNe0JUtoWch7oEGcaofEboENWEtOs/s320/41f648971454680eb66b83d65e966a19acdb88fc-1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p>And this is a typical day on the White River and why we love it so much! Well, that and the color in the background. When the fish aren't jumping into the boat, the color is gorgeous!</p>ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-45145333688618515172020-10-08T21:31:00.002-05:002020-10-08T21:31:40.925-05:00Back at Our Cool Find<p> We liked this so well last time, that we decided to come back again. This is our first "full" day here in the new-to-us RV (fifth-wheel) and we still feel as though we've got a bargain of a deal. We love the 5th wheel if for no other reason that your intrepid authoress here can actually hook it up and unhook it, in case Walt gets 1.) eaten by a bear, 2.) fall into the river and end up in a body cast (which wouldn't be so bad, and I would have the last word on every word he could utter), and/or 3.) just to show off how cosmopolitan my cadre of skills are! <br /><br />The leaves are just turning, so we will be here for some color (yes, that's very sweet), and here's the proof.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBEq92Qe2ow4twQV0lLrcDM2kB6omfDJWQHCW3JPE3o0wa0LEQGoICvqnAy707DdiibfwXFIkFwLT9M_rbZzj-gVj8Ed5iEWBbCbWC90PIEwhmawe-GBjVSpwkRlOX8r-4Z1_-x2Wk5Ht/s1152/1L2B7578B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUBEq92Qe2ow4twQV0lLrcDM2kB6omfDJWQHCW3JPE3o0wa0LEQGoICvqnAy707DdiibfwXFIkFwLT9M_rbZzj-gVj8Ed5iEWBbCbWC90PIEwhmawe-GBjVSpwkRlOX8r-4Z1_-x2Wk5Ht/s320/1L2B7578B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hC4rvvBnLR0_Hpb-xmvfuzQjxj3hU5x9yosX-sld33xiIdZszwgMNi612gq97TSQE08B9z5s3tTpFaxAqAji8LW1FPR0YqsagK23QzEvq3Q0muxY39Nshracp3xOg2tdxFIrMT28rFUU/s1440/1L2B7586B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-hC4rvvBnLR0_Hpb-xmvfuzQjxj3hU5x9yosX-sld33xiIdZszwgMNi612gq97TSQE08B9z5s3tTpFaxAqAji8LW1FPR0YqsagK23QzEvq3Q0muxY39Nshracp3xOg2tdxFIrMT28rFUU/s320/1L2B7586B.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is right out our back window, with a little tiny light from the sun late this afternoon. Usually the mornings are quite foggy and had a hard time burning off. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, and I don't normally upload something this bad, only to let me know what's in store for the next 2 weeks!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1EnVsQWC3NTGi5SmCqsZh7D1HDnwXWa_HkPOoXDovJgpEsJ76Is4JWP2UHElhabUcUCF2OO8cMuN_kbnOZMlTF5SL1aTcmydQ9OFYOYrWxWDKGlO9ER68aWwTKqgFLlUN2dWyHIjKHCy/s1152/1L2B7601B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_1EnVsQWC3NTGi5SmCqsZh7D1HDnwXWa_HkPOoXDovJgpEsJ76Is4JWP2UHElhabUcUCF2OO8cMuN_kbnOZMlTF5SL1aTcmydQ9OFYOYrWxWDKGlO9ER68aWwTKqgFLlUN2dWyHIjKHCy/s320/1L2B7601B.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Yep, right over our heads, late this afternoon while waiting for the sun...my favorite bird of all time - Bald Eagle! Can't wait to see more and possibly fishing the river!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-88258880263756604912020-07-29T15:49:00.001-05:002020-07-29T15:50:11.490-05:00A Cool Find In Northern ArkansasThis is a little late. I'm not one to normally brag, but this is so out of the normal, it's hard to fathom. Walt and I took a little fishing trip down the White River in Arkansas. As trout-fishing streams/rivers go, the White River is ranked as one of the top, with the Yellowstone, Madison, Snake and San Juan in competition. Those other rivers are a lot further away than the White River, and having never been there, why not?<div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmco4XUjkR_-y-5Qb4xRieF288_qSneNb1vmt6WcF_rYCsxrJsu8i_9nKoY2e1L5sNCrIcjeSoicxfKdITk6p6gJ82Qy224Csq5PEiWdqaJ_wRkuRZnjCwPNNBQKm4Eh4IRSKpxlXgabb/s2918/20200714_080313.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="2918" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmco4XUjkR_-y-5Qb4xRieF288_qSneNb1vmt6WcF_rYCsxrJsu8i_9nKoY2e1L5sNCrIcjeSoicxfKdITk6p6gJ82Qy224Csq5PEiWdqaJ_wRkuRZnjCwPNNBQKm4Eh4IRSKpxlXgabb/s320/20200714_080313.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Doing a little research on the area, the Bull Shoals Dam (which creates Bull Shoals lake by stopping up the White River), is the 5th largest in the world. That means that the dam is deep and that water at the bottom of Bull Shoals Lake is very cold. So cold that it can be a humid, 98° up by the river, and you get to the edge of the river and the temperature drops at least 10° - it's almost cold by the side of the river. When that cold water hits that warm humid air, a fog forms every morning and every evening. It makes for a beautiful way to start or end the day. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYi0aqTPv8U/XyHc6PONLLI/AAAAAAAAeM4/3ycMkXGtm5MhhT1cBCTuz3SsTFAfdE7VwCLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200714_103019_076.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tYi0aqTPv8U/XyHc6PONLLI/AAAAAAAAeM4/3ycMkXGtm5MhhT1cBCTuz3SsTFAfdE7VwCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200714_103019_076.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fMLFX3p0M3S8k42bljTG4xw40FT2dn5LwYgwE0YFB0G78BnqzogwAkRwEKq-xuSh84hf89TNk1WDdtb49MlNnq2SNdKCFKz0A2uiR1nTQh6BC-5tmYgEGwWHHOZHkgS51GHVBdghZEoP/s2048/20200714_103040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5fMLFX3p0M3S8k42bljTG4xw40FT2dn5LwYgwE0YFB0G78BnqzogwAkRwEKq-xuSh84hf89TNk1WDdtb49MlNnq2SNdKCFKz0A2uiR1nTQh6BC-5tmYgEGwWHHOZHkgS51GHVBdghZEoP/s320/20200714_103040.jpg" /></a></div><br />Well, Walt caught the first one, and we had to measure it (21"),but.....<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw9F6DDvLoSi7hIFLRHx8jRcFYgl_quRrjKlqu_Yo3kOVim2Cl6Q4itOOoiBtrCF7pUROVML7gOpe58cxsk8CKOZ1rH4PNIrS7OAobVPot20rnrA84Uwo_nDxNBSHg0ZINw0jg-PGlvyG/s2048/20200714_113107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHw9F6DDvLoSi7hIFLRHx8jRcFYgl_quRrjKlqu_Yo3kOVim2Cl6Q4itOOoiBtrCF7pUROVML7gOpe58cxsk8CKOZ1rH4PNIrS7OAobVPot20rnrA84Uwo_nDxNBSHg0ZINw0jg-PGlvyG/s320/20200714_113107.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQRxbIFyBjg/XyHeB7XnPRI/AAAAAAAAeNM/CEZnGsHNZ3QvkXhq7wRp_F0Uq0Yh-zEsACLcBGAsYHQ/s2048/20200714_113117_001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SQRxbIFyBjg/XyHeB7XnPRI/AAAAAAAAeNM/CEZnGsHNZ3QvkXhq7wRp_F0Uq0Yh-zEsACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/20200714_113117_001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_Rmjpf2vW5URcFuE1Qco1f52irzzoAtxocC75ckO6TIRMNlIknn4klpjqdn0Ggy2XmnNJeUoeiUz8lpZNq2_AxcwnZN4VZ-IDRzTD1zbYbWzwsHLmf7kyMIlfLQ5rqkGEUnb3nI37TBQ/s2048/20200714_114558.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4_Rmjpf2vW5URcFuE1Qco1f52irzzoAtxocC75ckO6TIRMNlIknn4klpjqdn0Ggy2XmnNJeUoeiUz8lpZNq2_AxcwnZN4VZ-IDRzTD1zbYbWzwsHLmf7kyMIlfLQ5rqkGEUnb3nI37TBQ/s320/20200714_114558.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmPyeyEsrz_EieXmqqVp6dXF2Wr88NgxMucBcYJeaAVmn1oO0qPpdjjL6zWIZhG5sxQ66_51XoqoZz_5bjrPhatwk6J6l6gtzAAEh7hasbyLkXzRayG-SpV9ftW1pVSzhcf8hPkK9ukYs/s2048/AI5R0001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEmPyeyEsrz_EieXmqqVp6dXF2Wr88NgxMucBcYJeaAVmn1oO0qPpdjjL6zWIZhG5sxQ66_51XoqoZz_5bjrPhatwk6J6l6gtzAAEh7hasbyLkXzRayG-SpV9ftW1pVSzhcf8hPkK9ukYs/s320/AI5R0001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipU3s4dvium0Zj15BQBYM75wOKYBV0YwHUCZRkb8Rj3MqywD-WYeGxOqjInmFFsDMOp0wgDPw-paWIIaKFpcVh4eUdAPfn3YOmc6Hz_0V8bJY0KFqdCHDXChk7Kf3TiHZYkHDuUYDNmk40/s2048/AI5R0012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipU3s4dvium0Zj15BQBYM75wOKYBV0YwHUCZRkb8Rj3MqywD-WYeGxOqjInmFFsDMOp0wgDPw-paWIIaKFpcVh4eUdAPfn3YOmc6Hz_0V8bJY0KFqdCHDXChk7Kf3TiHZYkHDuUYDNmk40/s320/AI5R0012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Yep - that's right. The newbie is catching all the fish!!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx4tnSx8qNVN0UvP-P_zGXxZOMyWBGGVLgoO4fiHcsDoIFHDS3Yz8L7NNi77CGPsdDVULu5dcjduMIC3PouWvrh2k0xlYg96m19sJEdPIKSqwzJV2YY5cP2kVPue_5DiX01GsisBGzIF7/s2048/AI5R0037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizx4tnSx8qNVN0UvP-P_zGXxZOMyWBGGVLgoO4fiHcsDoIFHDS3Yz8L7NNi77CGPsdDVULu5dcjduMIC3PouWvrh2k0xlYg96m19sJEdPIKSqwzJV2YY5cP2kVPue_5DiX01GsisBGzIF7/s320/AI5R0037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOarKmwSIJ_TaT0AycPUEi0uNNmXCVuH8v4ePA5jr5aTdICr341JgYJCtwSbN_wF4_RQJxQRMqtP0c-OQgbcrv9UdyjzzI0VjZGAWV1zfxNeWFQv56yIfZeaPVhGs6MuKyBFsLCwQ6Ar8/s2048/AI5R0054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOarKmwSIJ_TaT0AycPUEi0uNNmXCVuH8v4ePA5jr5aTdICr341JgYJCtwSbN_wF4_RQJxQRMqtP0c-OQgbcrv9UdyjzzI0VjZGAWV1zfxNeWFQv56yIfZeaPVhGs6MuKyBFsLCwQ6Ar8/s320/AI5R0054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Not to be outdone, Walt's coming up strong with is own Brown Trout.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmz3yXqFjk5EUDSNRgi4fmuQhCtwyu3HagWtXQ3fphzmvZHVpSC1haL_8hPv3gJx6RxbFZVdWUaB-0D7B63-3L8OZ7xKBS8IUO63pItB2Kdska6J7ueJQXmzCmGNRDycCmGORVxAOzNSw/s1296/AI5R0066-small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="1296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmz3yXqFjk5EUDSNRgi4fmuQhCtwyu3HagWtXQ3fphzmvZHVpSC1haL_8hPv3gJx6RxbFZVdWUaB-0D7B63-3L8OZ7xKBS8IUO63pItB2Kdska6J7ueJQXmzCmGNRDycCmGORVxAOzNSw/s320/AI5R0066-small.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>This one was fascinating, and I wouldn't touch her as she was spawning and we got her out and photographed and in as quickly as possible!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeTMPJp__RwRZ5rkKD4-LLGWSLMMW6KubhgBAuhrmu2dnDtKjsiJnfTFiD7J8hj8da0eaGRjeBjeRVvE_-onR7knb9is8ST7-rGE3a6OL9I5TddbsBhuk1DRDa6JYW0IkKRtvsdPOW-Xe/s2048/AI5R9991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjeTMPJp__RwRZ5rkKD4-LLGWSLMMW6KubhgBAuhrmu2dnDtKjsiJnfTFiD7J8hj8da0eaGRjeBjeRVvE_-onR7knb9is8ST7-rGE3a6OL9I5TddbsBhuk1DRDa6JYW0IkKRtvsdPOW-Xe/s320/AI5R9991.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>My own Brownie - these things are big!!!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvWK0p-3RUgg3nPp2SupuAuMA894SCI4HL48TO1We7z_B4xX70MxfefMhRrxKl9Nb9mukOFyvdp12mFwA-NKTCxe9vdLM0ZNdqcTjVRurh_mC_B98GwahDuc7W_UqP0noRS1GvJ2BwSRIL/s2048/Screenshot_20200714-150252_Messages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiri3JwUTOQNEygjWwBSJZf_YJO_-8LmUXgFI4IuVpeXP8RxDFAFuCNqVlmSocfgMCMAF231_JKn7coTm0HVnTVavU6wO44_abzyk2d1p1Y84R5sGB6R2xsD3SvtcvUV5evV0DIIRPFAlBK/s2048/Screenshot_20200714-150545_Messages.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1333" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiri3JwUTOQNEygjWwBSJZf_YJO_-8LmUXgFI4IuVpeXP8RxDFAFuCNqVlmSocfgMCMAF231_JKn7coTm0HVnTVavU6wO44_abzyk2d1p1Y84R5sGB6R2xsD3SvtcvUV5evV0DIIRPFAlBK/s320/Screenshot_20200714-150545_Messages.jpg" /></a></div><div>Obviously, this was a lot of fun, and we can't wait to come back.</div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-83258815406795984622020-04-09T09:00:00.000-05:002020-04-09T09:00:09.819-05:00Full Moon on A LakeOne of the fun things is going out in the RV and hitting a full moon. These are always so much fun, particularly on the first evening of the full moon when it rises just after sunset. To make that even more fun, being close to water means that we get the reflection in the water, which is a blast!!!<br />
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Of course Walt's photos are fabulous.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlqe1nZTR_QCWNN4_vVumFD0NyA_q_V3_wTJHxSseCFu0F2JDqd9Gv5kDv_lXArJ_Agt9Y5rMHbi8d0KqMPaeftcN2bxkfGUBDhA8DqVXsGk1y9Zr8tmItMcmnaqeZB8eRahdO-5wfWCK/s1600/AI5R9796_7_8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1074" data-original-width="1600" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFlqe1nZTR_QCWNN4_vVumFD0NyA_q_V3_wTJHxSseCFu0F2JDqd9Gv5kDv_lXArJ_Agt9Y5rMHbi8d0KqMPaeftcN2bxkfGUBDhA8DqVXsGk1y9Zr8tmItMcmnaqeZB8eRahdO-5wfWCK/s320/AI5R9796_7_8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Having never been to this particular location before, it's always a guess where the moon will rise and it's so much fun to see it peak up over the horizon. Of course the sun and moon at the horizon are always much more colorful and that certain is amplified at moonrise when it's a full moon. </div>
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This is the Pink Moon. This is the name given by Native Americans for each monthly moon.</div>
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Tonight’s full moon, the Pink Moon, will be the biggest and brightest supermoon of 2020.</blockquote>
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The Pink Moon will be full at 10:35 p.m (EDT)., and will appear full through Thursday morning.</blockquote>
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Despite it’s name though, it isn’t really pink.</blockquote>
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The full moon in April is known as the Pink Moon because of the pink bloom of herb moss pink, also known as creeping phlox, which is native to the eastern part of the United States and one of the earliest widespread flowers of spring, Gordon Johnston, NASA planetary program executive reported.</blockquote>
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Other names include the Pesach, or Passover Moon, and Paschal Moon, the full moon from which the date of Easter is calculated.</blockquote>
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It's always been fascinating to me the names of each of the monthly moons and why they are named that. <br /><br />
<table border="1"><tbody>
<tr><td><strong>Month</strong></td><td><strong>Moon name</strong></td><td><strong>Meaning</strong></td></tr>
<tr><td>January</td><td>Wolf</td><td>Hungry wolf packs howl at night</td></tr>
<tr><td>February</td><td>Snow</td><td>Heaviest snowfalls in the middle of Winter</td></tr>
<tr><td>March</td><td>Worm</td><td>At the start of Spring, the earthworms began to appear</td></tr>
<tr><td>April</td><td>Pink</td><td>An early Spring flower called "Mountain Pinks" start to bloom</td></tr>
<tr><td>May</td><td>Flower</td><td>Many types of flowers bloom in May</td></tr>
<tr><td>June</td><td>Strawberry</td><td>Strawberries are ready to be picked</td></tr>
<tr><td>July</td><td>Buck</td><td>New antlers on buck deer begin to appear</td></tr>
<tr><td>August</td><td>Sturgeon</td><td>Sturgeon, a fish found in the Great Lakes, are easily caught at this time of year</td></tr>
<tr><td>September</td><td>Harvest</td><td>Farmers can continue harvesting until after sunset by the light of the Full Moon</td></tr>
<tr><td>October</td><td>Hunter's</td><td>Hunters tracked and killed prey by moonlight, gathering food for the coming Winter</td></tr>
<tr><td>November</td><td>Beaver</td><td>Beaver traps are set to make sure of a supply of warm Winter fur</td></tr>
<tr><td>December</td><td>Cold</td><td>The cold of Winter tightens its grip as the nights are longest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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So there you have it. Now you can really act smart the next time a full moon comes up. <br />
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But onto the photos.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrTrjmUjXC0ZxSTLEIvxuDlpWNA98eyNFRxCQL3g4a30fjkvTlpAG8fcNX351dlquWRmcud2UNSk63AJp_lXl5qfN68o5Q-jq9ZVeSPP4HFLfrrnSzelTpCSnZqidBuyR9dfOrCn2LIA1/s1600/AI5R9808_09_10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1063" data-original-width="1600" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBrTrjmUjXC0ZxSTLEIvxuDlpWNA98eyNFRxCQL3g4a30fjkvTlpAG8fcNX351dlquWRmcud2UNSk63AJp_lXl5qfN68o5Q-jq9ZVeSPP4HFLfrrnSzelTpCSnZqidBuyR9dfOrCn2LIA1/s320/AI5R9808_09_10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'm not sure there's a lot of phlox around here, but it sure does look pink to me.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3kCcgi7nTWPc0E0LI1gAHNxjHJIn_ACzQrmlF-c_Y9c_zZSbiEL_VNDh-FIhPmzRXDbtBVBWm5-3bnhIG-tFuX6cWyw2B_G5O-kdtNCSm1FKPFjcY9NwYEBzoLgRVSbMWnrEq6KHKXWA/s1600/AI5R9832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv3kCcgi7nTWPc0E0LI1gAHNxjHJIn_ACzQrmlF-c_Y9c_zZSbiEL_VNDh-FIhPmzRXDbtBVBWm5-3bnhIG-tFuX6cWyw2B_G5O-kdtNCSm1FKPFjcY9NwYEBzoLgRVSbMWnrEq6KHKXWA/s320/AI5R9832.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And this is a typical full moon photo and all you need is a good silhouette of a wicked witch on her broomstick across this to complete the photo. We did have some waterbirds in front of the moon, however, I don't think that qualifies. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmWdS-FCkMReB6_6kuNtreGAAABjwQbXsmMPtp_wtQLjhAbQPHYqyTiO2OlMZEox9zH0EcKp0IoDC2h_nTp3KpO5SdwF7qcbINnUKneSdgY3O64w5Q_iPYr_2KoxW006ItTWzg2UDoOIV/s1600/AI5R9897_A_4-8-20_Full+Moon.tif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1361" data-original-width="1600" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmWdS-FCkMReB6_6kuNtreGAAABjwQbXsmMPtp_wtQLjhAbQPHYqyTiO2OlMZEox9zH0EcKp0IoDC2h_nTp3KpO5SdwF7qcbINnUKneSdgY3O64w5Q_iPYr_2KoxW006ItTWzg2UDoOIV/s320/AI5R9897_A_4-8-20_Full+Moon.tif" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then something that looks like it was taken on one of the Apollo flights. Walt's camera is really nice, with a great shot of the Tycho crater in the lower right of the moon. </div>
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And of course, water and a full moon are made for a photographer.</div>
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Pretty romantic!</div>
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<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-13480167081774779172020-04-08T17:55:00.001-05:002020-04-08T17:55:19.686-05:00First Outing in the 5W5W is short for 5th wheel which is the terminology for a gooseneck or hookup where part of the weight of the trailer is centered over the rear axle of the truck. This means the weight hook-up is more centered in the truck and makes for an easier pull for the truck. As a by-product, it also makes for a way easier hookup. Walt and I are astonished even though we knew it was easier, it practically hooks itself up. OK, we have a checklist, but it's so much smaller and so much easier for Walt, which of course I like a lot. <br />
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For me, there is soooooooooo much more storage, and we have 2 slides. Slides are these parts of the trailer that slide-out giving you oodles more room - one big one in the living/galley area and another in the bedroom, giving us gobs more storage. <br />
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But there's nothing like planning a trip and taking it out on the road. We decided there was no better place to do social distancing than in the wilderness and visiting one of our state's fabulous state parks. The lodges, golf courses, visitors' centers, and other gathering places are closed, but the RV parks are open! So we're at one of those many eastern lakes in our state that are really lovely. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehxpvsU-ESQA0MHXBDG6VhFBEQljbiQcR_z2TOmGSSIr3nwnin65dRjE8ev0GixPzhmzskkAB9rXxYGFKlLzOZ0olMOyAUUcU2aNj3BqwYE_Zs1qMeaQwgYlI6aFSk9NEj9TYhvgw5fG0/s1600/20200406_144108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjehxpvsU-ESQA0MHXBDG6VhFBEQljbiQcR_z2TOmGSSIr3nwnin65dRjE8ev0GixPzhmzskkAB9rXxYGFKlLzOZ0olMOyAUUcU2aNj3BqwYE_Zs1qMeaQwgYlI6aFSk9NEj9TYhvgw5fG0/s320/20200406_144108.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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So here we are - our first road trip in the 5W. Pretty neat - and yes I finally got a pic of Walt - he was not a happy camper. </div>
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So here we are all set up and it's a very pleasant area, not far from the shore with all the hookups that make life sweet. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhax6coQquwh85lvWUZ3OAizt2L9gYtKTiqXxPJ-Ie_XmjQU9Nap8XIQslVt7EUpojXY_sVf5uxc5n_L7A4yVdp5aO8W4cnV1EG9fB-mL6KIXra_jmT1nOhrFZ-UbXXrw_VZXGDcncW05f2/s1600/20200408_135839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1600" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhax6coQquwh85lvWUZ3OAizt2L9gYtKTiqXxPJ-Ie_XmjQU9Nap8XIQslVt7EUpojXY_sVf5uxc5n_L7A4yVdp5aO8W4cnV1EG9fB-mL6KIXra_jmT1nOhrFZ-UbXXrw_VZXGDcncW05f2/s320/20200408_135839.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Doesn't she look sweet? This particular park has concrete pads, with lots of room to park your car and concrete picnic table with a fire ring (for roasting the proverbial marshmallows, telling ghost stories and relaxing on cool nights), and a barbeque grill. That's a lot for any state park, and it makes this state park a downright luxury resort, especially at the prices (very reasonable) that they charge here. <br />
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We've only had one big mishap, somehow my bike didn't survive the trip from home to the trailer and the chains are all messed up. A couple of years ago I was out riding around Lake Hefner and granted I'm not a speed demon (think Audrey Hepburn in Rome)<br />
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See this isn't a speed demon - it's more about the experience rather than making it a faster trip. At any rate, some <i>speed demon</i> was coming around a corner too fast, and yep, you guessed it, I was the casualty. Fortunately, there were 2 walkers who came to my aid, and I was fine, but my bike was not fine, and the gears have been <i>iffy</i> ever since. You would think that these young <i>speed demons</i> would be thrilled that we older folks are out riding the bike around the lake because that really does reduce their health care costs cause when old folks exercise like this, we usually croak in about 6 weeks. There are no long extended illnesses, we get sick and croak and that's it. It's really not a bad way to go - cause we don't have to linger for a long time - which is how I would like to go. But alas, there are some who don't appreciate this. </div>
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So I digress....but I can't ride the bike, so Walt and I have been walking around and discover that it's that special time of the month (no, I promise I haven't digressed to the menopausal stage - been there done that thankyouverymuch). It's time for a full moon. More on that in tomorrow's post.</div>
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So we are testing out all the parts of the 5W and relaxing and what could be more fun than painting the 5W. Sometimes I think my art space is more artistic than my artwork.</div>
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Let's just say this RV has very comfy accommodations AND it's easier for a Walt setup, and I can even do it, which there was no way I could have done a hooked up on the other trailer we had. </div>
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So far - lots of fun!!!! </div>
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<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-5406324851490923832020-01-31T20:35:00.003-06:002020-01-31T20:35:38.466-06:00A New Home - A Little Different Blog PostFor almost 8 years, Walt and I have enjoyed a really fine travel trailer to go out traveling. For me I thought it was like the Taj Mahal, however, Walt is a little larger, OK a lot larger, than me, and he was always hitting all four walls in the bathroom every time he took a shower. So we had started looking almost 3 years ago for something larger. We had both thought that a fifth wheel would be just our cup of tea. We'd been inside a lot of them and there was always something amiss. Some were used and some were <i>really </i>used and some were simply cheap and showed it from the get-go. So last month when we were in Port Aransas, Walt was on his trusty computer and was searching on one of the better known RV-for-sale sites, and found a fifth wheel that was made by our favorite company. He mentioned it to me, and I looked at it and it looked really well maintained, and the price was sweet. So Walt called the guy and they almost immediately struck up a great conversation. As time went on, both of us decided it was time to go home, clean out our own trailer, put it up on the market and see what we could get for it and do some more investigation on this fifth wheel.<br />
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This trailer was made by Northwood Manufacturing and known by the trade name of Arctic Fox. This is one of the best-built RVs around and this is exactly what we had been looking for. As Walt got to talking with the guy, they had done some mighty excellent modifications and kept up their trailer as well as we had kept ours. Now, I'm getting excited. The trailer, however, was in California - Sacramento, California, but we got so excited, that I started plotting how we could get out to get it, and how we'd get back towing our new Foxy Okie right behind us (I'm the navigator of the team!). And before you know it, we're on the road. Two hard 12-hour days of driving and we're there - even earlier than we planned, and met them to take a look at the trailer. It was everything we'd been promised and we were in love! So the generous owners let us stay Sunday night in the trailer, we would meet for breakfast the next morning and then after breakfast do the transaction at their bank. Done deal. Only there was a slight hitch in the deal.<br />
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Now, Walt had told me before we started out that I was going to have to keep my big mouth shut and that I shouldn't, couldn't, wouldn't even think of saying anything political. This was California after all and we weren't sure who these people were. They seemed level-headed and very nice, but as Walt as impressing on me, they lived in California and therefore might be of a different political mind, and Walt didn't want me to mess up the deal before he could get them to sign the bill of sale! So I promised I would keep my trap shut - hard, I know, but Walt's a good guy and we've been together for a long time and we travel so well together, I thought it was worth me keeping my mouth shut for this short trip.<br />
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Well, that all ended on the morning we had breakfast, and not only did we like them, but we found we were of like mind. We started breakfast at 8am and finally at 11:30 Walt said we needed to get to the bank before it closed so that we could complete the deal because Walt was convinced that these nice people would like to be paid!!! The deal completed, we sat around the RV that afternoon while the guys hooked and unhooked the fifth wheel. Walt hasn't done anything like this since he was a kid with a gooseneck so he felt he needed a little practice. <br />
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<span style="text-align: left;">Ain't she sweet - we haven't named her yet, but she's getting a name. What makes the fifth wheels so nice is that that overhang over the back of the pickup is a bedroom, and this bedroom has a slide. A slide is a part that extends out so it makes the room wider than the road. The bedroom is really luxurious with a full hanging closet, gobs of cabinet space and a spacious bathroom with a really nice shower that Walt doesn't have to bang against all 4 walls to enjoy. Just below the bathroom area and just behind the truck bed is wonderful storage for all that man-stuff that men need to be manly! Tools, hoses, metal mechanical type gadgets and more tools. All I know is that when men see it, they respond the same way I do when I saw the galley with all its storage and even a pantry. This was better than the Taj Mahal - this was like Buckingham Palace on the road! Not only that but it has a huge back window with luxurious chairs to sit in that you can enjoy the view of wherever you are traveling. There are two </span><i style="text-align: left;">additional</i><span style="text-align: left;"> luxurious chairs and a table with an extension and four chairs. </span></div>
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And here's our new Arctic Fox. These RVs are made for colder climates which means they are very insulated and well-built. Sealed and having double insulated windows makes for an RV that is not only well-built but can survive almost any weather conditions. So whether we're in Yellowstone messing around in an early-spring blizzard, or in an eastern Oklahoma swamp-ish summer, this RV can take it. Walt and I both love well-built, well-constructed products, whether it's my sewing or his furniture making, we both strive to do the best, and know that the best-made products are actually cheaper in the long run cause they last and last and last. <br />
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Finally, after a whole day with the kind folks who were the previous owners, we said goodbye and promised to meet up again. Chances are good too, cause their daughter resides in a neighboring state! After many lessons on the fifth wheel (and listen this whole fifth-wheel business is <i>way</i> over my pay grade, but right down Walt's alley), they departed, with Walt wondering whether he could get connected and disconnected without major injury to himself or the RV!<br />
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Here's the proof.<br />
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What you may not be able to see in this photo is that Walt has all 10 of his digits and the truck has been successfully disconnected from the fifth-wheel trailer without damage to the RV storage facility and the 5W!</div>
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What you may also not see is that Walt successfully backed the trailer into the appropriate space, with enough room on both sides to enter on one and push out the slides on the other when need be. But you can also see that the truck is successfully disconnected from the 5W with no damage to the truck too!</div>
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If you ask me - it looks like a pro did this. </div>
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<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-24369253405428311432020-01-06T00:23:00.000-06:002020-01-06T00:23:08.787-06:00Beautiful BirdsSo the first day we're here, I go out reconnoitering for good bird spots and hit upon one with these flamingo-type birds and I'm thinking, "Are we in Texas or Florida?.... Do flamingos come this far west? No one told me we were going to see flamingos here?" So couldn't wait to get back to this spot.<br />
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Then days passed, and some rain off and on, and doing some clean-up and fix-up on the RV after our tumultuous trip here, and finally got to the birding spot, and boom - no flamingos - nothing. We trek around and I find out that these aren't flamingos but Roseate Spoonbills and we see them at various spots, but they're about 100 yards away - a LONG way away. I'm bummed.<br />
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Then we get a couple of days of rain, and I remember the night we drove into the park here. It was raining cats and dogs, we weren't sure of the layout of the park, we were getting drenched and both of us were pretty cantankerous. Then it cleared up beautifully the next day and that's when I saw those bright pink birds, so after the rainstorm, we trekked back out to the birding location and BOOM!!! There they were.<br />
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These are from the ibis family and considered frequent residents of the Gulf and Florida coast regions. The pinker or redder birds are breeding. Click on any of these photos to see them larger. These really are gorgeous birds.<br />
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Because of their coloring, they were harvested for their feathers, but now because of protective laws, the populations have come back. <br />
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Using their bills, they work through the water by swishing their bills back and forth using smell to find shrimp and other small aquatic life.<br />
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For more fun, here's a great video of these birds in action on Walt's great camera.</div>
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As if this wasn't fun enough, we trekked over to another location (east of the Aransas Pass where the ships come into the Aransas area to get to Corpus Christi port), with birds of their own. This seems to be where the Brown Pelicans hang out.<br />
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This one is the Port Aransas Chamber of Commerce pelican who will sit there and allow you to get really close so you can take lots of photographs. All the while looking at you as if to say, "Did <u>I</u> give you permission to take pictures of me/" or "Are you getting my good side?" Well, Walt got both so I'm sure he's happy!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknuIQ05DogMSn_cznNeA1tL4T0f7ACTMYttDsfAkr_xi3vIfYwajKp0htPJYudLViJS15azxsfofgsHxTPyyRXzrp5S3wWlJBWFU2g7zanCDliwJuN-X3fnQ8c1WrIKziGu82LQiUR1h6/s1600/AI5R9690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="995" data-original-width="1600" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhknuIQ05DogMSn_cznNeA1tL4T0f7ACTMYttDsfAkr_xi3vIfYwajKp0htPJYudLViJS15azxsfofgsHxTPyyRXzrp5S3wWlJBWFU2g7zanCDliwJuN-X3fnQ8c1WrIKziGu82LQiUR1h6/s320/AI5R9690.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And I think this is what I love most about Port Aransas is what this picture shows - the Chamber of Commerce Pelican - always available (albeit begrudgingly) for a photo or two, a huge tanker coming into the Aransas Pass into the deepest port in the Gulf of Mexico (Corpus Christi) and just below the surface of the water, being a little shy of the camera is a porpoise who love to play and race the boats in and out of the pass. Walt shot this a little ahead of the porpoise making its appearance! <br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hOmx99z8wZo/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hOmx99z8wZo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
But no matter, because we caught the porpoises earlier during the day at a different location of the pass. Look just ahead of the tug boat pulling that LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) tanker out of the pass and into the Gulf of Mexico headed to Antwerp, Rotterdam - providing fuel for the world while nature is running amok all around them. Who says commerce and nature can't exist together?!<br /><br /><br />
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<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-91447516009984981562020-01-04T06:11:00.000-06:002020-01-04T06:11:46.586-06:00All Sorts of Waterfowl<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The Texas Gulf Coast is full of all sorts of waterfowl and migrating birds in their winter home....snowbirds! With the intercoastal waterway that runs around the Atlantic Coast to the Gulf of Mexico Coast so that commerce and recreational travel can be accomplished without having to withstand the wiles of the larger ocean and gulf. What this ICW also provides is amble swamps, ponds, sloughs, and other bodies of salt, fresh and brackish (being both salt and fresh) water sprinkled throughout the ICW. And the Port Aransas area is rife with this sort of coastal waterways and a very happy balance between nature and commerce. </div>
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One of the natural phenomenons is a freshwater area that houses most of the wintering whooping crane population in the US. But these cranes also bring a ton like around 360 different coastal and waterfowl to the area. The space is so crowded that for a photographer it's a bonanza of shots.</div>
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For the wildlife though, it can get a little crowded, and when a snowy egret and tri-color heron get in each other's way, there can be some squawking and definite territorial discussions going on. These two pranced around for most of the morning with the egret getting the upper hand, and a goodly amount of fishes to gulp down as well. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vO1V6f2dDsOQGYG5QqXhoRa2W-dxoZS-nbWuanZUZztPmcNmgmTG6U5zowJtHWTYji1V5UjzNkXBYnGvwnlA5oqrdrZRPmbmmWNaHgVYEpbopVb0T_hCjreIIq28trD96oEgpwvirMZt/s1600/AI5R8890A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1600" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0vO1V6f2dDsOQGYG5QqXhoRa2W-dxoZS-nbWuanZUZztPmcNmgmTG6U5zowJtHWTYji1V5UjzNkXBYnGvwnlA5oqrdrZRPmbmmWNaHgVYEpbopVb0T_hCjreIIq28trD96oEgpwvirMZt/s320/AI5R8890A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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And of course with a lot of birds, come a lot of varieties of similar species, like snowy egret, great egret, cattle egret, great white heron, great blue heron, tricolor heron, on and on. This one below is a Little Heron in blooming plumage (or rather breeding plumage). No matter, they are all still beautiful birds.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8PSvzLJcxuc-dbjur4iVeS6ccqDWelunDLVJoSwQ6N3y1pZdPPStOSxdri2BiGHDuYuDXugGVCbmZVDHjLYCL29f3uihFIpX8MJIVgeXl6X6agU0XbDZqQSR53yCZNuYpvSOQJ3RqykY/s1600/AI5R8806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1600" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8PSvzLJcxuc-dbjur4iVeS6ccqDWelunDLVJoSwQ6N3y1pZdPPStOSxdri2BiGHDuYuDXugGVCbmZVDHjLYCL29f3uihFIpX8MJIVgeXl6X6agU0XbDZqQSR53yCZNuYpvSOQJ3RqykY/s320/AI5R8806.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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For the last couple of days it's been rainy, and being from a relatively dry climate, I'm not used to all this moisture and humidity! But being on the coast it's really damp down here. Like we humans, the birds love the sun coming out and the birds showed up today!. </div>
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These are cute little Stilts that like to poke around in the water. All I can imagine is that there must be lots of food there, cause this is what the birds do most of the time - poke around in the water!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOuggvNVEuDiiL3XlnG83Kc7nKWKitrQllBT6EA_078WId_C4KCE10Xsoi_X2e-EKqcN6QFhceRNlygpxPpQDMHh50ZRkJh8J8WO32OJ8pWlkbfsyW5N9mE6C74TMCFSYjUKUfaSDSwbA/s1600/AI5R8873C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFOuggvNVEuDiiL3XlnG83Kc7nKWKitrQllBT6EA_078WId_C4KCE10Xsoi_X2e-EKqcN6QFhceRNlygpxPpQDMHh50ZRkJh8J8WO32OJ8pWlkbfsyW5N9mE6C74TMCFSYjUKUfaSDSwbA/s320/AI5R8873C.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a tri-color heron which is very common in this area of the Gulf Coast. It's really a beautiful bird.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4t0wr7Alkq-ozCBKcSbFU3Xhhe-osHtzDoQdV0vAgMYyV7dNZjmHfZHvV3rTKQphSY4lm-jDyhMA0nxDQfA7EuBorCo9QI17aSdMGaHV08oWJlQkweb4RSVBA-Z5BeCeRdSbzRmOU5Ip/s1600/AI5R9000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK4t0wr7Alkq-ozCBKcSbFU3Xhhe-osHtzDoQdV0vAgMYyV7dNZjmHfZHvV3rTKQphSY4lm-jDyhMA0nxDQfA7EuBorCo9QI17aSdMGaHV08oWJlQkweb4RSVBA-Z5BeCeRdSbzRmOU5Ip/s320/AI5R9000.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Then there came a huge conversation about a fairly non-descript bird if it was a juvenile heron or bittern. I took up the argument for the juvenile heron - black-crowned night heron to be exact.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrBKSnHa_76JDHZRScM80S8OjAoh_XunfACNpXoVUgwGbLWsN6Ht4m3xgmXoH4LYXUJBrJmw79GCUkbs1xzNiyi9LobFeDBP2YLmkl87P07_T97xZoTFKPXEDw52sVctQeLpZV65bYY_M/s1600/AI5R9330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrBKSnHa_76JDHZRScM80S8OjAoh_XunfACNpXoVUgwGbLWsN6Ht4m3xgmXoH4LYXUJBrJmw79GCUkbs1xzNiyi9LobFeDBP2YLmkl87P07_T97xZoTFKPXEDw52sVctQeLpZV65bYY_M/s320/AI5R9330.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The confusion was if this was a bittern which has a completely different look</div>
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They look alike, but this was definitely a juvenile. </div>
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There were so many, that's a whole other post tomorrow!</div>
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ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-72387957226318953542020-01-01T21:18:00.000-06:002020-01-01T21:20:28.241-06:00How to Admire A Pelican's Tenacity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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One of the favorite things for me to watch is the launching of the pelicans. They are the most beautiful flyers and floaters and are excellent fishermen, but to watch them take off is like watching an overloaded plane and knowing that they're never going to make it.....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0Wo1P2mi2DjtPeBIC98ZVYjKlw6kYhhR0LjRhqzT35pX3MkoIPVR_1K_yZOZKi1NfmqTBocITiDIYMBWHKN3trXFaB8ysADn2lw5jjCX6YR9B95t17TOcveCDhVaXHZ2VbOf5aUPsd9T/s1600/AI5R9093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0Wo1P2mi2DjtPeBIC98ZVYjKlw6kYhhR0LjRhqzT35pX3MkoIPVR_1K_yZOZKi1NfmqTBocITiDIYMBWHKN3trXFaB8ysADn2lw5jjCX6YR9B95t17TOcveCDhVaXHZ2VbOf5aUPsd9T/s320/AI5R9093.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
No matter how big those wings or any amount of lift, those dragging feet are <i>not</i> adding to any lift and offer no help toward wind efficiency.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mjeN-2H3MqSKWgflA85kZykjStQd1wj6GlY88LnmRcR8sfF6ktrE6FNZkBE8UxG-pmsCuMMsfoXejljcDNR1-XfIdopMcli55deMZTYXrZZg4G1sYHQOleiUSCj5Hzjha65oXeduUMlv/s1600/AI5R9094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6mjeN-2H3MqSKWgflA85kZykjStQd1wj6GlY88LnmRcR8sfF6ktrE6FNZkBE8UxG-pmsCuMMsfoXejljcDNR1-XfIdopMcli55deMZTYXrZZg4G1sYHQOleiUSCj5Hzjha65oXeduUMlv/s320/AI5R9094.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The feet are still dragging and the lift the bird gets from those big wings just isn't enough....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8ewnTkwbbQQlfyz2JjT9KMxhVyOdSwLiFjHeVmic9NtemlZuaGDFzOuQc49TwXsdW-GYa9zVUXIfqlHoDa-GxAh7EqgzRgOxvD3zhklEiCUCo4xAn22DDe-LwLThPOJTskVSHKmNTMSw/s1600/AI5R9095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp8ewnTkwbbQQlfyz2JjT9KMxhVyOdSwLiFjHeVmic9NtemlZuaGDFzOuQc49TwXsdW-GYa9zVUXIfqlHoDa-GxAh7EqgzRgOxvD3zhklEiCUCo4xAn22DDe-LwLThPOJTskVSHKmNTMSw/s320/AI5R9095.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Once again a large wingspan with a huge range of motion, but those feet are still a huge problem and this bird isn't going to make it, but you gotta give the bird A for the effort at least....<br />
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Well, this looks like it might be a little bit better, but those feet are still a problem....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6l0ul9nWOTmLbOZHNryjB4gmnQ-PdajCOqbpqeVF9bRwuAdPLwHt9FDni0ucB72Zx2V_mIR-bK6WM-SoNt3Jp6UgP5mCFQ_XAWmR0EyU3_FGqkF-SiPUzinwOw1WhD4iYue1DMsqMEyQy/s1600/AI5R9100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6l0ul9nWOTmLbOZHNryjB4gmnQ-PdajCOqbpqeVF9bRwuAdPLwHt9FDni0ucB72Zx2V_mIR-bK6WM-SoNt3Jp6UgP5mCFQ_XAWmR0EyU3_FGqkF-SiPUzinwOw1WhD4iYue1DMsqMEyQy/s320/AI5R9100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
You gotta give these birds praise because they do not give up, and maybe that's the secret to them getting into the air......<br />
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Well, look at this, the feet might offer something more than a complete hindrance to the take off.....<br />
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And finally, all that flapping finally worked because once these birds are in the air....<br />
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These birds look really beautiful in flight.</div>
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And his pal is working like crazy to get in the air right below him. Having seen his pal's success. It may take him 4 or 5 flaps to get into the air, but he's somehow going to make it!</div>
<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-34973759789084294112019-12-24T22:23:00.000-06:002019-12-24T22:23:40.017-06:00Settling in at Port A (aka Port Aransas)We always like to travel someplace south to get away from all the holiday falderol and this has become some exclusive "us" time which I treasure - hopefully Walt does too!!! Because of one thing and another we didn't travel much this year, and we learned a very valuable lesson - the RV is meant to travel and doesn't like it when it doesn't get out on the road. <br />
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First, the freezer froze shut from last year, yep, we forgot to turn off the fridge and the humidity (we do have some in Oklahoma), seeped in and it froze that dang freezer shut. So as a public service, I'm here to advise all RV owners out there, be sure and turn off your fridge. This is what happens when you don't!<br />
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But that problem solved....see I like to invent these creative little problems so Walt has a purpose in life - now really I don't but let's pretend that's what happened - OK - and let's not tell him! We move onto the next problem, since we're going to be traveling to a relatively populated area, but staying in the unpopulated part, we figured we could do all our grocery shopping really well in the populated part, but let's get on the road. <br /><br />Outside Ft. Worth we have a full-blown blowout - not a flat, but the dang tire blew. Fortunately being close to Ft. Worth we were able to find a tire store, but Walt, yes the guy who can do anything, got out and has big jacks that will jack up the trailer alongside I-35W and changes the tire. I'm continually amazed at what all this man can do. We pull into a tire store and get a couple of new tires (he doesn't like the look of the spare and believe me, I trust him when he says that). I don't really have any photos of this escapade as I was in the car saying my prayers that no dope was going to run him down as the flat was on the left side (the traffic side) of the trailer. And we had some undivided attention from the upstairs cause, fortunately, nothing happened, other than changing the tire. <br />
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We had gotten up at an outrageously hour and started out early from OKC and really being rather smug that we would pull into our spot in the RV park at 3 in the afternoon - we were so on top of things and patting ourselves on the back, when the blowout sort of undid that and took that 3 hours early start all away from us. Instead, we pull into the RV park, in the dark, with a bad map, and raining cats and dogs outside. I'm trying to be positive, and tell him that we have to cross over to Port Aransas on the ferry. Ferry!!!! This RV on a FERRY! I tell Walt this will be an adventure. When we pulled up to get on the ferry, there's another Class A Motorhome, so he's feeling a little better about this. But I'm always up for an adventure, and here's our little video of crossing on the ferry....with the RV....and making it to the other side. WARNING: This is not for kids, as Walt always has a few expletive-deleteds in his conversation, particularly when he's relieved that I'm actually right about the direction we're going, and it is not edited. As the pros would say it's a <i>raw video!</i> At this point, I'm thankful that I know where we are too.<br />
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/SXzfTMvk34A/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SXzfTMvk34A?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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This really doesn't show the ferry or channel we crossed all that well.<br />
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Here's a better shot in the daylight and shows what a really great operation this is. There are about 8 ferries during the day, fewer at night, but they manage to get the traffic across very efficiently. <br />
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The question comes up then why there's no bridge here and I wondered the same thing. The area had a direct hit of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, so, logically, not everything might not be built back, Corpus Christi (just south of Port Aransas) and Port Aransas were on the SW side of the hurricane more commonly known as the dirty side, as that side gets the brunt of the winds and more specifically the water and flooding. So it's natural to think that not everything has been built back. However, traveling on the ferry in daylight, I began to realize that there's something else going on here.<br />
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There are huge tankers that come through the Aransas Pass into Corpus Christi and the 5th largest US port handling mostly oil and agriculture. Obviously, since huge tankers and cargo ships are coming through the Aransas Pass, a bridge over this pass, would be terribly expensive as well as needed to be opened and closed all the time. It's far simpler and easier and simpler to ferry the land transportation across the pass and leave the pass open. We happened upon the ferry at one time a huge tanker was going through and there was hardly any wait at all. It's a remarkably efficient solution to a high-traffic area. <br />
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We are ensconced in our RV park finally, and I had picked a location that backed up to a nature preserve (which in the rain and bad map didn't look like that's where we would end up), so we simply pulled into our spot, crocked and hooked up the electricity and water and went to bed. The next morning we would finish hooking up in the light. And right behind us is the nature preserve - I'm thrilled and Walt simply wants to finish hooking up, get everything turned on and we'll have some breakfast and begin to relax. <br />
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But wait....there's no gas. A trip to the propane filler-upper and we're set....or so we think. Still no gas, so we start looking at all the places where there might be something haywire and thinking gee if there's a gas leak....ummm....uhhh...hopefully we won't explode! Well, never fear, Walt is here, and after 2 days of searching through everything, Walt finally finds the problem. Apparently, the blowout on I--35 also blew out the gas line close to the tire and into the RV, and Walt being the guy who can do anything, fixes it and voila - we have gas. The first thing we did was bacon and eggs!!!<br />
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Finally, everything is fixed, with Walt having landed on his ribs and blew out his knee and did something to his back, so I'm on care duty to make sure he gets back to some sort of comfort. In the meantime, I've started reconnoitering around the island to see what's what. I rode my bike to the Gulf of Mexico (sounds like I went hundreds of miles and makes me think I'm 30 again or something), and took a few photos. <br />
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One of the things that I noticed was while I was walking the Gulf of Mexico shore, there were a lot of ships on the horizon. I've seen this before at my cousin's home in Maine, where ships line up to get into port to unload their products and goods and get out. At some of the major ports, there can be a traffic jam, so the ships sit just outside the port ready to come in when the space is available at the port. This was a clear display of the economic power of the port of Corpus Christi and the economic importance of the Aransas Pass.<br /><br />
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<br />Here is how the pass fits into the economic scheme for it is through this pass that most of the cargo and tanker ships pass. Port Aransas is on Mustang Island which is part of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW). The ICW is an inland waterway from about Boston, MA to Brownsville, TX. This is lined with islands that protect recreational and commercial boats and ships while traveling along the Eastern Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. This makes a very interesting co-existence between the commercial shipping industry and the natural wildlife that is drawn to the inland waterway and islands that make up the barrier for the ICW. </div>
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And then there's the wildlife, which is what we're here for. The nature preserve we have backed up to has bird <i>hotspots </i>that have 360+ variety of birds, and this time of year it's the winter home to a large population of birds. The weather is very pleasant - a little cooler at night, but very pleasant during the day. Apparently, the birds are just as happy with the humans as the humans are with the birds, although seagulls are known for their <i>pushy</i> ways, but this one might have thought I might have a fish hanging from me or something.<br /></div>
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Yes - this one is going to be a painting I can tell. <br />
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And speaking of the fish - the wharf fish market is a bike ride from the RV - I can tell there's lots of fish in my future! I love traveling to new places I've never been to and learning all about the economy and structure of these places. This photos sort of shows how the two seemingly at-odds factions of the area co-exist very well, with the beach tourist visitor and the line of about 14 ships on the horizon waiting to get into port.<br />
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<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-79751568490562140122019-12-22T06:14:00.003-06:002019-12-22T06:14:55.545-06:00Getting ThereSometimes, just getting up and getting someplace is the hardest part. This has been an unusual year as we haven't traveled as much as we thought we would, and the RV has suffered from it. We've also learned some valuable lessons and the chief one is to get-away, even if it's only for a very short time. We got the RV to travel, and it's meant to travel and if it doesn't, then it can get a little rusty sitting on its hiney! So prep time took a little longer and got us right down to our deadline. But we made it and all working well.<br />
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Then on the road, we had a blowout. Now, this <i>wasn't a flat,</i> it was a full-blown blowout! Fortunately, we were just outside Ft. Worth so help wasn't that far away, and Walt being Walt, got out and jacked up the RV (yes he carries heavy-duty jacks) and changed the tire. There are some pretty miraculous things I can do, but to be honest, when Walt takes on these challenges, I'm frankly amazed. The guy is a one-man, do-it-yourselfer, tackle-any-project type guy, and yep, we were on I-35W, side-of-the-road, and he fixed it. Then dropped off at the local tire store and purchased 2 new tires (a new spare and replacement for the old one), and on the road again.<br />
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Then get into Port Aransas and it's raining, and not just raining, I mean a good pour. Setting up in the dark, pouring rain, and not knowing where the dickens we were, was a mess but found the owner and he very kindly helped us out. Kudos to Port A RV Resort. Up the next morning, the rain has finally stopped and we straighten up the RV and can do a total hook-up while I run most of our gear from the night before through the dryer.<br />
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<b>But we're here!!!</b><br />
And it's exactly as I had planned. Without the light, I couldn't really see the view we had and <i>thought</i> I had picked a spot that backed up to the nature preserve but wasn't sure after the fiasco of the night before. But the next morning, even though it's still cloudy and wet, brings just what I had planned - a great view of the nature preserve, but even better, when the window is cracked slightly, there's the call of gobs of birds out there. Trekking the next day to get our supplies (we thought we would get in the RV and travel, then get all our supplies once we were in Port A), the road is filled with wildlife on the side of the road - almost as if it were a bird-infested Yellowstone! <br />
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There are still some rusty spots we have to iron out, but we will get those handled, and then be sitting pretty in our little home-away-from home!</div>
<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-81756809208876392342019-08-10T14:19:00.002-05:002019-08-10T14:19:54.804-05:00Our Prolific BackyardWhen I see on photographer's posts what is their favorite location for their photography a lot of them say their own backyard. That's the case with Walt as we have a profusion of activity in the summertime. Me?....I simply sit back and enjoy!<br />
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View from the patio.<br />
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Walt obviously has a green thumb and has planted a beautiful perennial flower garden in the back with mountain sage, salvia (hard to see behind the sage), rudbeckia, canna and a few sunflowers for good measure in the back. </div>
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Unbeknownst to me, this brings out the profusion of bees and butterflies. This year we had a new visitor.</div>
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The problem as a bee is if you are bigger than the flower, landing is a very delicate process. </div>
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But it's not impossible, particularly when the reward is nectar!</div>
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Lots of color from the butterflies - wonder why that is - that butterflies have lots of color - more to ponder while sitting in the garden.</div>
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We had a really elegant visitor the other day - a black swallowtail. </div>
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But by far the most exotic visitor to our yard was the clearwing hummingbird moth. I tried to get several photos, but it's the video that's so revealing. At first, I thought it was a baby hummingbird, but it had antennae and not a beak but a long tongue that reached in to get the nectar. I did get a great video.</div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/zM5qUcj6Ypk/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zM5qUcj6Ypk?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span id="goog_1967438309"></span><span id="goog_1967438310"></span><br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-8244399380105704442019-07-16T20:38:00.002-05:002019-07-16T20:38:36.735-05:00The Backyard Flower GardenThe bees and the butterflies are in heaven<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGbfjPjU80nfU6o7SOvvFEANhx2sUl7KYknY37g8sRY8235UgnqpERTjQ1bshZfWPOBvaEyEED-t0SIjcLjsR_VskgLU4BUT7yRPpIpkByHDA4BSogiB8EMzTYf7Td7-xjPyNS1gzYnJc/s1600/AI5R8477A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixGbfjPjU80nfU6o7SOvvFEANhx2sUl7KYknY37g8sRY8235UgnqpERTjQ1bshZfWPOBvaEyEED-t0SIjcLjsR_VskgLU4BUT7yRPpIpkByHDA4BSogiB8EMzTYf7Td7-xjPyNS1gzYnJc/s320/AI5R8477A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
This was mostly Walt's design - I helped with the color, but mostly his work and design<br />
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I love the interplay of yellow and purple in the summer with purple being such a cool color.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xgQJVJYT2_H35Ops7lqdrqMFpIBluNV3Mj8Sm7DEpSgUHTMNHkuYJ3ay7wj4ocXvvFoKHnZIn-y5LTP8lIJgGsySfDKvWf9BT-Plr1ymiYRew-08YHCOGH0PmVlCurwZ0kKWItIdhnQj/s1600/AI5R8483A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8xgQJVJYT2_H35Ops7lqdrqMFpIBluNV3Mj8Sm7DEpSgUHTMNHkuYJ3ay7wj4ocXvvFoKHnZIn-y5LTP8lIJgGsySfDKvWf9BT-Plr1ymiYRew-08YHCOGH0PmVlCurwZ0kKWItIdhnQj/s320/AI5R8483A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
One of our favorite finds was the Blue Sage which has really spread beautifully<br />
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All of these are perennials and will come up again next year, which means we have to do some thinning out this winter. Walt's looking to start a garden in the front yard. Wil keep photographic steps of that!</div>
<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-76807338900919080192019-01-02T08:45:00.002-06:002019-01-02T08:45:56.820-06:00These Birds Are AmazingBoth Walt and I had a lot of fun with these birds and hopefully, there will be more<br />
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Just outside the facility, not connected with the other birds was a female ladderback. Thankfully Walt had set my camera on a quick speed with allowed me to get the bird flying off. This gal loves stripes!!!<br />
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First up is a grey hawk. You know you hear hawk, particularly around our neck of the woods, and you think chickenhawk, and although they are fun to see and photograph, these different hawks are really beautiful. Hopefully, we captured that in these photos. This lady was in a beautiful silver grey shade.<br />
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When she starts flying they are really gorgeous. They make it look so effortless, you really get the idea you could be Icarus too!<br />
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I had never seen these hawks before - even in my bird book, and now I know why. These are more of a tropical bird and their northern boundary is the very most southern part of the US. They aren't seen north of there unless they are in a zoo or something. They are absolutely gorgeous. <br />
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Perching is a great way to see their size and color, but....<br />
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They are really beautiful in flight<br />
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Like all raptors, they are most elegant when they are soaring, especially when soaring right towards you. <br />
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I love this as their "fingers" seem to stretch out to grasp the wind to be carried by the wind. <br />
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They actually hunt in families with the Alpha-Female being the head of the clan. Junior may kill something, but the lady in charge will be the one who eats it! However they do work together to hunt food, and here's an example of how they practically overwhelm their prey. They all want to help out, and of course, they all want a little tidbit!<br />
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<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-16144395455072415362018-12-31T21:04:00.000-06:002018-12-31T21:04:17.959-06:00Some BirdsWe lucked into some birds today!<br />
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We found this Great Horned Owl.....</div>
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Who was flying around.....<br />
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....and started flying toward us....<br />
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....and Walt just happened to have his camera handy!<br />
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And Claire got one too!<br />
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As if that wasn't great enough, there was a Harris's Hawk. Tuscon is the northern boundaries of the Harris's Hawk and they like to hunt in groups which are a lot of fun to watch. This guy lit close to Walt so being prepared like any good Boy Scout, he got a primo shot!!!<br />
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Even the morning started out well today. The morning sunlight on the cactus close to where we're parked with the RV. ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-86812730760834502732018-12-29T06:00:00.000-06:002018-12-29T06:00:03.608-06:00Nature - The Great Restorer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A friend posted <a href="https://www.oars.com/blog/why-our-brains-need-multi-day-wilderness-trips/" target="_blank">this article</a> on Facebook the other day and it's a great read, especially if you haven't been out in the wild lately. Even if it's a visit to your local nature sanctuary or park, it's worth the time to take in nature that can give back so much.<br />
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Whether we're simply driving down the road and spot a couple of hawks on a pole.....<br />
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Or get stopped by a pair of coyotes....<br />
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Or in constant amazement over the beauty of the Ocotillo in bloom.....<br />
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Or the Ocotillo's blooming leaves....<br />
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To create almost a halo around the Saguro....<br />
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only to end on a beautiful peaceful blast of color.<br />
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Each day out seems to bring its own peace. One of the special things about the desert is that it's simple. It's also cruel, unforgiving and is always dangerous, but with caution and a little planning, the simple peace and<br />
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<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-16751731548329475192018-12-28T06:00:00.000-06:002018-12-28T06:00:07.758-06:00Wile E. CoyoteI'm a rancher's daughter and for years I felt that coyotes were the personification of the worse animal on the universe, and I still they can be devastating to the rancher. They can kill, damage and maim a rancher's profit in no time. <br />
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At the same time, they are so dang intoxicating that it's hard to avoid them. When we are out in the wild and meet up with one, I instantly am charmed. <br />
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This little guy was in a very wide draw that crossed our road. He walked right in front of us then stopped in this draw.<br />
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Whenever this happens these animals always have a look on their face like "Are you a carnivore? So am I. Maybe we should hunt together!" <br />
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I can totally see how ancient man would not only be drawn to this animal, but want him to be a part of his pack. And as far as the coyote is concerned, it's a good deal for him, as he can get the leftovers from the human's meal - better than having to hunt alone for his daily meal!<br />
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Alas, as much as I would love to make friends with these guys, they are in the wild and to domesticate them or even try would kill them (or me!), so I have to admire from afar. And pretty soon they get bored with looking and asking us for answers when there are no answers forthcoming....then it's time to check out!<br />
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Coyotes mate for life, and this one had his mate he was actually waiting for and after they caught up with each other, they decided we were boring (we had no food), and off they went!ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-2692301954706180112018-12-26T22:19:00.000-06:002018-12-26T22:19:19.276-06:00The Artist's LightLight is the heart and soul of an artist. The first and best advice I got from an art teacher was "paint the light!" And he was right - light is everything.<br />
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We were traveling through the Ajo Mountain range and the main path is on the west side. That meant that we could only do a decent shot of the sunset - not the sunrise, as the light would be behind the mountains, and although that might have made a nice silhouette shot, it wasn't what we were looking for. <br />
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Trekking out to the mountains in the mid-afternoon the winter solstice sun is low in the sky, so it makes for some interesting shadows, but by far not as good as the sunset shadows. In addition, we had a partly cloudy sky. That meant we were going to have something interesting in the sky.<br />
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This is a good example. This is great composition (large on one side, horizon not half/half) and interesting sky, but the light is a little off. It's even taken at the right time of day (notice the long shadows which usually means golden hour (close to sunset or sunrise) which is a movie-maker's favorite time to film. Next time you're at a movie and notice the outside shots, and how long the shadows are. It's a great shot, but the light is not really dramatic. It's hard to see unless you compare it to something where the light is actually a masterful part of the photo. </div>
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In this one, the light really works. Even though most of the time you are looking at the foreground or wanting to highlight the foreground, this one, the foreground is not spotlighted but the beautiful color of the mountains is spotlighted. What makes it extra special is that there's a dramatic shadow on the mountains that highlights the front and back of the mountain. There's a little of that in the cacti in the foreground where the light is coming from the side with long shadows.</div>
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Photos like this are dream photos with everything coming together to make it work: clouds to make the sky interesting, light on the foreground flowers (which happen to be located in just the right place), cacti in the background, part of the mountain lit while part of it is in shadow from those handy-dandy clouds who were so thoughtful as to place themselves just right, and if all that wasn't great enough, there's a wonderful arch in that beautiful orange stone with the blue of the sky, which colors just happen to compliment each other fabulously. Obviously, this wasn't arranged by us, but it sure was helpful that all those components came together to make this photo really spectacular. Thank you clouds, color in the mountains, the location of the flowers, and the sun being in the right place at the right time and the arch being there!!!!</div>
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Sometimes you're limited by simply where the mountains are located in relation to the sunrise or sunset. You have the best light in the world but if the mountains aren't in a good position to get the light, no amount of <i>good</i> light will make a photo good. On the other hand, when they are in the right place, it makes magic like the light above. The mountains were lit, but not directly, but on the side a bit to offer nice shadowing on the mountains. Add the interesting Saguaro cacti in the foreground and it's hard to depict the Sonoran Desert any better than this. Walt's camera helps too!!!</div>
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The real light show was, of course, the sunset. We were so lucky to have all these clouds in the sky, cause they reflect back on the mountain to make the landscape even more colorful than it normally is. So colorful, that it makes the colors look fake, and they aren't at all. This is really how it looks. The mountains, however, wouldn't have been nearly as beautiful without those clouds. This is the sun after it has actually gone down behind the horizon, but is shining through the atmosphere of the Earth and reflected on the clouds whose reflection is on the landscape. This happens very fast and lasts even less time than that. What made it worse for us, was that the clouds were throughout the sky so that meant the east view was as beautiful as the west view. We were doing 180°'s all through the sunset!!!</div>
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This was the shot that I saw all afternoon in my head...the black silhouetted foreground with the colors of the sunset in the sky. </div>
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Something about those Saguaro Cactus in silhouette with the colorful sky simply spells Happy Trails to You over and over.</div>
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<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-27537081013294073492018-12-23T17:00:00.000-06:002018-12-23T17:01:23.817-06:00Our First Ferruginous HawksSo two hawks on one pole beg the question.....<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2iZwOPpAwFyC1j4vscSEAoLLcGyMQ7FtNsNkfOtqJYQzDZnqihPZWN-CwIGPm7ZtYP5aZDThlrxTy90hVD49Bqa6Js4NVikJkU7gWz5mNa49d-cffsrkcLiAljjdOgl6K0NMSbHAn-0P/s1600/1L2B2083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2iZwOPpAwFyC1j4vscSEAoLLcGyMQ7FtNsNkfOtqJYQzDZnqihPZWN-CwIGPm7ZtYP5aZDThlrxTy90hVD49Bqa6Js4NVikJkU7gWz5mNa49d-cffsrkcLiAljjdOgl6K0NMSbHAn-0P/s320/1L2B2083.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
If one finds a goodie, does he share it or take it for his own, and are they both looking in the same place or different places in the same field. <br />
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In the desert, one has to wonder if this field is really that filled with rodents that it deserves two hawks on one pole. To answer that we looked at the neighboring poles and they were also occupied with hawks. So obviously this is a fav restaurant for hawks!<br />
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Finally one flies away - greener grass and all.....<br />
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But the other stays and finds us merely curious, but that's about it. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8BkLZ04r5cF-v3q15I3uTIwet_ep3cWpvhGAOymnQXEU-y1NbCwEXuSAuwc_Y_9pC3x90fM7uFAddEBc031jwFE1DbyF0wC0ldl7HGWbZVWiFfVtk5aHkWgQGqYapofDBoByiotrbIPX/s1600/1L2B2088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX8BkLZ04r5cF-v3q15I3uTIwet_ep3cWpvhGAOymnQXEU-y1NbCwEXuSAuwc_Y_9pC3x90fM7uFAddEBc031jwFE1DbyF0wC0ldl7HGWbZVWiFfVtk5aHkWgQGqYapofDBoByiotrbIPX/s320/1L2B2088.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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He finally flew away, but circled around and came back to land on the pole again - this really must be a great place to get a meal!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeupjzX78I2rwai0FtbQet4YMKEIASmMnB31e0UzA1yNosuJKl9SqkEtaRIK0QQxHyPZONEU69_qp9mCIkVGaGB-_7sWvQPg3dAcNmanCFG2byjA8q_rLYSkVS9uBLqXme67flzjT2JSBq/s1600/1L2B2093.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeupjzX78I2rwai0FtbQet4YMKEIASmMnB31e0UzA1yNosuJKl9SqkEtaRIK0QQxHyPZONEU69_qp9mCIkVGaGB-_7sWvQPg3dAcNmanCFG2byjA8q_rLYSkVS9uBLqXme67flzjT2JSBq/s320/1L2B2093.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As most nature parks say, left it as you found it - not quite with 2 on the pole, but at least one returned. The other was on another pole close by!<br />
<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7780449518398923082.post-38804419229418576572018-12-22T21:32:00.001-06:002018-12-22T21:32:55.913-06:00On The Road Again!.....And it is so good to be on the road again!<br />
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We decided to do something warm for the holidays so headed for southern Arizona - something on Walt's bucket list and sounded good to me, so here we are. We're in Ajo, Arizona, pronounced ah-ho - like ah-ha, only a-ha! This is a small quaint town, just our cup of tea. This town mostly serves Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, which a sort of cactus that looks a little like organ pipes - sort of!<br />
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But what has struck us the most is the color.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdvwNjQ9xdHBPGt9M-tZvw0C7jjpSnObNyUUR6_GZyIxhWz-o1geX9LWcc9-RzVLj28l-0n4eskHPKerQUkHrp4ngFxC2XiyQ8qfYJYZfEVI47lpafJp95eMLKnCde7bf-kFg1MBf5nfN/s1600/AI5R5287.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1555" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcdvwNjQ9xdHBPGt9M-tZvw0C7jjpSnObNyUUR6_GZyIxhWz-o1geX9LWcc9-RzVLj28l-0n4eskHPKerQUkHrp4ngFxC2XiyQ8qfYJYZfEVI47lpafJp95eMLKnCde7bf-kFg1MBf5nfN/s320/AI5R5287.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Our first morning and we have a spectacular sunrise. The Saguaro cactus is in the foreground and it's everywhere here. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVx5ZrBpvOsdfI_zAzkVca00o01wjzItJwU-AjP9d0Uie1S3CwIRLzNQoRSvv8AbZgd8CxFB6h1skRemt0Ji3tMXpSItKkXoXUY5tpIoK9KHA4U0CCXmYcyoRf8hFfpX2ivuOL_-KEfOc/s1600/AI5R5388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1555" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhVx5ZrBpvOsdfI_zAzkVca00o01wjzItJwU-AjP9d0Uie1S3CwIRLzNQoRSvv8AbZgd8CxFB6h1skRemt0Ji3tMXpSItKkXoXUY5tpIoK9KHA4U0CCXmYcyoRf8hFfpX2ivuOL_-KEfOc/s320/AI5R5388.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sunsets are just as colorful - this is Walt's version of a Happy Trails western type sunset with the cactus in the shadow.</div>
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But the nights here are really dark. For an amateur astronomer like me, this is a dream come true. This means that even though there is a bright full moon out, I can actually see other stars - even close to the moon.</div>
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Well known to astronomers is a fan favorite constellation, Orion is best viewed during the winter. In normal Northern Hemisphere climates, that's a tough deal at night in the cold. In the desert, it not only is easy but because the air is so clear and dry the viewing is extra great. The above photo makes my point because if you look closely you can see Orion rising with the full moon. This would be almost impossible to view elsewhere, but here, it's possible. Here's a shot of our location where they observe "dark skies" at night. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKfAg_Rgn8XSCliNnfNW3Rb7Nn1z_hVzkoXTuesR5KDfwH_wPBzXrdf8S0IM8TD8c1MLLUkWYYlduQ5Rzk1DB7l70DlaRaQUzgVFh15LXxtOZDwgO4aGty1816C0-rhCQQ4y22XVljEpT/s1600/AI5R5398A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1555" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKfAg_Rgn8XSCliNnfNW3Rb7Nn1z_hVzkoXTuesR5KDfwH_wPBzXrdf8S0IM8TD8c1MLLUkWYYlduQ5Rzk1DB7l70DlaRaQUzgVFh15LXxtOZDwgO4aGty1816C0-rhCQQ4y22XVljEpT/s320/AI5R5398A.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here, at the top is Orion's belt, and at the bottom is Orion's sword. Also well known by astronomers is that in the sword, specifically the middle star of the sword is not actually a "star". It's actually a nebula. If you look at the star through binoculars, you can see the blur that is characteristic of a nebula. </div>
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Fortunately, I brought my telescope and am having a field day viewing things that I would have to specifically schedule and dress like Nanook of the north!</div>
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<br />ClaireOKChttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05794385586295229490noreply@blogger.com0