Getting There

Sometimes, 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.

Then on the road, we had a blowout.  Now, this wasn't a flat, 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.

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.

But we're here!!!
And it's exactly as I had planned.  Without the light, I couldn't really see the view we had and thought  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! 

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!

Our Prolific Backyard

When 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!

View from the patio.

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. 

Unbeknownst to me, this brings out the profusion of bees and butterflies.  This year we had a new visitor.

The problem as a bee is if you are bigger than the flower, landing is a very delicate process.  

But it's not impossible, particularly when the reward is nectar!

Lots of color from the butterflies - wonder why that is - that butterflies have lots of color - more to ponder while sitting in the garden.

We had a really elegant visitor the other day - a black swallowtail.  

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.

The Backyard Flower Garden

The bees and the butterflies are in heaven

 This was mostly Walt's design - I helped with the color, but mostly his work and design

I love the interplay of yellow and purple in the summer with purple being such a cool color.

 One of our favorite finds was the Blue Sage which has really spread beautifully

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!

These Birds Are Amazing

Both Walt and I had a lot of fun with these birds and hopefully, there will be more

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!!!

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.

 When she starts flying they are really gorgeous.  They make it look so effortless, you really get the idea you could be Icarus too!

 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. 

 Perching is a great way to see their size and color, but....

 They are really beautiful in flight

 Like all raptors, they are most elegant when they are soaring, especially when soaring right towards you. 

I love this as their "fingers" seem to stretch out to grasp the wind to be carried by the wind. 

 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!

Some Birds

We lucked into some birds today!

We found this Great Horned Owl.....

 Who was flying around.....

 ....and started flying toward us....

 ....and Walt just happened to have his camera handy!

 And Claire got one too!

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!!!

Even the morning started out well today.  The morning sunlight on the cactus close to where we're parked with the RV. 

Nature - The Great Restorer

A friend posted this article 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.

 Whether we're simply driving down the road and spot a couple of hawks on a pole.....

 Or get stopped by a pair of coyotes....

 Or in constant amazement over the beauty of the Ocotillo in bloom.....

  Or the Ocotillo's blooming leaves....

 To create almost a halo around the Saguro....

only to end on a beautiful peaceful blast of color.

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

Wile E. Coyote

I'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. 

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. 

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.

 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!" 

 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!

 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!

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!