This time of year, I really miss my father! Not that this is the only reason I think of him so often, but he had the farmer's knack of growing things! His garden consisted of everything under the sun. Including growing pineapples in Colorado!! Strawberries at the supermarket are now coming down in price....the season is not quite at its peak yet, but they're irresistible. Thing is, they're not the 'farmer's market' quality! Sure they're huge. When I pull one out of the container to clean for snacking on them, I can't help but think "What am I putting into my mouth"? Are they GMO? -growth enhanced with crop steroids?- I have to admit, tho drier and much more bland, they're still good. I wish my father were here...
Farmer Evans was driving his John Deere tractor along the road with a trailer load of fertilizer. Tim a little boy of eight was playing in his yard when he saw the farmer and asked: 'What've you got in your trailer?' 'Manure,' Farmer Evans replied. 'What are you going to do with it?' asked Tim. 'Put it on my strawberries,' answered the farmer. Tim replied, 'You ought to come and eat with us, we put ice-cream on our strawberries.'
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I've been here many many times, and viewed this mural each time without thinking or associating it with 'fences'. The light bulb went on extra bright one day as I parked the car to check out this particular birding area. "Duh!! This is a fence for Ms. T's Good Fences, AND it has a couple of her famous Black Bellied Whistling Ducks as part of the birding mural! My goodness, Anni, it took you long enough to realize that....you're truly blond!!"
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As I left early one morning, just before sunrise from home, by the time I reached the freeway heading to the islands, Tho, it's not 'countryside quiet' -it's busy with city landscaping and morning traffic, it was still breathtaking. The colors were magnificent; the photos really don't do it justice...
By the time I reached the island highway, the sun was warming up the air, and the breeze was practically nil. It was going to be a hot day!!
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In a previous post, I mentioned Bud and I taking a Sunday drive through the morning fog in search of an Upland Sandpiper. Which we didn't find on that day. To let you in on a bit of trivia, this bird has been VERY elusive!!! I've searched highways and byways for it so I could get a photo. It's been over 2 1/2 years of traveling around South Texas....county roads, parks, ranches, out of town areas, fields, ...even a golf course near the clubhouse, where they were reported seen....two and one half years of no spotting them. Until Thursday of this past week!!! We were at a local park just outside of town, getting close to a rural community. Bud, with his binoculars to his eyes, called me to him: "Anni!! Come here!!" "Just by the soccer goal net, to your right....look!!" I did, and knew right away this was a lifer!!!!! Four Upland Sandpipers foraging in the grassy field. I took some photos. Then....eleven Sandpipers!! Within a few more minutes Bud counted 15 of them. I have better photos yet to be saved off the camera card..I took these two of the scissortailed flycatcher as I was trying to focus on the sandpipers that were so far away by now...
But, alas, when I returned home the photos of the sandpipers were all quite blurry. as you can see by the photo from the first outing I share here. I guess I was too excited to be taking photos. I was heartsick. I returned to the area Bud found 'em. Three remained. I will share some of the GOOD photos at my bird photo blog, with a link above.
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Speaking of parks, the mountain laurel found throughout many of the city parks here are nearly finished with the blooming season. I'll share some photos of the blossoms & bushes....
My dad always planted a garden even when it was just him. He supplied his neighbors with fresh produce as well as my brother and I. He grew things he didn't even like simply because he could grow them so well and everyone else liked them.
ReplyDeleteThat strawberry you're holding is huge
Yes, it was huge....a real mouth full of goodness...well, the best I could expect from hot house strawberries.
DeleteAs expected,your pictures are lovely.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ruth
DeleteI smiled at the mural and the lightbulb that went on over your head! So glad you were able to return and get pictures of your latest lifer, Anni. :-)
ReplyDeleteIsnt' that something? I've seen it hundreds of times and never once figured it would be a good fence. lol
DeleteI share the feeling of expecting clear pictures of something special and being disappointed with blurry results. Your Upland Sandpipers is a very good shot after all! It definitely shows what it looks like. The Mountain Laurel flowers resemble a bouquet of violets!
ReplyDeleteIt was so frustrating. Good thing the area wasn't that far of a drive so I could return to re-find them.
DeleteAnni what absolutely gorgeous photos. The sunrise is breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a Scissortail...now that is a long tail!!
We had our first tomatoes yesterday. We didn't grow them but they were locally grown in a hot house I suspect. They were actually very tasty
Hugs cecilia
Those scissortails are just about everywhere right now.
DeleteIt seems our dads are on our minds this weekend! I always enjoy visiting you and today I find a kindred spirit! Wishing you well and, OH, your sunsets are grand!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy....fathers/daughters...there is a special relationship between 'em.
DeleteLove your story and your photos ... especially the scissor-tailed flycatcher. I have seen some in a ranch near us and wish they would be in our yard. They are beautiful. Love your early morning pictures of the sunrise too.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Audrey Z. @ Timeless Treasures
Audrey....I've been wondering about you...hope you're doing well! You've been missed.
DeleteThanks!!
Enjoyed this thank you for sharing
ReplyDeleteThanks Martin.
DeleteA gorgeous photo of the scissortail! What long feathers!
ReplyDeleteIndeed...VERY long...and when they come in to land, the tail feathers spread open...looking quite like scissors!
DeleteThis week-end was the Strawberry Festival in Poteet. Texas. Small town came to life with bumper to bumper traffic.
ReplyDeleteI bet that was fun to attend!!
DeleteMy Dad was a farmer, and also had a wonderful garden. His strawberries were much more flavorful than the ones I buy now.
ReplyDeleteI love the mural behind the fence.
Those birds are awesome!
Nothing can compare to anything home grown in a garden! Thanks Mari.
Deletelove the fence and whistlers and flowers are gorgeous. ha ha on that manure.. we have been eating FL strawberries for several weeks and local picked, delish. without reading i bought them this week and got home and they were from CA.. big like this one in your pic, but no where near as good as ours because they are picked ripe here and don't have to be shipped. also they are huge but hollow on the inside. makes me wonder just what they did to them... my dad grew all of our food. they bought staples like flour and sugar, the rest he grew
ReplyDeleteOurs come from either CA or Old Mexico right now.
DeleteA very interesting post. Lovely birds shots. I cannot imagine a strawberry that huge. I too would wonder what I was eating. Strawberries are a favourite berry of mine. I buy about 2 pounds every week and a half or so. They are mostly for my smoothies though I eat some as it ;-) Have a great week ahead. xx
ReplyDeleteI love 'em. Fresh!! Not those frozen ones with all the sugar added.
DeleteWhat gorgeous sky shots!
ReplyDeleteThanks Fiona
DeleteI enjoyed the strawberry story Anni. We don't have any just yet, only imported Spanish ones which are OK but thet've travelled a long way.
ReplyDeleteYour Scissor-tailed pictures are wonderful. What a special bird to see.
Amazingly enough I've seen an Upland Sandpiper in the UK. Many years ago on the Isles of Scilly in SW England, blown there across the Atlantic one October time after storms. Thanks for the memory.
How neat to see an Upland Sandpiper....and I bet you didn't have to chase after it to find it....it came to YOU!
DeleteBeautiful post and photos
ReplyDeleteThank you....glad you enjoyed it today.
DeleteLovley ,nette
ReplyDeleteThanks Nette
DeleteLove the flycatcher shots! What a gorgeous bird!
ReplyDeleteThey are indeed!! Thanks!
DeleteWow that scissor tailed flycatcher looks amazing. Can I come and stay for a bit :)
ReplyDeleteConsider yourself invited...there's nothing like Texas birds...and Texas hospitality!!
DeleteThanks Denise.
ReplyDeleteOh I've done that too with my camera.
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos... My Dad hasn't been gone even a month and how I miss him...
ReplyDeleteIt's difficult to be left behind!! Thanks ... I'm glad you enjoyed the photos this week.
DeleteThat gigant strawberry looks really delicious.
ReplyDeleteAnd the images of the scissortailed flycatcher against the net are really great. The narrow legs and feet against the ropes in the net make great contrast..
It's nice to know you enjoyed your visit...thanks!
DeleteHI Anni Your Scissor-tailed pictures are wonderful. What a very special bird to see and one that I have never seen.
ReplyDeleteOh Margaret, come to Texas sometime for your pleasure birding...in March and April...they're everywhere!!
DeleteHello!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen Sandpipers or Scisor-Tailed Flycatchers - both would be exciting to me! Have a wonderful day!
Lea
I remember the first time I saw a scissortailed...exciting indeed. But the Sandpiper this time made me thrilled!!! I now miss the hunt...finding a bird that you've been searching for for so long is good, but a 'let down' at the same time. Now what do I look for? Y'know?
DeleteGreat post! I too think of my Dad when it comes time to plant things. Dad had a vegetable garden every year that he was able, and I inherited his gene of "needing to" plant in the spring. I've missed that here in Tucson...looking forward to a good vegetable garden and more flowers in Oregon! I too worry myself to death about GMOs, and am anxious to find some good farmers to buy from. It can't be a perfect fix, but I can try. Beautiful photos...loved the blue flowers!
ReplyDeleteThat makes Four of Us....our fathers and their gardens = with others' comments.
DeleteIncredible!!! Scissor-tailed Flycatchers are one of my favorites. Another favorite? The Upland Sandpipers! I've seen both only once. I'd love to see them again. Love your photos of the Mountain Laurel. They smell so good!
ReplyDeleteI tellya what...I'll visit with you to go birding in my previous hometown with your Wrenagades, and you can come visit with me in South Texas...we could go on a search for the scissortailed...[the uplands are beginning to 'thin' out and head north tho 'bout now]
DeleteHello Anni, pretty sky shots. I lvoe the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.
ReplyDeleteHappy Thursday, enjoy your day and weekend ahead!
Thanks Eileen.
DeleteLoved the strawberry story. lol I put ice cream on mine, too. I miss my mom this time of year. She had a green thumb where mine is black. Today would have been her 96th birthday. Love the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher and the mural behind the fence. Have a great day!
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to see you!!! Been a long time!!
DeleteHope all is coming around for you much better now...and stay in touch.
Thanks for visiting and saying hello!!!
Wonderful photos, full of atmosphere.
ReplyDeleteThanks for saying hi on my blog http://areyouhere-areyouthere.blogspot.de/
Thanks Carola
Deleteawww! a sweet mural it is behind that fence! love the scissor-tail portraits! gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly Ms. T!!! Oh yes, you and me both love the scissortails!!
DeleteHow exciting to see the Sandpipers and get good photos! And I agree with all of the comments...the flycatcher is a neat bird to spot! Enjoy your week! Hugs!
ReplyDeletePS I love that mural too!
DeleteThanks Diane.
Deleteps...I can't believe I've not ever before this week taken a photo of that mural. 100 times or more prior to the light bulb going off. lol
DeleteSo many great things here today.
ReplyDeleteFirst that was one huge strawberry. We have a local berry farm here in our area that I wait patiently for every summer to enjoy their delicious berries. I rarely buy them in stores as they just don't taste the same.
That mural by the fence was wonderful. I'm so glad that light bulb went off and you photographed it.
Congrats on seeing the Sandpipers even though you didn't get the pictures you were hoping for. Those Flycatchers are certainly a pretty bird with an impressive tail. Gorgeous sky & Very pretty flowers. A really enjoyable post.
Thanks Ida.
Deletemy grandpa and grandma always had the best gardens....it's scary not to know what we are eating these days...great photos, love the flowers and birds! thank you for linking to willy nilly (it will be ready at midnight tonight!) and have a great weekend :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Tanya. I'll be back to your blog tomorrow to add my link.
DeleteI like the scissortailed flycatchers quite a bit, Anni. Congrats on the upland sandpipers!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Tim is right.
~
Thanks....
DeleteBy the way, who's Tim?
"Tim a little boy of eight was playing in his yard when he saw the farmer and asked: 'What've you got in your trailer?'"
Delete~
lots of eye candy here
ReplyDeleteCandy? Hope it's sugar free! *wink
DeleteSuch beautiful photos. I did smile about the strawberry joke, we tend to have cream on ours...
ReplyDeleteStrawberries and cream....*nodding in agreement
DeleteI understand how and why you miss your father, there are just times more than others when they are needed/wanted more. Sending love.
ReplyDeleteI too think about what we are putting in our mouths and then have to stop as I might not eat anything anymore if we listen to all the contradictory advice out there. Love the strawberry joke too x
Exactly...it's like one day eggs are BAD then....eggs are good. Butter is bad, use margarine. Now, it's don't eat the margarine, stick with butter [no pun intended]
DeleteFabulous photos! :-)
ReplyDeleteYour profile is private. I can't access it. So, I'll thank you for your visit and kind words.
DeleteOh the strawberry! We are about three months from strawberries. I can't ever get enough of the tiny wild berries that are incredibly sweet so I grow a patch of larger berries in the garden. Strawberry pie - can't wait!
ReplyDeleteOh yes....the fresh picked from the garden are SO MUCH better than store bought.
DeleteHuge congrats on the lifer and I'll go look at it at the D'Pot again. What a fun-filled happy post. I bet Tex loved that fence (I do too). I still use the 'former blonde' excuse pretty often myself. Strawberries are pretty good here in Florida (but earlier -- they started in February; peaked in late March). But not as good as the first ones in Oregon in June back in the day when we used to go and pick them (I think that was the secret).
ReplyDeleteIn a couple of weeks, I think, Texas strawberries will have their peak season. Can't wait.
DeleteAha...that makes TWO former blonds then, huh? lol
I don't think I have ever seen a strawberry quite as large as the one in your photo! Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteIt was huge, but nearly tasteless. Yet, still, it was a strawberry. Can't go wrong with ANY strawberry.
DeleteA wonderful post Anni. I miss my mom, my dad and my sister. My brother-in-law was visiting and we had such a great time talking about our family. We always looked forward to when the strawberries were in season and ate them in a bowl with cream poured over them. I was told on my last visit to England by good friends that the strawberries in the shops were for such a short time, as all of them were sent to Wimbledon after that. Not sure where my friends got their facts but thought it very interesting. Great post, great photos and thank you for once again sharing those gorgeous flowers with Today's Flowers. Happy weekend :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise
DeleteI've wondered about those giant strawberries, too. Something funny going on to consistently make strawberries so huge!
ReplyDeleteThe tail of a scissortailed flycatcher is really long.
ReplyDeleteAmazing.
I wish I had your father's green thumb. As you probably learned from family, it's back to winter in CO. I always like visiting and seeing the birds and blooms at your locale.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful mural! It's perfect for Good Fences.
ReplyDeleteSuch fun. I love the bird with the long tail. and I've never seen a photo of mountain laurel. Beautiful. Would love some of those giant luscious-looking strawberries, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Patsy...
DeleteSometimes, size doesn't matter. LOL....the smaller, homegrown ones taste so much better. [strawberries that is]
A fabulous variety of thoughts and pictures....I miss my dad and would love to have had him gardening with me. The mountain laurels are stunning...we don't get these around here.
ReplyDelete