§ 12 months of Nature in 2019...

Once again, from my monthly recordings...a review of the past year. And again, the frame used was before I revamped my blog look. I think this is the last of my images that have the old framing.

Early sun on the bay


Toadstools after a week of rain


Raw Copper from Tucson AZ mine  [in our  yard....we bought it while on a tour of a copper mine when living in Tucson, and moved it here with us!!]  After all, copper costs a pretty penny!!!!


Cypress Tree seed pods


White Tailed Dear [and white in the background bushes...egrets]


Turtle at Lakeview Park


Dolphins in front of the ship's bow


Coral


Wiley Coyote on the beach


Autumn Splendor on a Nature Trail


Passionflower seed pod with dew drop


Coral Beans

§ Turbulence on the Sea and a Mystery Guest

The sea was turbulent, the fog was settling in. Bud and I walked the Packery Channel before sunrise. But first, before the photos for the day, can you tell what this is? Perhaps your guess is correct. Scroll down to see if that is so. But be careful not to get too wet with the ocean spray!! Believe it or not, these are NOT black and white photos, tho the storm makes it appear that way.

Okay, what was your guess? We're looking through the morning mist, and the view is dim. Here it is....

Did you get the answer correct? Yep, it's Wiley Coyote...or maybe Wilma Coyote. It was searching for breakfast. Only to disappear shortly after these photos were taken.

§ Among the Fields of Gold...

SWAYING IN THE AUTUMN BREEZE

Oftentimes; mainly on my bird photography blog, I mention day trips to Port Aransas [pronounced uh RAN sus] on Mustang Island. Again, oftentimes, I make reference to Charlie's Pasture [aka Aransas Nature Preserve] where I walk the 2 mile boardwalk and gravel paths. The other day, I had to stop and admire the Autumn grasses in the sunlight. The slight breeze making the blades/seed glisten! It was a quiet morning, with only birdsong heard. I enjoyed it all. I thought I'd take a few photos to show you the area. The pavilion seen in the background, in March, the swallows return to nest each and every year.  Also, to the right from the pavilion, hidden from the photo, is a rather large pond where egrets, herons, ducks, spoonbills, grebes can be found feeding on the catch of the day.  Behind the structure, along the path on the backside which takes you along the ship channel to a community park, there are park benches to sit and view the scenery and wildlife.  If lucky a beautiful hawk or osprey may make a fly-by appearance. Along the boardwalk side of the pavilion, there are several gazebo/observation towers to stop by and check out the open-air aviary/waterfowl. AND sometimes, other four-legged critters may greet you along the way [see below].  Twelve months out of the year, there is always something new.  Autumn, the beautiful change of seasons, Summer, wildflowers such as silverleaf sunflowers dot the landscape, while in Spring, regrowth and Spring migration enhances the area.  In winter, ya, it can be drab in color, but there, again, is always something.  Perhaps looking along the ship channel as I walk the trail and ships silently drift out to sea with dolphins bidding them a safe journey....

- - -

BON VOYAGE


- - -


SIESTA DEL SOL
[sun nap]

The same morning I walked and stopped to take pictures of the grass seed, I spied a 4 legged critter [coyote] trying to snooze in the warming sunlight! It was a gorgeous specimen in the wild!!! Also, I think it knew I was taking photos of it...it watched me watch him/her!!   The beautiful, golden yellow,  eyes,  half dozing,  remained alert to every move I made.

That's all for now, I am in the middle of decorating the house for Christmas...done with fireplace mantel and the entertainment center. Bud helped hang the sleigh and eight reindeer in the dining room/kitchen woodwork. I'm halfway done with the decorating of the tree. I was a bit delayed in my work today; my sister called and we talked too long. rofl

Besides, I need stop typing and go to prepare the baby carrots and new potatoes for the pot roast in the slow cooker for dinner tonight!!  Brownies [Bud's favorite - I bribed him with the offer of making a batch if he'd help hang the sleigh and reindeer for me] for dessert.

§ UFO? Dangerous Encounter? Jokes - Books & What I Did with a Pencil

My sister has been back in Colorado for over two weeks now and I truly miss her company. Of course we've both been back to our own routines, but each time I have some idle time, I'm thinking of her. I used this last photo that Bud took of us at the airport when she was getting ready to board her plane for her return, and did a pencil sketch of the two of us. It has taken me quite a while to get this far with it 'cause I erased, drew, erased, tried again, and erased her features several times. Over and over, until I was almost ready to throw it out and forget about sketching it all together! Her hand is TOO BIG also! It didn't turn out like I had 'pictured' in my mind. But, still, this is my finished sketch and I texted it to Sharon; her approval was enough for me to decide to keep it in my portfolio...

There are two new books I'd like to 'discuss' today. One, I found at Barnes n Nobel when Bud wanted to go there to pick up an ordered book from a few days ago. The newly published book, just put out on the shelves, I found while waiting for him, is of a favorite subject line...the questionable and popular to historians/debators alike...President Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings. The book: Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings. This book has mixed reviews, and creating somewhat of an uproar...but still of interest and so unique in writing style, I'm enjoying it immensely.

The 2nd book, I ordered through Amazon on Saturday just minutes after I left Phil's blog "Another Bird Blog". His personal review of the book so enticed me, I wanted it NOW...as in yesterday. The shipment will arrive this week, and I can hardly wait to delve through the pages in anxious anticipation. The book is of another favorite subject...birds and birdsong. But it's so much more according to Phil and other critiques...a cross country excursion of cycling, a father and son duo travel across the USA, listening for birds singing, recording their song.  Also, promised in reviews,  more of the country, the history, the landscape, and most of all, in some part, my home state of nearly 50 years, Colorado. I was listening online from one of the excerpted sounds the author shares throughout the book of a Lark Sparrow...in Sterling Colorado, several miles northeast of Denver, near the Nebraska border [Nebraska, being where I was born]. Reading more praise of this book, well......did I say I want it in my hot little hands?  Listening to a Continent Sing A 5 star book, published in 2016.

As I type this up for the day, there is thunder in the distance. Again? For the last two days it's been sultry and the temps are soaring. But no rain. Without the gray sky, I'm being blinded with the bright sun. LOL Irene, our daughter, texted this to me the other day. I'm sure she found it on Facebook since this is where she frequents in her spare time. Still, it was funny enough for a good laugh even tho the matter of all the rains here aren't laughable, what with all the floods across Texas!

Q: What's worse than raining buckets?
A: Hailing taxis!

While out walking the salt flats Monday morning, I was nearly at the end of the 2 mile walk, just before hitting the gravel path to head to the two observation stations where the Spoonbills, egrets and cormorants were congregated...lo and behold, just as I was about to step off the boardwalk, I happened to notice some movement in the high prairie grasses [with the precipitation we've had lately the grass is nearly as high as I am tall]...I spied, moving rapidly toward me on the path I was about to take...a tawny colored creature, being a bit too stealthy for my well being. There are bobcats in the vicinity! I stopped 'dead in my tracks' and waited....thinking as I reached in my pocket, "My pocket knife I take along on my walks will NOT do me any good if attacking me was on its mind!" I froze....watching! As it came out of the tall grass, it was a coyote. "Ya, ya, Anni" I thought to myself, "It's more afraid of you than you are of it!" Uh-huh, right. But, it continued from the grass to the water's edge and crossed in front of me...occasionally watching ME. I took photos....

...once it got across the flats to the other side of the water [about 50 yards from me] did I exhale!! And I then turned around and left. Too close for comfort this time 'round!!

Extra, Extra....view the UFO
Or, what is it? I was taking a video of the lightening storm just outside my home early in the morning...when I came back into the house to view it, I saw this white object in the sky...dancing. Is it from another world? Can't be a helicopter, or a reconnaissance plane. Strange things are a'happenin' in Texas' sky!!!

Here's the link. Remember it's dark outside (around 4am)...so the video will be very dark also. I'd suggest you open it and then do a 'full screen' for better viewing.

§ Botanical Gardens - Part II

If you missed part one, here is a link to the Migrant Butterflies

...to continue with our little time we spent at the Botanical Gardens, before we arrived there, as we drove down the back way to avoid the heavy traffic flow, we went through a residential area. There, in a field yet to be developed with homes, we spotted three coyotes. Being that it is a boulevard with absolutely no place to pull over, we whipped a u-turn and stopped the car in a turn-around spot. I took these from the car window so not all that clear....

...when we arrived, we paid our entrance fee, and began walking the grounds. Many acres of open field to search for birds. And to enjoy the many points of interest along the way. For some time now, the Gardens has had a special showing of a Texan Artist from Houston scattered strategically in areas with such awesome, yet bizarre works of art. All his work is made from scrap metal and junk yard items. Some even are animated - one I read, even shoots fire. I will share the photos of his works that I captured in the concluding post.

But for now, I share THIS bird [one of his works]  I may be cheating a little bit on the "WILD" bird for Wednesday, but it's wild in a whole 'nother sense.   It's entitled FREEBIRD In a way, I really like the shadow it cast on the lawn just as much as the sculpture...

This freebird was positioned and anchored just a few feet from the rose pavilion. Roses of every kind and color were opened into full bloom and buds [photos 1 and 3]!! And a bush [photo 2] that was heavily shrouded in blossoms was gorgeous. The Plumeria [photo 4] wasn't all that showy this time of year. In fact, the Garden's staff store these somewhere in the cold months and bring them out the the Plumeria Garden again in the Spring when threat of cold nights no longer exist.

...other than the wildlife that shares the property like birds and coyotes and snakes and lizards [the Garden does have indoor exhibits of tropical birds such as parrots and cockatiels, they also have lizards and turtles]. Just adjacent to the children's playground, they had a tortoise behind a fence. This is my Good Fences for the week!