Annual Bastrop County Audubon Christmas Bird Count

The G-man & I were awake at 6:30 this morning to meet the Bastrop County Audubon Society for the annual Christmas bird count. Each county or Audubon club takes a "Christmas bird count" which takes place on or near Christmas. The tradition in Bastrop County is for birders to gather at the Texas Grill on Hwy. 71 at 7 AM on January 1st & get instructions where to go to watch for birds. The G-man & I usually go with David, Josh, John & Jennifer to ColoVista and along the Colorado River to count birds and that is where we headed this morning.

The G-man & I have bird calls recorded on our iPod with a speaker attached that we use to encourage the birds to gather where we are. We play the Eastern Screech Owl tape and birds flock from all around to "keep an eye on the owl". It amazes me that they gather to check out this "bird". Of course, there is no Screech Owl present, just me & the recording. I also played calls for the Eastern Bluebird, Eastern Phoebe and several other birds.

Today we counted 23 species from 8 AM until around noon. If you click on the bird's name a link will take you to a picture of the bird, the bird's call, map where it is located & other information. The following are what we saw:

Red-tailed Hawk
Eastern Bluebird
Northern Cardinal
Crested Caracara
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Black-capped Chickadee
Eastern Phoebe
Yellow-rump Warbler
Lesser Goldfinch
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Marsh Wren
Savannah Sparrow
Cedar Waxwing
Pine Siskin
American Kestrel
Loggerhead Shrike
Great Blue Heron
Common Merganser
Black Vulture
Blue Jay
American Crow

...and in our backyard
Pileated Woodpecker
Tufted Titmouse

We also had two hummingbirds (a Buff-bellied and a Ruby-throat) at our house on Dec. 22, but we have not seen them since we returned from out trip out west so we could not put them in our bird count.

PS ~ On Jan 2nd we added Sandhill Cranes to our list of birds. The G-man spotted about 20 flying overhead and turning to go down river on the Colorado to end up along the Texas coast. This little group is late in its travels. They usually fly over during October.

Downy Woodpecker

American Crow

Crested Cara Cara (or Mexican Eagle)

The G-man looking for birds

Happy New Year ~ 2011

Counting down to the new year ~ 2011

Reya recently asked the question: "Do you make new year's resolutions?" and today there was an article by the editor of our local paper titled: "End of year resolutions?". It seems that our editor makes a resolution or two and by the end of that year she is still wanting to make the same resolution for the next year. She may want to be a better person, dress prettier, and have a softer laugh. In fact she feels more comfortable in jeans & tennies, snorts when she laughs, & wonders if her dog even cares if she is a better human. It was a cute article.

As I thought about resolutions I realized that I think about making one or more resolutions. My thoughts of resolutions generally revolve around losing 5 to 10 pounds, get more exercise & try to keep myself & the G-man healthy. In fact, I just tend to be thankful that I've made it to the beginning of a new year & my intentions are to make the new year a good one. I suppose the question is how do I make the new year good?

The old saying is resolutions are meant to be broken; so if that is the case, why bother? I say be thankful for who we are and if we feel compelled to make 1 or 2 or more new years resolutions then make them achievable. We shouldn't set ourselves up to fail. Think outwardly as well as inwardly. Think about making our planet a better place and think about making healthy decisions. Be positive, be hopeful, be thankful.

The following Irish blessing I wish upon each of you:

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
and rains fall soft upon your fields.
~ an Irish blessing

Happy New Year from me & my family to you & yours.

Big Bend National Park - Along the Back Roads

For years I have wanted to drive through the
back roads of Big Bend and didn't have
the time or the right vehicle to do so.
On this trip time & auto was right,
but what the hell are two old people doing
driving through the badlands?!?

The first view after getting off the main road
is the back side of some of the Chisos Mountains.

As you can see the day was perfect.
It was clear and cool.
No chance of heat stroke if we get into trouble.

This is spectacular country... in every direction.
However, even a chigger couldn't make a living out here.
Desolate.

We did happen upon one patch where a seep or perhaps
a spring exists where small trees grow along the gully.

A previous traveler left this mark.

Glenn Springs Road

Rough, wash-board, rutted roads.
We were forced to travel at 5 to 10 MPH (miles per hour)
most of the day.
It took the better part of 3 hours to travel 30 miles.

Finally we reach civilization at Rio Grande Village.
Here folks camp along the Rio Grande
where the Daniel's Ranch once stood.
Grass and cottonwoods were planted by the settlers
which made this a livable area.

Silhouette

The mountains in the distance are part of
Boquilles Canyon.

Coyote visiting the area
he knows where food can be found.

The Rio Grande in the distance at Boquilles Canyon.

Only a few years ago people visiting this part of the park
could wave at the townspeople of Boquilles, Mexico.
They would then come over in a flat boat and take the
visitors across the river to their village.
It was special, but no one knew how special until now.
Now the park department buys wares such as walking sticks
from the villagers and sells them at the shops
because it would be illegal to buy from the villagers.
See the attached link to visit Boquilles
and a tradition that is lost.

To be continued...

Driving into Big Bend

Of these four photos this is my favorite.
I love the road going over the hill & disappearing
into the mountains.
As Ellen at stuff from ellen's head said:
"pictures don't do it justice".

The spaciousness of the country is breath-taking.
Even though the land is desolate it is beautiful.
Each season brings a different look to the area.

The plant life is prickly.
One has to be careful where one steps
because something will attach itself to a shoe or pants.

This cactus attacked the G-man's foot.
At least during this time of year the weather is cool
enough that we didn't have to worry about
running into snakes.

Interesting rock formation.
Lots of erosion from wind and rain.

Ocotillo plants appear dead but are only dormant.
As with many cactus-like plants the leaves are small.

Tessa Edwards

Tessa Edwards
Fly high fair friend!

"Human beings are made of body, mind and spirit.
Of these, spirit is primary,
for it connects us to the source of everything,
the eternal field of consciousness."

and that....

"Each of us is here to discover our true Self...
that essentially we are spiritual beings
who have taken manifestation in physical form...
that we're not human beings that have occasional spiritual experiences
that we're spiritual beings that have occasional human experiences. "
... Deepak Chopra

I knew Tessa through her blog, An Aerial Armadillo, and long for more. She had wonderful insight into life; she loved her Africa and depicted it meaningfully through her art and her words. She was a humanitarian and I believe knew her true Self and lived life to the fullest. According to her banner mantra was:

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out and yelling joyously .... "WOOO HOOO what a ride!"

My condolences to those Tessa loved, to her family and friends. Please know that she was well loved around the globe and is terribly missed.

"Have the courage to live. Anyone can die."
... Robert Cody

Tessa had the courage of which Cody speaks. Adieu, dear Tessa.

Preview of West Texas Trip

Day One
Marathon, Texas

Day Two
Driving through the southeastern part
of Big Bend National Park

Day Three
The Basin & southwestern part
of the park

We should be home tomorrow and I shall post
more photos of our trip.
It has been delightful.
We think Gertie knows we are on the way
home because she has a definite
new spring in her step!
She has wondered what the hell
we've been doing bouncing over miles
of dirt roads.

Christmas is around the corner

Last weekend we were in The Woodlands
(new Houston) visiting friends.
Market Street had lovely decorations.
On Friday night a choral group performed
in this square.
Hundreds of people were there to enjoy
the music and the lights
plus get a little shopping done.

I love this glitzy present and...

I would like to find this inside it
or just under my tree
or in my driveway.

While I'm wishing I think I would
like one of each of these little numbers.
Definitely my favorite colors!

This little girl is (not so patiently)
waiting to have her photo made with Santa.
Before we left the street was lined
with moms, dads, and little ones
just waiting their turn.

Pretty little burro sculpture in the square
but I have no idea what it signifies.
Maybe it is in search of the manger
(oh that was tacky!)

Adios to The Woodlands!

Just a Walk in the Park

All of these photos are taken from the

south-side of the Colorado River.

It's another beautiful day in Austin
and we have such a wonderful park
along the Colorado River to enjoy.

At the end of the walkway is a statue of
Stevie Ray Vaughan,
legendary Austin blues musician, guitarist & songwriter.

Stevie Ray Vaughan

This particular area along the river is designated
as a "no leash" area therefore many people
bring their dogs to romp & play.

This is also part of a 13-mile jogging, walking, biking area
that loops from south of the river to the north
and goes right through the downtown area.

Because it is in such close proximity to downtown businesses
many people take advantage during their lunch break.

Midday view

Beautiful Austin Skyline

View at dusk

Eliza Gilkyson - Live Today at The Armadillo

As many of you know one of my favorite things to do this time of year is to go to the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar in Austin, TX. The bazaar is what remains of the world famous Armadillo World Headquarters. It is a signature Austin event. Great art, crafts, and funky stuff. All us old hippies and hippie wanna-bees go. It was packed today. At 3:30 Eliza Gilkyson performed and rocked the house with the following song, "The Dark Side of Town". Hope you enjoy the tune.

Eliza told the story of playing this song last summer along a river in Colorado to a bunch of motorcyclists from Canada. These guys (about 20 or so) were at the same hotel she was staying in and one night they lit a bonfire down by the river & were playing guitars. She & a woman she was traveling with went to listen and somewhere along the way mentioned they could play so the guys gave them a couple of guitars & this is what she sang. (Eliza & her friend had a couple of days off from a gig in Colorado & were just hanging out resting.)




(Eliza Gilkyson at Common Fence Music: Dark Side of Town)


She said she was much more nervous singing in front of these 20 guys than to all of us today. She sang with her head down looking at the guitar when she realized the moon had risen & was reflecting off the guitar. When she looked up all the guys had out there mobile phones pointed at her & she heard a woosh as photos were sent to the folks back home.

Needless to say she & her friend knocked their socks off with her music!

A Surprise at the Mall via Email

Today I received this in my email from a friend here in town.
I don't know where it was filmed but it is delightful.
After madly rushing around the mall,
having a seat for a quick meal,
these folks had a wonderful treat.

Beautiful voices and seemingly spontaneous
(but of course it was well planned).

Enjoy!