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Borrego Springs, CA

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Visitors from ‘across the pond’

While Robyn was here, she wanted to see the Mississippi Sandhill Cranes, so we all went for a tour of the refuge yesterday morning.  Avery, of course, couldn’t care less about such a thing being only four years old.  It’s getting harder and harder to find the cranes as we get closer to the end of the month and the beginning of their breeding season.  Luckily, we were able to finally see some.

Monday afternoon, all of the volunteers got together to have a cook out.  Avery was feeling a little more comfortable with all these strangers by the afternoon.  After all, most of us are grandparents, so you know it was a friendly atmosphere.  As the sun set, I drove Robyn and Avery to a motel in Biloxi right across from the airport.  They had a very early morning flight out today, and had decided to spend the night there rather than having to get Avery up at four in the morning for the drive into the airport.  Just as my mother used to, I get choked up at these partings.  It was a short, but wonderful visit.

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Then early this morning, Colin and Denise arrived for a tour of the refuge.  I’ve volunteered with Colin several times in the past at Anahuac NWR.  He is a citizen of England, and has volunteered at Anahuac for about three months a year for the last nine years.  His trip to the US was strictly for birding this time, and he brought his wife, Denise, along.  It was great to finally meet her.  As you can see, she is seriously into photo taking, and we did get a few opportunities for her to get some shots of the cranes.  It seems that Colin travels all over the globe to pursue his birding passion.  I’m sure glad I could deliver this morning.  Smile  I’d also like to thank them for treating me to lunch!

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After lunch, I was feeling pretty worn out from all the excitement and goings on of the last five days, and way behind in doing my laundry.  So I threw a load into the Splendide, and Emma and I relaxed outside for the afternoon.

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I did some trimming underneath one of the bird feeders for better viewing, and it wasn’t long before this brown thrasher stopped by to scratch in the debris of the forest floor.  It was 3:00 before I could put the load of wash out on the line, and the jeans and a few other items didn’t dry.  Since there’s no rain in tonight’s forecast, I’ve decided to just let them hang overnight.  Tomorrow, I’ll get another load going before I do the tour.  Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it’s back to work I go.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

17 comments:

  1. I would be sobbing when Avery left. Just lean on all the wonderful memories you made! ~wheresweaver

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  2. Yes, I too get very teary eyed when leaving our grandkids for 4 1/2 months....and we have ages 13, 11, 7 , 3 and 11 months...That littlest one is always the hardest because he changes the most...It sounds like you had a great visit, though...Family time is always soooo precious...Isn't it amazing how relaxing laundry can be after a visit from the grands???

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  3. So nice to be able to get that grandkid time and make all those new memories. Love the bird pictures. Stupid question time - why don't birds have eyelashes? Do they serve a purpose for humans?

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  4. It is always tough to say goodbye to the little ones:( Glad you found some cranes for Denise. That is a lot of gear to carry around for nothing!

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  5. What a wonderful time you all had. Always too short though isn't it? Although being the hostess is a tough job or I think it is. Unless you are hosting birds that is. :-)

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  6. I hate leaving my grand kids behind. It doesn't get any easier even when they grow up. But you had a great time and no it wasn't long enough never is. :)

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  7. These may be some of her earliest memories of you and Emma. You might want to make her a little story book with pictures you took of things you did last summer and this trip. I would reinforce her memory. With your ability as a teacher and your wonderful photography it would be easy.

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  8. You have been busy lately, but you sure are blessed with company & life :-)

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  9. And here I thought a person had to be a US citizen to volunteer. I know my sister wasn't allowed to volunteer in Massachusetts when she and her then husband lived there a number of years ago. Mind you, it was at the local school, so maybe that had something to do with it. But they said she had to be a citizen. Strange.

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  10. Glad you had a great visit with the daughter and granddaughter!

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  11. Hope your clothes are not dewy, in the morning. An English gentleman at the birding center here, told me they call Harrier's "marsh hawks". I like it. He too, comes over to bird. It fun to meet people who are so passionate.

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  12. glad that you had a great but short visit with your daughter and granddaughter!..sweet memories to cherish!

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  13. Sounds like you had a great visit with family members!

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  14. I think Merikay has a great idea. I am glad you enjoyed your time with family. Memories forever!

    Just BS!(Bob and Sue)

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  15. It's so hard to say goodbye to the grandbabies...but at least you got to have a nice visit. That is quite a lens on that camera - bet she gets some good shots with that.

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  16. I always tear up when we say good-bye too -- that's just the way it is, esp when you had such a good time. Little Avery is a cutie and will remember this time with Gramma Bell and Emma. I too think Merikay has a great idea.

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