This and that

First, I’d like to thank everyone for their comments on my decision to spend the summer in Indiana, and for suggestions of what to see in the area.  Lora was especially helpful with some websites of wildlife areas in close proximity.  I probably need to let some of you know that I was born and grew up in the city of Chicago, so I’m well aware of what the city has to offer.  I’d sure like to get a pizza from Frank’s Pizza on the northwest side, and am hoping that Ackerman’s Bakery is still in business.  :)

It was cold, overcast, and a little rainy when I got up this morning, so I decided to put off the bird survey until tomorrow.  That will give the back roads a little time to dry out a bit.  Instead, I headed into the VIS to pick up the contraption that puts sales tags on items like tee shirts.  I had three totes full of shirts waiting to be tagged with the new bar code thingy at the community building at the RV sites.  Colin had printed off the new bars codes for me before he left.
Since I had driven ten miles to get to the VIS, I decided to check the refuge roads to see what was happening in the blustery bird world.
With the weather, the shovelers and pied-billed grebes had moved into the more protected areas closer to the road.
As I rounded one of the corners, huge flocks of snow geese took flight in the distance.   It’s hard to describe in words the magnitude of the thousands of geese filling the sky.  I guess you just have to be here!  Tomorrow I’ll be counting multitudes like this.  What a sight it was.
I surprised this snowy egret along the way.  I guess it decided on flight rather than fight!  Notice the yellow dancing shoes…a diagnostic feature in identification of this species. 
Back at the ranch (RV pads), several Wilson’s snipes had landed in a flooded section of the lawn surrounding the RVs.
Usually, we just have about a dozen killdeer patrolling the area, but the 1/2” of rain overnight provided wetter areas that the snipes like.  Because the water table is not far below the surface in this marshy area, it doesn’t take much rain to provide wetland areas.  Emma doesn’t like getting her feet wet, and she is a real hoot to watch on a morning like today as she daintily prances around to find that perfect spot to do her business.  :)

Along about sunset, as I was on the computer editing my photos of the day, I began to hear sounds through the closed windows that made me think I was near an off-road vehicle race track.  As I scratched my head in surprise, Emma began barking with exuberance!  I need to tell you that there are only two things that cause Emma to bark… turkey vultures and cows.  Sure enough, another cattle drive was occurring down FM 1985.  It was too dark for any good pics, but I had to just chuckle at Emma’s antics at protecting us from this onslaught of bellowing bovines!  As she safely sat at the front window, her head arched backwards as the elongated woofs emanated from her core being.  She was successful in keeping us safe from this invasion, and all is well tonight.  :)  Of course, I’m sure in her mind, the cowboys had nothing to do with the cows staying away from us…
                                                                        THE END! 

Thanks for stopping by…. talk to you later,  Judy

It's good to be back home again...

Most of today was spent preparing for and traveling to Midway Airport in Chicago, flying to Austin, TX, and getting back to the rig at Balcones Canyonlands NWR.  My thanks once again to Paul and Peggy, fellow volunteers, for picking me up at the airport in Austin.  I, thankfully, took them to lunch at the True Grit Bar and Grill on our way home.  The food was good, but I would have liked smaller portions.

There has been a cold and wet spell here at the refuge while I've been gone.  I had pulled in the slides, shut off the water, and lowered the thermostat to 40* before I left, so it was a bit chilly as I opened the rig this afternoon.  The first order of business was to set the temp at 69*, turn on the water,and open the slides.  I think unpacking after a trip is a pain in the neck, but I made myself do that straight away and then gave the rig a good vacuuming.

It sure feels good to be home.  I pulled a muscle in my back up in Chicago, and it has been really painful.  I'm hoping that being back in my own bed will help that situation.  I'm sure the pain was exacerbated by the stress involved in the reason for this journey.

Tomorrow I'll be picking Emma up, and things will return to normal.  I tried contacting Robyn this afternoon via Skype, but couldn't get through.  It's foggy and overcast, so I'm hoping I'll have better luck when the weather improves.

That's about it for today.  I'll spend what's left of the evening checking out everything that was recorded on the DVR while I was gone.  Then I'll crash for the night.....it's been a long week.

Thanks for stopping by....talk to you later,  Judy

10 degrees...Ugh!

That's right, it was 10* when I landed at Midway Airport in Chicago this evening!  It's cold enough to make your nostril hairs freeze!  When I lived in Minnesota, this was a common experience in the winter, but I really didn't want to ever deal with these kind of temperatures again.

The flight from Austin, TX, late this afternoon, was uneventful, and quicker than anticipated because of a strong tail wind.  Even though the flight started 15 minutes late, we arrived in Chicago ahead of schedule.  My winter coat was packed in the suitcase, but I did wear a sweatshirt and wind breaker on the flight.  Thank goodness, Dennis had the heater roaring in the car when he picked me up.

It was a long travel day since I arrived at the airport way ahead of my departure time, but I am thankful that Peggy and Paul drove me in.  I spent several hours playing spider solitaire on my laptop while I waited for my flight.  It's a lot different these days at the airport.  Everyone seems to be "connected" to some kind of electronic device.  It does make the waiting time go faster.  There was one slip up by me at the security check-in though.  I had my laptop in a backpack and didn't know that you have to take it out and send it through the scanner separately.  The inspector got a little bent about that.  I apologized and said I didn't know I had to take the laptop out of the bag.  There was no signage telling me to do so.  I calmly waited while everything was sent through again, and busied myself with putting my shoes on and tying them up.  Sorry about that.  :(

The grand daughters were already in bed by the time we made it to the house, so I'll have to wait until morning to see them.  I could use a heat wave about now......

Thanks for stopping by....talk to you later,  Judy

Where are you from?

That's a question that I get asked often. The problem is how to answer. Most recently, I was asked that question yesterday in an interview for the Friends of Swan Lake NWR newsletter.

I'm just not sure how to respond. Do I say I'm from Chicago, where I grew up and spent the first 27 years of my life? Or do I say New York, where I spent 18 years, in the small town of Newark Valley, raising all three of my kids? Or do I say Minnesota, where I lived in Dodge Center and Kasson for 13 years, before I retired? Or do I say Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where I have claimed residence and have my mailing address?

If you live in a house, it's easy to say where you're from. If you travel in a motorhome fulltime, it's not so easy. None of the places where I've lived in a "sticks and bricks" call out to me as where I'm from. (I'm having a little issue with italics and can't turn it off) So there's the dilemma....

I'm thinking that the next time I'm asked, I'll just say I'm from the United States of America. What do you think?

I rolled in the awning today since there are thunderstorms possible overnight and tomorrow. Other than that it's been boring chores for the last two days like defrosting the refrigerator and freezer. I always like to leave a location with all the frost out of the small freezer. Depending on the weather tomorrow, I may or may not venture up on the roof to wash it down. I couldn't talk anyone into washing and waxing the RV here, so I may work on some of that myself.

Thanks for stopping by....talk to you later, Judy