Off to lobster land ....

We will be leaving for Maine tomorrow.  Good timing, I guess, since we still do not have any electricity.  Thank you Irene.   

During this time, I will probably be unplugging a bit.  (Ack!  So hard for me to do!)   

So if I am slow in thanking you or in simply visiting, this is the reason why.

There will be lobster to be eaten, landscapes to photo and inlets to explore!

~sigh~ 

 

I'm already suffering withdrawals from visiting all you guys and dolls.

You can thank Irene for that also!

While away, though, I scheduled a few posts and photos.

I just can't help myself.

The mere fact that you visit
is truly a gift.
 

Thank you.

~sigh~

I already miss you!

 

And thar she blows ....

Well, we survived Hurricane Irene.

The sun finally came out around 7 Sunday evening and was I ever so glad.  It started raining Saturday at noon and did not stop until Sunday noon.  That's a lot of rain for ground that is already saturated. We currently don't have any electricity.  Went off in the night and now we are going on 16 hours without.  No idea when it may come back, we are told.  I'm sitting in our local Panera as I write this.  They soon are going to kick me out.  So this is going to be brief and quick!

Reason for no power is due to a lot of trees down on power lines in our neighborhood.  We took a drive out this morning and captured a few.

This is the mighty Schuylkill River out of its banks causing other types of problems.

Our local train service, Septa, is shut down.  Many businesses were closed simply because employees could not get to work.  Here you can see the train line under water.

Some of our family members were unconcerned with what was going on in the world. 

And then there were others who were a bit shaken up and confused as to where their feeders were, like this little chickadee.

Of course, he was set straight right away by the little hummer!

Some of us are still a little bit roughed up from lack of sleep and showers.

But at least we are seeing the light at the end of the road.  

The only thing is, though, we're just not sure when that light is going to be turned back on.

Hope all my east coast friends have fared well.  I'll try to visit you as power permits!

Until tomorrow, maybe,

There is a place

there is a place
where the sea meets the land
with greetings of
waves crashing upon rocks
over and over and
over again

my lullaby

a place where the wind howls like thunder
and seagulls float like
twilight over sand

a place where each day
begins anew
and evidence of yesterdays
are washed away

a place where i am whole
complete
and sheltered
to just

be

: : :

The photo above was taken last year when we were in Oregon.  Oregon has one of the most beautiful coastlines I have ever seen.  And I've seen quite a few, being a lover of the sea.

Today, I turn 59.

 A day to reflect on what brings me joy and comfort.

And that, to me, is the sea.  The smell, the wind, the life it holds.

It makes me whole.

I may not be getting around to all of you 'today' since The Professor is at my service 

for whatever I want!  

Now that's what I call a real 'present'!

My wish today?  That Irene is kind to our coastal friends.  

Let's hope we don't need a boat for all the flooding

that may be coming!

Stay safe ... and high ... and dry!

All together now ... goodbye irene

It's turning out to be an interesting week on the east coast.

First, we have a 5.8 earthquake.  By California standards, a hiccup.  I imagine their newspaper cartoons have been making quite fun of us the last few days.  And now, we have Hurricane Irene marching across the Bahamas today before she begins her northerly trek along the eastern seaboard.  She's looking mighty strong and angry.

I think many of us are in for some nasty weather.

Being a midwest girl, I never had to worry about hurricanes.  Tornadoes, yes.  But not hurricanes.  Besides, at least with a hurricane, you have plenty of notice to take cover .... or not.

Back in the 90's, I lived in a beach town in Florida.  Whenever there became a threat of a hurricane, you would see signs popping up here and there promoting Hurricane Parties.  I may have attended one or two.  My memory is a bit hazy ... I think alcohol may have been involved.  ~smile~

The one party I will never forget was in August '92.  While on vacation in Key West,  Hurricane Andrew came flying through.  A mandatory evacuation was ordered but I couldn't get a flight out.   So I joined the hotel's 20 or so other guests at the bar for some hurricane drinks (yes, alcohol was involved again) and watched as the hotel's lower glass windows were boarded up.   We were all moved to safer inside rooms, told to fill our tubs with water and handed several large candles. 

I watched the news until midnight, peeked out my window into the stormy night to watch violently swaying palm trees and then turned out the lights and went to sleep.  When I woke the next morning, yep, I slept right through it, the sun was shining and the storm had passed.  We all had survived.  Except we had no electricity, no phones, nothing.  The power lines had been destroyed.

Later I learned that the Coast Guard had sent body bags down in belief that the Keys had been hit as hard as Homestead with a 17 foot surge.  (This was all before cell phones and fancy schmancy satellite tracking systems that we have today.  No one could get in touch with us.)

But Key West was spared.    Homestead was not so lucky. 

Days later when I was able to return home, we flew over the devastation.  Tornadoes can do just the same damage, but with a hurricane comes flooding.  Adding insult to injury.

 

Let's hope Irene will not be too harsh on our coastal friends.  Between the tornadoes, flooding and severe heat this year, I think we are all pretty tired of Mother Nature and her moods.

~ ~ ~

Bald headed blue jay, and then some

July 28

Isn't he a handsome fellow!  Such a proud papa!

Raising young ones, though, can be stressful. 

Don't I know!

Of course, all mine are raised.

August 18

This teenage blue jay seems to be stressing his dad so bad, he's starting to go bald!

Look closely around his face ...

August 22

See!  What did I tell ya!

No ....  his baldness is not really caused by stress.
Apparently Blue Jays go through something called 'molting' once a year in late summer.
I had no idea!  

 

August 24

At first I thought he was sick but a quick google search eased my concerns.  It is a normal process for birds.   Feathers will grow back.  But for a period of time until they do, they do look rather odd.  Other birds such as hummingbirds, chickadees, hawks, owls and woodpeckers are just a few that go through the same process.

And if you look real close, you can even see his ear!

So the good news for this guy is that he won't be bald forever.

Cause this is Forever!

Introducing my son, The Professor and my brother.

These baldies I love!

(And definitely cuter than Mr. Blue Jay ... but don't tell him that!)

~smile~

Critterquake

By now, you probably heard about the 5.9 earthquake that hit in Virginia and was felt all the way up the East coast.  I was sitting in my home office, as usual, thinking about what to blog  today, when the whole room started shaking.  

All was okay, but I think my outdoor friends were a bit shaken up!

Ned Nuthatch:  Whoaaaaa .... what's happening!

John Sparrow:  I... I.... I ...... dunnknow......

 

Pope Cardinal Jr.:  This thing is swayin'!

Sally Starling:  I can barely hang on!

Red-bellied Woodpecker:  Hold on tight everybody!

Ned Nuthatch:  I think it's over everyone!

Pope Cardinal Jr the 2nd:  Well, that was a real feather ruffler!

Harriet Hairy Woodpecker:  Are you sure it's okay to let go?

Harry Hairy Woodpecker:  Honey, you best hang on a bit more!

Charlie Chickadee:  That's right Harry.  May be another one coming, whatever it was!

Hilly Hummingbird:  I barely felt anything you guys.  What are you all talking about?

Fabio Finch & Fabio Jr:  Hey, you guys on the ground!  Everything okay down there?

Mrs. Pope Cardinal:  Oh my, oh my ... I thought it would never end!

Darth Vader Squirrel:  I'm staying right here for a while!

Roxanne Mama Squirrel:  Vader Squirrel, get your lazy self up.  There's no time to lay around.  We've got little ones at home to care for!

Groundhog Chuck:  Well, I think, I think, I think, I'll just sleep
above ground tonight ya'll!

As usual, I didn't have to worry about what to post today.  

These guys came to my rescue!

Until next time,

~sharing with~

World Bird Wednesday

A New York City bird

New York City.  For many of us who do not live here,  it brings to mind thoughts of Broadway, the Twin Towers, yellow taxis, Central Park, the Dakotas, the Yankees, skycrapers, Statue of Liberty, Wall Street, the Bronx, and the Empire State Building.

It really is a city that never ever sleeps.

Full of life and vibrancy. 

Sunday, The Professor and I went into the city so I could meet some new friends from blogland.  It can be a little intimidating meeting new people that you've met on-line.  Will they like you?  Will you like them?  Sort of like on-line dating. 

That is ... if you've ever done that sort of thing.  And yes ...  I did.  Twelve years ago.  That's how I met The Professor.  We hit it right off and have been together ever since.  Of course, he never expressed in his user profile his love for sports.  And I, who never watched sports, has learned to accept this .... sort of.

But back to my purpose in the city.  To meet my new friends.  Daryl, Kate, Lauren and Ann.  

I think we hit it off just great.  I was so relieved!  We walked, we laughed, we ate, and drank and shared bits and pieces of our lives.

And our cameras clicked away at the city sights.  

I particularly have a fondness for the water towers that hover above the apartment buildings.  Being a farm girl who grew up with water that came from a well deep in the ground, I marvel at these individual water towers.

Most small rural towns usually have just one water tower and can be seen for miles.  There are just so many in the city.  Someone really should do a coffee table book!  I'd buy it!

The five of us wandered around a couple of farmer and flea markets and I happened across this old saddle.  I thought it a rather odd contrast to the city.  Do you suppose somebody has a pony they are keeping in their courtyard?

And perhaps the best laugh of the day came when Daryl gifted me with this pigeon.  Don't worry.  Not a REAL pigeon.  It's made out of wood.  You see it sitting here on my patio joining all the other feathered friends who visit my backyard.

Daryl thought my bird blogs were a bit lacking without a pigeon being represented.

Just one other thing the city is well known for!

Hope your week has gotten off to a great start.

(By the way, all the photos were done in HDR.)

Until tomorrow friends,

~sharing with~
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Jillsy Girl Weekend Exposure