Pictures from Georgia as Promised

Poor tired Ninja, what can you expect after having an almost 3 year old chasing you around the yard and then you chasing the critters in the brush too!



Now this is our Happy Camper after a hard day at school, shooting Pop with the squirt gun and chasing the dog.



Sometimes you just have to take a quick snooze!



You just have to jump into the shrubs to find the critters!



The birds of Georgia! Can you identify them? I could use your help. My brother-in-law wondered how I could name all the birds on this site, but the truth is I can't! I will give a couple hints, you will find a Mocking Bird, a Black Headed Grosbeak, a Chipping Sparrow and then a few unknown.

Georgia has been fun

We are in Georgia with the grand daughter. Been here all week and have watching the bird ativity down south. Will have a few pictures when we get home. Have been almost a week without internet access and email, can only imagine the junk mail awaiting!

I am tired and haven't done any work, wonder how that happens?

Coming next week the Georgia bird pictures! Who knows maybe a few from Kentucy and Tennessee.

Wedding is over and soon the couple will be heading West.

Yesterday was a hectic day for all involved with the wedding but as they day unfolded the wedding was lovely and the wedding was very nice. We started off with the promise of sunshine by the weather man, but the skies didn't seem to coincide with the predictions and it was very gray and overcast most of the morning. Even as we headed for Lake Bloomington the sun would only occasionally pop out for the briefest of time. About 1pm the clouds lifted and the sun came out and stayed out until about 6:30pm and by then all that was left was the clean up.

My wife wanted to enjoy the wedding and decided to leave all the cameras at home. Plenty of other people were bring cameras so no picture opportunity was missed, except by me. We had the outside wedding facing the lake with boats and skiers in the background. Our almost three year old granddaughter was one of the flower girls and as the ceremony moved along after the "who gives this woman" she decided to cross in front of everyone nearly stepping on the brides dress to get to her daddy who was one of the grooms attendants. Then while being held she begin to sing the lyrics "the wheel of the bus goes round and round". Since I had a front row seat I got to hear everything, I think those in the back missed the serenade.

This was a time when I was watching two young people that I know very well get married. My youngest son of 25 who has lived in California for most of the last five years and my new daughter-in-law that has lived with the wife and I for the last two years. I felt like I was watching my daughter get married as well as my son. Jessica and Peter have dated for six and one-half years and the most of the last five years has been long distance.

I am including a few pictures from the rehearsal dinner. Of course, had to include just a few pictures of the birds out back.

Big day today! Wedding of youngest son

Peter and Jessica this is your day!



Our first Baltimore Oriole! And all it wanted was the grand daughters bright toys.





Help me! I am just not sure what kind a bird?



Two female Rose Breasted Grosbeaks



Brown Thrasher been around for a week or two



Cardinal and Male Rose Breasted Grosbeak



How does a hungry Blue Jay get to these peanuts?



Gold Finches



This squirrel really hangs out to catch a bite to eat.



I am a bird, please name me.



Seven male and female Rose-breasted Grosbeaks



Even a Blue Jay can share the food with a Grosbeak



Now this squirrel really takes hanging out to the limit

A few more pictures from Wednesday

The Georgia Peach made it to Normal and we have been enjoying her. Finally a sleep we are ready to die for the night! Why is so much energy wasted on the young? We older ones could use about half of that energy.

These are pictures of the new bird feeder and more newcomers. The brown with white around the eyes are the female version of the Rose Breasted Grosbeak. I counted around five female and four males this noon. We had four to five blue jays, all after the peanuts. The other usual birds were around, but you can see the feeder was getting a little crowded for lunch time.

Wow a new bird feeder at our Normal Back Yard

Got my income tax refund and wife decided to let me have a birthday present of a new bird feeder. The first day the birds didn't know what to do. The starlings and grackles had no problems finding the feeder, but the other birds actually found the old feeder on the other side of the yard.

Today is a different day! Wife called me at work to tell me about a black and white speckled bird with red on its breast. Went home for lunch and not one, not two and not even three, but at least five Rose Breasted Grosbeaks were dining at the feeders. The Cowbirds and the house finches all made appearances this noon.

Here are a several pictures of the visitors over the last three days.

Two Rose Breasted Grosbeaks



White-Throated Sparrow wondering how to get to the food.



Ma and Pa Rose Breasted Grosbeaks



New Feeder waiting for the birds



Grosbeaks and Cow Birds





These pretty bright yellow birds are not canaries, but Gold Finches




Then throw in a rather plain house finch



Or maybe a pair of house finches



Then a lazy day means a lazy squirrel resting a moment.



Now a Blue Jay with a whole peanut in the shell in his beak.



Finally back to the Grosbeaks, cowbirds and gold finches.