Travels of Nannie & Bubba

May 2-4, 2009: DeSoto State Park, Alabama

Here are some pictures Nannie took while on a two-day trip to the top of Lookout Mountain. The Little River has carved a canyon on top of the mountain which is awesome and includes several beautiful waterfalls. We were visiting family in Mentone, Alabama (on top of Lookout Mountain) and they were kind enough to take us around to the various waterfalls, dams, and along the canyon drive. It had rained recently so all the streams and waterfalls were in full spate, and the woods were wonderfully green.

Nannie & Missy at DeSoto Falls; Little River Falls; and White Fringe Tree shrub.

Little River Canyon; Grace High Falls (lucky us! only flows after a heavy rain); and Mentone overlook.

Bird Accident

While Jim & Diane Hill were visiting with us on April 20, 2009 (Diane is my cousin), we were thoroughly enjoying watching a multitude of birds, who seemed to be putting on a special show just for us! They included the usual crowd of cardinals, towhees, bluejays, titmice, chickadees. PLUS a whole flock of indigo buntings, a single solitary painted bunting, blue grosbeaks, and our very favorite: the rose-breasted grosbeak - such a beautiful bird! Alas, one of the "rosies" had a surprise visit with the kitchen window, which thump startled all of us, and there he was, on the ground, stunned. Aha! Photo op! And here's his picture, while he was still wondering what hit him; plus a picture of the Underwoods

and Hills.

Texas, March-April 2009

Birds we saw at Big Bend: Vultures, red-tailed hawk, doves, roadrunner, white-throated swift, ladder-backed and golden-fronted woodpeckers, vermilion flycatcher (beautiful), Mexican jay, ravens and crows, cactus wren, blue-gray gnatcatcher, northern mockingbird, black-throated sparrow, and finches.

Birds we saw at Ft. Davis: Acorn woodpecker, western bluebird, elf owl feeding baby, black-chinned hummingbird, and goldfinches.

Birds we saw at Brazos Bend State Park: Yellow-rumped "Myrtle" warbler, roseate spoonbill, great blue heron, little blue heron, white egrets, glossy ibis, white ibis, crows everywhere walking around inspecting everything; black-bellied whistling duck (and they weren't whistling dixie), and a gorgeous red-shouldered hawk who posed for us.

Pictures from our camping trip out to Big Bend National Park and Fort Davis.

Photos include various blooming cacti, Boquillas Canyon, two curious burros, a roadrunner, the Rio Grande, the Reata Restaurant in Alpine, and a pic of Nannie with Diane & Jim Hill. We have never been in such relentless winds, they never stopped and they gusted up to 60-70 MPH. We sometimes had trouble opening the doors of the truck & camper!

Florida, Feb. 2009

Our first real camping trip of more than two nights on the road! We went to northern Florida for a lovely family visit with three siblings and spouses. Wonderful time, in spite of unexpectedly cold and windy weather.