When you’re an old member of the intellectual elite (I have been told that’s what I am, even though I no longer speak and write academic English), you get used to knowing at least a little about most topics speakers present at meetings. Tonight I was thrilled to hear a speaker at our monthly Master Naturalist meeting on a topic I was unfamiliar with.
Also a blimp flew over today, which is rare here.
The speaker was Thomas Ronge, “a polar marine geologist and climate scientist, working as an Expedition Project Manager and Staff Scientist for the International Ocean Discovery Program (aka IODP)” (his description on BlueSky). His agency has a new name, Scientific Ocean Drilling Coordination Office (SODCO). Apparently name changes are frequent. He told us about how he has worked to get samples of sediment from the ocean floor using really cool drilling and sampling technologies, all on an amazing science ship.
It just was so much fun to learn about how carbon dioxide is stored in ice, the causes of rising sea levels, and why the research done by his teams is so important to us regular folks. Ronge made the complex ideas easy to understand and his subtle humor was a fine touch. I couldn’t believe this was his first presentation in English (he’s from Germany).
This is the research ship whose expeditions he coordinated, the JOIDES Resolution. It just got retired. (Photo by T Ronge)
Want to learn more? The website for IODP has links to many interesting articles on what scientists learned on the ship.
That presentation was the highlight of my day, though I had to laugh at how I looked by the end of the meeting part of the evening. I got my roadrunner recertification pin for 2025 and a third place ribbon for how many hours I’ve volunteered so far this year. That’s because it’s National Volunteer Month, or something.
This is me and our treasurer, Debra, with our pins. Patsy in the middle is the membership chair, a huge job.
My friends Donna and Linda Jo were the top two active hours earners since our chapter started. I love this picture I took after they realized how long it would take them to get their next milestones!
You can do it, gals!
That’s all you get from this satisfied learner tonight.
Any day out I nature is good. It did rain much of today, then got cold, but rain sounds good on the roof and I have warm clothing stashed in Seneca’s closet. However, the rain was not enough to dampen the spirits of our fellow campers.
No one died
Two, perhaps three (hard to tell) groups of incredibly enthusiastic Scouts are here, with one taking up three sites across from us. They are having FUN. So far I haven’t detected any actual scouting activities from this group, unless bellowing, screeching, and making siren sounds can earn you a merit badge. The adults coped by yelling back.
I coped by trying to leave, but it kept raining on me.
The other group was set up in the other camping area by the lake. They even had on uniforms as they blasted through empty campsites screaming instructions. One of them saw me and yelled, “Stranger Danger.” I was annoyed by then and reminded them that scouting encourages them to respect other campers.
I’m under a shelter. They’re scampering off.
They were on their way to a ceremony (I’d heard, ha ha), so by the time Lee had picked me up from standing in the rain and we drove by, they were doing a lovely ceremony with flags and saluting. Of course, THAT is when the park police went by. Such good little citizens.
I got to see a gun millipede while in the shelter in the rain.
Note that I did get a little walk in between rains and found a couple of interesting plants. I was trying out the new and improved iNat app, too. It identifies what I see immediately, so I don’t have to do it when I get back from a walk. Fewer Master Naturalist hours, but that’s fine.
Cream wild indigo Baptisia leucophaeaPrairie nymph. A wild iris! Herbertia lahueI believe Texas Blue Star, just washed out. Drummond’s onion Allium Drummondii
Meanwhile, Lee and I took a drive around the area and looked at a couple of cute small towns. When we came back, the local kids were back outside, now throwing a football. I left again, and had a pleasant, if chilly, walk on the Nails Creek Trail, featuring lake views, more fun plants, and an owl.
A better picture of Sandyland Bluebonnet My horse could handle that bridge!Chinese Tallow (invasive)Lots of Chinese TallowTwo colors of stemless spiderwort A light blue version Willow oak Quercus phellosAll my shore bird buddies Clasping Venus’s Looking Glass. A favorite. Triodanis perfoliataNodding beardtongue Penstemon laxiflorus with bonus insect.
The dilemma for me is whether I should have gone over and talked to the adults about the noise levels. I see two sides. One is that these are children who are outdoors. They don’t need to use their “inside voices” and that’s probably fun. Knowing how structured and protected the lives of kids are these days, this was probably a rare opportunity for free play with their friends, and that’s exhilarating for sure.
I’m between a rock and a hard place.
On the other hand, those of us who weren’t in their party could not enjoy our campsites when it wasn’t raining. In fact, we could only enjoy inside the RV with music or television on. I’ve been told that the training for the adults covers how to act when camping. I didn’t see a lot of buddy system or respect for the leaders.
Just a milkweed closeup.
I’m just not sure if I should have asked the park staff to talk to them or talked to them myself. I know how people react these days, so I said nothing. I honestly don’t mind kids having fun at reasonable volumes and staying in their own sites or the road. They were running all over the campground while the adults mostly sat in their chairs. I wish they’d gone on a hike or something but they’d have scared all the birds and animals.
Not me. I’m a stoic.
My fervent hope is that they all pack up and leave early to go to church. Fingers crossed.
By the way, I want to thank any readers who went to peaceful protests today. Sign creativity was high! Since 2020, I can no longer do big crowds. But I’m grateful to those of you who fought through introversion and showed up.
And hey, here’s the first row of the 2025 temperature blanket. It’s warmer!
…or it gives you allergies (all the beautiful flowers). I know this, having lived in east-central Texas for nearly thirty years. But, you know what? I chose to stay here long after my reason for arriving (a spouse’s job—the job left him, then he left me) no longer was pertinent.
Texas is beautiful and dangerous. These Northern Shovelers are harmless.
Upon arrival, it was immediately clear that I wasn’t in the Midwest anymore. I recognized oak trees, but they were tiny. I recognized a couple of birds, but what were those grackles? And why are so many things trying to hurt me?
Who knows what lurks around any corner?
I could have chosen either of two options. I could have complained about how strange and awful it is here, nature-wise, or I could learn about why all the flora and fauna are the way they are. I chose to study the plants, insects, reptiles, etc., and figure out how to coexist safely. That’s why you see me wandering all over rural areas and parklands feeling safe and happy. I know what to look out for.
I will not stomp through that grass without appropriate footwear.
So, when I went into the hen house today to get eggs but didn’t find but one, I was not surprised to see my old friend the rat snake reclining above the nesting boxes. I asked it to go eat some rodents, please, and left. That’s because I know what a rattlesnake or cottonmouth or coral snake looks like. And copperheads aren’t common where I live. This snake is useful.
Hi. I’m your buddy.
Here’s where I find myself being intolerant and judgmental. I apologize in advance. I live in a rural area and spend a lot of time outdoors. If I screeched every time I saw a rat or a bee, it would be really screechy at the Hermits’ Rest.
Or a worm-like insect. We sure have our share of caterpillars.
I just wonder why people choose to live here in the land of mesquite, greenbrier, cactus, and poison ivy without learning to identify them so they can avoid them, and dress safely when straying off sidewalks and manicured lawns. And why not learn which are the very few insects, spiders, or snakes that can actually hurt you and just let the others be? Or study them. Dang, this bold jumping spider is CUTE.
Look at that face! I know it’s a friend. Black widows don’t get to cruise around on my shoes.
There’s enough human-made nastiness right now that’s flooding us either fear (or sadness; I felt like weeping from the loss of hope today). It’s such a good feeling to know your place in nature and appreciate that every living thing has a “job” or reason to be in the ecosystem. Why scream at a rodent when you can deal with them and then observe them outdoors? Besides, cute li’l bunnies are rodents!
No rabbit photo, so here’s some rabbit tobacco. It’s a plant (Diaperia verna)
And those mean plants? Many are delicious! I’ve eaten greenbrier shoots every day this week, and anyone who’s tried nopales knows cactus is yummy. You just have to learn about it.
You can’t eat this, but isn’t it pretty? Wild indigo sepals after the petals fell out. Baptisia leucophaea
Yes, I’m judgmental about the squeamish. I’m probably lucky I wasn’t born with any phobias and learned to deal with my fear (flying roaches) pretty early in adulthood. Once I learned more about them, I’ve become very comfortable around the diversely defensive plants and animals I see. I hope more folks who are fearful out in nature can try this! You don’t have to become a Master Naturalist, just read about our world’s inhabitants, their habits, and how to deal with them safely.
On that note, enjoy White Pelicans, who are harmless except to fish.
I’m still working on that other topic from yesterday. I’ll get to it now that I’m in a very quiet campground on Lake Somerville. It’s pretty darned nice.
The freedom is getting to me. I may have mentioned that I randomly decided to have a color theme for each month this year. January was black. I was pretty sad that month. The rest of the year is more cheerful, with pink February and purple March.
Purple nails.
I had written orange down for April, but all last month I was planning for green. So I switched to green for April. Because I’m my own boss! Yes! I just wish I paid me more.
Green nails
But not just nails, oh no! It’s hair, too. I’ve never had green hair before. It’s, um, green all right.
I’m laughing at the greenness. Plus braids. It looks like high school me.
I will wear a lot of green, but I’m not gonna go nuts. Just some touches for whimsy. I just need fun right now to keep me going. This doesn’t cost much and I no longer care what people think about how I look (not that I ever did).
I indulged myself today by taking all the time I needed to tally up the birds I saw in March. I have a spreadsheet, you know. I keep track of birds I see at the Hermits’ Rest, elsewhere in Texas, and other states I visit. I share the findings for each month on the blog, too. You can see for yourself what the 84 birds here in March were. You can also see last year, too. I discovered that the only other time Merlin heard a Short-eared Owl was last March. This information alone spurs me on to make it until March 2026!
I really should see them in winter. Maybe they’re migrating in March. Photo from Pexels.
Speaking of green stuff and our ranch, the whole property other than pastures was mowed and trimmed today. It looks very neat. They accidentally mowed the wildflowers on the roadside, which made me sad. Maybe some flowers will come back. The wildflower strip that’s not mowed still looks pretty ragged, so we may just need to try again next year.
Oops.
There’s good news, though. They moved the round pen to the little field in front of the house, so I’ll have a lot more space for horse training equipment. I can have a gate to practice on, my own cowboy curtain, etc.! Note that, as set up, the round pen is sort of a trapezoid. We will fix it.
Very green. Fits the theme.
I introduced Apache to the new location today. The goal was to just get him over there, but we made it in and did some circles and figure eights. He was not thrilled, but I handled it fine. Then we went back and trotted in the circle-ish area where the pen used to be. He’s such a creature of habit. He still balks at the higher jump. It’s okay.
No photos of the horse today, but, look! I have a blurry photo to show the Northern Harrier does exist here!
What’s the point of all this babbling? I want to encourage you to go and find your fun and indulge in what you love. It’s more important now than ever. The joy we can bring to ourselves is ours and ours alone. I’m not going to let my right to do silly things get taken away, because these little things strengthen me to keep fighting for my rights and the rights of people I care about. I think that’s true for us all.
Yes. My toes are green, too.
I declare April to be not only the cruelest month, but also the greenest. So mote it be.
Yesterday was challenging, so I didn’t get the gumption to write anything, which isn’t good for someone who’s supposed to be writing at least something every day. That leaves lots for today, though! A bit of traveling was just what I needed, once we were able to settle down.
Water!
There were many communication issues that made getting out of town a challenge for me and Lee–as it often happens with couples, each of us was trying to do our best to help the other, but not in ways that were appreciated. That left me unsettled, but we got over it.
We just get prickly sometimes.
The drive to Lake Brownwood State Park was pretty, though. All the redbud trees were blooming along the roadside, and we went by many properties that looked like they were being managed sustainably, with lush acres of long grass and a few cattle every so often. It’s nice to see that some of the effort our Parks and Wildlife folks (among others) are putting into education is working.
Wild redbuds in bloom make everything better
Lake Brownwood is very big, and I have to say that Brownwood and Early look like fun Western-themed towns to visit, too. I’m glad I decided to camp out here without knowing anything at all about this part of the center of Texas, because it was a pleasant surprise. We will have to come back, and as you’ll see, there’s incentive!
Here’s where we are. They call it the heart of Texas.
After we arrived, we had to clean up a lot of leaking water from a repair that doesn’t seem to have worked, no matter how hard we try to get the “shark bite” thing on. We now think there may be other water issues, so bletch, as I used to say as a teen, we have no water. But hey, we are close to restrooms and have plenty of bottles, so it’s not the end of the world.
After all, this is our view.
I managed to get a couple of short walks around the lake in, while Lee went to the hardware store, etc. There are lots of birds, but it’s heavy on White-winged Doves, Cardinals, Bewick’s Wrens, and Red-winged Blackbirds. In other words, nothing to write home about. I did take lots of plant photos, so iNaturalist is happy, and I learned how many kinds of oaks bloom at the same time (lots).
Sumac bloomingPlains fleabaneOak #1Oak #2Hawthorn Red Admiral Cardinal on shoreMussel shells
Today I got up early because there was going to be a ranger-led hike called “Sneak Peek.” I wasn’t sure what that was all about, but I got in at the last minute and headed over to the park headquarters. It turned out that two families who all knew each other and I were to go look at the overs 800 acres that have recently been added to this park, thanks to sales tax funding. I was a bit apprehensive about doing the hike with all the children (all boys except one teen’s girlfriend), but it turned out they have been trained very well by one of the dads, who is a very experienced outdoorsman and is in the large RV extremely close to ours with many children.
So close.
The new land is just beautiful, with a few cabins already on it and lots of acres that have already been cleared of mesquite. Great views of the lake were everywhere, including the spots where they are considering adding camping loops. They even have a new park headquarters location scouted out. We just now have to see if funding for THAT gets passed in today’s nasty climate for anything educational or good for the ecosystem.
See, I looked happy. New state park land
We saw deer, many raptors, much hog dung, and evidence of ringtails (thanks to the outdoorsman and his ability to read footprints). There was a cool boxcar in the middle of one field that seems to have been used as a hunting base, too. I took lots of plant photos and identified birds for the ranger, who is a herp expert. Actually, this guy, George, is a super skilled nature interpreter with loads of knowledge about the area, so I learned a lot.
The kids found a scorpion Gordon’s bladderpod Lace hedgehog cactusThe boxcarDeceased Polyphemus mothBeautiful musk thistleRock shaped like TexasCemetery next to park.
I came back to rest, at which point Lee got attacked by a yellowjacket that had crawled up his pants leg. It got him at least three times, which is not good at all with all his allergies. Benadryl ointment helped, though, and he made it. That let me go back out and enjoy a snake and turtle demo by Ranger George, which was very well attended. We especially enjoyed one toddler who was completely taken with the snakes and was very happy to touch and look at them. Her little eyes were just shining, and she could not look away. The lady next to me said she must be a future biologist.
That was enough outdoor life for me, though I did wander around over a pedestrian bridge and pathway that had a hedge of dewberries leading to it. There were so many flowers that the air was perfumed. It made the bees and butterflies happy, too. You can’t beat that if you love nature!
I came back and had a nice conversation with our other next-door neighbors, who are friendly retirees from Cedar Park. We had the usual conversation about how the area has changed, and complained about the legislature wants to dismantle the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Grr.
Yeah, who needs nature, education, and recreation?
Yesterday we reluctantly checked out of our cute and convenient hotel, and after I bought a new hat (my Master Naturalist hat is now part of the oyster beds), we embarked on the journey to the nearby wildlife reserve. We’d seen the water side of it when we went on the boat ride. Now was time to see the land parts (and more water).
The Inn at Fulton Harbor is a pleasant place.
We were somewhat hampered by the fact that the headquarters had no power. But we wanted to be outside anyway. There were many plants and birds to identify. I went over to some oak trees and saw a Couch’s Kingbird and Great Kiskadee. That was a nice switch from all the water and shore birds earlier.
I really enjoyed the spiderworts. So I took lots of pictures Stemless spiderwort Tradescantia subacaulisWooly globemallow. Seen mostly in Texas. Sphaeralcea lindheimeriLove the white prickly poppies Argemone albifloraPalamedes Swallowtail. A new one for me. Papilio palamedes.
The bonus was an alligator, conveniently located in the alligator viewing area.
I’m where I should be. View me.
We next drove to Jones Lake, a freshwater lake on the reserve. It was really low, so all the life was concentrated around it. There was a group of Blue-winged Teals and one Greater Yellowlegs off on one side, and a family of feral hogs on the other. In the middle, in what little water was left, was an alligator.
DucksHogs in distanceGator
Only after a while did we realize there was another gator on the shore. It was huge. It looked like it had eaten a piglet. I bet it’s famous in these parts!
Big gator.
Next we ventured past the bay on our way to the observation decks and boardwalks. No one wanted to go up but me, even though there was a ramp to go up, not stairs. The view was beautiful across the islands and water. I saw herons and egrets, but that’s about it for birds.
It was still a bit hazy out
After that we walked the boardwalk and trail with our cameras going like crazy. Watching Linda Jo and Ann discussing the plants they encounter is quite educational. They know so much about nature. I’m privileged to get to spend time with them.
Texas spiny lizard TrailBeachLayered grasses and treesAnother old treeLinda Jo and AnnDoing citizens science Looking all photographer-like. Hugging a tree.
Once we were done, we took the long way back along the nine-mile interior road. It’s not spectacular scenery but it’s certainly an interesting ecosystem for all the animals, plants, and fishies. one thing is for sure: this place is huge. I’m glad we made this trip.
There definitely was a lot to see in this unique habitat.
Whew. We were done! We chatted on the way home and it seemed like no time until we were back.
I was wiped out when I got home but of course took care of the horses. Then I collapsed.
The giant cedar elm waited for me.
Today I did chores and more chores, but it was such a pleasant day that I enjoyed it all. As a bonus I went out in our former woods to see if any of the interesting wildflowers were blooming yet. Yes! The spring beauties were where they were last year! I do love those stripey darlings.
Spring beauties. So pretty. Eastern swamp privet bloomnext to the spring (Forestiera acuminata)There were many butterflies out, like this Phaon Crescent. Those bright spring greens! I love this color.
I also verified that although it’s dryer than usual, both our springs are still flowing. That’s a relief.
Spring near the roadSpring behind the back pond.
I also found a few bluebonnets starting to bloom, just a couple weeks late. I feel more settled.
Bluebonnets at last
Apache didn’t feel settled this afternoon. I was proud of how well he handled many trucks driving around and a lawn mower attacking his area. He didn’t get upset until we were done and Lee pulled the lawn mower up. I wish I’d gotten a picture of the stink eye he was giving Lee.
Instead, enjoy Penney in a rare display of dignity.
I guess in summary we had a great trip to the coast and it was equally fine to come home. On to week 2 of unemployment. I mean, retirement.
There are many activities I enjoy. Right now, though, birding is what I lose myself in. Time stands still and I let myself feel at peace when I’m watching their antics. They are so different and fascinating to me.
Preening Tri-colored Heron
Today was all about birds, starting with a birding boat trip where I saw eight new birds for my life list. We went into the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge and were delighted by the variety of species good old Captain Tommy spotted (I spotted some, too).
Bunch of Neotropical cormorants.
The highlight, of course, was spotting many Whooping Cranes enjoying their crab fests. We lucked out and got to observe parents and a hefty juvenile fairly close. The crabbing was excellent.
Whooping Crane family
We saw a couple of pairs fly off, too. Those massive aviators are so graceful.
Preparing to take off
We also got to see Oystercatchers nesting, many different gulls, Roseate Spoonbills, cormorants (both kinds), White Ibis, and young Great Blue Herons. The adults are all nesting.
You can’t see it, but an Oystercatcher nest is in that brush. We also saw many huge barges. Wild hogs, too.
After the boat, we journeyed to Port Aransas, which was a longer ride than usual thanks to ferry delays (spring break). But the place we went was pretty darned impressive, even if it was right next to the sewer plant and garbage truck headquarters. It was the Leonabelle Turner Birding Center, with beautiful boardwalks overlooking hundreds of water birds.
The boardwalks and paths.
The water was so clear you could see what the teals and shovelers were shoveling. Oh there were so many ducks!
ShovelersGreen-winged TealHonestly I can’t ID most ducks.
There were also herons and egrets galore, who hung out with Ibises.
Tri-colored Heron and turtleSnowy Egrets and White IbisesSnowyJuvenile White I is and attractive duck. Finding foodLittle Blue HeronLittle Blue
A flock of White Pelicans had camped out in the distance.
Pelicans
Also there were Long-billed Dowitchers, Black-necked Stilts, Coots, and Gallinules. So many birds. The stilts were hilarious and by far my favorite.
StiltDowitchersAnother pelicanLaughing Gulls Ute!GallinuleStiltsAnotherSame o eJust look at them all!
I’m too tired for more details, but we had a good day, especially when helping others or learning from more knowledgeable folks. We met many very cool people.
My silly dear friend Mike said they do. Maybe that’s why they want you to stay a respectful Dusty from them.
If you get too close they leave!
Yes, I saw my first Whooping Cranes today, as two Master Naturalist friends and I headed to Rockport to see them. On the way down we “only” stopped three times to look at plants for iNaturalist. That was easier because there were still few wildflowers.
We did see a few pink evening primroses.
We only nearly lost our lives once when we were trying to turn left and a car didn’t notice I was stopped and signaling. I’m glad the other ladies couldn’t see in the rear-view mirror what I saw. But hey, flowers were seen.
Huisache or sweet acaciaDandelion and bugTiny bluetScarlet pimpernel and blue scarlet pimpernel Poor sampling of flowers seen
We visited Goose Island to find the Whooping Cranes, which were hanging out with Roseate Spoonbills and Black-bellied Whistling Ducks. There was even a juvenile. We hope to see more tomorrow, but this was cool.
My first glimpse. Spoonbills and ducks. I hope the camera got better pictures. Deciding to leaveBye!The middle one is the juvenile Whooping Cranes
Even cooler to me was the incredible heron rookery we visited next. Oh my gosh, there were so many beautiful breeding Great Blue Herons! They were in beautiful windswept oaks.
A few herons
I saw males bringing sticks to females, who would add them to their nests. They were very affectionate, rubbing necks and clicking one bill over another. I got to see mating and squabbling, too. This was truly awe-inspiring for me.
The settingOne Great EgretOspreyRookery
Later we visited another couple of places looking for birds, but mostly saw scenery.
At Thule Marsh
Everyone else was in bed before 9 pm. I’m still here. More fun tomorrow.
Camping days always help me when I’m trying to figure out what’s next. I’m patiently waiting to do any big moves on the job elimination front until I talk to my boss on Monday. Thus, spending time with Jennifer and Lee was ideal. I was too busy to ponder. I just looked at waterfowl and went into the bowels of the earth to stay centered.
Our camping spot, surrounded by others.
I got to sleep above the cab in the RV last night (and tonight) so Jen can use the bedroom. It’s really fun! I don’t know why our friends who don’t have bad knees refuse to sleep there.
Cozy.
This morning, Jen and I went to the bird blind, which wasn’t here at Inks Lake State Park last time I was here (over a decade ago). It was built by Master Naturalists, which made me proud. It was a big one, but there were no exotic birds. The Lesser Goldfinches and Black Crested Titmice were pretty, though, and fun to watch.
Too tired to label the images, but note that the squirrel is it a bird.
We next ambled over to the shore of the lake, where we were ridiculously delighted to watch groups of ducks, geese, coots, and such. There was also one Great Egret. Most of the ducks were Blue-winged Teals and Gadwalls, but it was exciting to see our first Buffleheads up (sorta) close. They were diving and popping up again and again. Gorgeous birds. Big ole buffly heads, too. Canada Geese were flying and honking as well, plus I heard a loon. Ah, loons. It was very hard to leave that spot.
Duckses and Cootses
We went and sat on the bird-watching benches for a while and got to watch Cedar Waxwings and listen to extra pumped-up Bewick’s and Carolina Wrens. They had a lot to say.
After lunch, Lee and I went to Longhorn Caverns, which is right down the road. It’s a beautiful road, Park Road 4, which is on the National Register of Historic Places AND goes by my favorite rocks. They are beautiful red granite karst formations.
Well, I love them
The cavern is way up a hill, and has a fascinating history, having hosted dancing and other music, up until not that long ago (I went with my friend Jeff when he played there i. The early 2000s). The buildings are marvels of Civilian Conservation Corps work in the 1930s. The old visitor center has walls of calcium carbonate crystals and intricate stonework.
Old headquarters Echo archesThis is such craftsmanship!Sinkhole
And, as with most caves, the caverns were beautiful. We also got to see tiny Tri-colored bats. Extra cute. The only negative experience was that Lee hit his head on a low “ceiling” and fell as he lost his balance. A family stepped in to help him, explaining that they’d just finished helping his elderly mother navigate on a visit. Lee took it all with great humor, but it was embarrassing, especially the second time he hit his head. The couple watched him like hawks after that.
This is a batRock that looks like a dog, kind of. Lee says this looks like a skullLee sees a dragon head here.
We survived and made it back to the RV. Jen and I convinced Lee to go to dinner in Burnet with us, which was a good decision. The Mama’s Kitchen restaurant was excellent and we had fun! All in all, it was a good day. More to come!
Great question, prompt writers! I have a response.
Tonight I attended the Master Naturalist training class on birds for this year. I was supposed to have a horse lesson, but it was canceled due to the nasty cold and winds. Thus, I did my other option and I’m glad I did.
Suna learned how we birds breathe and what our “wishbones” do.
The speaker was brilliant, a gifted teacher and master birder. Those in our group who feel like we know birds were learning so many details we didn’t want it to stop! (Okay, probably my friend Ann knew most of the stuff.) I’m very glad to have spent four hours learning from him.
He mentioned that woodpeckers have fat around their brains to protect them from all that pecking action.
What struck me as relevant to today’s topic was that he talked about how great it is to love birds, because anyone you meet will have a bird story. Birds give strangers a common topic to start out on (or stay with). It rang so true for me as I think back on how many interesting people I’ve met while birding on camping trips. I guess my favorite people are those with a passion to share.
We learned shore birds aren’t usually territorial. They have plenty to eat.
But it’s not just birds. I find horses often lead to great conversations, and when you meet a fellow equestrian, you practically have to force yourselves to stop talking. I have to also love horse people. Heck. Enthusiasts of all kinds can be most enthusiastic!
I’m fascinating. Don’t you forget it.
Finding common ground may save us if we make the effort. We all have things in common if we take the time to look for them.
I bet you have a bird story or two you could share with me!
The Hermits' Rest 