Ohio Visit and Back Home Again

Headed out to Ohio August 5 for a family reunion. My sister, Trish, her son and daughter-in-law, Matt and Erika, and their daughter, 3 yr. old Kaileena all got together with my mom and dad and my brother's family. Mom had been in the hospital for a week and then was transferred to a nearby rehabilitation center. Unfortunately as our plane landed we received a call that mom was going back into the hospital. I'm so glad I was able to be there to help get her through that ordeal and back to rehab the day before we left.

Here is a picture of my dad and Kaileena!
One of the highlights of our Ohio trip was the Hartford County Fair. Both of my nieces had animals entered in the Fair. Hannah showed her steer, Maria and Emily (below) showed her lamb, Queen Anne's Lace. I loved watching them and seeing all of the other animals. I also loved the ice cream!
When I got back home it was still very hot and humid so I have been enjoying sitting inside in the air conditioning and enjoying the birds at my feeders.

Brown-headed Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Finches
My hummingbirds have finally returned!
Red-bellied woodpecker
Tufted Titmouse
and in the nearby trees I have been watching this Great Crested Flycatcher

and the dragonflies

While in Airlie Gardens last week I witnessed this spider take down a monarch butterfly:(


Yesterday I went to Oak Island, NC with the Cape Fear Audubon Society.Lots of pelicans
and sand crabs
One of the highlights was a trip to the Sea Biscuit Wildlife Shelter where local birds are rehabilitated and released. Here is a pelican going back home.
and here is another that stays at the shelter
This owl was also there, slowly recovering.

And I have been enjoying spending time on the beach for sunrise
and the full moon!
With time in between to go to plays, wine tastings, movies, and enjoy a concert at Airlie.
AND a chance to "babysit" for Hobbes one evening when John and Jess went out to dinner.
Another highlight was Dave returning home from summer camp in PA. We went out to breakfast and did some Back-to-School shopping. He started back to school last week and is already on the pier fishing.

Hot Days In Airlie Gardens

I know I am living in "the south" but there have been record breaking temperatures this last week. I was driving the tram in Airlie Gardens twice this week. Today there was a heat index of 105 degrees! Since not many people have been coming to tour the gardens in this heat, I have had a lot of time on my own to take pictures.

The juvenile white ibis have returned to the gardens.


The egrets are trying to cool off in the trees. If I could show you a 360 view you would be amazed by the number of egrets, ibis, and herons taking shelter.
And I have just started being amazed by the beauty of dragonflies!