White Ibis

The sun was shining, the temperature was in the 80s, I got sunburned sitting on the beach reading.... and then I stopped by Airlie Gardens and found these white ibis enjoying the water..... does life get any better?

New Jersey, Airlie Garden, St. Patrick's Day

These pictures are not in chronological order. So here is the overview. I had a fantastic visit in NJ last week. Spent time with Bruce at the Wildlife Drive in Brigantine, visited old friends at my school, "happy hour" at the Endless Vine, major girlfriend time with people who cannot be replaced, and a rental car that looked like an AirBrook limousine. Then back to NC to teach 8th grade for three days, a great St. Patrick's Day celebration downtown, and my first day driving the tram at Airlie Gardens!

So here goes.... the osprey, great blue herons, nesting swans and flowers in Airlie Gardens

St. Patrick's Day!
My electric tram. I had so much fun driving guests around and telling them about the gardens.
Some of my 8th graders trying to find "things" in the pond.
The white ibis are back!
A film crew was in Airlie to work on the third film in the Warner Bros, Sudios "Cinderella Story" franchinse.

These shots were taken on the Wildlife Drive in Brigantine, NJ. Lots of snow geese and ducks!





Then some more shots from Airlie.... camellias
a big fat nutria
and a ring-billed gull

The temperature is in the 70s and I am loving driving a convertible!

Be a Tourist in Your Hometown

More than 30 local attractions were free Sunday as part of the 16th Annual Be a Tourist in Your Own Hometown day.

The event, organized by the Wilmington/Cape Fear Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau, is held each year to encourage area residents to check out museums, parks and other facilities that are waiving admission charges. So I visited four museums yesterday.

The first was the Wrightsville Beach Museum of History a 1909 beach cottage that shows what life at the beach was like 100 years ago. You step back in time as you can walk through a 1930's kitchen and see the model of Wrightsville Beach in 1910.

Next was the Cameron Art Museum, where I saw From Heart to Hand: African-American Quilts from the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts.

My third stop was at the Bellany Mansion Museum where I was able to visit the formal areas and kitchen in the basement of the mansion and hear the history of the original slave quarters.



The final stop was at the Cape Fear Museum of History & Science, which features exhibits on the history, science and cultures of the Lower Cape Fear. At one of the Museum's newest exhibits -B.W. Wells: Pioneer Ecologists, I found out about a Savannah Photo Hike in June where photographer Freda Wilkins will provide some tips to help capture the beauty of the savannah's wildflowers.

One of the full time exhibits is a collection of memorabilia from Michael Jordan who went to school in Wilmington.
After my adventures I went to John & Jess's house for a fish taco dinner and to admire their home improvements, a newly painted porch and shutters.


And the evening ended with us enjoying Toy Story 3.

Tonight is dinner with Dave.

Tomorrow night I am going to see the film Biutiful at Thalian Hall.

Wednesday is a full day orientation for volunteers at Airlie Gardens (after an early morning bird hike). And then it is time to start packing for my trip to NJ!

Pictures

It seems my bird feeders are keeping this raccoon very fat!
Here is the swan sitting on her nest.... hoping for baby swans (cygnets) to follow!
SPRING!
A series of pictures from my glass blowing class:

The final product...

Basket Class #4