I'm back!

It's been a long time with many adventures. BUT for now I just got back from spending almost three weeks in Jupiter, Florida. I went to many new nature reserves and here are a few of my highlights:

double crested cormorant

tricolored heron

anhinga (with breeding plumage)

purple gallinules

roseate spoonbill

American alligator

rear view of woodstork

green heron

Look closely and find the black circle! That's the dock by the place where I have rented a trailer for a year. I sat there each morning for my coffee and each evening with a glass of wine. There were constant visits from manatees, royal terns, pelicans, manta rays, tropical fish, herons and egrets. Lots more pictures to post!

rain, rain, rain, rain

It must be the "rainy season" here in Wilmington, NC. It has been raining every day for over a week, although I shouldn't complain too loudly since one year ago this week we had 22+ inches of rain in four days. Still it has hampered my outdoor explorations. The rain is going to stop on Thursday and then we are to have a full week of 0% precipitation and abundant sunshine. I, however, will be in Johnstown, Ohio getting my mom settled in at home after over 8 weeks of hospital and rehab.

Here is a nutria, notice the long, rat-like tail, which is a large semi-aquatic rodent that devastates the foliage at Airlie Gardens.

And one fun result of lots of rains is lots of mushrooms!

And I got to spent several hours with Hobbes while John and Jess were at a wedding. In the true Hannah Family tradition I bought him a fish toy!

September in Florida

I went out to Ohio September 3 - 10 to spend some time with my brother and his family and my mom and dad. Mom is still in the rehab center and it is a challenging road of learning to deal with Medicare rules and the staff at Northview Senior Center.

I got home and left the next day for Jupiter, Florida to spend time with Yolande enjoying our new home in Suni Sands. It is a magical place. There is so much activity everywhere. I can't wait to get back for Christmas.

I saw turtles.....

a pelican feasting on a mullet.....

some crazy spiders and elegant dragonflies...



hummingbirds up close and personal.....

Here is where Yolande and I sat for breakfast and "happy hour" each day....

and we watched a manatee swimming by....

It is good to be home for a few days before I head back to Ohio the first week of October and hopefully get mom home.

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!