Reid Park

Yesterday I took my friend Dawn to Reid Park. I didn't realize she had never been before. She has re-discovered photography, and enjoyed taking pictures as  much as I did. I call the little fellow below My Mosaic Turtle. I don't know why he's that color or what the red mark represents. He's probably trying to blend in with the water.

My birder friends are going to be very disappointed in me because I don't know what kind of duck that is. Perhaps a pintail. I liked his green bill.

Dawn remarked that this guy looked like he had silken feathers. I agree, but don't know what kind he is. The figures below represent an area of the park that I've not explored before. It's called Richard and Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza.

 I loved the iron work. There are plaques that give information about cancer statistics and inspirational quotes from famous people. 

We visited the Rose Garden, and of all the pictures I took, these two are my favorites. I'm getting out and enjoying our current weather before the temps start to sizzle. I'm also playing in my yard decorating my back patio with new pots filled with new flowers and some who weathered the winter.

Backyard Birding

Please bear with me while I try to learn my camera. It was a beautiful day here in Tucson for sitting on the back patio and playing with my Cannon 3Ti. All the photography blogs tell you to know your manual, contrary to people who hate to read instructions. While I was playing around, these are some of my pics.

I couldn't decide which of these poses were best, so I decided to show all. This cactus wren is really having a time with that piece of suet.

This beautiful guy is a house wren. What a bland name for such a colorful bird! We know it's a guy, because in birdland, most guys show more color.

This, too, is a cactus wren, but because of the lighting, he appears to be black and white. He is in the tree with light directly on him, whereas, the first one is protected by the house and patio cover. Location, location! One of the reasons birders go crazy when trying to identify birds. Stop bitching; great day!

In Retrospect

I was struck with a thought this morning while making my bed and preparing for my morning walk: I am truly blessed to not have to worry about snow. Oh, maybe wonderful rain, when we are lucky, and some wind which is irritating. Don't get me wrong, snow can happen anywhere anytime, but my aim in life has been to stay away from it.

What kind of person leaves behind a home town where snow is normal and purposefully heads to where she  knows it will more than likely be warm? Did I mention that this person is only 17 years old and eloping? I have met a lot of people over the years who did just that. Most of the guys enlisted in the military after high school, if they weren't going to college.

I've met some young people while birding who come to the Southwest every winter for a short vacation to get away from the kids and weather, and to see the sights and birds. When asked why they don't move here, I get a well-thought answer that shows their kind and generous spirit: we couldn't take our children away from their grandparents. I suppose they also mean that they would miss their family and friends, and aren't willing to sacrifice that and brave a new adventure.

I could shoot myself when I start thinking deeply usually about the past. I guess that's what old people do and hate acting that way. Better to think about my up-coming trip to Florida. Watch out gators!