2019 - February & March in Fort Worth

The Fort Worth Audubon had organized a birding weekend to this north east corner of Texas which is pretty well away from everything and has just small towns around the Caddo Lake Wildlife Refuge.   I managed to get a cancellation and would share a three bedroom big trailer house with two bathrooms.  The resort had all kinds of accommodation; motel rooms, cozy cabins and trailer homes. The third lady had to cancel, so we instead took a trailer home with only one bathroom.  It was roomy and even had its own washer and dryer.  It was a house.  Both my friend and I agreed it was simple but clean.  Across from us were huge bays with steel roof that had huge trailers parked for the season (year round here) Since we arrived on a Friday, there were people visiting their huge trailers with push outs and patios etc.  Later on we were told one of the trailer homes was sold and would be towed away and more of these steel covered bays would be put in. We le...

Today after taking Lu to school and Darla out for her constitutional, I headed to the Fort Worth Wildlife Center to help a friend do the Feeder Watch at the center.   It was a drizzly on and off  all morning and overcast.  We watched and counted the birds (maximum number is the most seen at one time)  and we also caught up on the birds we each have seen and the trips taken and other stuff since the last time we had time for a chat.  It was a good morning.  We had some laughs and we managed to end up with 10 species by noon when the watch ends.  There were some birds that should have come to the feeder and did not.  Maybe it was the weather.  My friend had to go on to work so we did not tarry when it ended.  Since I was there, I went on to the Marsh Boardwalk and trail to see if any new species of bird had arrived since the last time I was there.  Nope!  I did part of the trail and it was pretty quiet.  The sun came...

Tuesday and Wednesday were busy days with taking Lu to school and picking him up and some shopping in between.  I kept my eyes out and even Lu helped to look at birds in the neighbourhood.  Lu has his binocs and I had mine and he would spot something and I would look too.  It was fun and he enjoyed it also.  We did this from the front room windows. I like it because it reminds me how big the moon was that night.  I could not take a photo that was not blurred.  I heard from my Fort Worth Audubon friends that this coming weekend there was a weekend birding trip at Caddo Lake Wildlife Preserve (near the Louisiana border).  It was all booked full, but my friend said to contact the organizer just in case there was a cancellation.  So I sent an email off on Monday and that same day I got word that there was a cancellation and the person on the wait list could not go and so I am going instead.  There were a couple of things I needed to pick u...

Today the weather was coolish with a wind.  I took Darla out for a walk around 8:30 am and it was chilly.  NOT cold but chilly.  We walked down our back lane and it is all downhill and Darla likes it as there are all kinds of neat smells for her I imagine.  It is a back lane so very dark at night unless the houses that have driveways along it have lights.  So many creatures of the night I am thinking.  It is a steep downhill walk and we come out either at Montgomery or the Photo Building parking lot.  She usually does her business by this point and she is eager to get home for food.  She always seems to be in a hurry!   It is a steep hill to go back up to Cassi's place up the same city block and on the corner.  It is refreshing.  I took Darla for two walks today.  Otherwise my day was spent at home.  It was a dreary day and the sun was trying to come out.  That is when I went out again with Darla.  It was...

It was a cool day, but much better than yesterday with its cool wind.   The sun came out around noon and everything warmed up and it was pleasant. We had a stop at the donut shop with decadent donuts for Matt and myself and really nice Gluten Free Donuts for Lu.   Cassi was not feeling well this morning and passed on the donuts.   Lu ate his two donuts on the way to Dallas.  I should have taken photos of the donuts.  They were works of art. We arrived at the Aquarium and it was packed already but we got to see the Sloth and the fish and the fish tunnel and the Giant Otter and the Ocelot and the Flamingoes and the owls and the South American birds.  There is so much to see there.  We got to see the highlights.  Lu has his checklist of the spots he wants to visit.  After this we went to a late lunch at the Dallas Farmers`Market building.  This time we went Indian and had Mango Lassis and Indian food.  It was delici...

Both Cassi and Lu are sick with a cold and the kids decided to take Lu to the Dr today.  He was given a treatment and  several prescriptions.  So hopefully this will help him shake his cough.  While kids were out I finished off the laundry.  Cassi had collected and put it in the washer and my job was to get it to the dryer.  She does laundry often which is lucky for me on this trip, since I only took two of everything, I will have to wash more often. It was really cool outside today and with no sunshine, it made for  a dreary day.  I got out in the afternoon to see about my Ipad.  When I turned it on this morning to read the Saturday paper with my coffee.  It was disabled.  This meant nothing worked.  The Apple Store is about 5 minutes away and the world was there on a dreary day.  Almost all of the parking spots in this outdoor mall area were taken.  I had my name put on a list and was told to stick around.  ...

We had the snow storm of the winter Tuesday evening into Wednesday, the day I was leaving. I had my flights cancelled the previous evening and now I was flying out on West Jet which I don't particularly care for and I was going through Toronto which I am reluctant to do as Toronto has a hard time with any amount of snow.. I called for a cab well in advance and waited 1.5 hours for my 11 am departure from home.  I called again after 1.5 hours and the wait was still the same!   I was getting desperate!   I asked the next door neighbour for help and I got to the airport.  Thank you!.  The guys had been out in the morning clearing the snow off the lane and snow plow stuff so the roadway was clear. I checked in with NO Baggage.  My first time!!  I had my big nylon bag with my clothes in it and my new soled sandals. My tiny rolling bag had my small binocs and my lap top and Ipad.  I did not take my camera.  I just did not have the r...