More Alabama Pictures

Tomorrow my son and I head to Nags Head, N. C. to join his sister and her family at the beach for a week. Until then, here are some more pictures from my visit in Alabama.

I was happy with this bluebird picture. Look how one foot is resting on the clothespin! Posing for me, I suppose.

And, yes.. my son loves to hang his clothes out to dry. The art of clothes drying on the clothesline is not lost.

When we were younger and living on the farm, my husband would find tiny little flowers on his walk about the place and he'd come in the door with them, held gingerly between his thumb and forefinger. I'd find a thimble to put them in. 

The other day, I look up and there is my son with these pretty little white flowers between his thumb and forefinger. Like Dad, like son.

We drove out to Joe Wheeler State Park where Michael's boat is docked. We saw lots of deer. The dog just goes nuts when she sees them. 

My son and his constant companion, Sadie. They are on Michael's sailboat. I am sure Sadie was the job overseer!

Sunset at the Park. Such a gorgeous sight. A perfect way to end the day.

Animals In Alabama

I haven't been to visit my son in several months. 
                 He lives down south... further south than me in Virginia. 

 I get to make pictures when I am there that I don't get where I live. 

                                     Like the alpaca

                                    
                                  that live in the pasture next to his backyard.   

I mean, I could walk up and pet them through the fence but I don't do that. They are the ones that spit, aren't they? Well, maybe that's camels or giraffes or something. I am just not taking my chances. 

                             His boat is tied up at the marina in a state park 
                               

       near where he lives and we always see deer when we go there. 

         I used to see one occasionally where I live but not anymore. 

                                  And, then there is his dog, Sadie. 

She has such a cute personality. I am pretty sure she thinks she's human. 👩   But, I know better. 

Linking up with Saturday Critters and Camera Critters

                                                                                      Be seeing you again real soon!                                                                                                                                                                                                      Latane 
                                                 

A Ride Through The Wintry Woods

                                                I continue with my birthday surprise!
                               (be sure to check out the two previous posts for more on my birthday)

On Sunday afternoon, after a very delightful breakfast buffet and a donut with a candle in it and the staff singing happy birthday,
                                                  We took a carriage ride. 

It's January, for goodness sakes, sunny, cold and we are going for a ride through the Virginia woods.

                                                    Sounds like fun to me!

                                                    Our shuttle takes us to the stables....

Mike, our jovial driver, is busy getting the horses and carriage ready for our ride.

We go by the falconry. No falcons there today.

There are clubs that bring their falcons there for special events.

The ride through the wintry woods is delightful.

The journey over, we head back to the stables.

Duke (the one nearest the camera) and Duchess pulled our carriage. Mike kept snapping the reins over Dukes back. He says Duke is lazy and let's Duchess do all the work. Isn't that just like a male? Okay. that's a joke. Sort of. he he

Linking with Our World Tuesday, Nature Notes

New York Wildlife

For Saturday Critters - Camera Critters 

Just a few pictures from my trip to my daughter's in New York. 

                                                                 Deer in her yard

                                                                                 A Toad

Susan and Ranger

                                                                 A bunny in the front yard
                                                                        

                                                                      Grandson's cat

A chipmunk waiting for a safe escape

                                                                         And a squirrel

First Day of My Trip - Flight and Deer

I left Suffolk on July 31st, headed for the airport in Norfolk. I hadn't flown since 2014 and had gotten a tad (well, more than a tad) of apprehension about going anywhere on a plane. Every time you turn on the news there one more plane involved in something undesirable, hours delays, unruly passengers, one passenger nearly sucked out of a window, crashes, bird hits.. it just goes on and on. No, I did not want to fly.

But, I got on that plane, one of those smaller ones that seats about 35-40 people. Had just one seat down the right side, two on the left side. So, I get into my one seat. Of course, I had a window view. That was good (I think). Brought my kindle to read, just in case I didn't want to see where I was!! 

As the plane revved up the engines and started to climb off the runway, I reached in my bag and brought out a small rock that I had painted... Closed my fingers around it and prayed. 

We reached cruising altitude... I began to relax, even put my rock away. Rather than reading I began to watch out the window at the clouds below us. Hey, this is pretty cool. I did not read one word on that just over an hour flight to JFK in New York. 

Susan had arranged for me to be met at the plane with a wheelchair.. And, there the guy was, a sign BARTON held high above his head. That was me! So, I get situated into the chair and then he says "scoot up, I got to put your luggage back here". He had an accent! I think that is what he said. So, I scoot up, he loads my bag and away we go. 

He must have said 'excuse me' a kazillion times as we made our way through the crowded terminal. But, finally he pushes me out the door and there is Susan, waiting by the curb. I did it!! I flew. It's not as if this was the first time. I've been flying since I was 18 years old but it seems that the older I get the more concerned I get. I think it's the news on tv. They will scare the beejeebees out of you! I need to stop watching that stuff. 

So, we get to Susan's. It isn't long until my welcoming committee arrives.....
A family of deer in her back yard...

My camera is never far from me...

They aren't afraid at all. Even play hide and seek with Ranger, the family dog.

That was the first day of my trip to Susan's ..... More to come tomorrow, be sure you check back in then to see what all we get into to...

linking today with abc wednesday

Hunting Toads

                        There's nothing much sweeter than when two great-grandsons come to visit!! 

It was a very pleasant afternoon, a stiff breeze blowing. Guess you can tell from the way it was ruffling my hair!! That wind didn't bother the boys hair one bit!

                            I played second-fiddle to some tiny toads hopping about in the grass! 

    Those boys had a blast, running, yelling, turning over things to search for the 'little hoppy toads'. 

And, they'd run back to where their grandmother and I were sitting so they could put them in a drink cup. Poor little toads!

                                         The largest one (the toad, not the boy) got pretty smart.

 He hopped up so high he grabbed hold of the hole in the cup lid and out he came. We adults were silently cheering him on! But, when he leaped out of the cup and landed on the bench next to me, I wasn't so sure I didn't want him back in that cup!

The boys played and played ... til finally it was time for them to leave. Aw, sad to see them go. Wish I had a tiny portion of their energy. Maybe I once did...

linking with Thankful Thursday and Little Things.

Grey Barn and Two Horses

I have another barn to share today on Tom's Barn Collective. This one was in Tennessee. I love red barns but there is something about the old grey weathered look that tugs at my heart. 

This one is only one of several outbuildings. And, they have horses!! I see two of them. Have you seen a barn lately? With animals outside? That's a real treat. Dang those electric wires! It seems that those things are everywhere. 

Turtles

Saturday is always Saturday Critters Day - also Camera Critters.

Today it's Turtle Day...

these first two were turtles we watched while we were anchored on Lake Wheeler in Alabama. 

The next two pictures feature turtles we saw on the banks of a pond in Huntsville (Alabama) Botanical Gardens. At first I thought they were fake but then one took off as fast as a turtle can move. Nothing fake about them. 

This turtle was on a log in the Great Dismal Swamp near my home in Suffolk, Virginia

And, this one was in a small stream in the Butterfly House at the Botanical Gardens.

I remember well, how, when my adult grandson was just a boy, he never saw a turtle but what he didn't want to pick it up and carry it home. And, his parents often did just that. So, turtles reminds me of Christopher. 

Five Collection

I love having tea in this beautiful little cup. I bought it at an antique store the day I finished my chemo in 2002. It just reminds me that 'Hey, I made it. I survived!'

Mama Goose chose a spot to build her nest where I can keep my eye on it. Not that she needs me to watch out for her. Papa Goose is closeby. He's doing a fabulous job! 

My hummers are back in full force!! Love sitting in my recliner in my living room and watching them drink to their heart's content from the feeder.

I bought this little chef a couple years ago at a Home Goods store. He stands on my counter, watching me while I cook. Hey, who's the chef here!!

One day I saw a wake of water coming across the pond. Couldn't see a thing making it... until it finally stopped and surfaced. Dang thing was a turtle. 

Joining with Tom at Willy Nilly Friday

Please don't forget to click HERE for my daughter's latest blog post on our Mom and Daughter Lunch. It's a great one.