6-25-09

Last day before the moving truck comes. Aza was here to help box and clean. It has been such a stressful day so far. Everyone is crabby and stressed out and maxed out. We run out of boxes. We run out of tape. We run out of food. Yuck. Well, our birdies are getting ready to leave their nest. Here's the shy one who didn't want her photo taken hiding her eyes.

L reminded me about my special perrenial, Jeffersonia Dyphallia, given to me by a student. I dug up half of it. I hope the new owners appreciate the half I left them. I've been blogging about this every May when it blooms, reminding myself to not leave it behind.

See how the birds are starting to get curious about the geranium basket they're in... investigating the world outside the nest. Two little unhatched eggs are still inside. On represents Lilly. Looks like that bird on top is Jes fixin' to fly first. I hope we get through this evening whole.

6-24-09

Walking downtown after signing the papers at the lawyer's office to
sell our house, I realized that this little place called Court Square
is my favorite part of town. Today was hard work. We have only one
more day to pack and it seems impossible that we will finish.

6-21-09

We got Belmont BBQ and an awesome cake from Albemarle Baking, and our friends brought side dishes. We threw ourselves a Farewell Party. Here I am with my two close friends of 20+ years.

And the birdies are getting bigger each day. I'm not sure they'll fly the nest before we leave on Saturday. They are so sweet and don't mind my taking their pictures each day at all!

6-20-09

We went to a wedding today. The bride and groom are native to India
and she wore a fancy sari as a wedding gown. These are her hands.
Stunning!

It was not an easy day. I hope tomorrow is better.

6-19-09

When I saw this big black snake in the street in front of my house, I was afraid for my baby birds. Black snakes are good for eating rodents, but what about birds? Birdies were fine. Mama bird chose a good nesting site for them.

They are getting little feathers now. So cute. Today I patched and painted all the holes in the walls left by hanging pictures. There is so much to do. So so so much.

6-18-09

I got home yesterday and was excited to be able to check on the baby birds in my flower pot. Here's daddy bird keeping an eye on his babies.
It was good to sleep in my own bed last night. I got a picture of Frisbee on my iPhone doing the same thing. I wonder how he will like moving?
Birds are SO related to dinosaurs. Just look at these two!

6-17-09

I am at the airport in Austin waiting for my jet plane. It's time to
go home. So this roach crawls on my suitcase and I start taking
pictures of it. Then I knock of off and it appears to run in my purse.
Ewwsww!!!!! I frantically and carefully pull everything out one item
at a time then spy said roach a few seats down. Gross.

Saw the bats last night. Photos on my camera will be shared tonight.
Oh no, here comes that big roach again.




Bats flying out from under the Congress Street bridge down the Colorado River in Austin, Texas. 1.5 million of them!

6-16-09

Scene from the expo hall. My research presentation went well-better than well. I leave in the morning and hope to see the 1.5 million bat colony once more tonight. I'm eating a really bad veggie wrap and just trying to decide what to do next. Lost my blue sweater-not happy about that.

6-15-09

Today was a great day. The conference was interesting, I had lunch with some profs at Oklahoma State, and Carolyn invited me to meet Fancy. What a peaceful, beautiful-souled horse. Also, today I adopted a moss ball. Photo of pet moss ball below.

6-14-09

This is the Bat Bridge. Its the view from my hotel window too!
Apparently at night they come out in swarms to feed. I got a
reservation for 12 so the whole Auburn crew can join me in having a
drink from the hotel restaurant patio to watch them tonight. I've been
having so much fun at this conference meeting up with old friends.
Tonight I'm having dinner with my cousin who lives here. The Harleys
are leaving town today, thankfully.

6-13-09

Workshop today in Austin. We were told to prepare for 34 people and
got 55. They had a great time but it was hard accomodating so many
people in one room with supplies for 34. Had dinner with an old high
school friend and her family. It was so much fun seeing them all. We
had real Texas BBQ and I wasn't in Virginia anymore....

6-12-09

Austin, Texas. The engineers conference just so happens to coincide
with the Republic of Texas Harley gathering. A parade of bikes, biker
dudes and dudettes everywhere. I've never seen so many tatoos. Hope I
can sleep tonight with all these engines revving.

6-11-09

So this is why Daddy Bird has been around visiting. Two babies have hatched so far... and I found out that we have finches. Check out http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/house_finch/id for more information on house finches. The dad's red head helped me identify them. So much to do today.... but at least I don't have to go dig for worms.

6-10-09

Daddy bird came to check on his egg babies today and I got a photo of him with my telephoto lens through the window blinds. Then mommy bird came to rest and I got a photo of her too. Any idea people? Look at that red head. Wren? Finch? I can't wait to see the babies.
Got a migraine today as MIL and FIL left. Preparing for my trip to Austin to do a workshop and give a paper. The fun never ends.

6-9-09

 

My MIL is a packing machine. My goodness, she has done a week's work in two days. She puts me to shame! Must be all those vitamins she takes in that big old pill box... I tell you, it's hard packing up your house. Emotionally and physically. It's harder emotionally because everything needs a decision. Keep? Sell? Give away? Throw away? How to pack? Where should it go in the new house? Attic? Garage? Basement? HELP!

6-8-09

 

How appropriate and symbolic- a house wren has made a nest in our hanging basket of geraniums on the front porch. She has five eggs. We have three weeks left before we fly the coop here... and I wonder when the baby birds will hatch. How soon afterwards will they too fly the nest? Mama bird will have an empty nest like us. I'll keep an eye on these babes. More photos to follow.

6-7-09

 

Last day all together in the house we raised our kids in till adulthood. Jes left today for Colorado, Aza went back to Harrisonburg, and we just have three weeks left until we move. It was a sad day. I found three photos of us on this front porch. Squirt has changed the most. Just look at him!

6-6-09 Graduation Ceremony!!!

 

 

 

 

He did it, he did it!!!

6-6-09

 

Eating lunch before he leaves for the ceremony, my boy is about to be a high school graduate.

6-5-09

 

Guess who's in town??? Squirt's GRANDPARENTS!!! They came all the way from Wisconsin to celebrate his graduation on Saturday. They sure do take a lot of vitamins. That's my pill box on the top and theirs on the bottom. No wonder they're so healthy!

6-3-09

 

Still getting ready to ship stuff to Austin for the conference, I made this demo house today.

6-2-09

Last day of high school EVER for the squirt. He comes home exausted after his last final and retreats to his favorite comfy couch.

 

Getting ready for a conference next week, spent all day cutting up little squares of stuff.

5-31-09

Sunrise on Fox Island. Absolutely sublime....

5-30-09

The kids got just a "little bit" muddy in the detritus.



But not to fear, nice cool brackish Bay Water is very near.

5-29-09

On our way to Fox Island.

First sight of my beloved special place since 2001. Ah....

5-27-09

Squirt's graduation announcements ready to mail!