More Birding

We have had several new visitors to our bird feeder, and I had a bit of trouble finding them but finally got them identified. In addition to our American Goldfinches, we also have the Lesser Goldfinch who is quite distinctive with his black cap and back. We also have a plethora of Northern Mockingbirds. They fill the air with their varied songs and are fun to see in flight with their white wing patches. We may also be visited by Black-chinned Hummingbirds. The other day while cleaning the pool, I was entertained by a pair of Barn Swallows that had made a nest over a walkway next to the pool.

Max has gotten into the business and wants to chase the many grackles about but prefers to chase squirrels up the nearest tree. Maybe he will yet catch one of the little buggers or tree rats as commonly called here abouts. Happy travels.

Max and Angel

Max has fallen in love. Our co-workers Susan and Clayton have a Schnauzer named Angel. After work they pile into their golf cart and take Angel for a run or play time along the river. They invited us to join them the other afternoon, and we got into our golf cart and did the same. Max had never been off the leash and outside since he joined our family. He and Angel ran and ran and played and finally dropped to the grass exhausted. Neither tried to run away. Both came when called. What heaven. Max looked at Angel as if she were indeed the real thing.

We went down after dinner to see how he would do a second time. We took a ball to chase and several treats to get him to return to us if needed. Angel had gone before we got there, and it was good but NOT quite the same for Max. He ran and played and chased the ball and came when we called, but I am sure he missed Angel. Maybe tonight we can try again. Happy travels.

Bewick's Wren

A Bewick's Wren was flicking around our feeder the other day but too quick to be identified. Then we discovered that our neighbors had put up a bird house that he made, and our wren was building a nest in it, slowly enough that I could find him in the bird book. Great! What a cute perky bird with his tail cocked upward. It is fun to see the different birds here as the seasons change. Happy travels. I will try to get a picture at some point.

More staff added

Here at Guadalupe River RV Resort Park we have added more work campers. It is two couples. The first arrived about three weeks ago and are fully integrated into our work schedule. The last couple arrived recently and began to work yesterday. Once this last couple is brought up to speed, we may get to have our schedules changed to three work days on and four days off each week. We look forward to this lightened schedule for sure.

It has been hot and muggy here for several days. If you work in air conditioned buildings, then it is bearable. Those of us who work outdoors have to be careful to not overdo, pace our work, and schedule drinking lots of water or Gatorade, as well. I have much to learn about pacing since I generally am compulsive in getting the work done. I am trying to learn to pace myself, though.

Max is being a pill, generally. He seems to get the training down and then messes up. I forget that he is still a puppy and only six months old. However, we will prevail!!!! HW2 had to go to work early, and I did the WalMart errands. Now I have to get to work, too. Happy travels.

The Five Fabuluous Browns

The Five Browns delighted their audience at the Cailloux Performing Arts Theater in Kerrville last evening. We had been fortunate to get last minute tickets to hear these talented young piano players and were delighted to be in attendance. The Browns are three sisters and their two brothers who attended the Julliard School of Music in New York together. Ryan, Melody, Gregory, Deondra, and Desirae, while native Texans, were brought up in Utah. Imagine having five grand pianos in your home so that your five children could practice. They are currently in their twenties and four are married with the fifth shortly to join them. They live near each other but practice in their parents' home.

They played as a group as well as singly or in other combinations. Their rendition was as if you were listening to an entire symphony with fifty fingers flying over the keys. We heard Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and works from Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Prokofieff, Holst, Chopin, Ravel, and Saint-Saens. While they did not play all these pieces completely through, they brought the audience to its feet after their rendition of The Planets" and "Danse Macabre."

We would look at each other and murmur, "Just lovely!" What a splendid evening, and how fortunate we were to be able to listen to these talented musicians. An early Mother's Day present for HW2, for sure.

At intermission we visited with our neighbors, only to learn that his sister teaches at Eastern Michigan University with our Kim. It is a small world.

I wondered if the youngest Brown felt pressure to be part of this talented group. I also wondered if the parents had musical talent, and we learned that their mother was a singer. They have performed on Oprah and with schools and symphonies throughout this country and in several other countries. They are not sure how long they will play together but are signed up to do so for the next several years. We also thought how lovely it would be to hear our three piano-playing grandchildren play together. We have actually heard them play together once. Maybe they have a future in music. It will however, take much discipline to get to put on a show like the Browns.

If you ever get a chance to hear them, don't miss it. They are wonderful. Happy travels.

Busy days

I have not taken the time to write lately, and we seem to have been quite busy. Either we are working our four days per week or trying to get our errands and any catch-up house work done when we are off. The work has kept us quite busy. There are three pools to be cleaned. We must check to see who has left or arrived and then during the day take any new arrivals to their location. This might not seem like much, but some days we have 40 or more rigs that arrive and as many as 100 leaving. Then if we get time, it is maintaince stuff and lawn mowing and weed whacking. By the end of the day this old guy is usually quite tired. HW2 has to answer the phone, which always seems to be ringing, to take care of the customers who want things from our store, to get newcomers settled in their location, and finally at the end of the day to make sure her accounts balance. This is in addition to figuring out how the computer system works.

Friday nights the owner manager of the park likes to have a party at the River Rock Saloon and provides free food and reduced prices on beer and wine. While this is great fun, we have to be at work the next day and can't overdo the partying. On Saturday and Sunday it is just two couples working, which means that we really get run around depending upon how many people arrive or depart.

When working, Max is in his crate and gets brief morning and afternoon potty breaks and then long walks before and after work. He is getting better at learning to be a dog and today gets his first haircut. This should prove to be a challenge for the groomer. She may not want to ever try to do him again. Since this is a day off for us, we then will do exciting errands and maybe get me a haircut as well. Breakfast out should be a treat, too. Happy travels.