A Thursday morning visit — Gina, my best friend and birding companion, lives on 40-acres about 12 miles northeast of me. She always running “into town”, so I rarely go to her place. In fact, I was shocked to realize I hadn’t been there since 2019! Gina is also my computer person. Since my laptop…

A garden photo journal — part one — I live in a townhome community with an HOA (homeowners association) that is handled by a realty company. The couple next door were the first to buy here and actually signed their purchase contract before any units were completed. That allowed them to make some construction choices that created a…

My month — half-done and half-to-go — Like this ominous storm cloud, May rolled in full of promises, worries, and deadlines. I don’t schedule much these days beyond doctor appointments and working for clients. I’m semi-retired, after all. But, I had family coming to visit for the first time in three years and the assistant at one…

Birding in Florida: May 1st — May 15th — The birds were conspicuously absent during the first half of May. April was a stellar birding month, probably because my feathered friends were nesting. I often found the parents of chicks, and sometimes just the males, out and about collecting food for their babes. By May, most nests were empty…

My week in photos — My grandson plays soccer every opportunity he gets. At his home, he plays for his high school, a community team, and an indoor winter team. Fortunately, I kept a couple of his soccer balls when he moved away. Not long after arriving on Friday, he pumped up his Messi ball…

Staying safe in Florida — My daughter and her family visited over Mother’s Day weekend. The first time we’ve been together in three years. During that interim, the older grandchildren became teenagers and a new granddaughter arrived. Life doesn’t pause for a pandemic. Their visit was wonderful and scary. They live in a state that’s…