A Happy Easter

Yesterday our West Coast family spent a very enjoyable day together here in San Diego.  The backyard of my daughter's house is larger than normal and afforded the children plenty of space for the Easter Egg Hunt.  Their ages spanned from five through eight years.  They were informed that each child was to pick up seventeen eggs, thereby ensuring that each child had a chance to get eggs.  After collecting the plastic "eggs", each child sat at the table in the yard, opening the eggs to see what was inside.  There were smiles and happy faces as they checked out the little surprises inside the eggs, like stickers, erasers, small toys, as well as Hershey Kisses and "M and M's".  The children then shared and traded some of the booty.


My son-in-law, an Executive Chef, created a sumptuous gourmet meal.  The appetizers included Gougere "BLT's" and Shrimp Cerviche Cucumber Cups.  A short while later, the meal was presented.  We had Honey-Glazed Easter Ham with Mustard Cream Sauce, Smoked Clams, Butternut Squash Bread Pudding, Pureed Yams with Candied Walnuts, Bacon-Infused Macaroni and Cheese, and Roasted Asparagus with Honey-Balsamic Gastrique.  All this with a delicious Spring Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette, Walnuts, Cranberries, and Blue Cheese.  A second helping was inviting, but I fought the temptation.  Also, after a little bit of this and a little bit of that, there was simply no room for more.

As we were leisurely dining in the yard, the sound of the numerous hummingbirds flitting from tree to tree as well as some other small song birds only enhanced the experience.  They were too quick for me.  I wasn't able to get a good picture.  However, the day before, I did spot an orange glint in a tree with pink flowers.  It is a little difficult to see, but there in the middle of those branches is a Hooded Oriole.  

As evening arrived, with the children scampering around the living room under the direction of a Kinect game,  dessert and coffee came out.  It consisted of Orange-Poppyseed Bundt Cake, Butterscotch Caramel Pie, and assorted cookies....all baked by another daughter.  With full stomachs and joyful hearts, all the guests went home with food for another night.

While grateful for this wonderful day, we have Easter Sunday because Jesus rose from the dead.  He stands ready to be our friend and, if we wish, to live in our hearts.

Also, as I had received an e-mail earlier this week about our service men and women, I'm reminded that we enjoyed our Easter under their watchful eye.  No matter how you feel about their involvement in the current war, I invite you to join me in praying for them and their families, especially our Wounded Warriers.  If it weren't for their dedication and commitment, we would not be able to have such happy times.  God bless them and you.

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Famosa Slough Visit

I visited the Famosa Slough here in San Diego last week.  Since it's a wetlands frequented by resident and migratory birds, I like to check out any new birds that might stop by.  I've photographed the Snowy Egret a number of times, but to have seen it getting its meal was quite a coup.

Snowy Egret Fishing for Lunch

Snowy Egret Owns the Place

Little Blue Heron with Lunch

A Little Blue Heron came by for his lunch but he had to work harder.  Apparently after the Little Blue Heron succeeded in getting lunch, the Snowy Egret came to remind him whose yard it was.

A Great Blue Heron was quite a distance from me, but I was able to get a picture as it took off.

Great Blue Heron Taking off for the Day

In an earlier article about the Cabrillo National Monument, I identified a little bird as a Pacific-slope Flycatcher.  I compare my pictures with whatbird.com since I'm learning.  Later, I decided to re-check with the Friends of Famosa Slough. An e-mail with my photograph was sent to other birders and they responded that it looked more like a Lesser Goldfinch.  These people are very gracious and helpful to a newbie. 

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Cabrillo National Monument

On Thursday, my daughter and I had an hour to spare, so we drove to the Cabrillo National Monument.  The Old Point Loma Lighthouse (shown on left) was built in 1854.  It has been replaced by a newer one on the water's edge (on the right).

When I attended a Birdwatchers Tour
at the Formosa Slough last month, I heard some of the people speaking about the "Drip."  I asked what the "Drip" was and the people told me it was a place where birds were seen at the Cabrillo National Monument.  My curiosity was piqued.  I did ask for directions on Thursday, but ran out of time.  However, I did spot a California Towhee near the Visitor's Center.  The terrace in back of the Visitor's Center provides a great view of the City of San Diego.  On the terrace, you can also find a statue of Juan Cabrillo, who came to San Diego in 1542.   From that spot, we watched the USS Chief leaving San Diego Bay. 

On Thursday's eleven o'clock news, the meteorologist stated that today would be perfect with great visibility.  So, I decided to return to the Monument to look for the "Drip."  I had difficulty finding it, but after walking around, I found a Ranger speaking with an artist who was in the process of completing a beautiful painting of the old lighthouse.  The Ranger offered to walk me directly to the "Drip" while telling me that he thought I would be disappointed.  That day crews had been cutting down some trees because they were infected with a parasite and the Ranger didn't expect birds to be frequenting the spot due to the noise.  I also passed by the same area not realizing that the site was exactly where I wanted to go.

After the Ranger left me in what probably was a small grove of trees previous to being cut down, I did spot a little bird stopping by for a little water. 

The "Drip" was a medium container of water that had a solar panel providing electricity for the drip of water.  Of course, this explanation is in layman's terms and supposition on my part.  Anyway, the little bird was yellow and after comparing pictures on the Internet, I think it was a Pacific-slope Flycatcher.  For me, it was quite a find.  Then, another Ranger spotted me and ordered me off the area, stating the "Drip" had no permit.  Oh well.

While there, I took the opportunity to take another photograph the Old Point Loma Lighthouse with the backdrop of a beautiful blue sky.

 
I plan to return to walk the Bayside trail and visit the tidepools with the grandchildren.  It should be fun.

Famosa Slough

Female Belted Kingfisher

This past Thursday I walked to the Famosa Slough, a bird refuge not far from my home in San Diego.  I've occasionally visited there to check out the shore birds, but it had been several months.  That afternoon, I was fortunate to spot a colorful bird, Female Belted Kingfisher, pictured above.

Little Blue Heron

On Saturday morning, I went back to see if I could get a better picture.  There was no Belted Kingfisher to be seen.  However, I did find a Little Blue Heron.

I picked up a flyer at the kiosk and found that a walking tour would be held at 1pm.  I usually take pictures and compare pictures on the Internet to identify a bird I don't know.  A walking tour would be so much better since I can show a picture and have an experienced birdwatcher identify it. So, I returned to the Slough at 1pm and joined the tour.  The leader had a scope on a tripod and invited the attendees to view various birds that she identified.  Some birds were regulars, but others just passing through.  Some of the attendees were speaking with the tour leader about San Diego having the most birds in the country.  She agreed, but then added that the expansiveness of San Diego County plays a part since if covers the shoreline all the way to the inland mountains.

The leader pointed out the different species of ducks, as well as the American Avocets and the Black-necked Stilt.  I was familiar with them, but some of the ducks were new to me.  They traveled so fast, I just couldn't get a good picture of them.  I did succeed with a striking black and white duck I had seen on Thursday, but had not been able to get close enough for a good picture.  The tour leader told us it was a Bufflehead,  not a regular at the slough.  The picture I took during the tour is below.

Bufflehead

The tour leader also pointed out an American Kestrel and some killdeer.  We looked at them through the scope.  The killdeer is the cutest bird with stripes around its neck and chest making it look like it's wearing a sweater.  I wasn't close enough to get pictures, but I'll work on that.  The walking tour, covering 37 acres, with the opportunity to ask questions, look in the scope, and take pictures, lasted two hours.  The free tour is held monthly by the Friends of Famosa Slough and is definitely worth it thanks to a excellent leader and beautiful birds. 

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911 Memorial

On February 1, I went to the 911 Memorial at the World Trade Center.  I obtained a Visitor's Pass at http://www.911memorial.org/visitor-passes  in mid-January.  Friends who had visited gave me the impression that it would be hard to get passes, but that wasn't the case.  Thankfully, the weather was rather mild for New York.

After going through screening, we followed a long path to the entry of the Memorial which consists of a large open park-like area with two very large pools with constantly running water forming waterfalls within the pools.  Around each pool, the names of everyone we lost on September 11, 2001 and, of those lost in the attack of February 26, 1993, were etched into the stone wall.  The names weren't in alphabetic order, so there are kiosks available to locate the name of someone you knew.

I read in Wikipedia that the design was named "Reflecting Absence."  I certainly felt that absence.

After leaving, on the way to the subway, a self-appointed ambassador engaged us in conversation.  He asked me how many buildings had been on the World Trade Center site.  I promptly said, "Seven."  Then, he related how a teacher with a group of school-age children didn't know that fact.  That is why I recommend visiting the 911 Memorial when you are in New York City to perhaps get a sense of the enormity of September 11, 2001 and pray for the families and friends of those killed on that day.

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Return to San Diego

 On Saturday evening, I returned to San Diego on JetBlue.  Thankfully, the flight wasn't full and the seat next to mine was empty, so I had a more comfortable ride.  I have not been a fan of JetBlue since I received, in my opinion, an insulting response to an email I sent them several years ago.  This time, I used their airline solely because the fare was the cheapest I could find.  This time though, the staff was exemplary, and in my opinion, more mature.

Yesterday, when I went out outside, I found that I was dressed too warmly.  Checking the Weather Channel made me realize that I wasn't in New York anymore.  The temperature was a sunny 71 degrees.  Wahoo!!!  Please keep in mind that I was grateful for the mild winter I experienced in New York this year.

As usual, my stays in New York are busy and fun-filled.  I enjoyed visiting with my daughters and their families.  The grandchildren are taller than me, that is, except the eleven year old (who's almost there) and of course, the one year old.  Time seems to go faster on the East Coast, with busy families who generously include me in their daily comings and goings, and meeting with long-time friends.  And, it was a great experience displaying my photography at the Poughkeepsie Barnes and Noble store.

I was fortunate to be able to visit the 911 Museum at the new World Trade Center, which I'll write about soon.  Unfortunately, I haven't reconciled the feelings I had as I walked around that "hallowed" ground.

The day before I flew to San Diego, I joined my daughters and the eleven year old granddaughter in walking along Canal Street in lower New York City checking out the vendors, and then, into SOHO (a trendy and expensive downtown shopping area).  

The old buildings were very interesting.  I always enjoy walking around the New York City viewing the mixture of very old and very new buildings. In this area, many old buildings were shrouded with fire escapes (certainly a necessary life saving addition.)    The photograph on the right shows a different and unexpected type of fire escape, which I think is reminiscent of New Orleans.

                                                                            

We enjoyed our lunch at Fanelli's on Prince Street.  I usually don't order a spaghetti dish for lunch, but the linguini with Pesto ($12.00) was delicious.  This building has housed a small restaurant since 1847 with the Fanelli's taking it over in 1922.  I attempted to photograph the front doors, which were very interesting.
 
After lunch my daughters and granddaughter were interested in seeing the new World Trade Center.  So we walked there.  The picture to the left depicts how tall the building is compared to the older ones in the surrounding neighborhood.  So ended our visit to lower (or downtown) New York City.

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My Photos on Display

This the last weekend that my photos will be on display at the Cafe at the Barnes & Noble Store on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie, New York.  Thanks again to the management and staff.  I also want to thank all my New York friends and relatives who took the time to go and check them out.  The photos displayed in this blog can be found on my Shutterfly site by clicking on "Check out my photos" below.

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