2026 Dance Recital 050926

Kennedy and Korin had dance recital May 9th. I was delaying posting as I was hoping to have the video. Kennedy had a solo this year. I will just post it separate.

I did however take a couple of short video clips to give you an idea. The first video is of Korin. She is on the back right side.

Below is a clip of Kennedy dancing. Although you don't see her much until toward the end as she's on the back row.

Kennedy in her solo dance.

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The lighting on Kennedy's group dance was very low and none of the pictures turned out.

After the dance we got a couple of  family pics.

One more in the books! 

Have a good one!

Weekend Trip 051526

Facebook is great for connecting with family and friends. I saw a post from a cousin of mine (my mother's side of the family) who lives in Rochester, NY. His post was that he would be working at an RV park in Texas through the winter and spring. Where he would be was less than 4 hours from me!

I had hoped he would be able to come through our town when he headed home but the timing wasn't good for us. I knew mother would want to see him and so did I so I made arrangements for us to travel to him.

Friday May 15th Mom and I left around 2pm. It was a beautiful drive. So many wild flowers. I didn't stop to take any pictures on the way down but I did on the way home the next day.

We were so wrapped up in visiting. I barely got this picture.

This is my cousin Scott visiting with Mother. He and I figured we haven't seen each other in at least 50 years! Scott is the son of mom's older sister Kay who lives in New Hampshire.
 

He also had his dog Ollie but I failed to get his picture. 

There was a Mexican Restaurant across the road from the RV park. We went there for dinner.

We made plans to have breakfast with Scott Saturday morning before we left. After breakfast we visited a long time in the parking lot. It was so good to see him and catch up.

Mom and Scott.

Cousins! 

On our way home I chose to "stop and smell the roses" so to speak.   

Pictures really don't do this justice to the vastness of yellow flowers I could see! It was stunning!

We had a great time.

Have a good one!

Red-Bellied Woodpecker 050626

I'm not a bird expert but I have learned some about them in taking pictures of them to put on calendars for my "bird loving" friends. One of the birds I have learned the sound they make is the Red-Bellied Woodpecker. I heard the pecking sound. Then the vocal shrill. I followed it and spotted the bird in one of our trees that has a dead limb in it.

I watched the bird go into a hole in the limb and then stick it's head out.

I conclude that there must be a nest. I do a little research to see when they lay eggs and how long before they hatch.

I took the these photos with a 300mm lens. I couldn't get close enough or at the right angle to see into the hole when the bird wasn't there.

I watched it. Then I didn't see the woodpecker anymore. I think something may have happened to the eggs. I was sure hoping I would see babies.

Have a good one!

Arizona Trip Part 2

 Thursday, April 23rd we started the day enjoying Roxanne's patio watching birds and discovering cactus blooms that had opened.

Aunt Sandy wanted a picture of her with the bloom.

So pretty!

More blooms.

Roxanne's back yard.

I believe this is a female and male house finch.

Not 100% sure but I think this is a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Roxanne planned another excursion for us. She booked a 90 minute boat cruise on Lake Pleasant.

I didn't realize that this was the boat we would be on or I would have made sure I got all of it in the picture! 

This is a man-made lake that serves as a massive storage reservoir to balance water supply and meet peak agricultural and municipal demands in Central and Southern Arizona. When at capacity it covers 10,000 acres!

Looking at the menu for some refreshments.

We got to see some wildlife on the cruise. These are Great White Egrets that are nesting on a island in the lake.

Wild burros!

And we saw some deer! They often swim the lake to go to this island they were on.

I really enjoyed the cruise. It was delightful!

After the cruise we had lunch at a restaurant at the marina called Dillions.

After we return back to Roxanne's we sat on her patio again. Watching the sunset, some bunnies and
birds.

The woodpecker figured out how to eat from the hummingbird feeder.

We had another great day

Friday was going home day.

Got a picture with Pat, Roxanne's husband and their dog Jenny.

Me and Pat. 

I had a wonderful time with my cousin Roxanne and Aunt Sandy.

Have a good one!