ANSWERS TO YESTERDAY'S QUESTIONS

Question: What kind of bird is a raptor?

Answer: Raptors are birds of prey, such as eagles and hawks, etc.  You can find a whole list of them here.  You can see them after a short scroll down to the list if interested.


Question: What is unique about the migration pattern of the Arctic Tern?

Answer: The Arctic Tern breeds in the southern section of the Arctic, and winters along pack ice near Antarctica, 11,000 miles away.  The distance it travels is greater than that of any other species of bird.  At this website there are more interesting facts about them.



Question: What is unique about the migration of the Monarch Butterfly.

Answer: The Monarch Butterfly migrates over 2,000 miles from its summer home in the Northern U.S. and Southern Canada, to the mountains of central Mexico.  The most fascinating facts about this story though is that the migrating butterflies have never before been to the southern winter grounds.  The generation flying to the southern winter grounds was hatched in the summer grounds up north.  More interesting facts can be found here.  They are also in decline so this page shows you how we can help.



Question: What do birds dream about?

Answer: According to a 1998 University of Chicago study, birds dream about singing. In fact, when asleep Zebra Finches rehearse songs.  (When they are awake they warble more perfectly.)  

(You can read a more updated explanation here.  There is a longer explanation here.)



Question: Do all dogs bark?

Answer: No.  The Besenji from Central Africa yodels, chortles, growls and snarls, but never barks.

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIFT...

MANASSAS NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD, MANASSAS, VIRGINIA

We are fortunate that we don't live too far from here, but it has been over a year since our last visit.  We went in the evening not too long before the sun set.  It wasn't quite as hot but still 86 degrees F.  We enjoyed our walk very much and said now the weather is going to get cooler, we should come here more often.  

We walked toward the Henry House.  

There is much history here and Gregg knows a lot of what took place.  I always ask him questions about this sacred ground.  I tell him once again he would make a wonderful history teacher.  I know I have asked him these questions many times before over the years and I have retained quite a bit, but he has never ending patience and treats my queries as if I had asked for the first time.  Our conversation turns to Mrs. Henry, and we become reflective and wonder what her life must have been like before.

This is the tree you can see as we approached the Henry House.

In the following photo we are looking towards the visitor center.

We found ourselves a bench and watched the sun go down before leaving for home.

COROLLA NORTH CAROLINA TRIP - THIRD DAY - PART 2 - SEPTEMBER 3RD, 2017

(Thank you for visiting and for all the comments you leave, always very much appreciated.  I am late reading and publishing comments this week, and I might also be late visiting your blogs.  I will catch up eventually.)

Corolla, North Carolina Trip - Third Day - Part 2 

Celebration Party

The same day as our trip to see the wild horses, that evening we were invited (the reason for our trip down here) to a celebration party by a very dear friend of the family.  It was a time to meet up with old friends, and we also had fun meeting people we had never met.  Almost 70 had been invited.  Much to my delight a few four-legged friends were there also.  The little cutie at the end of my last post was one of them.  She was hiding from the other active, similar-sized little dogs that were trying to get her attention, in a very rough-and-tumble way.  She was having none of it and tried to hide most of the time.  Such a little darling, just look at that face. 

 She spent a good part of the evening under the table.  I asked her if I could join her but she wasn't very willing to share her space.  She ran for cover every time I bent down to say hello. I was told by her human to feed her a tidbit but that didn't work either.  I don't blame her really.  Don't talk to strangers and beware of those who bring you gifts!  I expect she slept well that night.

After about an hour our companions from the horse tour earlier, told us that they had just spent some time up in the crow's nest at the top of the house, that there was no one else up there at the moment.  Gregg and I took the opportunity to enjoy the views.

The steps were outside the door and they led up to this lovely seating area with a pretty amazing panorama.  This was another holiday rental house and I noticed many of the homes in the area had something similar.  We had become separated from Gregg's sister and her husband, and I sent them a text telling them where we were.  Not too long after they joined us, along with his brother and wife.  We sat there talking until it was time for the toasts to begin, and when those were finished and as by then it was getting late in the day, we decided to leave.  

It was absolutely wonderful being part of this celebration and we enjoyed ourselves immensely.  We said our goodbyes and the six of us left at the same time, each couple bringing our own cars, probably thinking we would all leave at different times.

Like the sweet little pooch no doubt, we slept well again that night.

A POEM

~The Sun by Mary Oliver~

Have you ever seen anything in your life

more wonderful than the way the sun,

every evening, relaxed and easy, floats towards 
the horizon and into the clouds or the hills,

or the rumpled sea and is gone ---

and how it slides again out of the blackness, 
each morning, on the other side of the world,

like a red flower streaming upward on 
its heavenly oils, say, on a morning in 
early summer, at its perfect imperial distance ---

and have you ever felt for anything such wild love ---

Do you think there is anywhere, in any language,

a word billowing enough for the pleasure

that fills you as the sun reaches out, as it 
warms you as you stand there, empty-handed ---

or have you too turned from the world ---

or have you too gone crazy 
for power, for things?

ONE OF MY FAVORITES....

SKYWATCH FRIDAY

 Sunrise in Virginia Beach

Thank you to all the team at SkyWatch Friday.  You can click on the link below to see other participants.

SkyWatch Friday

SKYWATCH FRIDAY

The following photos were taken on our last trip to Virginia Beach.


A beautiful sunrise.

Thank you to all the team of 
 SkyWatch Friday

If you would like to see other skies around the world, please click on the red lettering above to visit other participants.

A STUNNING SUNRISE

This is a photo my Sister-in-Law (husband's sister) shared recently, a sunrise she took this past week. She very kindly gave me permission to use it on my blog.  I thought it was stunning.  You can see a couple of birdhouses for migrating Martins.

1)  A shrimp that packs a punch here.

2)  The True Story About Alice in Wonderland here.


3) Photos from the Chelsea Flower Show here.


4) The most beautiful horse here.

5)  America's Most Beautiful Scenic Roads here.


I am sharing with the following as they become available, with my thanks to all our hosts for bringing them to us.  If you click on their names you can visit other participants.

The Team at SkyWatch Friday
Tanya at Willy-Nilly Friday Five

10th day of our vacation -12-25-15 - Christmas Day in Waikiki

Friday -  Christmas Day 2015

When I woke up I sent my niece a text with some photos, and wished her and her husband a Merry Christmas. There is about a ten hour time difference and I am never sure what time it will be over there. I was delighted when she called up on FaceTime immediately after I sent the text and we had such a wonderful chat with everyone, which included my brother-in-law, my niece's Dad.  I love being actually to see them.  It amazed me that there we were sitting in a hotel room in the middle of the Pacific, and they are all the way over in Europe.  The connection is great and it is like we are sitting in the same room.  

We had also sent photos to our son who was spending the day with our daughter-in-law's parents back home. Great to chat with him too and it was a busy day for them.  We have planned to get together on our return for a postponed Christmas Day Dinner together.  We both missed being with them as this is the first time in many years that we have not celebrated Christmas together.  

Today we had the longest walk along Waikiki Beach.  We started out by stopping off at our little cafe for breakfast and yes, everything is open, even the Barefoot Bar. 

Christmas breakfast was Portuguese sausage, scrambled eggs and underneath that tater tots, with a layer of melted cheese on the top!  I also had half a papaya with a squeeze of lime juice. My favorite fruit right now. 

Then we walked to the beach and turned left towards the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. 

You can no longer go through the beach gate onto their terrace, hotel guests only. Pity, and am a little disappointed because there was lots of seating available.  

That last time a lady danced a most graceful hula on the terrace.  She wore a sea blue muumuu designed with a pretty tropical flower pattern of white plumeria, a lei draped around her neck and a matching crown of flowers in her hair. 

There were also three musicians accompanying her, playing melodic Hawaiian music.  The Hula is a very graceful way of telling a story and the lady had a very elegant style of dancing, moving in a soft, slow, fluid motion.  A wonderful memory. 

(I found this great vintage poster online)

It came to a point where we reached the end of the walkway and had to take the steps down to the sand. We got our exercise as our feet dug down and we began to get a vigorous workout.  We walked a long way before we found an alleyway that took us up to the street.  In the alley it was lined with 'parked' surf boards.  

Duke Kahanamoku's statue wasn't too much further along and I finally had my opportunity to take more photos. We stopped for a smoothie at an outdoor kiosk which was right next to the Honolulu Police Station.

We stopped at Duke's statue and got our photos, along with several other tourists...

many of whom were waiting in line to get their photos taken with him.  

We saw a bride and groom getting their photos taken and spotted another going into the Ala Moana Hotel.  It was lovely watching the wedding party as they made their way down the boulevard.

We were making our way back and eventually reached Fort Derussy Park, where we sat on a wall in the shade of the trees.  We enjoyed watching people and the local birds. It is hot but Gregg always loves the heat and can stand the humidity. I just wilt like a lettuce and that hasn't changed in 40 years, but no I am not moaning.  I am enjoying myself way too much to worry about it and it had been a lovely walk.  

One last time for this trip, we reached the steps in front of the hotel and made our way up to the top. The coffee shop was open and I stopped for a latte.  There are always white doves walking around hoping for a crumb.  We have become accustomed to them and actually welcome the sight of them.

One who had landed not too far from my feet had a grand prize of a cheese cracker someone had dropped.  A sparrow flew down from its perch and quickly grabbed it between its beak.  Even though the cracker was twice its size it flew off without effort. Another guest had been watching and we both laughed.  The dove stopped in its tracks for a moment, looked at the departing sparrow and his disappearing cheese cracker, and then went back to scurrying along the ground looking for another crumb.  Alas there were no more cheese crackers. 

We made our way up to the room and after resting for an hour walked down to the Barefoot Bar.  Our nightly excursions have been very enjoyable. A perfect location on the beach, and after a day of sightseeing there were the incredible sunsets.  It's been fun to people watch and listen to the live music while sipping a cocktail, and talk about our day.  Tonight Gregg went to the snack bar and bought popcorn shrimp and fries. Not our usual Christmas fare but it suited us fine.

When we reached our room we repacked our suitcases.  We have decided to leave the hotel at 6.15 the following morning.  Our flight to Kauai is at 9.03 a.m. but we have to drop off our rental car first.  I shall be sad to leave. We have had a wonderful time, and I realize we are in our fish bowl of holiday euphoria, but everyone seems to smile and many say Merry Christmas as you walk by.  I read recently that Hawaii is at the top of the list for the happiest people and I can well believe it. We met warm and friendly people every day.

Even though our time on Oahu is coming to a close, we are eager for the second part of our vacation to begin.  Kauai is an island that is new to us.  

One last look at the night scenes from our balcony. One last look at the giant Christmas Tree all lit up and perched on the top of the crane, on top of the roof of the new hotel being built down the road. We say goodbye to the little doves who have visited us daily.  They are out of sight and safely secure between the branches in the tree tops, reserving their energy for competing with the sparrows the next day.  

We hopped into bed, put the lights out and went to sleep, with the alarm set for 5.15 a.m.

If you missed the previous posts and would like to read them, you can click on the links below.

Part 1

Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7

Part 8
Part 9