New Year's Eve!

I've got some bubbly in the fridge chillin' with a yummy 6-pk of stout. Smoked salmon dip in the works & homemade pizzas on the dinner menu. Our next door neighbors are having a party, so we're all set. And what's more? A FULL MOON on the rise.
Happy New Years!

Merry Christmas!

Pics from our holiday here in Wildwood. We're missing Beth this year - though we've been on skype with her several times - some pics below of Grandma talking with her & Dad reading her our traditional "The Cajun Night Before Christmas" - Baby Sam is celebrating his first Christmas & being loved on by everyone!

Henslow's Sparrow

These inconspicuous little jewels are Henslow's sparrows. They are a grassland obligate species that have been declining in recent years....largely due to the simultaneous decline of native grasslands. They winter here in the southeastern coastal plain, predominantly in open pine stands and other moist, grassy areas.

There is a long powerline opening on a WMA near Brunswick that holds a pretty good wintering population of Henslow's. The understory on the powerline (and adjacent pines) is burned every few years, which keeps out encroaching woody plants. The understory is comprised of native grasses (broom sedge, plume grass, toothache grass, panic grass, etc.) that provide ideal habitat for the Henslows.

We captured and banded 14 of the little guys last week, exceeding the six that were banded last year. They look rather plain when flushed from a distance, but in your hand, the olive near the head and the pattern on the body is really cool......

Blue Crabs

Mom & Dad were in town for the weekend & we had a seafood feast. Joe & I are getting the "low-country boil" down to a fine art.

Saturday was our first experience cooking blue crabs at home - as in a sack full of live crabs that you have to wash & put in the pot yourself. Joe took on the job. First the crabs have to be put thru 3 changes of water to remove sand and other debris. A bit of a tricky task considering the crabs are scurrying around & have pretty good-sized pinchers. The second step is not for the faint of heart - the final dive into the pot...

Sewing

I try to do a little crafting with Levi each day - lately we've been working on sewing. Here's some shots of him working on his current project. Some Thanksgiving shots coming soon!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We're headed to Joe's folks for the holiday - Happy Thanksgiving!

Silliness everyday

I love life with a two year - some things instantly bring a smile to your face - those little everyday touches that bring joy - this evening it is walking into the quiet living room to encounter the dog happily sitting there wearing my turned-on headlamp as a collar :)

Kayaking to Little Tybee

I've just recently discovered http://www.meetup.com/ It's a website full of groups doing things in your area (just search by zip code). One of the groups I found near us is an outdoor group out of Savannah. They had a 'meetup' today - a kayaking trip to Little Tybee Island. It was my first sea kayaking trip & long overdue. (Joe & Levi had a 'man day' out and about - thanks Joe!). It was a really great day - perfect weather. A fun group of folks - 16 of us total. And Little Tybee was beautiful - an island owned by the state & only accessible by boat. Unspoiled. The beach to yourself. And even better - overnight camping is allowed. I imagine I'll be back with Joe & Levi for an overnighter.

Tuckahoe

A few pictures from a recent hunting camp at Tuckahoe.....15,000 acres of protected bottomland along the Savannah River in Screven County. Tuckahoe is state-owned land, and is available to the public for hunting, fishing, bird watching, canoeing, hiking…... The hunting is limited, but is exceptional when open.

I can't find a definitive meaning for the word Tuckahoe. Some say the name refers to an underground tuber used by Native Americans as "bread", or to the seeds of the marsh plant arrow-arum. Still others refer to a medicinal herb by the same name. Regardless, the word rolls out easily in conversation and fits the quiet beauty of the land.

The river swamp at Tuckahoe differs greatly from our coastal swamps near home. Instead of the wet and tidal gum/cypress wetlands, Tuckahoe gently rises with mature hardwood flats broken by switchcane belts, and winding seasonal sloughs. This is Kilgo country......Cypress knees, swamp chestnut oak, and the hammering staccato of pileated woodpeckers. There are Indian mounds, and the numerous oxbow lakes along the river are accessible year round for canoeing, fishing, and camping.....we plan on a family trip soon.

There are many free and under-utilized public lands across the state….get out and enjoy them!

Wild turkey feather

Fresh venison


Slough

My companero, Ernie

Cypress knees along an oxbow lake

The long drag to camp, a good kind of tired.

November!

Catching up with some pictures - emptied the camera tonight. November already!

my Mom & Dad came for a visit the week before last - Dad loves it here near the coast - his fishing gear always comes with him :)

Joe's best ever redfish - Ossabaw Sound - fishing with a buddy. Being too big to legally keep, he swam away relieved after the pic.

New Mama & Babe - My sister Carrie & new son Sam

Joe & helper Ramon putting a new roof on our house in Watkinsville - it looks great, so glad it's done - no more leaks!



While in Athens I visited a dear friend - Ms. Gertrude sharing her crop of Japanese Persimmons with us - she's a master gardener & I worked a time for her doing yardwork (her yard is so much fun, plants galore) - we're still eating the persimmons which have ripened one by one



Sunset at Demeries Creek = the view from Joe's office

Angie's youngest son, Nesta

late night knitting with Angie - during my visit this last week

Angie's oldest son, Jack with Levi

Our pumpkin keeping watch Halloween night - I splurged on 'good' candy only to have 4 trick-or-treaters show up!