7 December, 2012    Mostly pictures
I had lots of writing to do, I sat down the other night and wrote 1,000+ words for a blog entry, but I need to edit it a lot so maybe in a later entry. But I’ve got a pile of fun pictures. Buffleheads are back on the river, a winter duck I really enjoy. Plus there is a single big Mute swan down there. Also was fortunate to get nice pictures of a Red-tailed hawk near Brown’s Island recently. A couple of other shots too. More later, but mostly pictures today.:

This is the hawk picture I referred to:

Red-tail hawk, Brown’s Island, Richmond, VA

This is her (possibly his) full body. He or she was being observed by but not bothered by this lone mockingbird. It’s flying past in the lower right of the picture:

Brave mockingbird keeping its distance on the lower right

Evie and I were at Pony Pasture (PP) on Thanksgiving morning. These turtles certainly do look thankful:

How turtles spend Thanksgiving. Like us, I’m sure they take a nap in the afternoon.

I don’t know if it’s the time of year or what but there’s a lot of bird and animal activity in my yard and at PP and all around. (See above) This lone Mute swan has been hanging around  PP. Both sides of the river, I think it’s the same bird. It taunts my dogs and my dogs taunt it but each seem reluctant to get closer than about ten feet:

Beautiful Mute swan at Pony Pasture

This is a not-great-quality closeup, but I like his (maybe her) expression. Maybe it’s the angle of the head or perhaps the dark eyes but it gives at least a faint impression of wisdom. “Silly goose” is a common expression and geese have never struck me as thoughtful. But find this calm gaze appealing:

This gives the impression of being thoughtful

These are a few of the many buffleheads I’ve seen. I still haven’t gotten a picture I really enjoy. Both these pictures are very poor quality. I’ll keep working at it. They’ll be around for a few months. This is a female:

Female Bufflehead

And this is a male:

Male Bufflehead

It’s a little over two weeks since Dad died. I still have stuff I want to ask him. But that’s just the nature of my Dad. He’s the kind of person who encouraged you to ask questions. And if he didn’t know the answer, he’d help you find it. Evie took this picture outside after my Dad’s memorial service:

Moon rising over Holsteins after my Dad’s memorial service at Rescue 15 in Bridgewater, VA.    Evie took this picture. So calm.

Another picture from the memorial service. We had tables inside with items that represented Dad and a few of his interests. He had so, so many. He loved being an EMT and he loved Rescue 15, the Bridgewater Rescue Squad, where we had the memorial. Here are a few items from one table. (Notice the inevitable picture of Dad with yet another dog, in the lower left corner of that framed award on the right side):

Stuff of Dad’s. Navy stuff, Rescue Squad awards, toy ambulances, the inevitable picture of Dad with a dog by his side.

And lest you think my Dad is the only dog person in our family, here is Mom a year or so ago in my living room with my old friend Roux:

Roux waiting for my Mom.

And here’s my brother Shane at the service with Tara; Evie took this too:

Shane with Tara at Dad’s memorial service

Dad drove ambulances a lot, and collected model ambulances too. One of the ambulances he used to drive was draped in black bunting at his memorial service:

One of Dad’s REAL ambulances! Draped in black bunting for his memorial service.

My mother’s father’s name was Jim and he died around 1980. I remember his funeral and there were a lot of his old buddies around. Thirty plus years ago and I’ll never forget this old guy coming up to me and saying “We miss old Jimmy, darn his hide.” I miss old Dad, darn his hide. I know a lot of people, but I don’t know a better conversationalist than Dad. Among his many superb qualities.

Anyway, perhaps a story on my next blog entry, which I hope will be sooner than later.

This was what I saw as I left the service:

Have a great day,

Jay