Old Friends...New Friends

Time to catch up!  Finally have a good internet connection. Now we have gone from Texas and the Whoopers and wild flowers in Goose Island State Park, and the wonderful birding at South Llano State Park, to Carlsbad, New Mexico.

We had another day or two of checking on the Whooping Cranes and took some pictures of the windflowers that seem to be everywhere in Texas.  The roadsides are often covered and many fields are rainbows of the Indian Paintbrushes, Lantana, and the Bluebonnets and many unnamed varieties.  We did buy the field guide but lest I misname something I'll just include some portraits...

On to our next stop.  

South Llano River State park is about 100 miles west of San Antonio and has been a stopping point for us since we started traveling seven winters ago.  Here we met many new bird species, visiting the four bird blinds and walking many miles of trails looking for several endangered species.  I added 28-30 species to my annual bird list.  I jot down the name and place where I first see a bird each year.  It was super to see many old friends.

                White-winged Dove

                    Western Scrub Jay

                  Rio Grande Wild Turkey (over 800 roost here)

                     Black-Throated Sparrow

                     Spotted Towhee

                 Black Chinned Hummingbird

               Vermillion Flycatcher

           Yellow-Throated Warbler

Well, enough of the birds I guess. Other things happen too.  The snakes have come out of hibernation while here and the armadillos stroll around.

My heart has been full during this last stop in special ways, too.  I have been thinking so much of our friends Annie and Charlie who we met our first year here in one of the blinds.  We have enjoyed  this friendship over the years and although we didn't meet up in Texas this year they have been very present with us.

This year we met a couple from Alaska who gave us their contact information and invited us to call.  We probably will since that is who we are, always adding friends to our heart-village (my new term).  We also met a geophysicist and his wife who love photography, and a woman named Beth who is facing treatment of pancreatic cancer, who also drives a leisure van like ours. On it goes for us.  Around every corner it seems we have opportunities to cherish old friends, near and far, and to met many more who offer to become a resident of our heart-village and add to the blessings of our journey.

We miss our family and friends at home and send you daily thoughts and prayers and love. You are the earliest residents of our heart-village!