THIS DATE IN HISTORY

31 years ago today Chuck and I were married in the Los Angeles Temple. Best decision I ever made was to marry this man. I knew within the first 2 weeks after our first date that he was the one I needed in my life. My life was eternally changed that day, and I am SO GLAD he decided to take a chance on me.

SILLY GOOSE!

Chuck came running into the bedroom this morning while I was still asleep, excitedly talking about a bird outside that I needed to see. He ran to the window disappointed to find it was gone.

I thought maybe the lime-green bird he had spotted a few weeks ago had returned and if I could catch a glimpse of it, maybe we would finally be able to identify it.  This mystery bird has been driving Chuck crazy. I am not aware of any lime green birds in the wild living this far north.  There are probably tropical birds of that hue, but the only thing I can imagine to fit that description around here would be someone's escaped parakeet. He has been searching the internet trying to find a picture that corresponds with what he saw- so far no luck.

However, the bird that caused the excitement this morning was larger. Much larger. It was a bird we were both very familiar with and had no trouble identifying. A Canadian Goose. Canada Geese are common in the United States, and they are as common a sighting here in Utah as they were in Washington State.

We have a resident bonded pair that live on the golf course. They always stay together on a little grassy knoll that rises on the other side of the creek from our house.  We frequently pass them when we are out strolling the course in the evenings. They rarely leave that area, even though it doesn't look as though they are nesting yet.

I did actually see them fly last night. As we sat eating dinner, Chuck noticed two coyotes trotting right down the middle of the golf course in broad daylight, which prompted the birds to take flight.  But usually, they just hang out on the spot of turf they seemed to have claimed as theirs, and don't move around much even when the golfers are playing through.

When Chuck showed me the pictures that he took of this goose I was astonished. Chuck was sitting in his favorite chair by the fireplace in the living room facing the golf course answering emails and getting ready to hop in the shower when this crazy bird took flight and landed on our deck railing.  And just STAYED THERE.

It was so out of character for a goose to land on a railing like that. Geese are always in the water, or on the grass.  I've never seen them in trees, or perched on rocks or other high places.  They don't roost in high places like most other birds do, they nest on the ground.

Canadian Geese are huge birds with a 5-6 foot wingspan, and very large webbed feet. Its not like they have talons for clinging to something narrow.  I was surprised he was able to balance up there as well as he was.

Living in Washington and spending my days walking dogs at all the city parks as well as off-leash parks, the large number of Canada Geese that frequented those grassy public spaces seemed to be a nuisance. You always had to be careful where you stepped because their droppings were every where. The droppings fouled the public beaches and some times made the lakes dirty and uninviting.  They could become aggressive if they were nesting, or if you had food they wanted.

Luckily, here on the golf course we just have this single bonded pair. I have learned that Canadian geese are monogamous, mating for life when they are 2 years old. They live a long time- usually 15-25 years. In New York there is a Canadian Goose that was tagged as a hatchling that is 31 years old and still going strong.

There never seems to be a dull moment living on this golf course.  The wildlife seem to think this huge, well-maintained meadow is at their disposal and it provides Chuck and I with endless entertainment.

REBECCA REDO

Yesterday was Becca's birthday. She was blessed by having her best friend Carly (White) Steinkuhler in town to share it with her. She took the day off work to celebrate and mother nature cooperated by providing her a gorgeous day.

Becca has some favorite places in the Seattle area, and on her birthday she plans her day around those. Last year I was the lucky one who got to celebrate with her, so even though this year I was far away, I knew exactly how her day was going.

Becca and Carly started their day off with breakfast at Belle Pastry in Bellevue on Old Main. Becca actually used to work here after high school.  This is where she learned her barista skills (yes, a barista who doesn't drink coffee!). Belle Pastry has Washington's very best hot chocolate- I should know, I consider myself a connoisseur.  They import blocks of chocolate from Switzerland and shave it down to put in their steamed milk. It is truly amazing. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. Belle Pastry also has amazing almond croissants (just sayin').

The next stop is always Pike's Place Market and environs. The antique store across the street is a big draw as well as Sur La Table. There is a delightful French restaurant up the street that serves brioche French toast, and a crepe restaurant inside Pikes's Place that are both favorites. As you can tell Becca enjoys all things French.

A stroll through Pike's Place is incomplete without swooning over the fresh flowers on display- especially this time of year when it is tulip mania!

Oh my word! How I miss this! I am so nurtured by the beauty of flowers and tulips most of all.

Next on the agenda is a trip to the Ballard Locks on such a gorgeous day. Becca was just a week or two too late to see the gray whale that hung out in the locks for a day.

Becca's birthday dinner is always at Jhon Jhays a vegetarian Thai food restaurant in Wallingford on 45th. It is owned by a teacher (that the girls knew from the International School they attended) and his wife. They have opened another restaurant in Ballard and they went there this year.

Birthday dessert is always at Molly Moons to end her perfect day. 

Becca may be a creature of habit, but you have to admit- she has excellent taste!

BIRDS OF A FEATHER FOUR

Behind our house, in the middle of the golf course is an evergreen tree (not sure what kind- fir, spruce?) with a very large nest sitting at the very top. Chuck had noticed it a while ago and brought it to my attention.

In the last 2 weeks that nest has been the site of some exciting activity.  We have a breeding pair of Red-tailed Hawks that have taken up residence.

Chuck and I have been keeping a close eye on the goings on with binoculars. One of the birds (I assume the female) has actually been sitting down inside the nest, which leads me to assume she has already laid eggs. 

When Becca was here last week, we were out walking the course in the late afternoon and saw 3 elementary school age boys hanging around the tree and staring up at the nest.  Then one boy started climbing the tree.   I started freaking out, fearing he was going to upset the pair and they would abandon the nest.  Unfortunately, we were to far away to do anything about it.  Luckily, the boy's tree climbing skills were sub par, or he thought better about it, because after he had climbed up 10 or 12 feet, he gave up and climbed back down.

We were so worried that the pair had been frightened away that we have been watching the nest closely. We were so relieved to see the pair return to the nest. We are hoping to view the raising of their chicks.

Not everyone is thrilled with the residence of this new family.

The local Magpie population must have nests around the area as well, and are being ever vigilant to keep the hawks away from their nesting sites.

DIXIE FOUR

Chuck went to St. George on Wednesday to work a Physician's Assistant convention.  Becca and I came down yesterday afternoon just in time for her to join him at the convention and do some serious networking. She was able to make some great contacts. I hope she feels it was worth the 9 hour drive (4  1/2 hrs each way) to spend about 3 hours talking to PA's from throughout the state of Utah.

We did take some time to go out to dinner with Linda, 3 weeks post total knee replacement and got to marvel at how well she is getting around. She is walking as well as she was prior to surgery!  She just tires easily and can't walk super far, but what walking she does, she looks great! No limping and she says she is pain free. The surgery also had the pleasant side effect of her losing 8 lbs, so she is looking particularly svelte.

I wanted to show Becca the Historical section in St. George, to see the darling 19th century houses that have been restored.

I also wanted to show her my favorite furniture consignment shop in town.

It is right on St. George Blvd.  If any of you are ever in St. George- check it out. The items in the store will bring back a lot of memories from your childhood.

We also needed to make our obligatory stop and climb the red rocks at the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve 

The rocks have the most interesting shapes.

This one looked like eyes

I thought this one looked like a turtle's shell

I am really starting to appreciate St. George. And that is really saying something because I am not a desert person.  But now I can understand the whole "snowbird" concept.

BECCA'S SHADOW

Becca is in town for a PA (Physician Assistant) Convention that will be held in St. George at the end of this week. During the week, before she heads south to St. George she has been shadowing a different PA every day.  She has been covering the Salt Lake Valley, working with a Family Practice PA in Payson one day, a Pediatric PA in West Jordan another, an ENT PA yesterday, and then a Pulmonologist PA in Provo today.  I think she has an emergency medicine PA set up for tomorrow.  She has loved the experience to network with so many professionals in her field and be exposed to the different specialties open to her.  It has given her the opportunity to pick their brains and ask for advice regarding PA schools, interviewing techniques and what pitfalls to avoid in the application process. She has also taken the opportunity to do some PA school tours while she has been here.

 

While she has been here we have beautiful weather which has allowed us to hit the hiking trails around our house in the evening after work.  I am so grateful for the longer daylight hours that keep us outdoors. 

CHUCKLES BIG DAY

Chuck had a birthday on Monday. A date he shares with DooYoung Lee (same day/same year) and Caroline Pickett.

Becca was here to help us celebrate, which made it special.  Although he didn't take the day off work to play, he did enjoy some of his favorite things.

He got lots of cards and presents from people who love him- including a hand drawn picture from Evelyn which made his day. 

Chuck loves to exercise and does so 6 days a week for about 2 hours at a time. On his birthday he worked out TWICE, once in the morning before work and once in the evening.

I fixed him a special salmon dinner- a yearly tradition.

We went to Ruth's Chris steak house here in Park City for his favorite dessert- their cheesecake.

It was a beautiful, clear night, so we finished it off with the 3 of us in the hot tub looking at the stars.

WAYWARD BALLS

Living on a golf course has its advantages and disadvantages.

Advantage: a beautiful green lawn to look at that I don't have to take care of in the summer.

Disadvantage: Not a lot of trees, just a couple here and there dot the course, so unlike our house in Bellevue that was surrounded by Douglas Fir, Cedar, Sequoia and large leaf Maple.

Advantage: Lots of sun

Disadvantage: Not much shade

Advantage: Lots of wildlife that think someone planted a meadow just for them

Disadvantage: Lots of wildlife poop on that meadow planted just for them

Advantage: A babbling creek runs through it

Disadvantage:  The babbling waterfowl that inhabit the creek wake me up every morning

Advantage: A groomed cross-country ski course right in my back yard in the winter

Disadvantage: Strangers in my backyard using said cross-country ski course

Advantage: No fences are allowed to block the view of the course

Disadvantage: No fences allowed- hence the poop and the strangers

Advantage: lots of wayward golf balls find their way into our yard- we are accumulating quite a collection

Disadvantage: lots of wayward golf balls- we are just waiting for that first window to be broken!

Advantage: I have a new hobby- collecting golf balls!!

On most Sunday evenings after dinner Chuck and I stroll the golf course and have gotten in the habit of picking up stray balls we come across. One thing led to another and we no longer just pick up the balls we stumble across, but are actively seeking them out.  In every nook and cranny and stream bed.

 And because so many of the balls are in the stream bed I went to the Dollar Store and got me a $1 butterfly net to help me snag them.  Between that and my waterproof dog walking boots, nothing is safe from my reach!

Two weeks ago between Chuck and I we collected 27 balls on one outing. This Sunday we collected 45. I wonder if I could sell these back to the course as range balls?

I get obsessed with the strangest things!

I LOVE TO SEE THE TEMPLE

The grounds of the Salt Lake Temple really are amazing, spring especially! Chuck and I attended our stake temple session yesterday evening and the grounds were ablaze with color!  This particular bed was my favorite: my favorite flowers (Tulips) in my favorite color combination (pink and orange).

It is so wonderful to see so much color after an all white winter. It makes me so grateful for the beauty Heavenly Father has given us, just to make us happy! Every gardener replicates that shared joy in his own little plot of ground. The earth laughs in flowers which point heavenward to remind us where the blessing comes from. 

BIRDS OF A FEATHER THREE

Now that winter is turning to spring, my bird feeder is becoming a hive of activity.  All of the sudden I am inundated with species I have never seen before! I am totally blown away by the variety.  I have some truly amazing things to share, but NONE more personally relevant than this.....

The goldfinch is the Washington State Bird.  I lived in Washington for 30 years- did I ever see one? NO. And I tried, I really tried. I kept my feeders full of nyjer seed, their preferred diet.  I talked to bird enthusiasts to make sure I was using the right seed and right type of feeder to lure them to my yard. I was repeatedly told that Goldfinches "are everywhere", they aren't hard to attract. 30 years later- NADA.  Well, they live in Utah, IN MY BACK YARD!

Unfortunately, my feeders have also attracted starlings.

They are a non-native species that are very aggressive and drive native species out of their habitat. They even fight with each other for dominance at the feeder. They will fight with squirrels for food- trying to take a nut right out of its paws as it is eating. I don't like them, they are bullies. I consider them rats with a wings.

On a lighter note with spring close I have seen red-winged blackbirds at the feeder. The flash of color as they fly makes them a joy to watch.

My next discovery just makes my heart sing! When we moved to Utah I quickly learned that Magpies are ubiquitous here year round.

HOWEVER, the last two days I have had an ALBINO magpie in my yard! To say they are rare is an understatement! Literally the odds of an albino magpie hatching is one in a million. AND I HAVE ONE!

It is always in the company of three other normally colored magpies. I am wondering if it is a mother and her clutch, but if so I don't know who is who, as they are all the same size.

The next addition I have been able to check off in my birder's book, is equally impressive, if not nearly as rare......

Sandhill Cranes

In Washington Great Blue Herons were a frequent sighting. Seeing these guys out my back window was even more startling. the first time I saw them I hollered for Sam to come quick, so he could see them. He said he had already seen them a few times before and they always seem to come in pairs. These are really BIG cranes.  Much taller and heavier than herons.

In the first picture of the cranes, the dark object in the lower left hand corner of the picture is the railing on our back deck- these guys are literally in our back yard.

Birding is getting so exciting ( I know, I'm a nerd) that I am keeping my binoculars and bird book handy on the kitchen counter!

INTERMITTENT EMPTY NESTERS

Once again our house grows quiet. Sam left of Friday for a job in Walla Walla Washington for 2 weeks.  He will drive up to school from there, so we won't see him again until mid-July.

Chuck and I enjoy Sam's company, and Sam is generous to share his time with the "old folks"

Sam fills our home with fun and activity, not only with his own enthusiasm, but that of his friends.  For where ever Sam is, he is surrounded by friends.