Bluebirds and Indigenous Plants

 Just went around and took shots of the vegetation that was once a part of the surrounding pinelands here. So there are some that still find the conditions right in my yard.  The two that are gone are the wild magnolias that like it quite wet and the sheeps laurel that grew on the border of my yard.  It fell victim to the development when they made the road in the back of my home.

Hmm-mm--just two fungi or this is fungus:

My granddaughter decorated this birdhouse.  What a surprise when I found five bluebird eggs had been laid in the box.

The male blue bird entering the birdhouse:

Female bluebird is lucky to have the help of the male.

Liatris, blazing star, or gay feather as you like.  This is the cultivated variety but it is found by the roadside in New Jersey.  Grandfather used to raise these in Hammonton when he retired.  He would send them to the

market in New York City. .

 I will edit the post when I identify this handsome butterfly:

 Yucca

 Wild Blueberries

 White Cedar

 Sassafras--I let it grow because the deer like the young shoots.

 Ok, so not everything in my yard is indigenous:

Dogwood seedling

 Typical Pine in South Jersey

 Painted Lady but less than perfect:

Typical Tiger Lilies--they only bloomed this year because I faithfully used "Liquid Fence" to keep the deer away.  Why do they seem to leave the roadside lilies alone??

Peter Gabriel-June 25, 2011

   My son took me to a Peter Gabriel concert with his New Blood Orchestra at the Susquehanna Concert Center.  During warm weather months, the 25,000-seat outdoor amphitheatre provides a series of evening concerts.   During the fall and winter months, it transforms into an enclosed, climate-controlled 7,000-seat theater.  It was a fantastic show.   I have seen Carlos Santana, Rolling Stones, and Elton John but this was more impressive maybe because of the latest stage effects, the large orchestra or just the power of his voice.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X7ZnXDWI7uI

   He is about 61 years old so he is just a little younger than I am. We had great seats and afterwards I felt that I had experienced a very special event in my life.

Then:

Now:

Planning to go again to another Peter

Gabriel concert.  This time he will play the old ones like "Sledge Hammer":

http://www.prlog.org/11888814-peter-gabrils-philadelphia-concert-event-tickets-go-on-sale-today-at-queenbeeticketscom.html

Father's Day

  Just had a gathering for Father's Day.  Our 89 year old father is back on his feet with his walker giving some needed aid.  We can't get together without some antics going on.  His hair is looking good but I might have to get the scissors out soon.

Hair, Hair, Hair, Hair, Hair, Hair, Hair.

Flow it.
Show it.
Long as God can grow it!

He will always be her baby.

He finally got a day off to be with family.

Pass the bread.

Minatures

Vintage

...another bi-plane....

   While I was working in the yard I heard what I thought was another crop duster of the sort that I had seen two days ago.  Well, it was another bi-plane low enough that I could see the pilot and another small plane following it as an escort.  Tried to find an image that was similar on the web but couldn't.  The wings on this one were much longer and they were tapered and a bit pointy at the tips.  It was so surprising to see the two planes.  It made me think back to the time when I was about five and I saw a dirigible.  Not too many people around that can claim to have seen one of those large blimps.

Added a New Bird

  Although I do not have it written down, I keep a list of birds seen in my yard.  I have seen a scarlet tanager, a rose-breasted grosbeak, an indigo bunting, brown thrashers, flickers,  ruby-throated hummingbirds, and all the other common yard birds.  Today I added a yellow-billed cuckoo under less than favorable conditions.  It hit the window on the front porch. I would say that half of the birds that hit my windows fly off without too much trouble but this one looked hurt. I got the camera out.  Finally it flew off to my relief.  It left a soft broken egg behind.  I guess it was so shocked from the impact.

Cousin in Charge

  Stopped by an airfield in the pines where the crop dusting planes were preparing for the day's work on the cranberry bogs.  Met my cousin who took time out to graciously greet us as she is very busy managing these operations.  This time the planes were being used for fertilizing purposes. Sorry, Cristina, I should have gotten a photo since you looked great---- work clothes or not. The farmers rely on these vintage bi-planes from the 30's because they typically have a shorter wing span than a similar monoplane, which gives them greater maneuverability.

Finally multi-media here.  Please click and hear the power of these engines.

Later it was on to the Columbus Auction, again. Whoo--hoo!

Missed the Indian who was making his rounds on the grounds.  Didn't see the bedazzled lady either.  But I did see some "plain folk" Amish.

Didn't want the full image

here but you can find some distasteful images on T-shirts.

My machine at home

is similar to this one.  If it runs half as good

 as mine it is a steal at  $25.

Whee----a wheelie

  Well, this is not my photo but this is similar to what I saw a few minutes ago including the "look" towards me.  My house is sufficiently away from the intersection for motorcyclists to be at the their top speed as they fly by.  Today a superman on a "crotch-rocket" did a wheelie.  There were two motorcycles and the first guy was putting on a show for me or maybe the guy behind him.  So this is my blog for today:   a guy did a wheelie in front of my house!

Turtle Still in Residence

I found the turtle next to the orchid catus in bloom.  The giant puff ball is something that I have never seen before and it is growing in my yard.  I think the yellow daisy-like bloom is very short-lived because I see several of these puff balls but I only saw the flower once.

Tuckerton, New Jersey

   Tuckerton, New Jersey was founded in 1699.  It is not Cape May, but the quaint seaport holds a lot of charm for me.   Also, I have fond memories of the fifties traveling here during the summer for a day of crabbing with my grandparents.  I guess it was the next day or possibly that evening we cooked them up and had crabs and spaghetti. This may not appeal to everyone, but we used to de-claw the crabs and take the shells off before cooking them.   We hosed the green pasty stuff in the middle out. Then you just had the sweet white crab meat.  One story that we still remember is when our Uncle Billy, only about ten years older than I am, pulled a prank.  Sometimes my sister would pick the crab meat out and not eat it right away and accumulate a little pile.  Well, when she wasn't looking he stole my sister's pile.   Couldn't really blame him because picking crabs is a bit tedious.
    Today besides crabbing you can visit the Tuckerton Seaport and Museum, which is dedicated to preserving the historical significance of the area. So today my friends and I visited and we had lunch at ScoJo's.

 Cranberry plants in bloom with a blue dragonfly:

Italian Festival at Renault's Winery June 5, 2011

  Renault Winery is a New Jersey state historical site.  Joseph Milza, owns and operates the winery and vineyards with his family.  I saw him at the grape stomping festival last fall.  I think he enjoys attending his own festivals and taking the mike as the MC when he has a chance. 

Mr. Milza was watching the grape stomping here last fall.

  If I take a trek through the woods, the place is within walking distance of my home.  The festivals usually have live music and quality crafters.  Today food stands had Italian specialties with a platter costing about 8 dollars.  I missed the winery's shop today but their shop is an enjoyable experience as well. I am glad that good weather prevailed.  An accordion player/singer delighted the crowd singing old Perry Como favorites and other Italian ditties.  I've got to start making some videos so I can say that my blog is a multi-media blog.

 Another vendor I believe was selling some glass cleaner.  The one thing I did not miss is that he said he used to work with Billy Mays on the Boardwalk and he taught everything he knew to Billy. 

  One crafter willing to pose for me, thanks!  I have a special feeling for crafters because my husband spent many years selling his stools and

benches at craft shows.

  Mark Maxwell, citizen of the year for Egg Harbor City, was set up offering various commemorative articles for the town including his own published work on the town's history.