Best of 2011: BIRDS

Two Pileated Woodpeckers playing Peek-a-boo around the tree--taken 1/13

Most of you know how much I love our Backyard Birds... Even though I haven't taken many photos lately,  I still love to watch the birds as they come to the feeders on our deck...

Today I'll show you seven of my favorite bird photos from 2011...  Hope you enjoy seeing them --and I promise I'll start taking some new pictures of these cuties soon. Be sure and click on the photos for enlargements.

Juvenile  Red-Bellied Woodpecker  --taken 7/21

Mrs. Bluebird is waiting her turn at the suet feeder.  Mr. Northern Flicker is taking his time eating and eating!!!  Taken 1/18

I love this picture of the female Eastern Bluebird.  Taken 2/8

I loved seeing these Turkey Buzzards when we visited Mt. Nebo in Arkansas --taken 3/31

This Rose-breasted Grosbeak visits us in spring and fall when they are migrating--taken 4/27.

And my favorite bird picture of 2011 goes to the "Shall we Dance"  Carolina Wrens--taken 8/7.

Hope you enjoyed seeing some of my Backyard Birds from 2011.  I hope to get many more great pictures in 2012...

Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll see you on Monday.
Hugs,
Betsy

Friends make the World Go Round

I have talked quite a bit about our little trip to Gatlinburg in December with good friends, Judy and Charlie.  Today I will share some more pictures from this trip.  We truly had a wonderful time together.  The four of us share a love of nature and traveling.  This little getaway gave us some time just to be together and enjoy each other for awhile.

Judy and I either are emailing each other ALOT ---or texting each other.  We came into Gatlinburg on one end of town and  Judy and Charlie came in from the other direction.   We were texting each other at that time.  This sign is what I saw once we got to town!!!!!  Most people have visited Gatlinburg --if you live in this general area.  My parents even brought me here MANY MOONS ago --when the 'Burg was a small mountain town.  Today,  that area has grown like crazy --and  many, many tourists visit here during the summer, fall, and on holidays. 

Hope you enjoy the photos.  Be sure to click on them for enlargements.

 This picture was taken in downtown Gatlinburg --as we headed toward our motel (Rocky Waters).

Here is the restaurant where the four of us ate dinner that night... This is the Park Grille --and we recommend it.. I especially recommend the grilled salmon... YUM.

This is a great photo of our special friends,  Judy and Charlie.  This was taken at the restaurant.   Judy and Charlie are such an inspiration to George and me..  These two love to camp and hike.  They are such great hikers that they hike up to Mt. Le Conte EVERY year.  They also have hiked ALL the way down into the Grand Canyon.  I just wish I had a half of their energy!!!!

Recently,  while visiting their son and family in Phoenix,  they got to go back to the Grand Canyon in addition to several other national parks.  These two collect national park stamps like we collect waterfalls.

Here is a picture of the four friends ---which George took with his tripod..  Can you see how tiny Judy is???  Her hubby laughs and says that if she gets shorter,  he'll have to get a child's seat for her in the car!!!!! ha ha

And finally,  George took this picture of two very special friends.   Neither Judy nor I have any sisters... SO--we are like sisters... We can fight like sisters (and we do)---but we also can love like sisters... Hope you have a special friend in your life like I do...

Judy and I both have tons of friends ---thanks be to God... But--it's great to have that one person whom you can say ANYTHING to, that you may not say to others... Even though we can disagree,  there's a special respect there which is not always the case in relationships.

Thanks, Judy and Charlie,  for a great great trip and for your friendship!!!!!

Hugs,
Betsy