Something Different

It's getting to be that time of year when thoughts of warm summer days and curvy roads float aimlessly about my head. While living up north I always knew it would only be a matter of time before my best bud Deb and I would steal away, with our without our husbands, and ride to distant lands for lunch and adventure. If you remember I wrote about Debby before in http://sunnysideup-eve.blogspot.com/2008/03/my-second-favorite-place-to-be.html

I've found a few new motorcycle blogs lately and the two I look forward to visiting are Mike at "Been Riding and Thinking" http://ridingandthinking.blogspot.com/ and Kari at "Bluekat's Journeys" http://bluekat78.blogspot.com/

I thought I'd post a series of photos from my past as I think about my best friend in the world, Debby, and remember our wonderful years together on our bikes.

This is one of the newer photos of my 2004 Katana after my husband and I lowered it and gave her a new sleeker rear end. (Just what I need!!)Deb and I both had 250cc motorcycles before we got our big bikes. This is her beautiful Sportster 883 Low, which has since been beefed up to a 1200 with a conversion kit her husband surprised her with for Christmas a few years ago.

Deb getting ready to take her bike home.I never brought my Canon DSLR with me on the bike but when I got my G9 I would bring it, when I didn't get too excited and forgot it!

Our trip to Salmon River Falls NY 2008.Alexandria Bay NY 2007.Deb and I went on a few Poker Runs without our husbands but really enjoyed it when they when with us.See! It's a girls bike!!My husbands Sportster and my Katana.The next 4 photos were taken by Glenn Wagner, a good friend of mine, who was photographing during the Fat Boys Toys for Tots Ride we participated in, 2006.

It's not often you get to see yourself riding!! I've got my serious riding face on!Debby you look SO COOL!!!Looks like I'm leading the pack here! How'd that happen!!Best buds posing for the photographer!Thanks Glenn!!

And lastly this is a self-portrait I made back in 2005.I think I look pretty "BAD" don't you think!!

I miss you Deb!

Hope it won't be long before we can take a riding holiday together!

Birding with Debi

Well yes, if you go to Debi's blog http://giraffeheadtree.blogspot.com/ you will find that I got a little stir crazy and sent her an email titled "Need to get Out" knowing that she would be up for the adventure and rescue me from my home boundedness!

We planned to go to Guntersville Alabama State Park to spy eagles but we made a few detours that were just meant to be!

The first stop was just off the main road leading to Guntersville.There is a nice view of the Tennessee River and a nice place to capture images and possibly... ...a Heron.There we plenty of coots but this strange water pattern caught our eye. This was not made by the wake of a boat.Of course when you're looking for things that fly you look down......and sometimes find things that were left by things that fly!There were things that were not flying, but floating......and oh!!! Not all things that fly leave the ground!!

(want to race????)Ahhh there is something that flies!After getting our fill of this outdoor space Debi and I decided to do a little indoor birding at the local shops in Guntersville.

First, Fants, where birds were in abundance! See Debi's blog for more of the many birds nesting here.

Who could resist the big feet of these feathered friends?

Not me!!!We wandered, on the beautiful warm winter day, across the road to an antique shop that was also full of wonderful flying friends.

Purple Martin?And I had to post this Rubbing from England for my British blogging friends.

Debi knew exactly what this was, because she's been to England. I had no idea!The colors were fabulous!These beautiful Sandpipers were so sweet.We also went to Kala's Cottage that has some really beautiful treasures.We certainly lost track of time and before we knew it, it was time to get a move on! Thank you Debi for making my day such an enjoyable one!

I'm such a big fan of yours.

Please do yourself a favor and visit Debi's website at:

http://www.debibradford.com/

Summer Memory

Lilies from Dick and Marion's garden in Watertown NY.
This photo was taken in 2006.
I altered it in Photoshop.

Holding on to Winter

I'm looking forward to the warmer temps that are on the way.
I wonder if my hostas will pop up out of the pots in the spring.
Time will tell as the chimes continue to sing.

Today's Sunrise

As many of you are feeling, it is still very cold in the south and elsewhere but then again it is winter and we really should expect it. I just wish the bitter part hadn't followed me down south!

Sorry all!The photo below was taken early this morning while waiting for the bus to pick up Morgan (after a four day weekend due to SNOW!!) I hand held the camera, which never works for me in these conditions, so instead of tossing the photo, put it through a few filters in Photoshop to try to make it a little artsy. I also had to work on the moon to make it a little more moon-like. Nothing spectacular but I enjoy playing in Photoshop.

Hope your day is sunny and bright!

Happy Birthday Rachel

"what ever shall I do with my life?"

We had the same weather as you!!Maybe I can find a really embarrassing picture of you to post on your birthday........

oh I did!!

Warning....

Oh I forgot to post this most horrible photo of all...this was yesterdays weather.

...the photos you are about to see are horrible. But they are what they are and I know my bestest buddies won't mind cause, well, they just wont!!It came. More snow. The whole world has come to a stand still here in northern Alabama.

Schools closed, roads closed...feeders open.

If you noticed the birds had emptied this feeder above so I had to trudge out and fill er up.I just love this White-breasted Nuthatch heading for the pail feeder.This orange-scarfed snow creeper is having fun with a nut or something.Much later in the afternoon the Bluebirds showed up and were spying sunflower seeds!

It was very dark and I was shooting through a window but there they are.If only this was not blurred. It would be such a cute picture!

Just Too Cold

Somethings Not Quite Right!

Yesterday my hubby said "let's go look around" and of course I said "OK!" So we packed the cameras and headed out to see the sights. I suggested Green Mountain so off we went.

But...it was cold.Cold enough for ice.Little hanging disks of ice.And very chilly little girls.This morning this is what my computer told me. It told me that Julie is warmer than me!! All the way up in southern Maine!Something is not quite right!!

Guntersville Dam Birding Trip

Yesterday we went on a great but very cold birding trip to the Guntersville Dam with the North Alabama Birdwatching Society group and what a great group they are. One of the best parts about the trip is that Morgan and I were joined by Debi and her daughter Kayla from The Giraffe Head Tree http://www.giraffeheadtree.blogspot.com/ and I can't wait to see her beautiful photos of the trip. We met a new friend, Jackie, who we carpooled with and she was just a great guide for us as we drove to different destinations around the area. But to remind you it was bitterly cold,very bright on the water and I think my photos were limited, mostly because I'm a woose!

I enjoyed seeing this one little Vinca along this rock wall. We were told that by the late afternoon, even on this very cold day, the wall would be covered with lizards...but we didn't get back to it to see.With the dam being only ten minutes from the house...I guess I could go back and look for lizards anytime! Being as cold as it was, the birds were few and far between, but the views were wonderful.The American Crow was making a ruckus over some Red-tailed Hawks in the distance.The water looked choppy and cold.We visited a private farm where there are usually loads of hawks and although we saw a few, they were too far for me to photograph. However this lovely old fence sure was close enough!The Eastern Bluebirds were up in the trees keeping an eye on us.My battery died at this point and my spare was in my car which I didn't have close by! But luckily a nice fellow had an extra battery on hand that he lent me for the next stop.

The Eastern Phoebe was hunting what bugs he could find as usual.The highlight was the Loggerhead Shrike who would let us get just so close then pop to the next post or pole away.And we rounded up the trip with a soaring Red-tail overhead.I can't wait to see your photos Debi! I know they are going to be just great!