FLYING CREATURES

 

 

 

We joined the flying people at the Eugene Airport this year, so we've been in Florida for almost two weeks now.   Our flight day was loooong .... and crowded.  I wish I could say we had as much fun as these people in our airport's iconic photo montage panels.  We didn't -- but we're here and although we're still in the process of getting re-oriented and re-organized, we're getting there.   We even had time last week for a short nature hike.

 

Roseate Spoonbill

We are more than happy to be grounded for awhile, but it was good to see some of of our favorite Florida  creatures for whom flight comes more easily.

 

 

It was already quite dry at Wild Turkey Strand Preserve.  (Winter is the dry seasons in Florida.)  So several species of  birds were congregated around the little bit of water remaining.  They were quite far away and the wind was blowing which made photography  difficult.  But it was great to be out walking.

Meanwhile, back at the Canal Cottage ... while we're getting the house into shape for the season, we have had some entertainment outside our door.  

 

 

This Marine Company has been repairing seawall damage caused by Hurricane Irma  (yeah, the one that happened a year ago last September -- we call it Florida time).  The project started before we left last season and was only completed last week.    So the company could finally move their equipment somewhere else and one morning this tugboat pulled the work barge loaded with heavy equipment right past our house.   It's not the usual Canal sighting.

 

 

The men obviously knew what they were doing and mostly stayed in the middle.  But the canal isn't real wide and I was  glad we hadn't put our boat in the water yet.  The man on the barge had to use his pole a couple of times, to push out away from some of them that were docked.

 

 

So the Canal is back to normal now and we are glad to be living on it for the season.    We look forward to more beautiful days here in the land of Winter sunshine.  

 

 

LINKING THIS WEEK to the following sharing opportunities.  Thank you to all of the hosts.

 

NATURE NOTES; ALL SEASONS; OUR WORLD on Tuesday; MOSAIC MONDAY;  THROUGH MY LENS;  SAY CHEESE; WILD BIRD Wednesday;   Wednesday AROUND THE WORLD;  THANKFUL THURSDAY;   TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;   FRIDAY  BLISS;    SATURDAY CRITTERS;  and RATHER B' BIRDING  

 

 

 

Comments

[Penny]

Oh my - look at those spoonbills. I would love to see them in person some day.

[Marti]

Hope you are settled in again now. Florida in winter sounds nice, but that flight didn't. I've come to dread flying and the associated madness. I'm looking forward to your next photo walk.

[Anni @ I'd Rather B Birdin']

Now that is a new kind of flock! Never heard of flying people before this.

Thanks so much for sharing your post & beautiful spoonbill with us at I'd Rather B Birdin this week.

[Jennifer Jilks]

I cannot imagine flying during this season!
Our kids have arrived from out west. It's gonna be fun seeing them.

[Phil Slade]

So your back in Florida? We could do with some of your dry season here as it seems to have rained non-stop throughout November and December.

Afraid I haven't quite worked out what those photo montages are all about but if they are meant to relieve the boredom of sitting around in airports, all the better.

Happy Holiday.

[D]

You redefined your wonderland.

All the flying Alices.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in a new style.

Rainfield

[Sharon Wagner]

I didn't get any spoonbill photos this year, during Flo-vember, but I saw one flying. That was cool. Happy holidays to you!

[Lowell]

It is so good to hear from you and that you made it safely back to south Florida. I like those flying people, although, as you mentioned, the reality of flying is not nearly as much fun as those pictures suggest. Love the roseate spoonbills. And the shots of your canal, especially that sunset. We've had a ton of rain but it looks like a good Christmas, weather-wise. Enjoy:!

[Eileen Wise]

Hello, Salie

The flying people mural is cool. I love the Spoonbills, they are so pretty. Gorgeous sky capture! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Happy Saturday, enjoy your day and weekend. I want to thank you for all the visits and comments on my blog this past year. I am looking forward to visiting your blog in 2019. I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

[Linda Brown]

Sunshine in Florida!!! Lucky you! Have a great Christmas!!!

[Michelle]

Glad you are there safely and have a very Happy Holiday season...hugs..Michelle

[junie[er2]

Hello Sallie, was here yesterday and commented, but I don't see my comment - have you been getting my replies to your thumbnails at All Seasons?
(I came back, because I was at sky Watch and couldn't remember the flood pic at sunset). Please let me know if you're not getting my replies. I give them every week! Have a great weekend, by the way and a very merry Christmas!

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Good shots.

[Michelle]

Winter sunshine....what a great phrase! Glad you are safe in Florida. Airport experiences are not always great, I think. We just have to endure. Thanks for linking up today and have a Merry Christmas!

[Peter B.]

Glad your travels were safe, and I love the "flying people"! Happy holidays!!

[Alexa T]

So much happines in the land of Winter sunshine. So lovely said!! and I gladly enjoyed the warm sunshine through your photo instants..
Many, many thanks! I'll come back for more warmth for sure. And Happy Christmas Hollidays, too!

[Lorrie]

I wondered about those flying people until I read your first lines. Interesting and fun artwork for an airport. The roseate Spoonbills are so pretty in their pink and white outfits.
Enjoy settling into your winter home once again.

[Kelly Anne Rothaermel]

Love the mural. sorry the airport was crowded. We leave on monday. hoping it isn't too bad. Merry Christmas!

[Annie]

Welcome home Sallie, in spite of this too long flying day and thank you for your long message written before living Eugene.What a wonder, these Roseate spoonbills ! Have a nice and sunny time in front of your Canal cottage.

[David Gascoigne]

Hi Sallie: Glad to see that you are now settled in after the hassle of getting there. Travel is a wonderful experience but the chore of getting from one place to another is no fun. As someone who takes two or three international journeys a year I have to say that Asian airlines treat their passengers much better, and Asian airports are so much more efficient the difference is staggering, And so is the courtesy level. In any event enjoy Florida for a few months. The Roseate Spoonbill should put you in the very best of moods! All the best for 2019. David

[Anu]

Hello. The Roseate Spoonbill looks so great. The photo of flying people is awesome.

[Linda in Virginia]

I love the flying people and the lovely birds!

[Al]

Enjoy your Florida "winter" - we'll hope for a real winter here in CO! (No, I didn't live in Cambridge, but spent a few weeks there right before we moved to America.)

[MaryBeth Schwartz]

Lovely birds for sure. Glad the Canal is back to the way it should be and the sunset/rise was/is beautiful.
As for flying people---could be. Ever read the books about the "peculiars"?
MB

[NatureFootstep PhotoArt]

nice to see the spoonbills and the beautiful sunset :)
Hope you will have a beautiful season down there.
NF/Monica

[bill burke]

The birds are wonderful to see. Glad you are getting organized and enjoying the Florida sun. Have a wonderful holiday season.

[Lisa]

Wow, those pink Spoonbills look so exotic to me! Enjoy Florida.

[junieper2]

What an activity there by the sea wall! Happy you arrived safely, and the short nature walk paid off with some beautiful views of birds! I know the frustration when it starts blowing, just as you have your camera in place! Many thanks for sharing your Seasonal travel!
If you celebrate it, have a very merry Christmas, and connect back with you at All Seasons the 30th or before!

[Gattina]

You are back into the sunshine ! Time flies by so quickly !
I just came back from my 2 week sunshine holidays in Egypt, was wonderful but too short !

[riitta k]

The flying creatures look fun :) I just read a scifi book where an inventor put wings on his back - you guess what happened!

Happy Christmas time.

[betty - NZ]

Great images of fun stuff! Love the pink spoonbill, we only have white ones. I do hope you get settled in soon. Sometimes, it takes a while, but that's ok.

[Jeanna]

Do you ever have good timing, can you imagine being there the entire time they were building. Entertaining for a day maybe. I believe they're still repairing considering the extent of the damage from that hurricane. There are still people on the eastside with sandbags piled in their yard just in case.
So now the link to your side says "FORBIDDEN" in bold black letters. I can only get here through an easy counter link. And I'm trying a new and easier link today although I didn't realize the photo I chose is of a punker chick giving the finger until just now. Oops, won't play well with some I'm sure.

[Lady Fi]

Glad you made it to the canal. That winter sunshine is glorious as is your tree of spoonbills!

[Colleen@ LOOSELEAFNOTES]

A Mary Poppins of a time! I've never seen or knew those pink spoonbills existed. I'm putting them on my bucket list

[Sylvia D.]

Sallie, The birds are great and I enjoyed the canal photos. Have a great week. Sylvia D.

[Su-sieee! Mac]

Mmmm, I'm imagining I'm feeling your sunshine. It goes better with the shorts I wear at home. lol The airport people montage is very cool. It took me a couple of blinks to realize the flying creatures were not birds. Good cheer, Sallie!

[Angie]

Sallie - glad you made it safely to your winter haven. I don't enjoy flying anymore, but I might consider it if we could each be our own airplane! With all the 'natural' disasters that are occurring throughout the US, repair crews are in high demand, and unfortunately I am not surprised that it is taking time for reparations! Thanks for linking up to Mosaic Monday, and enjoy the last week before Christmas!

[Debbie]

Awwww, you are back “home”, getting unpacked and cozy must feel good!! Florida time, I have heard of that!! Beautiful capture of the big birds, the spoonbills are real standouts!!

[Gaelyn]

Welcome home. Glad the canal project is done.

[fun60]

Glad all the work is finished and your stay will be free from building noise. Sounds and sights as beautiful as ever.

[Carol]

Welcome back to Florida! Beautiful birds and a fantastic Florida sunset. Wishing you a blessed Christmas!

[gillena]

The first photo of the bird looks like a flower bud. Happy mosaic Monday

Much💖love

[William Kendall]

The birds are quite eye catching!

[Eileen Wise]

Hello, love the Roseate Spoonbills. I know you are happy to be back south in the warm weather again. Enjoy your day and new week ahead!

[Lavender Dreamer]

I am very glad you have landed in Florida safely! We had rain over the weekend but now it's so sunny and nice! And the rain was needed so we can't complain! Enjoy your day sweet friend. The Spoonbill is my favorite bird! Holiday hugs!

[Penelope Puddlisms]

On the move again, Sallie! Escaping West Coast winters (touch wood ... right now it's pretty mild) gives you the best of both worlds but didn’t the time fly … it’s Christmas already! Speaking of flying, those murals are awesome. It would be wonderful if it actually were as much fun as the artist imagined.

[Maggie]

How wonderful is it to hear that you are back safe and sound in your lovely Canal Cottage on the water and you have a view once more, looking forward to seeing more of beautiful Florida through your camera lens just as soon as you’ve settled in.

[Heidrun Stallwanger]

The flying people are funny!

Happy MosaicMonday.

[mick]

I love the roseate spoonbill and the airport photo montage of all the flying people. I wish getting places by plane was quite as easy and glamorous as the air companies advertise. Enjoy your time in Florida!

[Alan Bates]

Glad you made it south. I am not a flying but it is a lot faster and less wearing than driving. And lots safer as well.

I loved that last photo of the sunset.

[ellen b]

Good to know you are safe and sound in Florida. Sorry about the airport experience. What interesting coloring on the Roseate Spoonbill. Beautiful. Fun mosaic from the airport montage...

[Sondra]

Welcome back to the south...hope y'all have a great winter season. Love the spoonbills!