Backyard Safari

First let me clarify the meaning of "backyard" in this entry.  Backyard: n.  all inclusive area beginning precisely at the entry of front gate.  I have 50 acres of back yard.  Just a few weeks ago, I was informed by the County office, that indeed I did NOT own the "60 acre" parcel I was being taxed, but merely "50 acres" as somewhere there was a HIDDEN clause that the "10 acre" lot separated by the ROAD was NOT in my parcel as originally assumed.  SO, therefore, the 10 acres across the street is FRONT, and all the rest isBACK.         

I was out "exploring" the backyard a few days ago, and when I FINALLY decided to pack up all my equipment and trek back the  lesser fresh air area of my property (house), I noticed this little guy below the rocky ledge I had stood on for the past half hour.      Of course, being the CITY FOLK that I am, I did not recognize what it was until, with the help of my binoculars, I could see that it was clearly a porcupine.  OKAY OKAY, so I still couldn't tell it was a porcupine until it moved it's front paw up to scratch an itch ... HA!  I wonder if I can claim it as a backyard pet, I mean, it "IS" in my backyard *wink* 

    

Look who we found on our front porch ... an American goldfinch and a black capped chickadee!                       

Headed South ...

Well, I DID it.  I flew the coop.  I know my blog suggests that I am grounded, but I haven't OFFICIALLY had my wings clipped, so, I sneak off now and again.  Securing a "babysitter" for the barn animals, then filling all automatic feeders and water dishes for the house pets, BEFORE anything else, I made sure I packed all my camera gear ... memory cards, tripod, battery and charger, lens', filters, remote and camera, I HAD IT ALL.  Having packed my case, checked the whole house a number of times, I hit the road!  "ONE" hour and WHAM ... I was TIRED ! ! !  Amazing what a 15 minute nap can do!  I hit the road again this time not stopping except for gas and one potty stop.  I arrived at my destination 8.5 hours later ... the last hour RAINING!  We spent the next three / four days Shopping, shooting pool, messing with computer/printer, shopping, more pool, girl time!!!  I miss having a girlfriend around.  I'm not truly a shopper,  have not been since the children began walking ... yikes!  This called for a celebration .. I got a new teapot and two teacups.  Lots of misc boxes and tins to go with my designer card collection.  My prize, was a teapot.  "YES" I am a SISSY ... I love teapots and fancy teacups and tea parties.  All was good.  Hugging my best friend, we parted by saying "SEE YA NEXT MONTH ! ! !" ... All was good.  I arrived home 8hrs01min later ... you should see that redbird fly!  I arrived home and the "babysitter" had already fed the animals and even had a fire burning in the furnace for me!

FOR the record:  i had all my camera gear and camera, yet the last picture in my camera was of a bird on my lilac bush the morning I left.

But, I must say, tis way better to have a camera and forget to take pictures than to have photomoments and just ONE LENS minus camera .  All is good