Friday, June 12, 2009

I missed you!

It's been a couple of weeks since I've been able to post anything or even look at your posts. Needless to say, I've had a wonderful time tonight catching up!
I've been working on my website, beginning a juried nature art gallery in Backyard Boutique, and this week, I drove to Atlanta to spend a couple of days with my mother. The drive is 10 1/2 hours, but half of it is through the mountains, and is beautiful. I had wonderful driving weather, and enjoyed the time with my mom, although it's just terribly sad to watch her decline (She's 91)
I lived in Georgia for the first 43 years of my life and never saw a bluebird, but I had taken Mother out to the porch to sit, and a pair of bluebirds flew down to a branch very close to us. She doesn't see much at all, but she declared she could see them - I hope so.
The Gallery at Backyard Boutique is coming along well - we have some very talented artists (all mediums). I've made a start on the gallery webpage. If you go to my regular one,
www.backyardboutique.com you can click on gallery and there you are. (My daughter did the "Splash Page," and it has really helped...our stats have soared.) Things are still slow, but I think it'll get better.
My camera rode shotgun all the way to GA and back, but I was in a hurry, and didn't make a single picture along the way, but boy, I saw some beautiful scenery and skies.
Life is good - busy, but at least never boring.

20 comments:

Ruth's Photo Blog said...

Thanks for the visit to my blog.Blogging must take second place to spending time with your Mother.How I wish I had a parent to spend time with.
Blessings,Ruth

Dave Coulter said...

Welcome back! :)

June said...

Good hearing from you...we've missed you too!

2sweetnsaxy said...

I'm glad you had a great drive and a wonderful visit with your mom. When I realized my mom was getting up there I made sure to spend as much time with her as possible. I always smile when I hear others talk of visiting their mom. :-)

Eve said...

Nice to hear from you Helen. Glad to hear your mom saw that bluebird...who couldn't see that beautiful blue streak! There are bluebirds all over the place here, just not in the woods with me too much but I hear them singing for me once in a while. Alabama is beautiful. I really love it here. Good luck with the shop! I'll go take a peek!

Arija said...

I am so glad you are back with us.
I am so pleased that your mom and you had bluebirds to enjoy together. As we grow older our time shrinks, not only for us but also for accomlishing things we wish to do. The imprtant thing is to enjoy every minute while we have it.
All the very best to you and your lovely mother Helen. Hugs and blessings.

Mary said...

It sounds llike you have been very busy. I don't know how you find time to blog at all (I miss your baby bluebirds :-) Much nicer to spend time with your mom and work on your gallery and such.

NCmountainwoman said...

The scenery must have been lovely on the way down. Sounds as if you have been really busy. Glad you're posting again.

holdingmoments said...

Ten and a half hour drive? Long drive, but worth it to spend the time with your mum.
Beautiful pictures of the Bluebird on your website.

Willard said...

Thanks for stopping by, Helen. I haven't been blogging as much either-too much going on.

Your question inspired me to do a lengthy post on photographing calf elk today so it should be helpful to you.

Until I retired I spent most of my time photographing elk during the rut, but now I try to go about 3-5 days a month from May through September and I will have to say that I have not been especially successful at getting the calf photos I would like to have.

I realized after posting that I failed to mention the "where" aspect, but bearing the factors I did discuss in mind. good options are Driving Winslow Hill Road and two side roads, which branch off from it known as Dewey Road, and Porcupine Road.

Rt 555 from Weedville to Driftwood (this is the main road that passes through Benezette) follows the course of Bennett's Branch of Sinnemahoning Creek and elk may be seen in places along this drive. An excellent place to find calves is to cross the river bridge just past and to the right of Benezette Store as one is traveling toward Driftwood. There is a big creek bottom directly on the other side of the bridge which elk often frequent. The key though is that they are usually seen either very early or very late, often when the light is not the best.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask, either by commenting on my blog or by e-mail. I intend to spend most of next week there and should know more about the situation this year when I return. As I explain in the post, it is probably better to go from mid-July on if you are wanting the best chance of seeing calves.

Naturegirl said...

On my word Birdlady! I have been looking at your past posts with sheer delight!
Thank you for those precious photos of Bambi...and what a great job in putting him w/ Thumper! Your photos are mezmorizing!

Naturegirl said...

Helen: Sorry that I didn't comment on your visit with your mother. She is certainly a gift .. at 91!!
Blessings to her.So happy that you had a good visit.

Tina said...

I echo Ruth...Spend as much time as possible with your Mother..those blue birds were a sign of happiness that you both were enjoying at the moment!!
Glad to have you back.. ;-)

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Helen, It's so good to hear from you and know that you are okay. I know you are working hard..

Didn't know that your mother is still alive and in GA. I'll agree that it is very hard to watch them get old. My mother died at age 91 in 1991.

Take care and keep in touch when you can.
Hugs,
Betsy

Unknown said...

Being busy is a blessing ... good to see that you had time to stop by. Summer seems to be the busiest of times.

DeniseinVA said...

I enjoyed reading your post Helen and happy to hear you got down to see your mother.

Roses and Lilacs said...

HI Helen, glad to have you back posting. Too bad your Mom lives so far away. I know you must want to spend more time with her.

I'll stop by and peek at your other blog.
Marnie

Chris said...

Well we missed you too, so welcome back!

John Theberge said...

What a coincidence, I've lived here 20 years and last week I saw the first bluebird ever in my yard. I think it was checking out the nest box but the tree swallows have already started using it.

abb said...

Glad to see you back. Must admit I've been slow getting to all the blogs/bloggers I enjoy. Here's to great success!