I saw them before I heard them. On the distant horizon a line of tiny black specks appeared in the crystal blue sky. From their classic ‘V’ formation I knew they were Canada Geese. As I watched, thousands more rose from behind the distant treeline that marked the river, broke into smaller flocks, and circled to get their bearings. Wave after wave flew overhead, filling the sky with their dark silhouettes and the air with their strident, guttural honking.

Looking over the tall prairie grasses toward the Goose Lake Prairie visitors center.

It is nearly 4 p.m. and all around me the prairie grasses of Goose Lake Prairie State Natural Area are turning to burnished gold in the setting sun. I wonder why the geese have waited until the day’s end to take flight. Do they always travel after dark? Perhaps they fly at night so they can spend the day feeding. And why have they waited until January to head south? This seems late to me. Whatever the reason for their late migration, I am grateful to have been witness to this glorious sight. Read the rest of this entry »

Since arriving on the Outer Banks On April 30th I have been enjoying fun-filled days and nights:

• I had severe allergic reaction to the pollen dust, resulting in a sore throat that morphed into a full blown sinus infection.
• My friends all insisted that the weather was warm so I arrived with only short sleeved shirts and did not bring a jacket. I question what they think of as “warm.” The temperature every other day has dipped into the fifties and I ended up sick from the cold (yes, I am now officially a Florida wuss – I finally borrowed a jacket for the remainder of my stay).
• I’ve spent days cleaning up the landscaping at my house, which has been closed up for five months. My back and knees ache from raking mountains of leaves, clearing poison ivy, and carting the pine limbs that littered the yard.
• I am sunburned from lying out on my deck during the few sunny days we’ve had since i arrived (believe it or not, when I am in Florida, I rarely sunbathe because I am always too busy working).
• But the final straw came this afternoon when I was lying in the sun on my deck. I reached down to scratch behind my knee and felt an alarming lump. Gawd! A tick!! Just what I need. I suffered with Lyme disease for five years before they finally diagnosed me. That’s all I need. Hopefully I got to it in time. The ticks have to feed on you for a couple of days to do any real damage and I don’t think it was there yesterday.

I will miss my house when it sells. I have loved living here. It is a magical piece of property where Read the rest of this entry »