BUSY WEEK

OK, let's start with last Friday...

Max is a Webelo!

Last Saturday...

Birdwatching Expedition

I was invited to join a group of Okanogan County birdwatchers on their annual tour of the county bird watching expedition. What a great time we had! Wow! This group was so knowledgeable! Todd had the whole tour planned out. We headed up to the Bonaparte area and stopped in several top viewing areas including a burned forest area full of White Headed, Black Backed, and Hairy Woodpeckers before heading to another wooded area where a Great Gray Owl pair were nesting. We stopped along the roadside in other areas to view several other "first sightings" for me; Lewis' Woodpecker, a Long Billed Curlew, a Wilson's Snipe (that was cool...I can't wait to share this picture with the 6th graders who just got back from Snipe hunting at camp), Wilson's Phalarope (so cute), Sora (rarely seen), Bobolinks (migrating from South America), Green Winged Teal, Northern Shovelers, American Wigeon, and Hooded Mergansers (you have to check these out). The list goes on and on, but these were my new and favorites. I only was able to get a couple pictures since my camera zoom is nowhere near the quality of the nice spotting scopes we were using. If you want to check out the species better just click on their names above. Oh, another cool sighting was an Eagle with it's babies in a nest across the lake. Once again, I couldn't seem to get a good picture, but WOW, what a sight through that spotting scope! And to top off the wildlife viewing...we even spotted a badger and a group of Mountain Goats on the drive home.

While I was out with Julia birdwatching all day, Jeff was watching Zoe's last day of the softball tournament (games all day long, as usual). In the end her team ended up placing 3rd in league, 2nd in tournament! We're going to miss the good 'ole softball games (this is Zoe's last year playing, unless she decides to play in high school, which she is currently saying "no" she is going to play tennis instead).

Here is Zoe's collection of trophies over the past four years. See the star on the right? She was awarded an "All Star" trophy this year for being such a stud on the team. She played 2nd base and did an awesome job!

So....after stopping by the field to catch a few minutes of the last couple softball games, I announced that I was heading home for a much needed shower after tromping through the countryside chasing birds. I pulled up at home to find our friend Steve sitting there, a Graduation cake on the table, and balloons and decorations. Jeff planned a little "surprise" and invited a few friends over to celebrate the completion of my masters program. What a sweet heart! Of course he had no idea that Zoe's games would go into extra innings and a second championship game. Thanks Jeff, and Steve!

My New Laptop..Woohoo!

After having issues with a virus, loosing the characters on my keyboard (twice), breaking out all of my USB plugs, and filling up all my memory on my old laptop, I guess Jeff thought I deserved a new one. I've been enjoying my new toy. Here is it, sitting on my new favorite spot on our front deck.

and the bag I bought to hold it (it's a 16 inch monitor, so a bigger, newer bag was necessary).

On a Random Note....

Don't Chili Pepper's drummer Chad Smith and Will Farrell look identical? We were watching the new 80's collaboration band, Chicken Foot, on TV last night and couldn't help but notice the resemblance. Chad was even wearing a shirt that said, "No, I am not Will Farrell." Hilarious. So, this new band is a flashback from the past and includes the bass player and singer (Sammy, later years) from Van Halen, and another guitar legend, Joe Satriani. I had a brother into electric guitars in the 80's so the name is very familiar to me. I don't know....didn't so much care for the music I heard on the Tonight Show last night, but Jeff seemed to be pretty into it!

Just a couple shots from the front deck feeder this week. This year's crew seem to all be calliope (I even got a picture of the female sharing with the male, a rarity), and black chinned hummingbirds.

The rest of the week consisted of:

Tennis Banquet

Girl scout meetings

Cookie Night (we always make giant cookies for the seniors each year)

A Movie Night ("UP", I highly recommend this one. It was wonderful!)

The Circus (Jeff took the kids while I worked on a resume)

Talent Show at Max's School (He did a Magic Act and did a wonderful job!)

Okanogan Days parade (both kids were in it this year with their scout's troops (photos to come)

High School Graduation

I applied for a job in the Methow (we'll see...)

Wow, I'm tired!! Looking forward to camping soon!