New Year's Eve - A Time for Reflection

May we all reflect as well as these Sanderlings.

This evening we are going out to dinner at a local South Abaco bone fishing club followed by a bonfire on the beach with neighbors.  If we are lucky, we will see the fireworks from Cherokee Sound and from a new resort at Winding Bay, just north of us.

Happy New Year to All.

Tables from beach wood - Abacos

Beach Wood Tables 

Made from boards found on the beach.

These tables were made of wood that drifted onto our beach. The top is simply plywood. Because of this, the table legs have great character. The tables were built by Steve Roessler, our neighbor, and Joe, my husband.

The bowl shown on the table is made of Tamarind wood, also found locally. The bowl was carved by another one of our neighbors, W. Stephen Knowles.

One of the special things about being down here in the Abacos is having time to really appreciate what is available, locally.

Happy Holidays

Our Christmas postcard this year was taken on the beach out front of our home at High Banks on Eight Mile Bay, Abacos.  The snowmen are a gift from our son-in-law's parents who live in Boise, Idaho.  That snow globe plays a great version of "Frosty the Showman".  Merry Christmas, everybody.

The Night Before the Night Before Christmas

Today the ocean is so peaceful.  These are late afternoon photos taken of the beach out front. 

Joe and I took a walk today and followed the quiet, shallow waters at low tide.  Baby bonefish were everywhere, as was one lone baby barracuda, sliding through the water like a silver knife, shadow below his belly. 

We were awestruck with the calm.

One of our heighbor's children came out with her father to take care of the dogs while her father fished.  She was having fun running with the dogs, chasing them, picking things up and tagging along with her Dad.  Her playground is huge.  The silence is enormous. 

Heavy Traffic on the Beach

One of my favorite birds are the Sanderlings (Calidris alba).  These little ones feed on the sandy beaches.  When the waves hit the shore, the Sanderlings run around them, never getting wet, even though they are so close.  They never seem to move their head or body, just their legs. I would guess that they may take as many as 5 or 6 steps per second so their legs look like little blurs as their bodies float by.  I can walk with them for long periods of time, but if I pick up my camera to take a photo, they fly away.

One of our neighbors here at Bahama Palm Shores, Ann Capling, did a painting of them that we have hung in our hallway.  Part of her painting looks like this.

The Sanderling tracks are everywhere on the beach.

If this were the only beach traffic we got, it would be wonderful.

"Jingle Bells" Parrot Style

Their feathers don't match the song.  These parrots are beautiful to look at with their bright green, yellow and orange feathers.  But they sure could use a singing lesson.  I posted their song for you to hear

Birds in our Backyard

We are going to participate in the December 18th 2010
Friends of the Environment
 7^TH  Annual South Abaco Christmas Bird Count


I thought it a good idea to start reading up on what we might see and found this great report from the Cornell Lab or Ornithology that talks about all the birds in our area here in the Abacos.
Birding in Bahamas - Spring 2009 Living Bird, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Hanging out the laundry to dry in the backyard is a joy. There are the sounds of parrots squawking and the chatter of little birds of various sizes at times perched on branches just a few feet away from the clothesline.  They are so close that sometimes I duck when they fly by.  If I come out early in the evening, the Night Heron screams at me and rushes her feathers hoping to keep me at bay.  I hear her at night from time to time as she squawks at other intruders, I guess most likely feral cats.

Took a Walk, Met a Crabby Friend

He got up and greeted me..

Then, I went on my way.

It's the same sun, but.... a different temperature.

New York Sunset.

Abaco Sunrise.

Starting tomorrow,  I am  moving to the Abacos for the winter months.  I wonder if there are any bananas on the banana tree?

Hastings High School and Hudson River

To all you graduates out there, this is what the school looks like from Hudson Heights.  The  Hudson River dominates the background. We can hear the distant cheers from soccer games, football games and of course, the first day of school when all the seniors show up to scream and shout and bang on drums notifying the school system that they are only here for 8 more months.



Here is a larger view of that same scene showing Hastings-on-Hudson and its High School from Hudson Heights. Our children walked to and from school every day with their books on their back, trombones, trumpets, violins in hand.  The trip was straight up and down.