First Round of Golf

Ah, Spring.  Really cold at first, but Dave Shipman, John Yeomans, Bill Daley and I attacked the first 9 at Squirrel Run, and had great fun.  I had three pars, which really encouraged me.  I have a few vids which I will attempt to install on the blog.  Here goes.

All four drives on the green!

At Mama Mia's tortellini soup, and no, we didn't wear our hats during dining, only for the pic.

Alex: First Ferry Ride to Boston!

As Alex and I sat in Miko's for breakfast (French toast for him, Egg beaters scrambled for me) we discussed what we would do for the day, and the subject of "Mighty Machines" came up (me: "we could watch two?" and he: "how about twenty!?") and then the discussion turned to his favorites, and the ones with ships in the harbor came up, and a spur-of-the-moment idea: why don't we go ride a ferry?
So off we went to Hingham, just on the chance that there might be one available, and magically, one was leaving in 15 minutes. I cannot tell you how excited he was!  And when we got on, it was worth every bit of the long drive over, to see him so delighted.  We went on top briefly, but it was cold (and no hat for Alex!) so mostly we stayed inside.  From the airport to Boston we went on top again, just so he could get a good look at the planes coming in, and the water taxis, and beautiful tugs.  Only one large container ship in, and a huge barge being pushed by an ocean tug. 
The horn blasted and he got a little scared, and wanted to go back down, which we did.  There was also a great "Rough Water!!" moment when we passed through the wake of another ferry.
All in all, a great adventure for both of us.

Here she comes!!  (Pant pant)

A rare "selfie"

A beautiful day on the ocean.

I don't see Boston in this light very often.
I am also distressed that the ferry from Quincy has been discontinued.
That was my favorite way to get to the North End for dinner.
Ah, the romantic trips Susan and I have taken to "Mama Maria's"  etc.

Look how fast the water goes by!

At the airport.

There goes the other Ferry!

What is better that tugboats

That horn is loud!!

Getting a little tired from all the excitement

The Custom House, where Susan and I celebrated her 60th. birthday

A huge ocean-going tug and barge

I'm ready for lunch and a nap, now

Final Post Brevard, NC

Here is some miscellany from the Brevard trip.  I've just finished my concert with the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and I can begin to relax for a few weeks.  What a concert. It included Bernstein's "Prelude, Fugue and Riffs" and "On the Town" Suite, (the "Prelude" is an eight minute masterpiece of jazz as thought of by Bernstein, and it is fantastic to see him conducting, on Youtube, a pick-up ensemble from New York in the 50's with Erbie Green, Bernie Glow, etc, the cream of the New York studio musicians of the time. Also on the ASO concert was the Blue Danube, and the third mov. of the Tchaik. 6tth.  What a great night for Bass Trombone.
So I am winding down at the computer doing this blog about midnight.

Late nightfall on the Blue Ridge Parkway

A view of Cascade Lake right below Don's home

The celebration at the "Twin Dragons" after the concert at Brevard College

Norm Trotter and his lovely wife

Hopefully, Don will write and identify every one for me.
This is Matt, Mary, Jay (in front) and Mary

The upper falls above Bird Rock Falls.  I had never seen this before, and Don took me there on my last morning.

Bird Rock Falls



Don's resident Black-throated Green

Don's house on Cascade Lake Road

The Yellow-throated Warbler

A mural in downtown Brevard, Don being cool

Jackson and Oliver birding

This morning I took my two oldest grandsons out to Duxbury Beach for birding.  It is such a pleasure to do so, they seem so interested, and really excited at seeing a bird through the scope.  We saw 42 (!) species, which is really good for April.  We saw:
Robin, Junco, Cardinal, Goldfinch, Grackle, Red-winged Blackbird, Chipping Sparrow, Titmouse, Blue Jay and Cowbird (all at the feeders before we left) and then at Duxbury Beach:
Mockingbird, Song Sparrow, Black-capped Chickadee, House Finch, Great Egret (first for the year), two Snowy Owls (!) still hanging around, Osprey, Brant, Willet (first for the year) White-winged Scoter, Surf Scoter, Black-backed Gull, Rock Dove, Mourning Dove, Herring Gull, Common Eider, Laughing Gull, Mallard, American Black Duck, Common Loon, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, American Crow, Double-breasted Cormorant, and then at Daniel Webster Farm (where the group from SS Audubon caught up with us) Canada Goose, Tree Swallow, Phoebe, Hermit Thrush, Wild Turkey, Vulture, Ruby-crowned Kinglet

A few photos from the trip

The first Snowy of the day

First Great White Heron for the year

And the first Willet

House Finch

And the second Snowy of the day, perhaps 20 yards away on a Saquish cabin

Unusually high surf

Tree Swallow

Asheville Botanical Garden

Very early, cold, but some signs of life. 
Tom English was my guide, and hopefully he will write and give name to the ones I have forgotten.

Bleeding Heart, just past its peak

A very early Fire Pink

This may be the Trillium "Stinkin' WIlly"

Trout Lilly

A Chestnut-sided Tohee
The mountain people call this a "Joree"