Bombay Hook, National Wildlife Refuge, near Dover, Delaware

We went to Bombay Hook hoping to see the Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens)  Size..28 inches or 71cm. 

Picture from All the Birds of North America, American Bird Conservancy's Field Guide 

The ranger told us he hadn't seen any yet this year and to let him know if we saw any.  Tom pointed up in the sky as  Bruce and I walked back to the van.  We looked up and there they were, twenty-five snow geese flying in a Vee.  Bruce ran back to tell the ranger.

One year we were here early in the morning and saw thousands flying up  in huge flocks up from the ponds where they had spent the night.  We were a few days too early this year.  The huge flocks had not yet arrived.  

 Tom took a few photos of what we did see...

American Avocets (Recurvirostra americana) 18 inches (46 cm)  in winter plumage...

and Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) 46 inches (117cm)...

 Tom spotted this one up in a tree.

We saw a wide variety of ducks, also.

We didn't see the snow geese on the ponds but the marshes and woods were beautiful.

We went out of the park for lunch and when we returned, all of us attempted a  walk on the trail to Parson Point.  The Green Briar crowding into the trail forced Tom on his scooter to turn back.  Bruce and I pressed on.

Parson Point is a mud flat.  The mud was firm enough to walk on but Tom's scooter would have sunk in it.

And then there was the last part of the trail barely wide enough for person to squeeze through.  This was beyond the Green Briar.

On the return trip, I stopped to see if I could still sit on a tree limb.  Notice the spreading roots.

There was a remnant of World War II along the trail.

The words are decipherable if you click on the photo.

Harris Crab House at Kent Narrows, Maryland

"Kent Narrows", I said.  "I remember that sign from the last time."  We had just driven over the bridge in the photo.  Tom was searching for a seafood restaurant where he had eaten a crab cake he had never forgotten because it was perfect.

A  moment later, he saw the hotel that he remembered from staying there the year of the marvelous crab cake.

It didn't take him long to find the restaurant.

Outside, to the right of where we parked, discarded shells were being sent up a conveyor belt and into a dump truck.

The yellow bins are full of  oysters waiting to be processed.  I assumed these were oysters.  Being from the midwest, I could be mistaken.  I wish I had asked but I didn't want to interrupt someone in the midst of his work.  Next time!

Here is the boat the oysters were brought in on.  They were in the red buckets .

Insert November 26...Beyond the boat was an interesting sign that told me more about oysters.  It was enlightening to read of the ways oysters are a vital part of our world and particularly, vital to Chesapeake Bay.

I noticed another sign yesterday at the grocery store when I bought  the oysters I'll put in the stuffing for Thanksgiving.

Two views from the restaurant windows.

And here is the crab cake.  Tom said it tasted as good as he remembered.

Cincinnati Scenic Railway at the Krohn Conservancy

Tom, Stephen, Ray, and I went to the conservatory's Christmas exhibit this past weekend.  Here are a few photos from the exhibit.  The model above is of the conservatory which is about eighty years old.

Below is about half of the model of the Roebling Bridge that spans the exhibit.  The bridge was opened to traffic between Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky in 1867.  It was declared a National Historical Landmark in 1975.

Beyond the bridge to the left, two bluish towers are part of the model of the Proctor and Gamble General Offices.  The curved bridge visible beneath the engine on the bridge and beyond the closest visitors  is known by Cincy residents as the Big Mac because the actual bridge is painted bright yellow so it looks like McDonald's Golden Arches.

This Big Mac is not painted gold.   Instead the entire exhibit is constructed from natural materials.

You can see the construction materials in this railroad crossing sign.

It is fairly easy to see the natural materials on this hand shaped control for the Thomas the Tank Engine section.

The steamboat is part of another interactive exhibit.   The smokestacks puff out smoke when activated by the handshaped control.

A volunteer told us that every year something is added to the exhibit.  This year the Great American Insurance Company building was added.

Other buildings in the exhibit include the childhood home of William Howard Taft, the twenty-seventh president of the United States (left front) and the Union Terminal (upper right).

Winter Stopped In...But...

Pictures from Tuesday morning.

A winter chore in process.  I had already started scraping when I remembered to take this photo.

The temperatures stayed in the 20s Fahrenheit (-6.6 Celsius) all day.

Wednesday was a little warmer.

But this morning, Thursday, the weatherman has forecast mid 40s Fahrenheit (4.4 Celsius)
And we are already seeing that warm sunshine.  

And most pleasant of all ...no snow or ice to scrape off the van.

Can't wait till we hit the 40s this afternoon.  Winter hasn't dug in yet.

The Annual Carolina Renaissance Festival

While we were in North Carolina we took the grandchildren (and their parents) to the Renaissance Festival which is a little over an hour north of Charlotte.

These festivals are entertainment for people whether they like live shows, music, food, games, shopping, history taken lightly, or people watching.

We were greeted by Renaissance songs at the entrance.

Sometimes it is difficult to tell the visitors from the enactors.

We had no trouble recognizing the queen and her court.

There were some strange sights.

This is one of the eleven stages scattered throughout the grounds, all of which offered multiple shows.

For those who wanted to participate, there were carnival-like games.

Or if you wanted to be more active, you could go up...

and down...

on the Pirates Assault Catapult.

One of the shops...

Afterward you could walk around showing everyone your new finery.

There were educational exhibits like this one where you could learn more about the artisans of the era.  The man closest to the front made his  mail, link by link.

Here is a group of volunteers who educate those interested about the sighthounds popular in the Renaissance era.  You can learn more about the group at

www.HoundsofEastFairhaven.org

There are acts set up in the open areas as well as on the stages.  This is one I liked.

He didn't have business cards, told us to go on-line and type in Cale, juggler from Minnesota.  Sure enough that brings up websites where you can learn more about him.

After a pleasant afternoon, we headed south toward Charlotte.