Goose Island and Port Aransas

We’ve been on the road now a couple of weeks. We’ve seen so many different birds – song birds and water birds. Texas and Louisiana are great states to visit in February for bird watching. Many birds stay here year around and the spring migrations is getting going. It’s fun to see a bird you know will be up in the northwoods in a month or so starting a family.

We’re camping at Goose Island State Park. We’ll be here another week or so while we wait for a new axle for our A-liner Camper to be repaired.

 These are two pictures taken at Leonabella Turnbull Preserve on Mustang Island not far from Port Aransas. In the top picture you can see a big group of black-necked Stilts, they looked all dress up in tuxedos. I like the second picture, lots and lots of bird watchers...

 

 

Here in Louisiana we visited three bird refuges along the Creole Nature Trail, LaCassine, Cameron Prairie and Sabine. Saw lots and lots of ducks and beautiful egrets, crossbills and pelicans. It was a beautiful two days. The middle picture is from the ferry on hwy 27, it's part of the main highway.

We're staying at Sam Houston Jones State Park. It's very nice - clean and well cared for with nice walks.

Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico

We finally lost the snow in Mississippi. Here is looks like early spring. Beautiful state to drive through.

I've started this Packer crochet scarf with Hidden Valley wool, very soft and a pleasure to crochet with. I hope to get lots of knitting and crochet accomplished while we travel and admire birds.

One Last Hurrah Retreat

Last weekend was the annual OLH Retreat at Treehaven. So much fun and great to see everyone again. The place is a lovely location for a knitting retreat - or any kind of gathering. The facilities are in great condition and the food is wonderful! Here are some of the beautiful knitting that was shown to the group

North House Folk School

The weather has been cold and rainy but the month has been great! Joe and I went to Grand Marais on the north shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota to take classes. Joe took a photo shoot class with Brian Hansel and I took a Saami Bracelet class with Liz Bucheit at the North House Folk School. Booth classes were super and we had a lovely trip. We even got a little sun on the drive home. We plan on going back!

Crocheters of the Lakes meeting Oct 14 2013

The Crocheters of the Lakes Guild meets at the State Bank of the Lakes in Grayslake, Il  on the third Tues of each month. This is my second visit with them and now I am a member. The picture is a beautiful sampler afghan being proudly displayed by a member. Each block is a different crochet technique!

Off to WI Sheep and Wool_Going over the Bridge

Wine on the Vine

Rows and Rows of Lovely Grapes

Chardonnay, My Favorite

We decided to go the the WI Sheep and Wool by way of Michigan. My nephew is getting married today on a beach in Douglas MI. The weather if fine. We had a lovely two days going the northern route. We stopped on the north shore of Lake Michigan to take a picture of the long bridge in the distance. Lat night we stayed with cousins in Coloma, MI. This south east section of Michigan is the fruit belt and home to many vineyards.

Mackinac Bridge in the distance