Double Humming

Yesterday, my husband and I decided to visit the Eden Mill. The last time we were there we got to see several humming birds. So, we decided to see if we would see them again.

We were not disappointed. there were at least four flying around. Along with the humming birds were many American goldfinches, downy woodpeckers and hawks. A nuthatch made a showing along with many other small birds.

There were many hiking trails, so we decided to try one. One thing we did discover, Don and I need to get in better shape. But, we did have fun and plan on doing it every Sunday, weather permitting.


It was time to leave and we came across some more humming creatures. This time they were humming moths. I love them just as much as the humming birds.

It was a double humming sightings. It was a double blessings.

Hotdog Drain Baby

Since May of 2015, I have been looking forward to going on base to see the  APG's drain baby. This week was no different. With heat of the summer, this hot dog drain baby reminds me how much I love cooking on a grill. Nothing taste better than a freshly cooked hot dog or hamburger, with all the fixings of course.


The first picture I ever took was, this hockey player in May of 2015. It was the start of my love affair with this cute doll.


It was not until some one stole him as spider man, that I made it my mission to learn more about the creation of an icon.


In January of 2016, I came across the family who were responsible for the dressing of him/her in the many outfits. They would not let me take their picture. They took my picture instead and told me the story of the birth of the drain baby. You can read this story from an old blog.
http://dumbosdawn.blogspot.com/2016/01/do-not-tell-anyone.html.

Here are just a couple of my favorites throughout the years.

Shark week June 2016


Halloween 2016


St. Patrick's Day 2016


Dark Vader December2015


The bar, July 2015

If they ever decide to put an elephant outfit on, That will make my year. In the mean time, I will enjoy each trip to base and the joy the hot dog drain baby gives me.

Dragonfly Games

This morning as I walked around the Mariner, I came across several different dragonflies on a bush. They were chasing each other playing their dragonfly games. When I tried to take their pictures, they decided to make me a part of the fun.

One by one each dragonfly landed on my hat. I knew my camera could not take a good picture, so, I took out my cell phone. Before I could take any pictures, they would land on my phone. This had become their new playground.

As I put out my finger to snap a shot with my phone, they would land on it as well. It was such a weird behavior. I have had butterflies land on my head before, but not dragonflies.

Between the camera and the phone I kept taking pictures. They made my day as they played their dragonfly games.

Vacation Over

Another year, another vacation done. I can not believe that it is over. We packed our suitcases for the last time and headed out the door. Tomorrow, we go back to work. It is now just a memory.

The memories I carry in my heart will last a life time. Every vacation has its own stories and adventures. This one was no exception. We might not have seen the moose or the whale, but we did see a lot of new things.

This was a first time vacation. It was the first time we ever stepped foot in New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. It was the first time we went out on an boat searching for whales. We saw for the first time many birds that lives out over the waters, like the puffins. It was the first time we saw so many babies animals as well.

It will take the rest of the year to take in all the cool things and process the blessings. There were some disappointments, like no sightings of even one moose. Yet, with each turn of the car down a side road brought excitement at the discoveries we came across.

Vacation is over. Now we can start making plan for next year vacation. I can not wait.

Two Heart's Desires

These past two days, my cousin and I have had our two heart's desires granted. Yesterday while taking one of the many unplanned side roads just to see what we might see, I had hope to see a black-back woodpecker.

We had just visited a nature center minutes before and they had information pamphlets showing the woodpecker on the front. I told my cousin that is my heart desire. I want to see a black-backed woodpecker.  So, to our surprise there flying from tree to tree was my woodpecker. God had granted my heart desire right away.

This morning while talking about the many babies with mother birds, my cousin stated that she would love to see a loon with babies. This was another thing we had seen at the same nature center. Again, we took another unplanned ride down a road by the water edge.

As we got near the water, she spotted two small birds in the water. we could not make them out at first. The first thing I notice that their heads look like small loons. No sooner than I thought that, the parents came out of the water. No doubt about it, they were loons with their babies. My cousin got her heart's desire.

God loves to give us the desires of the heart. When we allow Him in our lives, He is always ready to surprise us with grace and love. I thank the Lord for our two hearts desires.

Feast Or Famine

These past few days we have not be able to see much in the animal kingdom.  It was as though all the critters have gone to another location. My husband wanted to flagged down a police car and report that a crime had taken place. He wanted to tell them that, someone had stolen all the animals.

Today, as we made our way to our new destination, we kept seeing one thing after another at every turn. The biggest surprise was the many mother animals with their babies. There was several wild turkey, a family of merganser and a golden eye duck family.


There were many birds that I have not seen before and butterfly piles. We turns on roads with a hope of seeing something new and were not disappointed. With the past few days of famine, it was nice to get a feast full of critters.

Whale Or Puffin

Three days ago we got our tickets and got in line to go on the whale and puffin boat tour. Don and I was first in line. We were excited to get the best sits on the boat. The problem, it got canceled the minute we got into line due to dense fog and high waves.

As soon as our cousin met up with us, we headed back to the ticket line and rescheduled for this morning. We woke to a sunny clear day. This time we were not first in line, but the tour was not canceled. We got our seats on the top for better viewing and off we went.

The trip lasted about four hours. I did not get scared or get seasick. Of course the sea sickness pill I took did help. There were all kinds of birds to see throughout the trip. But we did not see any whales. The only picture of a whale is the one on this boat docked next to us before we left.

The tour was not a waste though. I enjoyed the ride and learning about the many whale, birds and creatures that call the ocean their home. We did see a few dolphins and seal lions, but the best thing of all we did see the Atlantic Puffins.

On this one little island lives many puffins, gulls, ducks and sea lions. It was a great day to look for whale, but there were none to be found. It was also a great day to see puffins and there were plenty to see.

A Seal Of Approval

This seal has my seal of approval.

On this vacation, we came across several cool sightings. The problem was, that we were traveling on the freeway and could not stop to take pictures.

We saw a doe with her fawn feeding off her, than we saw a turkey with about seven babies following behind and last, a swamp full of egrets and blue herons. Missed opportunities to get great shots.

Life is like that sometimes. We are moving too fast to see the blessing all around us. Only when we slow does and take the time to listen, that we get to receive God's blessings.

Getting to take pictures of this seal was just that. We were just driving around making stops, taking our time, when we came across this seal. It was a true surprise.

Today, gets my seal of approval. This seal gets my heart.

The Merlin Blessing

Today we had many blessings. It was a good day to catch several birds that my cousin and I have not seen before.  But the coolest blessing was seeing this Merlin on the wire.

I often have to thank God for the little treats He send my way. I believe that when a good deed is done for someone else, God gives back the desire of the heart.

My cousins are always willing to do good deeds without a second thought. There was this couple that we had seen a couple of times while visiting the lighthouses. At the last place they had mention how they were unable to get water from the local store. Without a second thought Marge offer her one of our waters.

After the water was given, we headed off to go back to the hotel. This is when we came across the Merlin. I really believe God rewards when we give with out strings, just from our own heart.

The Merlin blessing was God's way of saying, "Nice job."

It Is The Little Things

It is the little things on the vacation that brings a smile to my face. As we enter the hotel and looked around, there in the bathroom sat this rubber ducky. it was so cute that we just have to laugh.

I love how they sometimes fold the toilet paper at the tip to add a special touch. The way they fan the wash clothes and the towels makes it so pretty, that I almost not want to touch it.

I forgot to take my elephant pillow I take with me to all my vacation off the bed before we stepped out for the day.The hotel that we stayed at before this one, took my elephant pillow and put it on the top of the bed as a nice surprise. It made me smile as we enter the room.

Even though I look forward to the great adventures that my cousin has planned for us, I also look for the little things. It is the little things that make me smile and make the day worth while.

Leno Or Chipmunk Or Red Squirrel

Okay, it is time to vote. Today has been an excited days of firsts. We started the day going on a train ride. As we waited for our turns to get on the train, we decided to have breakfast. There sat Jay Leno with his film grew having breakfast. It turns out that he was riding the train before our filming for his new show. This was the highlight of the morning.


But wait a minute. While I was waiting to get more pictures of the trains, out popped a red squirrel. I do not know the last time I have got to see one must less get a picture of one. She was so cute. I could not keep my eyes or camera off her. This was the highlight of my morning.


Now, wait another minute. Before these two rare sightings, I watch a small chipmunk collect leaves and go down a hole to her nest. Time after time she would come out, head to the trees and with her mouth full of nesting materials  jump into the hole. This was the highlight of my day.

Now, you decide. What was really the most favorite highlight of my Day?

Double Rainbow

You do not need rain to get to see a rainbow. Just a water fall, mist and the sun in the right spot and you can get not only a rainbow, but a double rainbow.

After spending yesterday in the rain filled day, it was nice to have a beautiful clear day to go out and explore the town. It started off visiting a bird sanctuary, than looking for what wild life we could fine. No deer, moose or much of anything could be spotted. We did see a few wild turkey.

When we can not find critters, we are happy to enjoy the other blessing that God sends our way like this double rainbow, a sunny day and time with family.

Take Your Best Shot

One of the most enjoyable thing that I find on each vacation with my cousin is, watching them, along with my husband, taking pictures. They all try to do their best to get the best shot. Of course, I am taking my best shot of them.

There is no position taboo when they are working their cameras. They will lay on the ground, climb onto tables and brave rocky slopes to get the shots.

Today we had to grab our chances for picture taking in between the constant rain storms. The window was shot, but we were able to shot several shots.

Today we all took our best shots. Tomorrow we will do it all again.