The Muscovy ducks came back this spring (2015)

Last January I was out walking my dogs and was surprised to see that the   Muscovy     ducks had come back to the area. I had written about them before when they tried to get my cats food last March, 2014  ( cat-trying-to-eat-while-Muscovy ducks-lurk.  ).  Shortly after that post the ducks seemed to have left the area.  I couldn't tell if they had been gotten by some dogs or other wild life in the area or if they had flown off to another area.  Now it seemed like they had flown back to this area to breed again.
   Last year my dogs were just puppies and they weren't used to the long walks at that point so they never really saw the ducks, except when they came to the yard last year. This time as they were walking they got all excited to see them.  Needless to say they wanted to chase after them.  I got my cellphone out and got these few images.

 They couldn't get to that duck fast enough and you should have seen them stop dead when that duck decided to fly off. It was the funniest thing.  I could tell they weren't expecting a duck to just up and fly away. 

A couple of days later we saw the ducks again only this time there were more of them.

 This time the dogs seemed to know better than to try and go after them.

 Over the last couple of months we've been seeing these ducks in the neighborhood.  They walk the sidewalks like they're one of the neighbors and just make themselves at home where ever they feel like.

They are a little more skiddish because of the dogs and I wasn't able to get as good images as I have in the past.

They've been fun to have in the area.  It seems like they've left the area again.  I do hope they will comeback next year.

Here's the link to Wikipedia's information on the Muscovy_duck s.

Easter Chicks -2015

A friend of mine likes to raise free range chickens for their eggs.  She used to have some awhile back but then there was a fox and a neighbors dog that kept on getting them.  The neighbors moved and she hasn't seen the fox for awhile so she figured she get some more chicks to try it again.  We went and visited them when they were 4 days old. It was the day before Easter and they sure were cute to see. These images just doesn't do them justice.

 As soon as someone would sit down they would run to get into the protection of the legs.

 At this point she had all 6 chicks there.  So we could see them she went ahead and stood up. 

 They scattered about and I was able to get a few individual shots.

 The white one was so cute because it kept on following my husband around.   I joked about it being the only young chick he'd probably ever have him follow around.

 Then they started to migrate around to each other.

 I thought it was cute the way they wanted to sleep on top of each other.

 The multicolored one took to me.  And I had a fun time holding it.  They were so small.

 I thought I had finally gotten a picture of all of them together but then realize I was missing one.

 My friend sat down again and they all started to head back to her.  This was going to be the best I could get of them all together. 

Now I can hardly wait until we can start having free range eggs again.  They sure are good. 

Lake Bistineau on 3-28-2015

Last November we visited the lake and it was so dry.  It's been a wet spring and so we decided to go see the Lake again.  I was so happy to see it had filled up again. 

My dogs just having so much fun running around.

This is how the area looked in November

   This the inlet that was so dry.      And over here you can see the water in it.


My dogs were so eager to be able to go out and play in the field, but every once in the while they had to come check in.  Then they couldn't wait until I said okay to play.

 Here's the area in the front yard filled in with water.  This is how it normally looks.  .

 The same direction in November

  Here's the boat dock at the end of March

The boat dock in Nov.

Last Nov. I could walk under the boat house.

In March there is no way I could.

This was looking from the boat dock in November
 
I thought this was a pretty tree  and have taken some pictures of it.
 
Here's that tree in November

 

Here's some more to give you a better idea of how the water has risen.since November 2014.

 The water in March 2015.  You can't even see that barrel anymore.

I guess because the lake changes so much it makes it so interesting to go see it.  You never know what to expect.

With all the rain we've been getting I'm now appreciative that the lake was so low.  It makes me less worried about our area flooding.

Inside the Strand Theater @ Christmas

I love going to the theater and seeing live performances.  There is just something about it that is so hard to describe.    I really like going to the theater that is in our town because it is so ornate and beautiful.  It was built in the 1920's.  It was almost torn down when it had fallen into ruin but luckily there were people in the community who recognized it for its beauty and saved it.
Here's some images I took on my cellphone while waiting for the show to start.  I had pulled it out to turn it off but had decided to just snap a few before I put it away.

Inside the Strand Theater - Shreveport, LA

 If I'm not mistaken - I think these are Tiffany glass chandlers.  Even if they are not I still love them.  They remind me so much of the Art deco style of the 1920's. 

 Here's another one in more light.

 They have these murals on the walls that I really like too.

 Here's another view of the other side.

They sure don't build many buildings like this and it is so nice for us to have it in our community.  I hope it lasts for a long long time and do what I can to support it.

Happy July 4th - here's some photo's of fireworks

I've been out of town and just recently got back.  I've gotten a lot of great pictures but have to get them organized first.  While I was gone I got to see a great fireworks display- one of the best I've ever seen.  So in keeping with the spirit of the 4th of July I'm going to post a few images of them.  There will be more in a later post.
Here's some now to wet your curiosity and for you to come back for more.

Here's the barges on Lake Lucerne, Switzerland where the fireworks were shot from.
We were in a group and one of the couples had this balcony view so we all went there to watch them. 

Lake Lucerne, Switzerland (6-29-2013)

At first the display was on the water near the barges.  That got our attention. The show started right at 10:30 as we had been told.

 Then they sent off them one at a time.  (These were all taken with my cell phone- my regular camera just wasn't fast enough to catch them.  I know some of these images are blurry but I liked them that way- it looked like something you might see from outer-space.)

 Then they had a little break and you could hear the bands playing in the distance.  Next thing we knew they set of a couple of sets of three's.  They were so spectacular and we couldn't tell if that was the finally or not.

Fireworks over Lake Lucerne, Switzerland

 There was a couple of minutes break and then they started to set of some more.  The first ones were predominately white and were beautiful, but the colors ones were even more spectacular.  I was amazed I was able to get any at all since

If you are curious as to what is used to make the different colors in them - see this link at Rosetta stones

 

fireworks over Lake Lucerne Switzerland (6-29-2013)

 They took another break for a couple of minutes to let the smoke drift away.
then they started to set stuff off on the lake again only this time the stuff went higher than before.

And at about 11:00 it finished up with the grand finale which truly was a grand one.

the grand finale fireworks over Lake Lucerne  (6-29-2013)

I got a lot more than these and will be coming back to them again.  In the mean time I hope you have a safe 4th of July.