Dear Friends,
Just a quick note today to tell you something funny. When we are at the beach Tío and I spend a lot of time looking at the birds through our binoculars. We identify them and love to watch their behavior. We saw a Great Blue Heron catch a big fish! Here on the island we have seen:
Great Blue Heron
Sanderling
Great Tailed Grackle
Caracara
Snowy Egret
Ruddy Turnstone
Brown Pelican
Caspian Tern
Royal Tern
Gull-billed Tern
Aplomado Falcon
Black Bellied Plover
Willet
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Savannah Sparrow
But, we haven't seen a Piping Plover. That's a bird that Tío has never seen and he's been bird watching for like 30 years! There are only about 6500 of them in the whole world and they only live here on the Gulf coast and on the Atlantic coast. The ranger said he saw a couple of them last week, so we've been looking and looking for them.
The quick way to tell a Piping Plover from a Black Bellied Plover is the Piping has yellow legs. We've been wandering up and down the beach looking at bird legs through our binos. We say "leg check time!" Finally Daisy and I started yelling to the birds, "Do any of you have yellow legs?" heeeheeee! And we told the gulls we would give them a cracker if they could find us a bird with yellow legs. It might sound crazy, but it was really funny at the time and we laughed so hard!
Tomorrow is our last day on this island before we move on, and you can bet we will be looking for yellow legs!
Love,
Kiki
Monday, November 5, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Letters Home Continue
I really did not intend to write another letter so soon, but wanted to share an exciting event. Plus having wifi is a treat and we can't spend all day at the beach, but have to rest and do quiet activities sometimes. ;-)
Dear Clara, and Any Other Friends who would like to read this,
I am so happy to have new friends! Yipppeeee! And I really glad to have someone to talk to about things going on during our trip. Traveling is fun, but it is also a little hard. I kind of miss my own room and toys and the comforts of home. It really helps to talk about that kind of stuff with friends. Last night I REALLY missed home and here's why:
I told you how I was planning to fall asleep with the nice breeze blowing and the waves rolling on the shore, and I did. I was having a dream that I met a talking parrot on the beach. There aren't really parrots here, but this was a dream, you know. He could talk like a real person, not just repeat words, and I was so excited! I wanted to take him home with us and then I could have my own special friend to talk to whenever I wanted. I went to find Tía Meli to see if we could keep him, but someone kept taking pictures with a flash and the light was blocking my way and I couldn't find her. I started to get worried, but then... I woke up! There was lightning all around us. For REAL! It was flashing constantly and in every direction. I have never seen anything like that in my whole life! Never ever!!! I was super scared, and so were Daisy and Josefina.
We jumped into bed with Tía and Tío and hid under the covers, but I could still see the lightning flashes. I had to put a pillow on my head. Then the worst part was Tía and Tío got out of bed and went outside!!! Don't you think that was crazy? It wasn't raining yet, but it was getting really windy and they wanted to take down the awning that we have for shade. I was soooooo worried about them being out there, but they said they wouldn't go out if it was really dangerous. Now I don't think I ever want to be an adult if it means having to be so brave and go out in the lightning to take down the awning! No sir, not me!
They got the awning put away just in time before the rain came and then we all cuddled in bed. Soon Tío was snoring - haha!!! Just like nothing happened. But, Meli said she needed a pillow over her head to get to sleep, just like us kids. I guess adults are not really so brave after all. :)
Your friend,
Kiki
Dear Clara, and Any Other Friends who would like to read this,
I am so happy to have new friends! Yipppeeee! And I really glad to have someone to talk to about things going on during our trip. Traveling is fun, but it is also a little hard. I kind of miss my own room and toys and the comforts of home. It really helps to talk about that kind of stuff with friends. Last night I REALLY missed home and here's why:
I told you how I was planning to fall asleep with the nice breeze blowing and the waves rolling on the shore, and I did. I was having a dream that I met a talking parrot on the beach. There aren't really parrots here, but this was a dream, you know. He could talk like a real person, not just repeat words, and I was so excited! I wanted to take him home with us and then I could have my own special friend to talk to whenever I wanted. I went to find Tía Meli to see if we could keep him, but someone kept taking pictures with a flash and the light was blocking my way and I couldn't find her. I started to get worried, but then... I woke up! There was lightning all around us. For REAL! It was flashing constantly and in every direction. I have never seen anything like that in my whole life! Never ever!!! I was super scared, and so were Daisy and Josefina.
We jumped into bed with Tía and Tío and hid under the covers, but I could still see the lightning flashes. I had to put a pillow on my head. Then the worst part was Tía and Tío got out of bed and went outside!!! Don't you think that was crazy? It wasn't raining yet, but it was getting really windy and they wanted to take down the awning that we have for shade. I was soooooo worried about them being out there, but they said they wouldn't go out if it was really dangerous. Now I don't think I ever want to be an adult if it means having to be so brave and go out in the lightning to take down the awning! No sir, not me!
They got the awning put away just in time before the rain came and then we all cuddled in bed. Soon Tío was snoring - haha!!! Just like nothing happened. But, Meli said she needed a pillow over her head to get to sleep, just like us kids. I guess adults are not really so brave after all. :)
Your friend,
Kiki
A Letter Home
I have been traveling for over two weeks, and really miss my friend, Clara, so I decided to write her a letter. We have wifi here at Mustang Island, but it is too slow to upload photos, so writing will have to do for now. This is really to Clara and ALL my friends!
Dear Clara and friends,
I just wanted to write and tell you that I'm having a great time, but I wish you were here. teehee I know that's a cliche, but it's true! I really miss you. It's fun traveling with Josefina and Daisy, but I really, really wish you could be here, too. Tía Meli feels the same way. It would not have been that hard to fit one more of us in the car and trailer!!! Next time, we PROMISE, cross our hearts and pinky swear that we will bring you along no matter what!
I feel a little bit better remembering the fun we had on our last trip. Remember that cool teepee we found? We played in that for hours! I really think we could have spent the night in there if it wasn't for bears. OOOOOHHHHHH - I shudder to think about them!!! There are no bears here, but there are rattle snakes in the grasses on the dunes. At least that's what they tell us. I'm not really afraid, but I'm not going to walk through those dunes, either.
Today we did a beach walk with a park ranger that knew EVERYTHING about the birds, sea shells, eco systems, water, plants… you name it - he knew it all. He was a big man with red hair and a beard named Mike and I liked him right away because he didn't act like a "know-it-all" even though he does know it all. Oh, yeah, I already said that! *snicker* He was funny, too. Here on the Gulf things wash ashore from all over the world because of the tides. The seaweed on the beach is from the Sargasso Sea way over on the other side of the continent. Stuff comes from South America and the Carribean… It's cool to start looking in the sand. Oh, and there are plastic bottles with holes in them that are turtle bites. The turtles think they look like a jelly fish and take a bite, but luckily I guess they spit the plastic back out. It's sad to see so much trash wash ashore. People need to be more careful about that!!!
I could write about fifty pages to tell you all that has happened, but it's getting to be time for bed. I can't wait to talk to you and show you photos. There is wifi here at the park (obviously, since I'm on my laptop, Duh!) but it is too sl…ooooo…www… to upload photos.
There's a nice breeze blowing through the windows right now and we leave them open all night and can hear the waves. Bubsy, our puppy loves that! I know she misses you, too.
Love,
Kiki
Dear Clara and friends,
I just wanted to write and tell you that I'm having a great time, but I wish you were here. teehee I know that's a cliche, but it's true! I really miss you. It's fun traveling with Josefina and Daisy, but I really, really wish you could be here, too. Tía Meli feels the same way. It would not have been that hard to fit one more of us in the car and trailer!!! Next time, we PROMISE, cross our hearts and pinky swear that we will bring you along no matter what!
I feel a little bit better remembering the fun we had on our last trip. Remember that cool teepee we found? We played in that for hours! I really think we could have spent the night in there if it wasn't for bears. OOOOOHHHHHH - I shudder to think about them!!! There are no bears here, but there are rattle snakes in the grasses on the dunes. At least that's what they tell us. I'm not really afraid, but I'm not going to walk through those dunes, either.
Today we did a beach walk with a park ranger that knew EVERYTHING about the birds, sea shells, eco systems, water, plants… you name it - he knew it all. He was a big man with red hair and a beard named Mike and I liked him right away because he didn't act like a "know-it-all" even though he does know it all. Oh, yeah, I already said that! *snicker* He was funny, too. Here on the Gulf things wash ashore from all over the world because of the tides. The seaweed on the beach is from the Sargasso Sea way over on the other side of the continent. Stuff comes from South America and the Carribean… It's cool to start looking in the sand. Oh, and there are plastic bottles with holes in them that are turtle bites. The turtles think they look like a jelly fish and take a bite, but luckily I guess they spit the plastic back out. It's sad to see so much trash wash ashore. People need to be more careful about that!!!
I could write about fifty pages to tell you all that has happened, but it's getting to be time for bed. I can't wait to talk to you and show you photos. There is wifi here at the park (obviously, since I'm on my laptop, Duh!) but it is too sl…ooooo…www… to upload photos.
There's a nice breeze blowing through the windows right now and we leave them open all night and can hear the waves. Bubsy, our puppy loves that! I know she misses you, too.
Love,
Kiki
Thursday, November 1, 2012
On the Road!
Dear Friends,
We have been traveling for two weeks now, and have camped in the most amazing places. We are now in Corpus Christie, Texas, where is is balmy and warm, with lovely flowers blooming and and birds singing. We know others have snow and there was a hurricane and hope everyone is okay.
I wish I had more time to share with you, but we are just here to do laundry and get groceries before heading off to camp on the barrier islands. But, here's a super quick update.
Josefina had a great time gathering herbs at Trinidad Lake in southern Colorado, and we enjoyed hiking and climbing on the rocks with her.
She was excited to visit the plaza in downtown Santa Fe, which has been a major gathering place for hundreds of years. The buildings are all adobe and of the style Josefina remembers. She loved seeing the church and since it was Sunday morning, mass was being held.
Then we camped in the Valley of Fires! There was no fire, but a long time ago lava flowed through here and cooled and now you can walk on it, carefully! I watched for birds and was surprised at how many actually live in this desert landscape. I had a little help hiking on the lava and avoiding the prickly cactus.
Farther down the way, but still in New Mexico, we visited Carlsbad Caverns. Daisy went on that tour because I don't like the idea of being underground, at least not 750 feet underneath. She said it was awesome and huge. They walked for miles inside, and learned all about it from a park ranger.
Tomorrow we get to begin camping on the beach and I can't wait! I won't be online for awhile, but will be sharing many more photos and stories later!
I hope you enjoyed this quick update and are having fun, wherever you are. :)
Kiki
We have been traveling for two weeks now, and have camped in the most amazing places. We are now in Corpus Christie, Texas, where is is balmy and warm, with lovely flowers blooming and and birds singing. We know others have snow and there was a hurricane and hope everyone is okay.
I wish I had more time to share with you, but we are just here to do laundry and get groceries before heading off to camp on the barrier islands. But, here's a super quick update.
Josefina had a great time gathering herbs at Trinidad Lake in southern Colorado, and we enjoyed hiking and climbing on the rocks with her.
She was excited to visit the plaza in downtown Santa Fe, which has been a major gathering place for hundreds of years. The buildings are all adobe and of the style Josefina remembers. She loved seeing the church and since it was Sunday morning, mass was being held.
Then we camped in the Valley of Fires! There was no fire, but a long time ago lava flowed through here and cooled and now you can walk on it, carefully! I watched for birds and was surprised at how many actually live in this desert landscape. I had a little help hiking on the lava and avoiding the prickly cactus.
Farther down the way, but still in New Mexico, we visited Carlsbad Caverns. Daisy went on that tour because I don't like the idea of being underground, at least not 750 feet underneath. She said it was awesome and huge. They walked for miles inside, and learned all about it from a park ranger.
Tomorrow we get to begin camping on the beach and I can't wait! I won't be online for awhile, but will be sharing many more photos and stories later!
I hope you enjoyed this quick update and are having fun, wherever you are. :)
Kiki
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