Winter

It is mid January, most of states are buried in snow. Here in Arkansas we have no snow. Today is though a typical winter day, gray, hazy. Spending a lifetime in the northern climate of Illinois, snow, ice, and frigid temperatures are the norm. I thought I would miss the winters, I do not miss them. Cold weather seems to go right to my bones anymore. 

I began working out at the fitness center last week. I take a water aerobics class to ease my arthritis. I also walk a mile on the indoor track, I also ride the bike, walk the treadmill. I am determined though to make an improvement  my weight and strength. Arthritis visits every night interrupting sleep.  Mornings it is difficult to get moving. I never focus on my pain or the arthritis, I do not to give into it. I never thought about how much it has detroit my joints, until starting exercising. In the water I lack balance and coordination.. On some excercises I have fallen face down in the water. I have never been a quitter in life, I realize that this will be a benefit long term.
Undoing years of little excercise is difficult. I always thought the physical work I did each day counted. Carrying excess weight, working long hours mostly on my feet, has destoryed my knees. My back is degeranting  and I account that for the two inches in height that are gone.
Pain is constant and at times intense. I have a high pain tolerance, maybe I am good at mentally at not accepting it.

A New Year, a New Start.

The new year has began, 2010 is now  a footnote in history. It was year of adjustment, trials, learning and growing. April marked the official end of my working career, as I began drawing disability.  After nearly thirty fives in Food Service, it ended unceremoniously.  At first I thought I would not be know what to do each day. I have found that most days are busy and I accomplish numerous small tasks each day. Our trials did continue into 2010. We sold the Pontiac in the spring, unable to pay the cost to repair it. Financially we struggle there seems to be more month than money.  Our last running car, that we were nursing decided to permanently retire. We faced the daunting task of finding a car. It was proving to be a financial  mountain that seem unclimbable.  We Prayed about it and trusted God to for an answer. We went to Texas on the bus in October. We visited Betty's youngest son's family  for a week. For a week we put aside our problems. We came home friends met us at the bus stop. We had a surprise that was never expected. God's faithfulness in our lives was proven again. They had us the keys to a little green car. We call it God's car, our Green Angel. We use as testimony to God's faithfulness.

We finished the year with  two hundred eleven spices, four life birds. Our tradition is to start the New Year at Sequoyah NWR. We were greeted by a Road Runner as we entered the refuge. As we drove through the refuge there numerous hunters.That could explain the absence of Snow Geese on the ground.We saw several small flocks in the air fly over. As we drove around the first bend, there are numerous ponds. As I gazed the ponds I spotted what I saw to be a
Canvasback. The coloring did not match that of Canvasback. I looked again to get a better field ID, then it dawn on me it was a Cinnamon Teal. A great way to start the year off with a life bird. As we drove out of the refuge we stopped to look at the Eagles aerie . Mother Eagle was on the nest hunkered down, assuming see was sitting on a egg(s) We had a good start with birds that dine regularly at the feeder and those seen in the field  we began with sixty six species.
On Friday, we decide to venture north to Fayetteville, for a chance to see a Anna's Hummingbird.

He had been a regular visitor to a feeded since October. A couple was gracious enough to allow visitors in their yard to watch the bird. They had even set-up chairs to watch. The wind was biting, we sat in the chairs anticipating a lengthy wait. We had no longer had sat down and he came to the feeder. We were able to get great looks at the Anna's Hummingbird. Why and how he found his way to Arkansas from the Pacific Coastline will never be answered. It is amazing a bird that weighs a mere 0.15 of an ounce, flew that distance and has stayed. My hope that he will be able to survive the harsher weather coming.

This spring will mark my eighteenth anniversary of birding. It began in the spring of "93" at Ryerson Forest Preserve in Illinois.. The leader was Della Hamburg, she was leading bird walks sponsored my Birds Unlimited. With a poor non focusing binoculars,  I started a hobby.
I was aware of birds around me. I had seen and watched a Snowy Owl throughout the winter in Ashland Wisconsin. Never gave it a thought as a regular hobby till that day. The bird that started the adventure was a Red Breasted Grosbeak. I was totally amazed at the blood red bib against its white chest and contrasting black.  That fall on another Della field outing at Illinois State Beach,  was another ahh moment. It was a gray chilly misty morning, the kind just soaks into your bones. Everyone had turned back expect Della and myself. We were rewarded with a Golden Eagle. The beginning days of the of Vic's hawk watch at the Northern Unit of Illinois State Beach. Were great days of learning, watching, counting hawks. The fall to Michigan to a hawk watching site. Able to witness over five hundred thousand  Broad Wing Hawks, swirl in a vortex.
To my first summer here , when I went into Oklahoma to Red Slough. Walking endlessly in the heat  to search for Wood Storks. I was rewarded with a flock fly over my my head. Introducing my wife to Betty to the hobby. The day we walked in shoulder high grass to see Barn Owls.
It hooked her into this great hobby. A hobby that today we share together.
Eighteen years later the binoculars are better. Every Time I use them I reminded of my Dad. I now have a scope, which has added a different dimension and edge to birding. I never tire of seeing a bird I have seen many times, each time I learn something new.

As this year unfolds new adventures await, new trials, new struggles. It will show how faithful God is in  my life. I have God's love, the love of a truly remarkable woman in my life. With that all things are possible.