Saturday, June 05, 2010

Cacophany

Well, not exactly – “disharmonic” or even “dissonance”.

But, definitely very loud! Every morning dozens of birds sing their lungs out – Sparrows (probably house), Finches (we see mostly House), Hummingbirds, Orioles, Mocking Birds, Mourning Doves, sometimes Crows and even Geese! Always, they begin before the first alarm, 5:30am or earlier.  I wish I could identify them all by their calls… I know people who can. I only know for sure the Oriole, Mourning Dove, (Anna’s) Hummingbirds, and Crows.

This morning I decided to “get up with them". I needed to check things on the computer. There are two benchmarks that may or may not be “discovered by us later today when we go to the Outdoor Center behind Irvine Regional Park for the Orange County Girl Scout Recognition Picnic; I have been told to attend; as I am one of the recipients of the “Spot Light Award” this year. I don’t trust the listed coordinates. I use Google Earth and the “to reach” descriptions. One matches – one does not – so – it is a “we’ll see” kinda thing – I have two other sets of eyes to help.

and
Memorial Day 2010 –  

Last weekend was a Saturday that I work half day. Afterward, Foxhound and I went to the Villa Park Towne Centre to grab six Waymarks and add two or three more. Then – there were four more benchmarks I wanted to find and add to www.waymarking.com. THREE of them along Santiago Canyon Road outside Holy Sepulcher Cemetery. I had told Foxhound that parking inside the cemetery was safest – then walk to the three benchmarks. We discovered a sea of American Flags at the Cemetery!!! One stood out as it was MUCH larger than all the others and Foxhound insisted we go to that one.



There, we met Joel K Brattain – Bronze Star and Purple Heart – 21 ½ year old Hero. I took a picture of Foxhound there – it might just replace my favorite picture of her and the white rose…