01.01.2026. HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026!!!!!!!!!!

Before we know it, the calendar year has changed once again!

Drove out to Winthrop to watch the firework display over the Boston Harbor. I also did this last year and have an unobstructed if not far distance view for the display. I love fireworks so I am happy to drive to see them. And I have a parking space readily avail there, so it is worth the midnight journey. 

It was a cold and windy night but everyone was in good spirits. There were fewer people there this year, most likely the wind off the harbor sent a chill through most people. 

Boston skyline, Boston Harbor and Logan airport. There was a lot of airplane activity, they must have had a true birds eye view of the firework display.

Gunnarr and Shorty enjoying an early morning New Year's Day romp in the fresh snow. It is a cold morning but they both enjoy running and playing in the fluffy snow.

My sweeties. Would be lost without them!

Gunnarr has the best sense of smell. He can smell a treat, a gopher or deer better than any of them.

Snow tastes good!

Remembering our little lost but not forgotten Fionnegan. They were quite the pack. It is really good to see Shorty and Gunnarr establishing a very close bond now that Fionn is gone. This is taken on 01/01/2025.

Wishing you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year 2026!

Until next time.............

This is one of my all-time favorite birds - the blue footed booby. It was the Bing wallpaper for today 01/01/2026, taken by screenshot. 

12.30.2025. Let it Snow!!!!!!!!!!

We had a white Christmas, just like in the song. It was a wonderful day with lots of presents for my boys (thank you Auntie Diane) and me. I cooked and baked and lights and candles were lit in every room. Christmas music played and we all sang. The house was festive inside and out! We made up for the less than ideal situation last year when the house was under construction and there were minimal decorations.

A festive wreath on the front door - we'll wait to see if our Carolina wren or the house finch makes a nest here again. I will remove the bow and decorations before Spring but leave the wreath if it is still in good condition.

The roses from my birthday remained in excellent condition and added a nice touch to the living room.

  

One of my favorite ornaments. This one was from our family Christmas tree when I was a girl. I have carried it with me for many years and many moves.

An early morning romp in the snow. Both Gunnarr and Shorty had fun. Gunnarr ran all around the yard at top speed and so I went with him as he ran all around the fence, up and down the slopes and boulders. Shorty walked the yard, too, but very carefully. He has had a few sprains, so I think he is very aware of slipping.  There was a lot of white fluffy snow so they both had a good time.

Gunnarr sniffs at just about every inch of the yard, searching for those underground critters. There is at least one in the yard based on the mounds and tunnels we have. 

Shorty loves rolling in the snow. 

   

Gunnarr seems to get cold a lot sooner than Shorty. When he was done running and sniffing all along the fence, he ran back to the porch. He also willingly went back inside the house, so I know he must
have been a bit chilled, even wearing his gorgeous winter coat.

He is also a handsome dog. Look at those eyes.

Shorty loves the camera and is always ready for a close-up!

Running at lightning speed early in the morning.

Christmas morning unwrapping presents. There are more such pictures on Shorty's blog.

Outside lights with Shorty and Gunnarr.

We also run around outside late at night too!

Morning at the crack of dawn. Lights still shining!

We are very much enjoying our Christmas week. And yes, this nativity scene is well away from dog or children access!

And yes, we are missing my spirited Fionnegan very much. He loved to explore even as a puppy. He loved climbing snowbanks but always making certain I was close-by him. He was about 10 weeks old in this photograph.

Every morning while brushing Fionnegan's and Gunnarr's teeth I would ask them if they dreamt of puppy dog angels. Now I explain to Gunnarr that Fionn is with the angels and that he is a puppy dog angel. Gunnarr and Shorty at times still search for Fionnegan.

Gunnarr and Shorty are napping so very close to each other next to Fionnegan's bed. They have a new and stronger bond and are just precious together. Now they are never far apart.

Hoping you all are enjoying happy holidays. And may a special angel always keep you safe. This one has been my tree top angel since the early 1980s. 

Until next time..........................

12/2025 Brazil Birding and Wildlife Viewing

Had the opportunity to participate in a birding excursion this year. It was a great trip as part of Rockjumper 7 continents 7 year program. I have never been to Brazil so this was a good option for including South America. We traveled in the Mato Grosso region birding in the Pantanal and Chapada do Guimaraes. Our local guide was Leo, who is superb and a delightful person. Our Rockjumper guide was Alex who also is an excellent birder and photographer. I would bird with both of them at a drop of a hat!

We saw many beautiful birds and some very exciting animals. I am including photographs of this adventure. 

The hyacinth macaw is beautiful, entertaining and endangered. The color is truly magnificent.

I see you, too!!!!

They seemed to enjoy being photographed! Or at least they enjoyed the attention!

Just simply a beautiful bird. 

One of my favorite little blue birds is the dacnis, even with the blue feathers, he was hard to find and photograph.

I love hawks and this savannah hawk was just gorgeous. 

He was being mobbed by a much smaller bird - the hornero. I could have watched them all day!

Rufous hornero.

Bran colored flycatcher. He was sitting pretty.

Red-and-green macaw. Watched them fly though the valley - simply beautiful birds. So you see the pair in the next photograph?

Blue crowned trogon.

Red legged Seriema with nesting materials.

Grayish baywing.

Ruddy ground doves - a bit cold! Cute little birds! It was hot for us and cold for them. Their feathers are fluffed to keep them warm.

Pair of campo flickers.

Rhea walking and squawking.

A trio of cute parakeets in a tree.

Cocoi heron fishing.

Purplish jay.

Ringed kingfisher - one of my favorites. I think I really like blue feathers!

A capybara with his own traveling blackbird!

A guan drinking from an improvised bird bath.

Kiskadee.

We saw a few potoos. It is really hard to distinguish them from the tree trunk.

Another favorite little bird was the saffron finch - hard to miss with those pretty yellow feathers.

 

Yellow blue macaw.

Chestnut-eared Aracari

Crested caracara.

Burrowing owl.  I see you!

Bare-faced Curassow.

Yellow tufted Woodpecker.

White eyed parakeet.

Peach fronted parakeet.

Jacana reflection in the river.

Jabiru Stork with nesting materials.

Kestrel.

And then there were the mammals and reptiles. We saw many capuchin monkeys.  What an adorable face.

Look at that pink tongue - he was just finishing a snack.

A Momma and her baby.

A red deer (brochet) with cattle egret. 

Brown deer (brochet)

Capybara family.

And a swimming capybara.

South American Coati.

Saw quite a few alligators - this one on the path where I was walking. No need to tempt him. I moved away.

There was beautiful scenery including sunrises and sunsets and flowers. 

Sunrise.

Pink flowering trees.

Mountains and a valley.

Water lily 

Fox.

 Many pretty flowers. 

 White bugs!

A handsome white horse. 

Storks and a sunset.

But one of the most incredible experiences was seeing 7 jaguars. What a fantastic treat.

We watched this one hunting river otters. He did not chase them, just stalked them.

 

  

  

Fellow birders and guides. Yes, those are cows in the field.

Our guides - Alex and Leo.

Brazil - a beautiful country with many wonderful people.  Definitely worth another visit in the future. 

The end!

Hope you enjoyed my journey to Brazil. 

Until next time..........................