Can't get enough...

Well, I can't, maybe you can or have. God forbid I ever fall passionately in love with one of my own species; someone will have to steal my fingers and shoot my computer. Four perfect orchids in bloom and I'm mesmerized.

And yes, another wonderful time out of time with the flamingo! With Ann & Linda, we got to watch him feeding, and FLYING! This time we were watching from above further up the road. We were actually on the way out when Ann glanced over and there he was, majestically flying from one side of the pond to another. Of course the camera was back in my bag...but I did get some shots of him feeding and a mini video...

I swear there are differences in the photos!

Tomorrow is Mother's Day. Since we all had one somewhere along the way, amazing, great, good, not so bad or not so good. I like to think we're a combination of all of that, falling more heavily to one side or the other. Some of the best mothers didn't birth any children, but had mother hearts and mother breasts and mother wings to tuck in waywards. So here's to the mothers of the world, who love as best they are able. Give your mom a call, or just remember to say happy mother's day to the women in your world as you go through your Sunday.

The municipality puts on a Mother's Day celebration tomorrow with everyone invited. Seven years ago, I moved here on Mother's Day. My daughter Sarah was born the day before Mother's Day 33 years ago. It's a good day for me and I'll be raising the glass high and remembering the mothers in my life. Hope you do the same.

Magic Monday continues

As not quite promised, here are some menu suggestions for Cinco de Mayo, which, as you know, is one of the biggest party holidays celebrated in many, many places with most people not having a clue as to why it's celebrated. But that's not my problem, I've told you most of you (all 7!) about this holiday every year now for a long time and frankly, if you don't remember the story yet, please drink responsibly! Although (you knew I couldn't resist shoveling a little history, didn't you?), this writer has a very current take on what will probably go down in Mexican history as the year of the most famous and least celebrated Cinco de Mayo (and if this photograph doesn't make you crave some Mexican food (that's cabrita, baby!), I give up. Photo credit: Paul Howell)

When I titled today's post Magic Monday this morning, I just had a whiff, maybe it was only a hopeful whiff, that magic was in the air. I don't think I'm the only one around here who could use a little magic right about now, and the universe delivered.

After I got home from the cart, I had a phone call. It was Linda, somewhat breathlessly asking what I was doing and to get ready, because she had a big surprise for me and would be coming over in 10 minutes. Now, I don't know about you, but I don't get calls like that very often, so I tried to just go into Zen mode and not think. Do NOT think one of your kids is here, or your brother. Do not think Linda found out we really DID win our Kentucky Derby bets. A very long ten minutes later she showed up calling, "Bring your camera!" We headed back to town but then turned toward Flamenco...and then turned on the back road going to the Mullecito, where Linda led me into the woodsy area and told me to go down the path. And there, in the lagoon/pond, was the most beautiful, most bright, most big flamingo! Yes!! The first one seen there in 53 years!

Complete magic, right there. He (or she, can't tell) strutted and fed, ignoring us, ignoring the two cars full of people up on the road on the other side, just strut and stroll. On the little beach in front of us a plover (I was told it's a plover and I'm believing it) did a little 'oh I'm hurt, come catch me' dance to protect her eggs laying there on the shore, in the open. After a while of shooting photos, oh and ahhing we left her to her potential babies and I've been playing with the pics ever since. I hope you can get some sense of how...remarkable this bird is. In the wild. Alone. Hopefully the first of many. But even if not, magic happened today. Thank you, Linda, for listening to the urge to share it with me!

(I should have made it larger, I'm seeing now, but I'd be posting this at 3 am! I'll put solo pics up later)

(don't forget to click to make the pic bigger!)