Possible target birds - Scotland

I am having a good time trying to decide on a "target bird" for our trip to Scotland - and have decided maybe I will have a suite of targets this time. That will help to insure success!

Here are the birds I am currently pondering (BTW - a target bird is one I especially hope to/try to see):

Whooper swan, red grouse, black grouse, and while-tailed sea eagle

'Tis the Season - for deer!

I just got back from taking Uncle Jerry out for a beer and some pool at Coopersmith's and I came in the house and Mom was looking out the side window by our computer. There were several deer right up to the side of the house eating our euonymus bushes! I love having them around - even if they do trim back our shrubs a bit!

I am getting super excited about our upcoming travels - Minneapolis for Christmas, then Ghana, and then Scotland. Holy cow - how incredible is that! It will be fun to hang out and play some ping-pong, Jeopardy, and cribbage, and drink some homebrew. And then our trips overseas - it makes it seem like I am already retired! See you all soon!

Visit with Grandpa P and G&G S.

I just got back from a trip out to West Virginia and on the way out I visited with Grandpa Pulfrey and on the way back I stopped and visited with my folks. It was good to see them all. Grandpa P. is doing pretty well and you can see his new room in the photo. He has his comfy reclining chair and lots of his paintings and photos there. I brought him some chocolate chip cookies and some sparkling apple cider. Diane and Dick were there and we all visited for a while. It was nice to see Grandpa. After our visit, Diane and Dick and I went out for dinner and had a nice visit too.

Then I worked the week, and stopped off in Chicago the next weekend. Laurel and I went out for lunch at Cafe 28, a Cuban-Mexican restaurant on 1800 W. Irving Park, and caught up on news. She'll have to post a blog entry on her site with her news! Then I visited with my folks and played some pool and cards, and Laurel came over for lunch on Sunday. All in all, a very nice time - I enjoyed seeing everyone. Given the distance, it's important to stop by when I can. Family is the best!