March 2012 – Memos for Me

Good news

March 22, 2012

Despite trouble with a story, today was just plain amazing!

First, I will be able to keep my job after July 31. My reporter position is funded through a two-year grant that will expire this August. I’m happy to say I’ll remain as a SDL reporter after the grant ends.

I’m thankful that my bosses like my work enough to keep me, and for a community that has been very vocal to my bosses that they want me to stay. Yay!

What could make my day even better? Well, my flight to Kona, Hawaii, is officially booked! I even got the roundtrip fare at $200 cheaper than I expected.

I will now be spending a full week in this paradise where I’ll have a private stretch of beach behind our townhouse. See the above picture!!

Have you been to Hawaii? If so, any suggestions of what to do?

A squeaky, clean birthday

March 20, 2012

March 20 = the first day of spring and my 27th birthday!

To celebrate, my sister treated me to a soap-making workshop. Would you consider that a hint that I stink? If so, I’ll overlook that scary thought since my sister, mom and I absolutely had a blast at the event.

Morris family — My sister Libby, mom and I.

So, how did we do it?

The state park-sponsored class had it’s 10 participants divided into pairs of two to make five different types of soap. My sister and I got to make charcoal soap (which is good for your skin and clearing up acne). The class also made clove and oatmeal, Base 1, Base 2, and spearmint soaps (which mom made with her partner).

We used the cold-process method, which essentially means it’s easy to make but has a longer waiting period before the soap can be used. Anyways, our recipe called for us to:

1. First, prepare the mold. We took wax paper and covered the insides of our wooden mold box so we would be able to get the soap out after it harden.

Continue reading “A squeaky, clean birthday”

Do you see what I see?

March 8, 2012

Last night, I was sorting through pictures from the Arkansas Post and stumbled across this picture.

I love turtles, which probably stemmed from my sorority days (Delta Zeta = turtles). So when I took the above picture, I focused solely on the turtles sunbathing. Not once, did I not the little guy right beside them. Do you see him? Look a little closer…

It’s funny that I got this picture. Just 20 minutes earlier I was telling a park ranger how I really wanted to see an alligator. Well, I got my wish, sort of.

Bayou Meto WMA

March 7, 2012

Bayou Meto9 — American Coot, aka the water chicken, take off as Izzie and I approach.

The Bayou Meto Brett Morgan Halowell Reservoir Waterfowl Rest Area is only 25 minutes from my house, however, this week marked the first time I have really visited it outside of work.

Bayou Meto1-nothern mockingbird — Passed this Northern Mockingbird on my way there.

Bayou Meto2-Red-shouldered hawk — One of the largest hawks (Red-shouldered) that I have ever seen.

Bayou Meto4-Red-Winged Blackbird — Red-winged Blackbird

Bayou Meto6-wood duck — A Wood Duck paddles by.

Bayou Meto7-Mourning Dove — Mourning Dove

Why I love journalism

March 7, 2012

1:3-2 Arkansas Post Bat — A Rafinesque's Big-eared bat that is in a state of torpor (similar to hibernation) at the top of the Arkansas Post National Memorial visitor center's entrance way.

One of the many reasons I love working at a rural newspaper is the various assignments you receive. Sure, there are several you might not want to do but there are more that you do want to cover. I absolutely love it when my job means heading out to a local park or refuge. For an ongoing project, I headed out to Arkansas Post where I was lucky enough to be the first visitor to spot the above bat. The bat’s called Arkansas Post’s visitor center home for more than a month now. I think it’s pretty cool.

However, it’s not the only wildlife I saw:

OK, this was back at the office. — House Sparrow by my office.

american coot — American Coot (the water chicken)

First signs of spring

March 7, 2012

Northern Mockingbird. I see these little guys everywhere.

RiverKings

March 6, 2012

On Valentine’s Day, I attended my very first professional hockey game with friends. It was awesome, although I was slightly disappointed that there was only one fight.

I can now see how the game can become addicting to watch. My only regret is that I attended my first game so late in the season. I’m working to remedy the situation. Tonight, I’m headed back to Southhaven, Miss., to watch another match-up between the two teams.

The Mississippi RiverKings and the Huntsville Havoc will face off once again tonight. Thankfully, it will be in my presence.

Christmas birds

March 4, 2012

female and male Hooded Mergansers, great blue heron — Female and male Hooded Mergansers with a Great Blue Heron flying in the background. My cousin's husband was especially excited after I asked him to identify the ducks for me. I thought he was going to run out and grab his gun. Yep, I do believe I'm one of the few non-hunters in my family.

I’ve started organizing my photo archive, something I should have begun ages ago. I found many folders that I never posted so over the next few days I’ll post more pictures of past trips I’ve taken and birds I’ve seen during the past few months. Here are some birds I saw on Christmas Day while visiting my grandparents’ farm in Wynne.