May 2013 – Memos for Me

Attending the Special Olympics

May 28, 2013

I attended my first Special Olympics Saturday. The Arkansas event was held at Harding University’s Athletic Center and my 13-year-old cousin competed in three swimming categories. Not bad for a girl who just decided to swim six months ago!

Brittany ended up with one gold, two silver and a bunch of very proud family members. It was a great way to spend the day; not only because of my cousin but also for the other inspiring swimmers.

One girl was paralyzed from the waist down. Her coach would lower her into the water with a float device helping keep her lower limbs afloat. She raced solely on her arm strength and still managed to receive first place.

You could also tell another little girl didn’t care about the medals — she just enjoyed swimming and being around others. She slowly “doggy paddled’ her way across while smiling broadly at the audience.

It was truly awe-inspiring and I’m proud to say I was an attendee.

New visitors

May 6, 2013

A strange chirping woke me up this morning. It was a Rose-breasted Grosbeak — a first at my house. However, he wasn’t alone. It was joined by another first, three White-crowned Sparrows, and eventually a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird. The sparrows and hummingbird returned throughout the day. Not a bad start to the week.

First day of spring (memosforme.wordpress.com)
Bayou Meto springtime (memosforme.wordpress.com)

A Subway stalking

May 2, 2013

I hate cooking. I’ll just let that be known from the start.

With that in mind, it wasn’t really that hard for me to decide to eat out last night and to choose my favorite fast-food place: Subway. It turned out to be a great decision.

Not only did I have a great meal, but I also found a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. It was sitting on a pole just as I got back in my car. Naturally, I had to get closer. I ended up feeling like a stalker as I drove around the parking lot of Subway and a next-door gas station to get a better picture.

Still, I got my picture. All’s well that ends well (at least in this case).

Bayou Meto springtime

May 1, 2013

I typically visit the Bayou Meto Wildlife Management Area in the fall and winter — never spring and summer. I broke tradition this year by taking a late afternoon drive through the area with Izzie. Boy, was I glad I did. There were Barn Swallows, Dickcissels and Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds at the Halowell Reservoir while Indigo Buntings and Blue Grosbeaks lined the roads leading to and from the reservoir. Overall, it was a pretty drive with a gorgeous sunset (see the last pictures).