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DAVE WROTE: Hi Jim, Here are some pictures for the blog from the last few days. A Yellow Warbler, an American Bittern, a Red-eyed Vireo and some pink bleeding heart  flowers.   We are getting some nice weather. The temperatures have been in the 70s. Dave

I WROTE: Do you know that most of the 30 IBM years gave me an opportunity to work, every day, with key business leaders throughout Europe and United States. They showed me their intelligence, their emotion, their corporate loyalty, and their countries culture defined characteristics.

Do you know that most of the 60 non-IBM years gave me an opportunity to work, every day, with horses  They showed me their intelligence, emotion, bonding traits, physical strength, and their breed defined characteristics. 

Dave wrote: Hi Jim, Here are some pictures for the blog. A male Baltimore Oriole and a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak coming to my feeders. The Orioles love grape jelly. The Grosbeaks come to black oil sunflower feeders. Just before I typed this there were 5 male Orioles at the feeders. It is great to see these colorful birds.   Dave

In Texas (1992-2027), my neighbors were mostly ranchers in Gillespie County’s Hill Country. Our communities were Fredericksburg, Harper, Stonewall, and Luckenbach, with a German-speaking population of 3,000 (15% of the total population). My new friend’s Great Grand parents were the original German immigrants in the 1840’s. My family emigrated from Germany as farmers, 100 years earlier, to the Lancaster Pennsylvania area. Grandpa and Grandma still farmed and spoke German when I was a little boy. I loved those 15 years on the Texas J Bar G Ranch because I had much in common with the neighbors. We both had a background in the culture of a German agriculture upbringing. Here is a piece of photo-art of me at the J BAR G:

Dave wrote: Hi Jim,  Here are some pictures for the blog. In the past I have told you how much I love swamps and marshes. They are great places to bird and photograph some unusual and usually unseen birds. Here are some pictures of a Virginia Rail and an American Bittern. Both are denizens of swampy areas. Dave

I put some of the things I remember of World War II into this photo art. The main thing I put there is how a 5 year old looks at the country’s stress so differently than an adult.

I ran through the house and yard pretending I was a fighter ace. I studied the world map with my Sunday School teacher to see far off places where our church members were stationed as Conscientious Objectors – on the front lines as medics wih no guns – carrying guns to shoot someone is against our (my) religion. Black-out drills in case the enemy came to bomb the near-by mines and steel mills were exciting. Running around in the dark was fun when you were 5 years old and did not have to go to bed. I did not see stress.

My parents saw the stress of World War II, though. They did not pretend they were flying aces, did not enjoy running in the dark, and they worried about our neighborhood boys on the front lines.

Hi Jim, Happy Easter and Happy Birthday. Here are some pictures for the blog. Out in the blind a couple of evenings ago. Two male and one female Common Mergansers came in. I never had mergansers on the ponds before. Here are a few shots. Mergansers are fish eating ducks. Also the last shot is a Wood Duck in late sunlight with color on the water around it.  Dave

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I love the Wood Duck shot! – & Thx for birthday wish.

Mom looking over me and the house where I was born – & – waiting for spring. Dad and Jack, the dog, are there too.

Hi Jim, We are finally getting some better weather. The Wood Ducks showed up yesterday. I was out in my blind shooting last evening. Here are a few shots.  Dave