Sweet Dawn

I love the sweet smell of dawn-

our unique daily opportunity to smell time, to smell opportunity-

each morning, a new beginning.

~ Emme Woodhull-Bache

Have a beautiful day Friends :)

Mississippi Gulf Coast: Brown Pelicans, Terns & Plovers

These are my last few photos of the Mississippi Gulf Coast, for now.  There's a few more areas I want to visit along the coast, but I'll wait until the weather warms a little.  Picking up from where I left off with the last post, my hubby and I passed through Gulfport on our way home.  As usual, my eyes scanned the beach and shoreline for anything with wings interesting.  Soon, I spotted several Brown Pelicans gathered along the wood pilings of an old pier and decided to join them for a short visit.  

The pelicans appeared quite comfortable where they were- some preened and stretched while others napped.  

A few Royal Terns claimed their spots on the old wood pilings...

Sanderlings searched the shore for tidbits of food...

And a Black-bellied Plover stood silently still for several moments...

With Spring just around the corner, my mind has been busy with thoughts of how I want to landscape my shady back yard.  I see a lot of land clearing and hard work in my near future.  Out with the old piles of dead limbs, pine straw and a couple Mimosa trees I want to get rid of.  In with new plants like Oyster ferns, Hosta varieties, Bleeding hearts and Ornamental grasses.  Spring fever grabs a hold of me in late February and I can barely wait to get my hands in the dirt.  

I hope your week is going well.  I've worked the past two nights so I'm ready for some good, deep sleep.  Have a good evening Peeps :)   

Mississippi Gulf Coast: Ocean Springs Small Craft Harbor

After leaving Point Park in Pascagoula, my hubby and I traveled west along Highway 90 until we reached Ocean Springs then south to the small craft harbor.  With a portion of sandy beach, a couple of super nice piers with covered pavilions and long rock jetties, this harbor attracts visitors of all ages. 

It also attracts a variety of birds,

including dozens of Rock Pigeons...

Double-Crested Cormorants...

American Oystercatchers...

Killdeer (some were hiding behind the rocks)...

Ruddy Turnstones (not a clear picture, but this little couple was snuggling)...

Lots and lots of European Starlings...

And, of course, Brown Pelicans...

There is a pretty view of the Mississippi Sound from the harbor and I've heard the sunsets are spectacular.  Of all the harbors along the gulf coast that I've visited, this one is among my favorites.

If you're ever in the Ocean Springs area, 

a visit to the small craft harbor is well worth your time. 

Thank you for visiting...have a wonderful evening!

Photos taken November 30, 2014

Mississippi Gulf Coast: Point Park

Point Park is a small outdoor recreation area located off Beach Boulevard south of Pascagoula, MS. There is an excellent view of the Mississippi Sound and a long stretch of salt water marsh on the north side of the park.  Shorebirds in season are often seen upon the rock jetties located on the south side.  

My husband and I stopped at Point Park for a little while when we visited the gulf coast in November 2014.  

The first bird to catch my eye was this Brown Pelican, 

which was hunting for fish near the water bank...

There were plenty of sleepy Laughing Gulls resting upon 

the wooden rails and planks of the fishing piers...

The same Brown Pelican, circling around what appears

to be an old construction or equipment site...

A flock of European Starlings flew into the parking area

and decided to rest a spell...

A few mischievous crows were hunting food scraps...

Hundreds of oyster shells are embedded in 

several rocks along the north shore line...

An offshore drilling rig and a refinery (?) located just south of Point Park...

I hope you all have a great start to this week!  

I worked all weekend so this gal is pooped and ready for a little R&R...

will return later and hopefully catch up on reading some of your recent blog posts ;)