I'm a neglectful blogger....

Well, seems like just yesterday it was February *lol*

In March we traveled to Gulf Breeze, FL, and to Fairhope, AL. At Gulf Breeze Celebrates the Arts we were awarded a Purchase Award and saw Suzette Nesbitt-Walker, also a BOMH Juried Artist, of Rowdy Blonde Studio in Reed Spring, MO, receive a First Place award for her outstanding Jewelry. At the Eastern Shore Art Center Festival in Fairhope we spent some quality time with Janet Weilbrenner and Stacy Benesh, BOMH Juried Artists from West Plains, MO, who make Copper Turtles. So we're not the only crazy Missourians who traipse around the country to art festivals!

Cold Mil Fleet in Orange Beach, AL, has THE BEST dolphin cruise! They take out two boats and when dolphins are spotted, they run the boats full tilt side by side which causes the dolphins to jump and frolic and cavort in the big wake between the boats. What a thrill! The best $15 you will ever spend (that doesn't involve hummingbirds). Of course we had "to do" the aviation museums in Pensacola, FL, and Warner-Robbins, GA. We also found the Uncle Remus Museum and ate fried green tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. Towanda!

So with that excitement behind us, we're gearing up for the spring and summer art shows and birding festivals. The Stillwater (OK) Arts Festival is next weekend and that is always a good time (but always windy). The people of Stillwater really support this event. In May we're off to BirdFest Texoma and then the Springfield Old Capitol Art Fair. After Art in the Park in Columbia, MO, June (our favorite show), we'll attend the Wild Birds Unlimited annual conference. Wild Birds Unlimited is the original and largest franchise system of backyard bird feeding and nature specialty stores with more than 275 locations throughout the United States and Canada. Wild Birds Unlimited specializes in bringing people and nature together with bird feeding and nature products, expert advice and educational events and this will be the first conference we have attended since being approved as a vendor to WBU franchise stores.

But the REALLY BIG NEWS here is that we spotted the first Ruby-throated hummer of the season this morning at the feeder!!!!! We've been waiting and waiting and waiting. Yay!

Hummingbird fact for today: You can see the "first sightings" as the Ruby-throateds return to the US on this site http://www.hummingbirds.net/map.html.