Not knowing an Egret from a Heron. My hat from my glove. I get misty.

The pond in back of our new home is a wading ground for two large white birds that I called herons. Pretty close, but I was corrected. “Egrets”. I took the opportunity to take a long distance zoom shot during the steady downpour. Here are the results at a 15Xzoom. I can do better. This from a website on bird identification: Great Egret - twice the size of Snowy Egret. Yellowish beak and legs. “The Great Egret is a large bird, 101 cm long and weighing 950 g. (2lb 1.oz) It is only slightly smaller than the Great Blue or Grey Herons. It has all white plumage. Apart from size, it can be distinguished from other white egrets by its yellow bill and black legs and feet. It also has a slow flight, with its neck retracted. This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks.”

My earliest Googeling circa 1960

My earliest "Googeling" required a Webster's unabridged dictionary, AM Radio and a world globe. The results were sketchy.

No Ice, Nocomo Beach Deephaven

The ice is out. Nothing else is. And why is it called Nocomo Beach? I should do a little research into the name. I gaze out at the chilly waters and the glinting sunset. It is good enough for now.

A new day along the shoreline. Gray's Bay

I am moving to a new home. Just a few miles away. The content of Minnetonka Scenes may be enriched and expanded with wild life photos. Right now we are deep into "the move".

April snow. Wayzata Yacht Club

Hot sauce is on the table. Don Pablos.

Searching for Mexican food, Tex-Mex food , or even“Southwestern” food is futile effort around Lake Minnetonka. But, I will accept bland but fresh, and so it is off we go to Don Pablos'. The food is modest, motiff is colorful, and the ambiance is kind of generic and franchised - but in a pleasant manner.
The walls are smooth and reflect sound. A boisterous group of 40-somethings are talking loudly and their laughter fills the air. Out table is furnished with warm corn chips and mild salsa. Warm sunlight bathes us. We are happy. If you want it spicy, there are bottles of hot sauce on the table.

Gray's Bay Ice out

I about fell into the water taking this shot. More out of awkwardness than the degree of difficulty. Then only this one survived, as my camera suffered frozen batteries. Still the ice encrusted sumac branch tells the story. Winter ice clinging to the branches, and to the lake as the slow melt continues. I expect the official ice out to be in the next day or two with little fanfare as the temperatures dance around 40 degrees in the daytime.

Carson's Bay April 7th. Ice going out......

I think we have a handle on the situation

April first, 2013

The Craniolgy Compostion Company

A new educational facility that has opened in Minnetonka. Balance? Mine is kind of a teeter totter......