The very heavy rain we had this week kept
my walk in the woods on the main path.
I did find evidence of someone being very busy!
~
It could have been this guy looking for food...
...a Pileated Woodpecker!
I don't have to leave the house
to view nature though.
My porch sees quite a few...
friendly guys...
looking for food.
Sometimes...
I leave an apple or two .
I know...
I forgot to remove the sticker...
but if he can chew on our cedar steps...
he can probably handle paper too!
An Eastern Towhee and a
Red-bellied Woodpecker visit often...
along...
with these 3 little Downy Woodpeckers,
but today...I think I saw 5.
This one seems to be a little shy...peeping...
before.....he raised up high.
Now...
this little friendly guy was never shy!
It's Dustin Benjamin...
~
our very first.....Grandchild...
and our daughter's first...of 2 sons!
Dustin will be turning 23 on Saturday...
Dustin will be turning 23 on Saturday...
January 30th!
He has always loved outdoors.
He has always loved outdoors.
Maybe it all started...
while sitting on this log...
at a state park.
Climbing trees...made him smile...
it was a favorite thing to do.....
or just sitting outside with that smile...
or just sitting outside with that smile...
in his jeans and yellow shirt...
Yellow hair even made him grin!
Cousin Amanda....and he...
I babysat them both...some days they
Dustin loved riding his bike..
when older....it became a dirt bike!
Yellow hair even made him grin!
Cousin Amanda....and he...
grew up best friends!
I babysat them both...some days they coincidentally...
...dressed in the same colors.
Dustin loved riding his bike..
with training wheels...
when older....it became a dirt bike!
He enjoyed this shiny red sports car too.
Amanda & Dustin...matching clothing again.
Now older....he drives an ambulance!
The fact that he had EMT training
When young...
Dustin and Grant...Brothers
He once carried a huge rock...
~enlarge to see~
When older...
back in the deeper woods...and
Once...several years ago
~enlarges~
The metal container is an oil drum...
It's just a memory I have with young Dustin!
Then came high school...
and friends.....
Happy Birthday Dustin !!!
We Love You
Amanda & Dustin...matching clothing again.Now older....he drives an ambulance!
The fact that he had EMT training
proved to be lucky for me...
I broke my ankle 2 years ago...
when I fell from the steps in the dark.
It was very early in the morning...
before dawn...
when called...Dustin arrived within
minutes...
carried me to the car...
and drove us to the hospital.
All the hiking I do outside...
and...
I break my ankle in our house!
Dustin gets credit for helping me
Dustin gets credit for helping me
become familiar
with the woods that surround
our home.
We took walks together...
We took walks together...
and I learned...the lay of the land.
~
He often led a group of cousins...
and my mother(Grannie) as well.
When young...
he could only go to certain areas by himself.
Dustin and Grant...BrothersDustin was allowed to cross the field
and go down to a creek.
He once carried a huge rock...
up the hill...from that creek.
It now rests on top of others
in the flower garden!
~enlarge to see~When older...
he started exploring...
on his own...
back in the deeper woods...and
other creeks behind the house...
sometimes...I went too.
sometimes...I went too.
Once...several years ago
we found an old pipe...
coming straight out of the hillside...
with water spilling out of it...
into a large metal container...
like a natural spring...I thought!
I was never able to locate it again...
in all the undergrowth...
to show Andrew and Dylan.
Then last week...
in the snow...I found it...
frozen...but dripping.
~enlarges~The metal container is an oil drum...
cut lengthwise...
very old and rusty...
both pipe and drum.
It's just a memory I have with young Dustin!
Then came high school...
and friends.....
they had a few bonfires in the field...
he was a Junior Fire Cadet at the time.
Now...his brother Grant is one.
Dustin even participated in the
training of search dogs in the field once.
He pretended to be lost in the woods...
and waited there...
until rescued by numerous ...
different dogs.
Dustin is a well liked...very friendly guy!
Dustin is a well liked...very friendly guy!
Happy Birthday Dustin !!!
We Love You
45 comments:
Happy Birthday to Dustin, what a proud Grandma you must be.
I really enjoyed your videos of the Woodpecker and squirrel...adorable!
Sunny :)
Happy birthday to Dustin. That squirrel is just the cutest.
Happy Birthday Dustin, what a lovely young man you have grown up to be. So glad you were there to help your grandmother when she broke her ankle and how special that you made many wonderful memories together.....may you always be blessed with love and happiness.
Love this post Wanda, the birds and squirrel are adorable. Grizz had the same woodpecker visit his river side not too long ago I think or one of his relatives.
Have a wonderful weekend, big hugs to Alivia......:-) Hugs
I am constantly amazed and awestruck at your ability to post such beautiful pictures and a storyline that matches. It is like walking along a path beside you and having you narrate as we travel.
You have been blessed with a wonderful grandson - Happy Birthday Dustin.
Happy Birthday to Dustin! What a handsome young man, but more important, what a grand grandson you have! You are truly blessed!
I can't believe you got a picture of a pileated woodpecker! They're so skittish and shy! And I love the first pic of the downy peeking up over the railing...it's perfect!
You are a great storyteller and photographer, Wanda.
I feel as if I am strolling your property with you as you point out the birds and other points of interest - always so relaxing to stroll with you Wanda.
This is a lovely tribute to your grandson Dustin. He sounds like a wonderful young man - and no wonder with such an idyllic childhood. Happy Birthday Dustin.
It's my birthday today, the 29th. 29 on the 29th!!! ;)
Happy Birthday, Dustin!
Your first grandchild is a very handsome young man! And I can see how Blessed you are. And how Blessed he is to have you too.
It's amazing how they grow so fast! It must seem like yesterday to you. It's beautiful, and joyful, and sort of sad all at the same time.
This post really touched my heart.
All my best wishes to Dustin!
Love to you, Wanda,
Eileen
Happy Birthday Dustin!!!!! Wanda I love your little Towhee...they are very elusive around here.
*Sunny...I was lucky to capture the woodpecker!
*Loree...that squirrel visits everyday!
*Bernie...I've read they(Pileateds) claim an area of 100 sq.mi. as their own.
*Gee Rae...Thank you so much!
*Susan...that Pileated didn't stay long, but will be back!
*Bonnie...29!!!you are funny too!
*Eileen...just remember Little Jayden won't be little long!
*Janet...this one is too, but he comes to the feeders and porch in the winter.
Thank Heavens you love wildlife and nature so much because that way I get all these great "gifts" from you...bet the squirrel even thought the apple sticker was an extra special treat, like frosting on a cake!
What a sweet story that Dustin ended up in a line of work that was helpful to his sweet grandma...when he was little you carried him and now he returned the favor! Thank him for me because he helped a good friend of mine, you!
Happy, happy birthday Dustin!!!
blessings and happy hugs,
marcy
Happy Birthday to your Dustin! What a beautiful post to honor him!
Love the birds and squirrel too!
Happy bbirthday to Dustin. The ankle story warms me. You were - of course - a child bride. I love the history of the children as they grow up on the grounds. And I love the apples for the furry wildlife and birds. A woodpeckers visits us every morning. Can set my clock on it.
Walking with Wanda is just how everyone should start their day. You do such a great job only topped by the pictoral growth charts you share of your grandchildren. You certainly have a wonderful family. Great DNA obviously.
Oh my goodness- "Happy Birthday" DUstin, indeed!!!! I SO Loved this post and the tribute to Dustin. Oh Wanda, I so absorb your world of family, nature, and honor and love and of course, the foods you have shared in pictures. I love, love, love your close relationship with your grandchildren - Oh hos I wish I had that with my two that live so far away, for 8 years now. I actually ache for them to be near. 'Thank you' for the warmest feelings I get when I read about and see your grandchildren so close to you. YAY!!!
Love Gail
peace.....
Wanda, This is such a beautiful tribute. Wow. It really blew me away. What am amazing boy/man. What a wonderful connection you have and all the amazing memories together.
This is good stuff.
It makes me happy.
Love all your photos, esp the peeking bird and squirrel with stickered apple!
What a neat birthday present to your grandson, this lovely post. I hope he had the happiest of birthdays.
That looks like a pileated's "woodpile" to me. BTW, one of my woodpecker reference works says the home range (post breeding) of pileateds can measure up to 480 hectares, with a 30 percent overlap tolerance of neighboring pileateds. Unless I've messed up the math, that would work out to be a block of land a bit over a mile and a quarter square.
I hope you marked that old pipe. Unless it's just an old field drain, I bet it's feeding from a spring, and there's probably a collection pool somewhere.
Hey, I see you have an towhee at your feeders. I've never counted one among my feeder birds, though I keep hoping.
Again, congrats and happy birthday to the grandson!
*Marcy...I'm sure it didn't even notice it.
*Thanks Robyn...I guess you have squirrels in Alaska, right?
*Claudia...I hope your ankle healed well.
*Patti...Animals aren't the only thing you are kind too! :)
*Gail...You can express all that love to Gracie(y?) Blue.
Bethany...It was a joy to have him here...made me happy!
Scribe...I know exactly where the pipe is now...won't forget, actually closer than I thought. The Towhee stays closer to the tree line in the summer.
Lovely story of your grandson growing up. Old photos like that make me just a little teary. I guess it's the sense of time passing and the nostalgia. It takes me back to when my own children and grandchildren were younger, and the time has passed so quickly it seems.
I love the videos of the woodpecker and the squirrel. The crunch of the apple as the squirrel nibbled away is great. He must have thought he'd died and gone to heaven.
*Elaine...I learned how quickly it passed with my own kids, and now I wish I could slow it for my grandkids.
Hi Wanda,
I enjoyed seeing pictures of Dustin growing up. It is amazing how the time flies by and our children grow up so fast. Thank you for sharing your wonderful pictures. At first when I saw the tree, I thought maybe a beaver, but there was the woodpeker.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Take care.
Awwww. Sweet Tribute to your boy.
And that pileated????? Wow!!!
Hello Wanda, A special post for a special Grandson - your oldest! Happy Birthday, Dustin! I'm sure glad he was well-trained and could give you immediate help when you broke your ankle. I had to laugh at that hungry squirrel holding the big red apple! Also, I think maybe you have a porcupine nibbling at the tree bark! Thanks again for "my" special stone heart, Wanda - I like thinking of it in your tree.
It was so interesting to "watch Dustin" grow from infancy to a responsible and handsome young man - all in the matter of a few minutes! Nicely done, Wanda.
And the winter wildlife - so fascinating!
Hi Wanda
I am glad that I waited til I came to the computer to respond to your post. The pictures are just delightful. I loved that cheeky little squirrel...
Have a happy day with family
Those are amazing views of your property, Wanda!
I also really enjoyed (as did we all) the fun photos of the squirrel enjoying his snack... I never thought to leave an apple to them (I know they take plenty in the fall from my trees) I'm sure I can find a few to share now in the depths of winter!
Your grandson is a blessing to your family, community and our country in his service!
I know how much work there is to be an EMT, Amanda (my oldest) used to be an EMT in our local squad and at the university. I couldn't believe what she could do!
God bless him & Happy Birthday!
Enjoy your family, Wanda~
~Maria
*Anne...I didn't realize you had children.
*Joan...I'm sure you could have taken a better photo!
*Barb...I like having it there!
*Thank you Rebecca...He's still interesting to be around.
*Delwyn...that cheeky squirrel brought a friend today!
Maria...Thank you for your thoughtful comment, I'm most proud of his kindness!
Wanda, your birthday postings are wonderful, - they create such beautiful memories. A very happy birthday to Dustin, and many thanks to you for a great post.
p.s. How large are the two boxes of Posts cereal that you add to your muffin mix? They look and sound delicious.
Hi Wanda. Wonderful post with all the nature and photos of your son. Wish him a happy birthday from Charlie and me.
Have a great weekend, Charlie says thank you for the birthday greeting.
Cindy
Thank you for recipe info Wanda, - I may have to substitute, but I am surely going to give those breakfast muffins a try! They sound fabulous, - as are your bird pictures.....
Hello Wanda. Happy Birthday to Dustin and Nick both cute and a fine young men.
You are such a loving and a wonderful grandma.
Great photos of your family.
The scenery and critters are amazing
Beuituful post!
Have a lovely weekend.
I really enjoyed looking at all your photos this morning! Thank you for sharing them.
Well Happy Birthday Dustin! What a handsome young man! I know you are very proud of him! Speaking of our ankle situations :-) I am in PT for my shoulder & this time last year I was in PT for my ankle. But this is almost over as the ankle is now a memory & not a pleasant one! Have missed ya & your wonderful and beautiful blog!!!
What a treasure your Dustin is...Happy Birthday Dustin! I love the squirrel...I do not see many here at "Secret Haven" and I miss them. I do have an abundance of Wood Peckers..at least four diffrent kinds, and they love the wood siding we have. Wanda,I love the way you capture the splendor and simplicity of nature with photos and words. I am so happy I found your blog. :) Dee
Nice stories Wanda. I love all of the woods that surround your home. I would love that! I know that you are so proud of Dustin. I hope that his birthday is a happy day! Oh I forgot, I loved the little squirrel too and the mystery pipe!
Love Di
*Thank you Cindy and Charlie!
*You are welcome Hildred.
*Thank you Regina.
*Thank you for enjoying them Cindy!
*Sue...Glad you are back!
*Thank you Dee...I really enjoy your drawings..
*Diana...this spring I will have to investigate that pipe more!
Happy birthday to your dear grandson! He is soo handsome and you must be so proud of him. I enjoyed reading your post. You take some of the best pictures. Thank you for your knd comments and concern for Charli and me. Charli is recovering nicely and back to her sweet little self.
I am a little late in wishing,but a very very Happy belated birthday to your grandchildren. They are both handsome young men! I am so so glad the Naan turned out good. It had to. You are a perfectionist! And so very creative too! I must admit.
Really enjoyed the little bit of information you left as a comment on my blog, and this journey down the years with your grandchildren. They are all SO cute :D Loads of love to you :)
Happy Birthday Dustin! What a handsome young man he is...you must be sooo proud. Can a woodpecker really leave that much debris?
Happy Birthday Dustin! What a handsome young man he is...you must be sooo proud. Can a woodpecker really leave that much debris?
I knew I would have to scroll and scroll... :) (a tribute to your wonderful posting, my friend.)
Lovely...absolutely lovely. You have an incredible blog...I keep saying it again and again....but how else to say "I love being here"...?! :)
Happy birthday to a handsome young man...adventurous Dustin.
Hugs and warm smiles from Jackie
All great memories! I can imagine why he is so well liked Wanda, he looks very handsome and he has the cutest smile ever. Happy Birthday Dustin!!
*Thank you Carol, glad Charlie is better!
*You are welcome Stillness and thank you!
*Yes they can Jenny!
*I know it was a lonnng post Jackie! Thanks!
*Thanks Jientje, he's sweet too!
Happy Birthday Dustin! As you said Wanda, busy month of birthdays. Probably helps the winter go by quickly.
And, again, how lucky your grandkids are to have you.
What a lovely set of photographs of your grandson, he sounds a fine young man and I hope he had a very Happy Birthday. Great bird photos too, you have some very interesting and attractive visitors.
...gosh, Wanda! What a beautiful, beautiful post. You are a wonderful Grandma. Your ability to pick up those little details and pass them on is special. (...and back to the birds. I wish we would get towhees, but I think we are just a bit too deep in the suburbs. We're on the outskirts, but I think the towhees prefer the woods--I do too!)
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