We decided to rest on Monday, 2/17 and I updated the blog and ID'd some of my new butterflies..There are so many here in February! Wish there were more birds...but we are meeting new people and this morning Andrea from North Austin, Texas (who needed Benadril last night for a sting) and she returned it. She looks 20 (she's vegetarian) and is really 45!! just one encounter...We met Serge from Quebec, Canada and he met people from 30 miles from his home and we had fun listening to them speak their native language (French) to each other. Serge is a teacher and took 5 months off to see the USA! He's going to California to scuba dive.

The rest of the week is summed up in 2 events: 1. David left after a bacon-and-egg breakfast on 2/19 to climb by HIMSELF the Casa Grande Mountain that we are camped under (7500 feet!) He took awesome phone pictures and a video and was back by 2:30pm, to me and Festus' surprise. Festus not feeling well. 2. while David was gone, I noticed a bluish butterfly by the road and when I investigated, I noticed it was a Hairstreak species, but very large! Turns out it was a Giant Purple Hairstreak and it was beautiful. I could not get good pictures dorsally, but will upload the pictures on Monday, 2/24. It's abdomen was blue and orange and it had 4 tails! AWESOME creation!!

Happy birthday to our twins on 2/23 (22 years old!). Mike asked Chelsea to marry him on her birthday!! How romantic is HE! We are very happy for them! Happy Birthday also to my birding friend Rita on the same day! Can't wait to have lunch at our favorite Mediterranean restaurant when I get home, Rita! We left the Chisos Mountains on Friday, 2/21 after spending 10 days there. On our way through Alpine, TX to Davis Mountains State Park!

David paid for 4 nights at Davis Mountains State Park. We got a choice spot at the end of a row surrounded by trees (water and electric, but no sewer... we haven't had TV for a month and no phone signal again). We drove the Skyline drive the day we got there and we were on top of the mountain. Festus saw more deer and got excited! David put out a birdbath dish and the first night it was emptied?? Well, the second night we found out why – three JAVELINA's came to drink and wouldn't leave. We went to Fort Davis Historical Park and walked through the restored buildings. What a place – the Buffalo soldiers were stationed here in the 1800's. We visited the Chihuahuan Desert Research and Nature Center and walked the trails. We went to the MacDonald Observatory on Sunday, 2/23 to look for the elusive Montezuma Quail but did not find any. Oh well.

He rescheduled his parachute jump for March 8 with Bob, so we have to be by Lexington again by then. We plan to leave David Mountains SP on Tuesday, 2/25 and head toward San Antonio so we can attend Pastor Hagee's Cornerstone Church on Sun, March 1, and also bird several areas until March 8.

week 6 – David drove 367 miles this week! 1 new bird – #6 Black-chinned Sparrow (Chisos Mtns birdbath) - 6 so far. I also identified 18 new Butterflies!!