-

We have been celebrating Patt's birthday now for several weeks.  We are doing birthdays right.  From REI a couple of Saturdays ago Patt got a new bicycle - a greenway rider- and we have been riding Raleigh's Greenways of which Raleigh has many many miles and is adding many more.

 they are quite nicely paved - which Patt appreciates, as she is not much of a fan of "off-road" riding.  In fact if the salesman at the REI store suggested the bike would do well on a mulch or sawdust trail, Patt wanted a different bike.

 So we are riding the rough roads of the greenway- and it is so nice.  we are enjoying it immensely— they are so beautiful and very nice to ride

 Many of the trails follow Crabtree Creek or its tributaries, crossing and recrossing the waterways often, providing many very nice views here in the middle of the city.

More on the birthday celebrations to come — I have been a bit derelict in posting to the ole blog of late.

in case I did not think I was retired

Earlier this week I went to the annual Retired State Employees meeting/convention that was held in Cary.  Check out the photos.   We are talking a room full of old people.  We are talking gray hair if there was any.

See what I mean.  In the lobby there were there were booths that had things like hearing-aids, insurance, and a guy from Social Security Administration.  The swag was not so hot, a few pens, some letter openers, sewing kit, glasses cleaner, and hand-outs that made me think I sure hope someone is recycling.  No hats, KoozieZ, wine bottle openers or things of use.  

anyway I saw a few people I knew, had a pretty good chicken dinner — no desert — I think they figured we did not need the calories.  Oh,  and Iput the top down on the car when I got ready to leave.  The parking lot was a little  over-represented with Buicks and Toyotas.

a new neighbor - a bird

-

 Outside our back window is a bird house I put moved to this location in hopes of attracting a blue bird.  This fellow and his mate instead moved in.  I have watched them come and go and a day or so ago I saw one of the pair go into the bird house and thinking, I will get a photo when it comes back out as they normally spend a lot of time on the tree and walking around the bird house.

Walking back down the tree

Check out the beak.  I think he is holding a tick or spider.

Delivering the morsel.  and how do I know it is delivery.

Ta Da !  check out the portal.  Mama bird is inside 

I did not know I got the above photo until I was looking at them on the computer.

And now quiz time.  Just what kind of bird is this since it is not a blue bird?  First to get the correct answer wins a prize.  Not the 640 million but a prize.