Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: background

In the foreground is a female Purple Honeycreeper (named for the male), and in the background is a male Green Honeycreeper (named for the female, which is very green). This photo was taken on 16 March 2017, at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, on the island of Trinidad. This adventure was only the second holiday of any kind, anywhere, that I have had in something like 30 or 35 years! The other holiday was a wonderful, one-week trip with my dear friends from England, Linda and Tony, when we went down south to Yellowstone National Park and the Grand Tetons in September 2012. I have had maybe half a dozen weekends away, including to Waterton National Park, which have helped keep me going. Six birding/photographer friends and I decided that we would take this exciting trip together (from 12-21 March 2017), spending the first two or three days on the island of Tobago and then the rest of the time at the Asa Wright Nature Centre on the nearby, much larger island of Trinidad. We decided to take a complete package, so everything was included - accommodation at both places, all our food, and the various walks and day trips that we could choose from. Two of my friends, Anne B. and Brenda, saw to all the planning of flights and accommodations, which was so very much appreciated by the rest of us. I could never have done all this myself! We were so lucky with our flights, as we were just in time to get Black Friday prices, which were 50% off! What a time we had, seeing so many beautiful and interesting things - and, of course, everything was a lifer for me. Some of these friends had visited Costa Rica before, so were familiar with some of the birds. There was a lot more to see on Trinidad, so we were glad that we chose Tobago to visit first and then spend a longer time at Asa Wright. It was wonderful to be right by the sea, though, at the Blue Waters Inn on the island of Tobago. Just gorgeous. The Asa Wright Nature Centre, on Trinidad, is such an amazing place! We stayed in cabins up or down hill from the main building. Really, one doesn't need to travel away from the Centre for birding, as so many different species visit the Hummingbird feeders that are right by the huge, open veranda, and the trees of the rain forest high up the mountainous road. The drive up and down this narrow, twisting, pot-holed road was an adventure in itself! Never would I ever do this drive myself - we had a guide who drove us everywhere in a minibus. I had read many accounts of this road, lol! There was enough room for two vehicles to pass each other, and the honking of horns was almost continuous - either to warn any vehicle that might be coming fast around the next bend or as a sign that drivers knew each other. The drive along this road, from the coast to Asa Wright, took just over an hour each way. I still miss the great food that was provided every single day at Asa Wright and even the Rum Punch that appeared each evening. I never drink at all, so I wasn't sure if I would even try the Punch - glad I did, though, as it was delicious and refreshing. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were all served buffet-style, with a great variety of dishes from which to choose. To me, pure luxury. So very, very grateful to have been invited to be part of this amazing adventure. This is a video that I came across on YouTube, taken by Rigdon Currie and Trish Johnson, at many of the same places we visited on Trinidad and Tobago. Not my video, but it made me feel like I was right there still. Posting the link here again, so that I won't lose it. youtu.be/BBifhf99f_M I also came across the following 27-minute YouTube video of the flora and fauna of Trinidad, filmed by John Patrick Smith in February 2015. youtu.be/6HHBm9MIxnk

All three photos posted this morning were taken two days ago, on 2 December 2017. I drove SE of the city to go to the very first Christmas Market held by the Saskatoon Farm, feeling that I should support it. When I arrived in the area, cars were parked so far along the road leading to the Farm, meaning a long walk. I kept driving and told the guy, who was keeping an eye on traffic, that I needed to turn around and go home, as it was too far for me to walk. He told me to keep going, as there was room much closer to the main building. Sure enough, I found a very handy parking spot. They obviously had a very successful turn-out for their first of two days' Market. After wandering around, including looking to see if there were any old sunflower seed heads or chickens to photograph, I left for home. I was still stressed out over trying to set up an iPad mini that I had just bought, that I didn't feel like driving a bit further south to the Frank Lake area. I've never had a smart phone, iPad or any kind of tablet, and this is proving to be a huge learning curve, despite some help from the store from which I bought the gadget. A friend told me to make an appointment at the Apple Store, for someone to set up the whole thing for me. Did that online last night and will be going in a few days' time, thank goodness. On the way home, I made a last minute decision to turn off the highway and drive in search of a little old church, the Davisburg Community Church. I had seen it for the very first time in February 2016, thanks to the directions given me by friend, Phil.. The church and small cemetery are fenced off, though I did notice one small section of fence along the road had been destroyed – hopefully not by photographers wanting to get a different angle! There is also a No Trespassing sign there. I was able to get two or three angles from the ditch along the road. I could find nothing online about this church, but then Phil sent me the link to a wedding that was held there, showing the inside and outside. greenweddingshoes.com/tiny-white-church-in-a-field-wedding/