And Introducing....

Dnrseekers has a new phlock member.... Cousin Philberto from Mexico. He's a phlamingo on a steeck. (Thanks Jeff Dunham for Jose Jalapeno on a steeck. We know we are totally stealing your joke.) Philberto made his debut at the Fort Wayne Children's zoo  yesterday. So now without further ado, in his world wide debut....

COUSIN PHILBERTO,  A PHLAMINGO ON A STEECK!

Cousin Philberto is not the  most flexible of phlamingos.  That's not his choice, it's just how he is designed.  He's most useful for ground shots. After all, he is a yard stake. 

So last week's adventures included the Johnny Appleseed Festival in Fort Wayne. There had been talk of going to somewhere over the rainbow to a festival in Chesterton, Indiana, but alas...it was not to be. Diane says there is a sock monkey with her name on it somewhere. This is what that festival looked like...

And today's festival was the Bluffton Street Fair. There were weiner races. I bet 200 shrimp on the dog on the left. I lost.

There were weiner dog puppies for sale. The 1/2 to this cutie was for sale, but Rick said NO WAY!

  New phlock members of the phlamingo variety are always welcome, especially if they look like Uncle Philbert. But four legged phlock members have a limit. Diane says sigh...

And just so you know Uncle Philbert has been adventuring also, here he is at the Fort Wayne Children's Zoo...almost becoming a snack for Mr. Alligator....

So with that...

LATER, GATORS!

No Autographs, Please

Whew--my wings are tired!! And you know I love my fans and normally would be happy to at least give you a feather-print, but after all the posing I had to do yesterday, I'm just not up for any autographs. Diane and Rick went to Fort Wayne, Indiana's annual celebration--"Be a Tourist In Your Hometown". It's not actually Diane's hometown, but that didn't stop her! We were all over that town. It's a neat event--local attractions open their doors for free during a Sunday afternoon. Some things that aren't actually "tourist attractions" become just that. For example, the county courthouse and the Lincoln Tower open their doors for tours. Educated employees give tours and explain things...like what the murals mean in the courtrooms or the symbolism in the lobby of the bank building. It was a lot of information for my bird brain to absorb, but that's ok. They provided information sheets too! We got our passport stamped in several of the attractions.

Of course, the city is named in honor of Anthony Wayne, who established a fort here by the river. He is memorialized by a statue in a park...and I decided to ride along...

Uncle Philbert tried to hide in the Japanese Garden--did you even know that Fort Wayne had a Japanese Garden? It's between the Art Museum and the Theater...by a parking lot!

After being coaxed out of the little stone hut, Uncle Philbert  tried to hide behind the time capsule...

There's a very swanky bar in Fort Wayne where reportedly Harrison Ford visits once a year. Uncle Philbert thought he would check it out and get an autograph--but alas--not even open. So much for the autograph!

The "high"light of the day was the trip to the top of the Lincoln Tower. You can see the entire city from there. Uncle Philbert was resting comfortably in his bag, while I took over! I waved hello to my friends the pigeons and just relaxed. Thanks Fort Wayne for a "PHABULOUS" afternoon!

A Tail of Three Festivals

Fall is here...cooler temperatures and a difference in festivals. Last year, Diane and Rick stumbled upon the Middlebury Fall Festival in Middlebury, Indiana. It was wonderful! The downtown area was packed with people, craft booths and FOOD! As it happens, D & R had company with them...the fat poodle Schnickers. Schnickers was on his leash and was very well behaved. He is a bit of a chicken and a MaMa's boy, and if anyone got too close, he would hide behind Diane's legs. Little children asked if they could pet him. For the most part, he would let people pet him, but he stayed awfully close to Diane. In the meantime, D & R went shopping! They sure took advantage of the craft booths and food booths. The beef and noodles were delicious, (or so I've been told. For some reason, my humans don't seem to feed me too often) and Diane bought her sister's Christmas gift, a welcome flag, and a Halloween decoration for her house. Total money spent: approximately $100.  A photographer even snapped a picture of my buddy Schnickers hiding behind his mommy's leg.

Fast forward to another festival...the Marshmallow Festival in Ligonier, Indiana, Labor Day weekend, 2012. Very light attendance. Of course, when one of the officials absconds with over $100,000 of festival money, it makes for a more tense situation. But, the dnrseekers (Diane, Rick and of course, Philbert the Phlamingo!) wanted to support the festival they have attended for years. As timing would have it, Schnickers was with them this time as well. Out of the car, and the "sniffs" were great. We headed for the food vendors, but stopped to get the free bag of marshmallows along the way. Outside the information tent where the marshmallows were, there was a sign that indicated no dogs and no skateboarding. So Diane had Rick stay outside the tent with Schnickers while she went in to snag the marshmallows. Immediately after, it was my turn to spring into action--my photo opportunity was calling--but we were asked to leave because of Schnickers. Turns out it wasn't just the tent--dogs weren't welcome anywhere at the festival.

Rather than take the great photo op, R & D decided to snap a quick photo with me on top of the sign...and then head for Auburn to the Aburn Cord Dusenburg festival. Ligonier doesn't have the only festival in Indiana on Labor Day weekend! As they were snapping an only so so picture of me, ANOTHER staff member asked us to leave because of Schnickers. Again, I only have a bird brain, but it seems odd that a leashed dog on a public street is not welcome. If it was inside the beer tent or where food was being served, it would be more understandable. So we left. Total money spend: $0.

Dnrseekers made it to Auburn in time for the parade. The attached photo is of me and my buddy Schnickers watching the parade.  Doesn't he look harmless?

 After the parade, we wandered around the courthouse square where these absolutely gorgeous, priceless, cars were parked. You would think the owners and festival organizers would be worried about dogs doing business on the tires, but there were lots and lots of dogs on leashes at this festival and no one seemed to care. Although D and R didn't do much shopping, they did indulge in an elephant ear.

I guess the moral of the story is--dog owners spend money. Most dog owners are responsible and know enough to keep their buddies under control when there are a lot of people around. If festival organizers want to keep attendance up, then they should be welcoming of leashed and well-behaved pets.

I'm baaaack!

I'm back and my wings are tired. I've been to Mexico, Ireland, and various places around Indiana. But most importantly, my nest is back to being safe and secure. Both Rick and Diane are waymarking (and even geocaching) TOGETHER and not worrying about human drama.

It's August in Indiana...and this means festival time is in full swing! The state fair is winding down, the county fairs are done, the kidlets are back in school weekends are meant for exploring. There have been some limitations placed on the amount of exploring that can get done, but hey--I'm happy to be out. More to come!

What's a little hurricane?

Philbert here! It's Saturday morning, Labor Day weekend. Rick and Diane are hanging out together...despite Diane needing a garage door opener fixed? (Whatever that might be. I just fly in and out.) There has been debate about what festival to attend...blueberries, marshmallows or cars...It doesn't really matter to me, although my sweet tooth likes the idea of a marshmallow.

Unfortunately, my southern cousins got hit by a hurricane...Isaac was his name. Forecasters are predicting rain leftover from this hurricane will hit Indiana. If that's the case, no fest sounds fun. Do you know how hard it is to dry pink feathers?

My wings have finally recovered. I've been to Mexico and Ireland...that's a looong way for one bird's little wings to flap. There are both visit posts and new waymarks to view if you are into that international thing.

And sadly...my phlamingo buddies that adorned Rick's houseboat...down with the ship. Due to an unfortunate accident last winter, the houseboat is in repair-land. No boat rides for this "phlock" this summer! Sniff, sniff. Tear, tear. Fortunately, my buddies had long legs and could walk away from the seen of the disaster which was in shallow waters. They were starting to fade anyway. (As is this post...)

So--off to double check an existing waymark that someone couldn't find...Wild, I know since the address was actually listed! Then it's fest time...hopefully before Isaac finds his way here to us.

Happy phlying!

Birds of a Feather

Well--things have been very confusing for the Philbert Phlock of late. Actually, the phlock has been separated and there was fear that they might never be reunited. But apparently there are rumors the phlock may be reunited, and even a new Philbert added to the phlock!

See, it all started with a major mix-up with our cousin, Stanley the Stork. Stanley delivered a four month old baby to Diane, and this sent Rick over the edge. The baby in question is actually Diane's grandson. Rick and Diane didn't really explain all this to me, so I'm a little confused on the details. It seems that Rick and Diane didn't exactly spend a great deal of time explaining themselves to one another, except through texts and emails.

But lo and behold, while both of them were in Florida over Thanksgiving, they actually met face to face and had a REAL conversation. And, they took the Philbert to find some waymarks in Christmas, Florida. First waymarking they've done since the last weekend in September. Both of them live in Indiana, and you would think they could have talked there, but no! They had to get together in Florida. And you think I am the bird brain!

The new Philbert says it seems they had a good time and that pictures will follow very shortly. Rick has to get back to Indiana and upload the pics.  The rumor mill says they are still talking to one another, although the great stork mix-up is still something of an issue.

On a personal note--I am very thankful this holiday season that turkeys are the bird of choice, not phlamingos. Condolences to all my distant cousins....

The times, they are a-changing....

Wasn't that Bob Dylan? You know, phlamingos aren't generally known for their singing...so we have to take on other music. At any rate...

Rick and Diane have found out that it is no longer summer! This should be obvious...the piers and boat lifts are coming out at the lake and the festivals have changed in lots of ways. One of the most obvious--the food that is served. It's not summer anymore when you can get hot beef and noodles at a festival and the ice cream truck is abandoned! Ham and beans...soup...fall is definitely in the air and at the fests!

This past weekend was a new event for Diane, although Rick had attended once before. They drove a '78 Dodge van camper from northeast Indiana to slightly southwest Indiana for the Newport Antique Auto Hill Climb. Before the discussion on the actual event....a small comment on the people watching. Anytime a festival gets visited, half the fun is people watching. An the couple of the year award goes to....

The fine young gentleman wearing a Charlie Sheen t-shirt emblazoned with the word "WINNING!" in all capital letters...holding the hand of the lovely young lady with a t-shirt that clearly showed her "baby bump" and a finger pointing at the Charlie fan saying "He knocked me up". That's another change...we've gone from "Baby on Board" or "Baby" with an arrow pointing at the belly to being proud of the phrase "knocked up" and the world of baby daddies. Sigh....

So back to the Hill Climb. This happens the first weekend in October...and a town with a population of less than 600 (and no--no zeros are missing from this...) to over 100,000 visitors. Add at least 1,000 old cars...throw in a steep hill that once was a testing ground and let the fun begin. Definitely worth the time to go. Check out www.newporthillclimb.com for photos and more information. It's great! For just a hint...the following photo gives an idea of the number of cars that are involved...This was only one street. There were LOTS more streets and lots more cars...

Till next time....

Philbert