6/29/09

Fourth of July on the Charles River with the Boston Pops



Summer barely started, and already the heat wave has swept across the Tennessee Valley with up to 100 degrees Farenheit one day last week. Up north, it is a different story. New England was experiencing temperatures in the high 50s, with lots of rain. Hopefully, we will all get a break from mother nature when America celebrates its birthday on the fourth of July.

Boats anchored on the Charles River awaiting the July 4 celebration

Boston Pops July 4 concert and fireworks
We love a good fireworks show, so July 4 usually find us among the crowd somewhere. Our marina actually puts out a very good fireworks display (fireworks are legal in TN), but each time we were not around. This year, we will miss it again as we opt to enjoy the festivities with Pops on the River in downtown Chattanooga.

Our favorite fourth of July celebration of all times is our beloved Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular on the Charles River. The last time we celebrated July 4th in Boston was in 2000. Here's a clip taken from our old Mai Thai back then. Enjoy and Happy 4th of July!


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6/23/09

From eggs to ducklings in 24 days

As promised, here is the video of our duck and ducklings.

With a view of the nest so close to home, we had the opportunity to monitor the mama duck for an entire month. We learned a lot about the female mallard duck. She laid nine eggs, one a day. Only seven hatched. Sadly, we missed the part where the ducklings jumped from the nest to the water. Who would have known that they leave their nest a mere one day after hatching? The ducklings were so tiny, but boy, could they swim.

Aren't they adorable?

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6/22/09

We got ducklings!

Recently I got several comments on the posting "Fowling around the marina." Several readers were curious as to when the eggs will hatch. Folks, I got your answer today.

When I left the boat this morning, Marie the mother duck was nowhere to be seen. It was a tad unusual as she has been on her nest everyday for over three weeks. I returned around noon. She was back on her nest, and everything looked normal.


Several hours later, I peered out the window. Was I surprised to see several tiny duckling heads around the rim of the flower tub! My husband and I grabbed our camera and video camera and dashed out the door, all the while trying to contain our excitement for fear of scaring Marie and her ducklings. Of the nine eggs, seven have been hatched. Here are some pictures of Marie and her babies.

I had read in the USGS website that the incubation period for mallards typically lasts 25-29 days. They were pretty much on target. It has been 24 days.



Click on the pictures to see them in more detail. The video will be in the next posting.

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From eggs to ducklings in 24 days

6/18/09

The Bonnaroo and the CMA Music Festivals in TN

As I mentioned in my last post, music, live music, is the vibe in Tennessee. Last weekend, as Chattanooga was bringing its nine day Riverbend Music Festival to a close, two others were starting up - the four-day CMA Music Festival in Nashville, and the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, 60 miles southeast of Nashville.
concert on the riverfront (Cumberland River)
Like the famed Woodstock Festival, the Bonnaroo is staged on a 700-acre farm. You can bring your RV and camping gear here. Since it started in 2002, the Bonnaroo has grown from a festival featuring jam bands to a diverse array of genres that includes indie rock, hip hop, country, bluegrass, folk, gospel, reggae and other alternative music. This year, an impressive lineup of artists includes Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Buffet and the Beastie Boys.
these guys stopped at our marina after spending the weekend at Bonnaroo
Nashville calls itself Music City. And no wonder. Everywhere you turn, music is in the air and in your ears. All over town, there are clubs after clubs with musicians playing darn good live music. Every June, country music's biggest stars perform day and night here at the CMA Music Festival. Fans can get up close and personal with their favorite artists. Great times, indeed.

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6/5/09

Riverbend Music Festival in Chattanooga, TN

The vibe in the state of Tennessee is definitely music. From the blues and rock 'n' roll in Memphis to blue grass and country in Nashville, music fills the air as you travel from one end of the state to another. Then there's Chattanooga, which rocks to everything, from Riverbend to RiverRocks, two top festivals in the scenic city. If you're visiting the city by boat during these festivals, make your reservations early as slips are limited in the downtown marina.

Earlier this evening, it officially opened its largest annual festival - the Riverbend music festival. The nine-day festival takes place along the waterfront in downtown, with live performances from more than 100 artists on six stages.

This year, they include favorites like Wille Nelson, The B-52s, The Commodores and Little Richard.In years past, Riverbend is associated with sweltering temperatures in the 90s. Today, the weather was nice and cool, with temperatures in the mid 60s! I'm sure Willie Nelson didn't mind as he took the stage tonight.

Chattanooga waterfront

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