So many ifs. At this point in life, one never knows what tomorrow will bring, let alone what the next year will yield. For Kay and me, we do know that lying long distances is coming to an end, if it hasn’t already. Consequently, international travel is ending, even though we still have several things on our life list left to be accomplished: touring New Zealand, Ireland, and perhaps Africa. Also, driving long distances is coming to an end, mainly because of somewhat painful sciatica after a couple hours behind the wheel. That impairs our desire to travel to the Mountain West, return to the southwest, anny ifs! d perhaps travel to the Pacific Northwest, particularly by automobile.
Fortunately for us, we have young grandkids who are quite active with sports, theater, and dance, and we’ll attend as many of these activities as possible. Also, we have a number of interests in Hot Springs Village to keep us busy as we’ll continue to play golf and pickleball as much as our bodies will allow. And, of course, there’s photography. Hopefully, wildflowers will begin blooming soon, birds will fly, butterflies will soar from bloom to bloom, and dragonflies will dart about trying to catch their next prey.
The year 2026 promises to be an exciting one, as personal growth continues.
Perhaps because we’re not spending the winter away from home this year, it seems that the current holiday season was unusually long and intense. It’s possible that social activities occurred every day or evening from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve, and those who know me really well know that I’m not a social person. Kay, however, was “busier” than ever. Let’s see: there was Bubbly Lunch and Bingo, Village Big Band’s Cool Yule Concert, Hand and Foot Card night, The Book Club December meeting,
The Book Club, December 2025
Christmas party at pickleball friends house, Court Sports (tennis and pickleball) Christmas Party, Christ of the Hills UMC Christmas Cantata, Christmas celebration with Kay’s family, Communion and Candlelights service at Christ of the Hills UMC, Christmas Eve dinner at the Morris’, and another Hand and Foot Card night. New Year’s Eve ended at 9:00 PM for us. Christmas gift giving was very low key for Kay and me; we have everything we need and virtually everything we want.
Despite all the extra activities, we did manage to play pickleball almost every day, and I played golf on the two Mondays and a non-holiday Thursday.
I only managed to “shoot” (i.e. photograph) four days during the sixteen days. On December 22, 2025, a Tufted Titmouse and a Carolina Chickadee were the only birds willing to pose.
December 23, 2025, yielded a a Carolina Chickadee and Tufted Titmouse, plus a Red-bellied Woodpecker and squirrel.
A Carolina Wren, Pileated Woodpecker, and Dark-eyed Junco were photographed on December 24.
And, an American Crow and Pileated Woodpecker perched on a far away tree long enough to be photographed on December 27, 2025.
The year 2025 was a good one, and we were blessed to not have any major illnesses or accidents. We sadly lost several friends, mostly unexpected. We look forward to 2026, and have few clues as to what the year will bring..However, it’s unlikely that we’ll be able to maintain the same pace as 2025!
The holiday season is in full swing at our house and with our family. Lots of cookies and sweet treats have been made, social activities are flourishing, and many games of pickleball and golf have been played. For me, photography has taken a backseat much to my chagrin. In addition to all of the above activities, I have been spending many hours finishing YouTube videos of our summer trip to Paris and the Swiss Alps.
s the month of December began, Kay made cookies and various sweets almost every day; and I made sourdough lemony blueberry muffins and cinnamon rolls.
Sourdough cinnamon rolls
We traveled to the Memphis area on the first weekend of December to attend a play in which oldest granddaughter Harper had a role and visited with Jenny and her kids while we were there.
From L to R: Harper, Donald, and Jenny
Just a couple days later we attended the annual Hot Springs Village Christmas concert performed by the Arkansas Symphony. And then we attended several junior high basketball games in which grandson Ridge played (did I say he was really good). Kay began her slate of Christmas parties with her social and church groups (United Women of Faith, PEO, and Bookclub), and sang with the church choir in the Christmas cantata.
The Book Club
Meanwhile, I was mostly just along for the ride, though I did post a YouTube VLOG regarding our summer trip to Paris and the Swiss Alps, and specifically the Mainz (Germany) Walking Tour and Gutenberg Museum, and the Walking Tour of Speyer, Germany.
I did make it outside to photograph Carolina Chickadees and Tufted Titmice, but only a few photos were made.
As Thanksgiving day approached, the holiday season, at least for us, slowly accelerates. As always, there will be good times with family and friends, and too much food.
I continue playing golf, as weather conditions permit—yes, I’m a “fair-weather” golfer—and the both of us play pickleball up to four times a week, again as weather conditions permit.
On the Thursday before Thanksgiving, we enjoyed an early Thanksgiving meal with Ron and Cheryl and their immediate family. The occasion was to celebrate Kaden (Ron’s son and KK’s oldest grandson) and Diane’s visit from San Antonio. And then, another feast was celebrated on Thanksgiving day, again at Ron’s, with KK’s family and Cheryl’s family. It’s always good to see family during the holidays, especially the grandkids.
Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving was pickleball play for the both of us—a great way to unwind after all the food and celebration.
I spent a good portion of this reporting period making a YouTube video, “Sizing, Printing, Matting, and Framing a Photo”. This was the 23rd or 24th video created, and though they’re fun to create, they don’t get a lot of views.
Photography has slowed a bit during this transition between fall and winter, as the birds have a lot of natural food available, and don’t hang out in the nearby trees and shrubs. However, on Monday, November 17, a few birds showed up including a Golden-crowned Kinglet, Tufted Titmouse, and Carolina Chickadee.
But the real star of the “show” was a Turkey Vulture perched in an adjacent tree.
Turkey Vulture
A few more birds began appearing towards the end of the month. In addition to the regulars, species observed included a Downy Woodpecker, Pine Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, and Dark-eyed Junco.
It appears that our life has ceased being exciting as we’re settling down, enjoying friends and the amenities Hot Springs Village has to offer. We continue playing golf or pickleball almost everyday.
Kay stayed with the Maumelle, Arkansas, grands Friday through Sunday, November 7-9, 2025, while I kept vigil over the house.
The highlight of the month so far was a stay in Gulf Shores, Mississippi. We traveled to Gulf Shores on Monday, November 10, 2025, and departing there on Friday, November 14, 2025. Helen and Donald Baggett hosted Mary and Steve, Bev and Ron, and Kay and I for the week in a 4 bedroom/4 bath condo on the beach.
We had a delightful time evidenced by the facts that we did not play any board games nor had the television on the entire visit. Helen and Donald were such great hosts.
Great food was eaten, and many stories were shared.The eight of us did play pickleball on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.
After pickleball on Thursday, Kay and I ventured out to Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge, to hopefully find a few late migrating birds. Regretfully, we did not see any, but did photograph Brown Pelicans and Willets.
Granddaughter Aker came to visit for the weekend, and on Saturday, November 15, 2025, she and Kay visited the Mid-America Museum in Hot Springs. She had a great time, and is quite the innovative little girl, definitely with a scientific mind.
The lack of new activities this reporting period reflects a change of focus in our lives towards more community engagement and less travel and adventure.
Sadly, on Saturday, October 18, I attended the memorial service for brother-in-law John Hendrickson who passed from this earthly life at the age of 78. He and I married sisters (in my former life). I did get to visit with daughter Jenny briefly before and after the service.
Otherwise, Kay and I played pickleball or golf almost everyday.
I did manage to take a few photos on October 17, 21, and 31. Most notable among the subjects were a Monarch butterfly during early migration and a Great Blue Heron that hangs around the dock almost every morning, seeking fish or small reptiles for a morning meal.
This Monarch was photographed on Friday, October 17, 2025.
A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was photographed on the morning of October 21, 2025.
And, this Pine Warbler was photographed a few minutes later.
This Carolina Chickadee was just to “cute” to pass up.
As was this Chipping Sparrow.
This skiddish Great Blue Heron visits the shoreline near our house frequently.
The first two weeks of the month were relatively quiet. Most days found me taking photos, and the both of us either playing pickleball, golf, or both. Two notable events were Kay taking a girls trip to Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi, and the two of us playing in the Duffer’s annual member/guest scramble. The Beau Rivage trip resulted in donations to the casino, but overshadowed by a good time with Pam. The Duffer’s scramble was a weird Halloween-themed event with strange rules. Kay and I finished, which was a success in and of itself. Regardless, to say we were and remained blessed is a gross understatement.
I managed to photograph eleven days out of the fifteen of the month. Wednesday, October 1, was the most productive day with several species of butterflies, a dragonfly, and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird captured on digital memory.
Butterflies included Fiery Skippers, an Eastern-Tailed Blue, and a Clouded Skipper.
A solitary Blue Dancer dragonfly was also using the pollinator garden.
And the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were stocking up on nectar for their upcoming journey south.
In addition to the usual butterflies and hummingbirds, a Fence Lizard was hunting for prey in the garden later in the week.
Butterflies have all but disappeared. A few birds came around on Sunday, October 5, including a Carolina Chickadee, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and a Tufted Titmouse.
Few birds came around on Wednesday, October 8. A Tufted Titmouse and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird were the only ones photographed; however, none are shown here.
The only bird of note photographed on Thursday, October 9 was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Though no photos are posted here, a Ruby-crowned Kinglet was observed on Friday.
The season’s last photographed Ruby-throated Hummingbird was observed on Saturday, October 11.
And even though two Ruby-throated hummingbirds showed up early Sunday morning, October 12, no photos were made. These were the last hummingbirds seen this season. However, a juvenile Blue Jay (having a bad hair day) was photographed later in the day.
A Great Blue Heron was feeding along the shoreline on Monday morning, and it was photographed having breakfast. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet was also observed.
The 18th U.S. Hickory Open golf championship was held in early October at Hot Springs Country Club. This tournament annually attracts an international field of golfers who play with antique pre-1935 hickory shafted golf clubs or authentic replica hickory clubs. Most of the golfers dress in period golf clothes, making for an awesome photographic event. Friend Dan and I attended on Saturday, October 4, making several photos.
It was a relatively quiet couple of weeks ending September. Most days found us either playing pickleball, golf, or both. Significant items were Kay’s birthday, her departure for a girls trip to Beau Rivage in Biloxi, Mississippi, and repair of the house deck.
Kay celebrated another birthday on September 23, yet she doesn’t look a day older. Her son took her out to Pancake House in Hot Springs and she immensely enjoyed it. And then on September 30 she and a girlfriend flew to Biloxi, Mississippi, on a gambling junket at Beau Rivage. Also on September 30, a father and adult son removed rotten wood from the rear deck and replaced it with new material. As best I can tell, they did an acceptable job, but he grossly misstated the hours worked (at $55/hour). There was little I could do except pay, but we’ll not recommend him nor use him again.
As temperatures cooled, butterflies and dragonflies were observed less and less often; consequently, I switched to photographing birds.
On September 16, a Tufted Titmouse, Carolina Chickadee, and Ruby-throated Hummingbird were photographed.
A surprise visitor, a Northern Parula Warbler, showed up earning on the morning of September 18, and was photographed chasing, then losing a caterpillar. This is only the third Northern Parula Warbler I’ve seen.
Northern Parula Warbler
The following photos show the sequence of catching then losing a caterpillar.
A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was observed and photographed on September 21, an unexpected visitor.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Another unexpected visitor, a Chipping Sparrow, was observed and photographed on September 26.
Chipping Sparrow
On September 27, a solitary Ruby-throated Hummingbird was photographed.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
An exciting birding day at our place was September 28. On that Sunday morning before church, a Nashville Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Northern Cardinal, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Northern Flicker were observed and photographed. The Northern Warbler was a “LIFE BIRD” and the Northern Flicker was the first-time I had photographed that species.
Lastly, a Brown-headed Nuthatch was observed and photographed on September 29. Nuthatches are often seen going down trees head first, clinging to bark with their strong feet rather than leaning on their tails like a woodpecker.
We were privileged to host our Maumelle kids this Labor Day weekend. They arrived on Saturday afternoon and stayed through Monday morning. As always, we played a lively game of pickleball, and Kay and I were amazed at how much progress Aker has made, getting almost all of her serves in and doing a great job of rallying—is proud for her! And of course, her mother and brother are both super competitive making for a great afternoon of fun.
On September 2, Kay and I traveled to northwest Arkansas to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. We toured Crystal Bridges Museum upon arriving in Bentonville, and continue to be amazed by the presence of such a facility in Arkansas. Afterward, we ate our anniversary dinner at Fish City Grill in Rogers—what a magnificent meal.
The restaurant is owned by the daughter and SIL of a friend of Kay’s, and I can’t recommend it enough. We were comped an appetizer tray and dessert, and the appetizers were to die for!
The following day, we drove to Springfield, Missouri, to tour the Wonders Of Wildlife National Museum & Aquarium. It was indeed a sight to behold, and I particularly enjoyed the nature photography exhibit. We returned home early on Wednesday, September 3, 2025.
On Sunday, September 14, 2025, we drove to North Little Rock to watch granddaughter Aker play volleyball. She did really well, and though her team was outmanned, they still made a respectable showing. As for the rest of the reporting period, our calendar was filled with pickleball, golf, haircuts/beauty appointments, and social activities for Kay.
Butterflies and dragonflies have just about disappeared from the pollinator garden and lake shoreline. A substantial cool front that moved into the area in early September must have pushed them away. Consequently, photo opportunities for these creatures have been far and few between. However, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have ramped up their migration, and we are seeing a lot of immature and mature males at the feeders. In addition, a few birds are beginning to hang out in nearby trees. On the morning of Monday, September 15, a Baltimore Oriole was observed near one of the hummingbird feeders hanging above the deck; regrettably, it didn’t hang around long enough for photos. Kay and I put an orange half out hoping to entice it back, but to date, it has not reappeared.
On Saturday, September 6, a few hummingbirds were photographed.
Hummingbirds were again photographed the following day, Sunday, September 7.
In addition to Ruby-throated hummingbirds, a Tufted Titmouse and a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher hid in the fully leafed birch tree, but appeared in an open area long enough to be photographed.
Birds, butterflies, and dragonflies were not out and about on Sunday, September 14, but a frog was caught “climbing the wall” and a hummingbird sat still guarding his food source.
The first three weeks of August were hot and humid before cool weather made its way to the area. Despite the heat, we engaged in our regular activities. Interestingly, if one looks at our calendar, it is filled with pickleball, golf, haircuts/beauty appointments, and social activities for Kay. We did get to spend time with our Maumelle kids and grandkids, both at a soccer game and during their visit over Labor Day weekend. Also, the pollinator garden is paying dividends as I was able to make photos of butterflies and dragonflies at will.
I spent a great deal of time working on VLOGs (video logs) of our trip to France, Germany, Luxembourg, and Switzerland in late June and July. The last VLOG, “Trier Highlights, and Cochem, Reichsburg, and the Moselle Valley”, seemingly took forever as it incorporated a number of videos along with still photos, maps, etc. These can be viewed on YouTube; just search for DunnGone.
Rather than bore you with ALL the photos shot on August 1, 5, 6, 9, 10, 17, 20, 22, and 27, here are a few photos representing the yard visitors. Each group is in a “gallery” but just click or double click on a particular image to enlarge it.
On Friday, August 1, a Painted Lady, Dun Skipper, Fiery Skipper, Prairie Lizard, several dragonflies, and a Silver-spotted Skipper were photographed.
And then on Tuesday, August 5, a dragonfly and a couple of butterflies (Common Buckeye and Little Yellow) were photographed.
On Wednesday, August 6, a few more skippers showed up.
A Strawberry Clearwing moth, aka butterfly moth, was buzzing around and a Giant Swallowtail made a first time visit on Saturday, August 9.
Another “big” swallowtail (a black version of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail) showed up on Sunday, August 10, along with a Pearl Crescent, Little Yellow, and Halloween Pennant dragonfly.
A week later, Sunday, August 17, a dragonfly, Ruby-throated hummingbird, a little brown kipper, and a Sulphur were photographed.
Friday, August 22, was a special day in as much as a female Diana Fritillary showed up. This rare butterfly (Arkansas state butterfly) has been cherished by people who chase butterflies. It’s the middle top photo. Also, a damselfly, little brown skipper, and “gold” dusted bee were photographed.
On Wednesday, August 27, I celebrated my 76th birthday. It was a relatively quiet day, and the central Arkansas kids and grandkids took us out to dinner. Another highlight of the day was that it was perhaps the best “butterfly” day in the pollinator garden this season. A fresh Monarch, a Summer Azure, and a Strawberry Clearwing moth were photographed, but several other species were observed.
Collection of trails and greenway quotes, terms, acronyms, tools as well as trail publications and presentations and 100s of photos from my bicycle and hiking adventures. .
This journal was begun several years ago, and reflects an accurate record of each day fished. Please enjoy it, and remember that fish are too valuable to be caught just once, and the places they live are too valuable to be mistreated.
Dunngone's Photos and Blog 