Flown Away~

On By cindy knokeIn Birds, Conservation, Flowers, HOLLER HAPPENINGS, MY PHOTOGRAPHS, REVERIES, TRAVEL REVIEWS


Yep, we just did it again. It seems as as normal as staying home.There is so much to miss leaving The Holler.

The year round Holler hummers are brave in an non-conformist way, they choose not to migrate thousands of miles across the Gulf of Mexico, but to stay year round with us at The Holler, despite winter temps that frequently fall well below freezing and could easily kill them.

Other migrating travelers visit us seasonally.


There are four hummers that lived at The Holler year-round this year. These are two of them. They rely on our feeders and bugs to keep them alive year round.

Now we have flown off before the full complement of spring unfolds, missing all The Holler spring has to offer. Don’t worry, family remain at The Holler while we are away, to take care of all our critters including the birds.


I look forward to blogging as I travel and hope you will come along with me.

You make traveling a lot more fun and interesting!

3 Flights, 22 hours traveling time, and here we are,

ready to head further east.

Cheers to you from ancient Athens~
(Please do be patient iwth me if I am slower in responding, or unable to follow your blogs as closely as I would like, due to the realities of travel.)

224 thoughts on “Flown Away~”

  20. Have a wonderful time, Cindy, wherever you are heading. Athens is a great start. Your hummers are brave! Love the fritillary and those blossoms are so delicate!

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  21. We all enjoy your migrations from longitude to longitude, please don’t ever forget your camera. I understand your sadness leaving the Holler; the other residents, subjects of your camera work, may miss you as well.

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  24. The flowers are so gorgeous and of course the hummers look so cute. I am surprised to learn that they decided to hang around even they could not survive the winter. Perhaps, they start to adapt.

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  28. I know the Holler creatures miss you, but your fans can’t wait for the next travel episode. I have never been to Greece but know your photos will be spectacular as always. 🙂

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  29. I suspect with as much galavanting around as you do, there must still be somebody back home to enjoy the Holler and keep those critters flying. Sounds like a win-win situation.

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  35. You are a migratory, animal. What else can I say Cindy. But I certainly understand missing the Holler. Peggy and I left last March to review my 10,000 mile bike trip and missed a whole season of beauty here at our mountain retreat! Enjoy your journey, and of course I will be along with you. –Curt

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  37. Okay I see your mojo was on steroids with this post! You always manage to knock my socks off as it were, but this time my sock flew off all the way into the next county!!! What amazing photos my friend!!! You are indeed a bird whisperer it seems!!! Have a blessed and wonderful time on your new adventure. I pray for safety for you wherver you go. Love and hugs, Natalie 🙂 <3

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  40. Your photos are prize winners as always. I want to scoop up the butterfly and the hummers. I don’t know how you do it. I’m excited for you traveling to Athens. I’m an armchair traveler now so I shall sit and wait to be amazed. 🙂

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  45. Cindy, I’m so thankful for your sense of adventure (whether you’re exploring the outdoors at home or abroad). Beautiful close-ups once again!

    The hummers are back here as well and we do have a small group that stays year round, probably thanks in part to the dense neighborhood evergreens providing shelter! 🙂

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  47. Stunning captures of the Hummers, Cindy. I wonder how many shots you made before you ended up with these beauties … 🙂
    I’m terribly envious of your travels. Sigh. I’m an Aquarius, born to travel and make photos. We should meet at the port of Athens for a cup or a glas. 😉
    Have fun in Greece. I believe this capitol has lots of fascinating modern architecture as well as the iconic “old stones”. Are you touring some islands of Greece as well?
    Wishing you both a wonderful holiday,
    hugs**** from The Fab Four of Cley x

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    1. Yes, it would be wonderful to meet up in distant locale! We will need to compare itineraries to see if we are ever in the same place. We are visiting some of the islands we missed on our last trip here as well as heading into more of Eastern Europe and Croatia. Cheers to you four & all the best to each of you~ <3

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    1. Athens is beautiful. I only see beauty. This is my second time here and I love the city and I love Greece and am so looking forward to seeing more of it. I woke this morning to a beauitful parade right in front of my hotel!

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    1. The most wonderful city! I love it here and I love the Greek people. So helpful to us and there was a big parade I watched from my hotel window today! Heading out for some Spanakoptia now! I <3 Greece!

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      1. Great Cindy – I’m so happy to hear that 🙂 The parade had to do with one of our 2 Independence Days which is tomorrow – from the Ottoman empire!
        Enjoy Spanakopita…lol…!! 🙂

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  54. Cindy, Athens! I hope it is still the way is use to be 15 years ago, the last time I was there. Send lots of pictures!! I envy you, but, have a wonderful time and where are you going next? K. D. 🙂

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    1. I was last here in 2004, so we just missed each other! It seems just as wonderful. We are heading off to some of the islands we missed last time in a few days….Would love to share some photos with you & cheers to you~

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  58. Reblogged this on Smorgasbord – Variety is the spice of life and commented:
    Cindy Knoke is going to be sending us wonderful photographs of her travels including from Greece where she is currently. She has left her beloved Holler with its wildlife and stunning flora in capable hands and shares with us photographs of her home coming to life with Spring.. I am sure we will be treated to some wonderful photography in coming weeks.

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  59. I can’t wait to visit Greece! Be sure that I will be hovering over your blog just like these hummers. Wonder how you managed to capture them 🙂 Have loads of fun!

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  77. Nice pictures.

    Remember; no landing without an aircraft. People will think that you’re Mary Poppins. 😀 Oh supercalifragilisticexpialidocious even though the sound of it is really quite ~

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  81. Pingback: Almost Flown Away – Visual Fling

  82. I will love travelling with you, Cindy, courtesy of the virtual travel company! Re the hummers, are you saying that they would migrate to warmer climes, but choose to stay behind because they prefer your company and your food to flying away with their chums? I wish I could attract some to my garden in the south of England, as I’d look after them very well 🙂

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    1. Laughing. I think they would love it at your house and I know you would love them too! They are just the most awesome family members. They never complain about anything! And yes, they do choose to stay year round. At The Holler, there are the feeders, and oodles of bugs which are a big part of their diet, as well as orchards and lots of flowering plants. But the feeder definitely sweetens the deal! Hummingbird populations are increasing after a period of decline, due to the prevalence of back yard feeders, so I think they are actually important for the species, as long as people keep them clean and free of mold.

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      1. It would be tragic is such a beautiful species of birds died out, so I’m thrilled to hear that their population is flourishing once more, due to the care of some most dedicated people, such as you 🙂

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        1. If you ever visit California, you must come visit them. They are so tiny and yet not the least bit fearful of humans. They follow us around the garden and sometimes when we go for a walk, they come along! <3

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  84. Wow! Athens is one amazing place. Cindy, I admire your intrepid travels with so many wonderful sights to see! Hope you are ecstatic, safe, healthy and careful. . . 🙂 🙂 <3

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  85. Oh, your flowers, 4 hummingbirds and your family will keep the home fires burning, so to speak. . . Enjoy your travels all is going smoothly, Cindy. xo peace and blessings!

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  90. Wow- I do know the feeling. It’s always so hard to leave our little island. When we do, we have so much fun traveling… and then we are also so very happy to come home! Can’t get any better than that. I’m so grateful. Enjoy your time away… cheers… x wt

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    1. So wonderful to hear from you Wendy & you know exactly how I feel. Home does start to be the planet too though, and it’s occupants, human and otherwise, and that is a very nice feeling. Hugs to you my friend~

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  93. Scrolling down to have a look at the treasures I’ve missed.All your posts and your stupendous photographic work is an oasis,a paradise for the beholder!Have a brilliant and creative day,dear Cindy 🙂

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