Our World, My World

 Happy Monday everyone,

Time to say good bye to August, tomorrow I will welcome September.  I am still not sure where August went, I just know the days and month are in the past. I hope all my blogging friends are safe/survived the Hurricane Laura, chaos and the wildfires.  My world is pretty calm.  Moving right along I am sharing a recent hike at the local Hemlock Gorge. This area is part of the Prettyboy Reservoir watershed. We hiked the trail along the Gunpowder River to a small waterfall which is surrounded by tall Hemlock trees. 

 Views of the trail and the Gunpowder River.

 One section of the trail and Gunpowder River.

 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails

Wildflowers and butterflies seen along the Hemlock Gorge trail.  I think the pinkish plant is Joe Pye weed?

 The Louisiana Waterthrush can be found along the Gunpowder River. We also had a quick look at the Belted Kingfisher as it flew by.

 Views of the Gunpowder River, Eastern Wood Pewee were heard often, Waterthrush and Goldfinches. I also saw and heard the Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe  and the Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.

 These 2 Goldfinches almost blend in with the yellow flowers.

 Louisiana Waterthursh, I have seen these birds on previous hikes in almost this exact spot next to the river. Maybe their nest is nearby?

 Goldfinch mosaic, these birds were enjoying the wildflower seeds.

Back near the parking area we saw this tiny Ring-necked Snake. They say juveniles are around 8 inches, this one was thinner than a pencil. It was black in color and had the yellow band. This was the 2nd day in a row where I almost stepped on a snake.

One last look down the river, there was a rope or wire hanging low over the river. I do not remember that being there the last time we walked here. 

We are still staying close to home, our walks/hikes are done locally. Deer hunting season will be starting soon, I think it starts the middle of September.  We will have to change the places and fire roads we walk on, avoiding the bow hunters. Saying prayers for peace in our country.   I hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy.  


What's happening in your corner of the world? Please check out and visit the following memes and links. I hope to see you there.


 
Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi  the host of Our World Tuesday!

Thanks for visiting and commenting, have a happy day and a great new week!

Saturday's Critters # 350

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!


Hello and happy Saturday!


If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!


I have more butterflies to share and my Ruby-throated Hummingbird, both are always a joy to watch. 

 The Ruby-throated Hummingbird, I see a female guarding the feeders lately.  She will sit on a branch where she can watch over 3 different feeders at the same time. 

 I've been seeing a few bunnies in our yard. They just look up when I come outside, they watch me for awhile and then they go back to their eating.

Below a Fritillary Butterfly and a unknown Swallowtail.  There is a list of Fritillary Butterflies, like the Gulf Fritillary and the Great Spangled Fritillary. 

There are actually 3 Swallowtail Butterflies that are mostly black in color and look similar to me. They are the Eastern Black Swallowtail, the Spicebush Swallowtail and the Pipevine Swallowtail. 

A female Ruby-throated Hummingbird watches over her family and the feeders.

I have a family of bunnies in the yard, I sometimes see at least 2 of the bunnies eating something in the grass.

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtails are the most common butterfly I see in my yard.

Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post.


Here is  my linky: 

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the host Anni.

Happy Thankful Thursday

 Hello, everyone!

I am sharing photos for another throwback Thankful Thursday. Photos are again from my archives. They are images from past trips, happy memories for hubby and I.  We like looking back at trips, wishing we could travel to some beautiful place right now.   I had to renew my passport, it was expiring soon. I renewed the passport at the USPS office closest to me, this was done back in the middle of June. I finally received my new passport this week. Traveling out of the country is not about to happen any time soon, most countries do not want people from the USA visiting because of the Covid virus.

I wish this virus was gone. For now I am thankful to be  safe, healthy and happy.  

I am always thankful to see the beauty around me.  The Oregon Coastline is beautiful.  In 2012, hubby and I visited Cannon Beach in Oregon.  I loved seeing the famous Haystack Rock.

Previously our endangered species were being protected, now the current administration has weakened the Endangered Species Act.  

This is a view of the Hoh River, Olympic Nat'l Park Washington State. Our national parks are special places, great for exploring nature. I am thankful for the National Park Service for taking care and protecting these special places.

Rio Grande Nature Center State Park, Albuquerque New Mexico. The Cottonwood Trees were just beautiful.  This was a 2013 trip to New Mexico/Texas

We took the Lady of the Lake ferry to spend a few days in the North Cascades Lodge in Stehekin. This view is of the North Cascades and Lake Chelan, Washington in 2010.

  Below a view of the bridge from Deception Pass State Park, May 2017

 While we are being distracted by other things, there are national parks  at risk with mining, gas and oil drilling. So far the courts have stopped some of abuse of our protected federal lands. Our leader is far from being a great environmental president, more like the opposite. 

The Grand Tetons Nat'l Park.  

Key West Florida sunset in 2013.
 

Sunset at Presque Isle State Park, Erie Pennsylvania, 2017

 Hobe Sound Beach Florida 2019

 Landscape Arch, Arches Nat'l Park in Utah  2008

 Hurricane Ridge, Olympic Nat'l Park in 2015

I am thankful for all our national parks, they were created to protect and preserve these lands.  The national parks are not for the current administration to lease out or sell the land for mining, the oil and gas companies tearing up the land. I often wonder about our country's future. What will be left of our country, for our children and grandchildren?



Since we are staying close to home, I have been enjoying looking back at our travels and archived photos. I am thankful I have my external hard drives sitting next to my computer for quick access.  I hope you enjoy!

I hope everyone take care and stays safe. 

Live simple and be happy!  😊 Take care, keep smiling!


Thank you to Martha  @ Throwback Thursday linky  
and her Seaside Simplicity
Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday


Thanks so much for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!!

Our World, My World

 Happy Monday,

Another new day and a new week, the last full week of August. It is hard to believe September is just a week away.  So, I am flying by with a cheery hello to all.  

Hubby and I like to hike a loop trail at this local county park. I have blogged about the Hashawha Nature Center numerous times. It is one of my favorite places for a walk.  

Me and my shadow on the boardwalk at the Hashawha Lake. 

 The walk takes us past two different pond and the main lake. This pond has a lot of white waterlilies.

 Birds of Prey center, these birds are injured in some way and can not be released into the wild.  Shown are the Bald Eagle, Barred owl and a Red-tailed Hawk. 

 I believe the red blooms are actually called Rose Mallow. They are in the Hibiscus family.

This mushroom was big almost as big as my hand. 

 

I was not able to take any bird photos, we did see a few swallows flying low over the lake.  We spooked a Belted Kingfisher that was sitting on nearby wire over the lake.  I heard a Barred Owl calling repeatedly the who cooks for you sound.. 

I hope everyone is happy and healthy. Take care, stay safe! 

What's happening in your corner of the world? Please check out and visit the following memes and links. I hope to see you there.


 
Thanks to Angie the host of  Mosaic Monday

Thanks to LadyFi  the host of Our World Tuesday!

Thanks for visiting and commenting, have a happy day and a great new week!

Saturday's Critters # 349

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!


Hello and happy Saturday!


If you love all God's creatures like I do and also like to blog about them and take critter photos this is where you can share your critter post. Link up your post and share your critters, join in with my critter party ! You can share any kind of critters the real ones, pretend ones, statues and paintings, a new or old post!

I have been enjoying the butterflies at our Buddleia Butterfly bush.

We have lots of the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and the Spicebush Swallowtails, a few of the Fritillary and the Red Admirals. I have only seen one  Monarch.

Edited: thanks to Wally   
I corrected my id on the Black Swallowtail, it is really called the Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly. 
 

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and a Spicebush Swallowtail.

I hope you enjoyed the pretty butterflies, seeing them brings me joy.


Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful comments. Stop back to see any replies to your comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post.


Here is my linky:

Also visit:  I'd-Rather-B-Birdin. Thanks to the host Anni.

Happy Thankful Thursday

Happy Thursday,


I decided to share some of my favorite sky scenes and photos. These are all from my archives. I am thankful for great memories from past years and various trips. No specific order or date, luckily I can remember where the photo was taken.  I rotate photos in a folder to be used for my desktop background.  My favorites are images from sea to sea, America the Beautiful. I am thankful for the beauty in our country and around the world.  Some sky and scenes are from our travels outside the USA. They include scenes from Costa Rica, Curacao and Iceland. 

This is a sunrise at Flagler Beach, Florida 2015

This sunrise was in our Lakeland Florida neighborhood 2016

The is the Arenal Volcano in Costa Rica 2010

I am pretty sure this is from Ruby Beach, Olympic Nat'l Park Washington State 2017

Sunset Curacao, taken at the resort beach 2012

Moon captured at the Guadalupe Mountains, Texas 2013

Sunrise at the Bosque del Apache, New Mexico 2013.   These are the only birds seen on this post, a group of Sandhill Cranes in flight and some ducks in the water.

Sunrise at Crescent Lake, Washington 2015

Sunset Beach, North Carolina  2017

Mt Hood Oregon, July 2012

Iceland, Sept 2019

 I am thankful for Katherine Lee Bates, a teacher and poet who wrote the song America the Beautiful in 1893. Bates was inspired after a visit to Pikes Peak in Colorado. In 1904 Katherine Lee Bates revived the song adding the words "And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea."  The song and poem reflects a belief in community and social justice. Bates had a deep empathy and a lifelong interest in helping others who were struggling to make ends meet. This song took on new meaning on Nov 11 1918 Armistice Day, when the WWI ended and the soldiers returned home. On this last day of the war, the soldiers left the trenches singing America the beautiful.

Colorado, Rocky Mountain Nat'l Park Sept 2014 

We should all be thankful for our freedom and liberty. Thankful for our home of the free and brave.  I am focusing on things I love and cherish, like my country and it's spacious skies.  BTW, I am thankful for the USPS and when I get my mail/medicine on time.

 Be Kind! Kindness changes the world, one heart at a time!! 😊

 Take care and stay safe! 


Live simple and be happy!  😊 Take care, keep smiling!


Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday


Thank you for visiting and for your nice comments on my previous post. Have a happy day!!  😊