Monday, September 7, 2020

Our World, My World

Happy Monday, 

Today is Labor Day, the first Monday of the September. LOL, I am sure you know what day it is. Labor Day is a holiday to honor the  American workers and their achievements.  I think during these Covid times I am especially thankful to all the essential workers, that includes all the health care workers, farm workers, retail workers, child care workers, the list goes on.  Happy LABOR day to all these important workers who are risking their own lives for all us.  Thankfully, I am retired and blessed to be able to stay safe at home during these Covid times.


We are able to get outside for our walks. I am sharing a  recent visit to one of our Maryland State Parks called Patapsco Valley State Park. We timed our visit to a week day trying to avoid crowds but it seems like everyone had the same idea. We managed to get there early enough to get a parking place and take our walk. 
 
 We walked on a few trails at the park, one took us past the Lost Lake, we saw lots of turtles, but birds were hard to find with all the leaves on the trees.  I am not sure of the id of the birds on the lower left photo, possibly the Wood Pewee and there were a few Cardinals. 




 A view of the Lost Lake, they are working on this lake area and on trails in this park that are still closed from a historic flood in 2019.




 Some of my birds sightings included an Osprey bathing in the Patapsco River and the Kingfisher sat on a branch above the river. 




The swinging bridge crosses the Patapsco River. 


I was lucky at one time to get a shadow shot of us with no one else in the photo.  Lots of people were walking across the bridge, some wearing mask and some were not. 



A Great Blue Heron fishing in the river. 


This was my best shot of the Cascade Falls, without too many people climbing on it and around the falls.



Various images below: Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, me and my shadow, swinging bridge, view of the trail, Cascade Falls and the turtles at Lost Lake.



This was the first time I have seen an Osprey playing in the water, it was splishing and splashing. 



I hope you enjoyed my photos from the park, we had a nice time. It was good to see some different scenery for a change. 



 Maryland Covid Update: As of 9/2/2020 Maryland is starting the Phase 3 of re-opening. Our positivity rate is below 3.5% which is great compared to other states around the country. The rate should below 5% or below for re-opening safely. Latest total case numbers for  Maryland Covid there were 109,319 positive cases in Maryland, 3,623 deaths.  I hear the numbers can change daily, this virus has not ended and it is not just going to go away. We must still wear our mask and keep the distance.   #MasksonMaryland     I hope everyone is staying 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!

143 comments:

  1. such a beautiful place and a Lost lake. Interesting! And, I never seen an Osprey taking a bath. That´s interesting too.
    Take care. :)

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    1. Thanks for the comment and visit Monica!
      Have a happy day!

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Thanks so much for the comment.
      Enjoy your day, have a great new week!

      Delete
  3. Hello Eileen,
    Beautiful photos! It's a very nice photo you have taken of the Osprey in the water! It must have been fun to see.
    Have a nuce day!

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    1. Hello Marit,
      Thanks so much for the comment.
      Enjoy your day, have a great new week!

      Delete
  4. Hello Eileen,
    Nice to hear about that day. Today I am free after a few days...haha...!!
    Great pictures. So special that bathing Osprey. And nice to see that picture of the bridge. Funny with you bothes.

    Greetings, Marco

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    1. Hello Marco,
      Thanks so much for the comment.
      Enjoy your day, have a great new week!

      Delete
  5. I love the photos of the oseprey bathing in the water - you always find so many remarkable creature to photograph.

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    1. Thank you Carol!
      Enjoy your day, have a great new week!

      Delete
  6. Labour Day was not "created and dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers," It has its origins in International Workers Day which preceded Labour Day, and is celebrated around the world, principally in May, and as far as I know in September only in Canada, Australia and the USA.

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    1. Thank you David!
      It is a good holiday to celebrate all the workers in the world..
      Have a great day and new week!

      Delete
  7. Hi Eileen, another great hike with you two today, such a beautiful area to explore. Love the shadow shot on the swinging bridge, a classic shot!
    Happy Mosaic Monday.

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    1. Thanks so much Maggie! I have fun looking for my shadow shots.
      Have a great day and a happy new week!

      Delete
  8. Lindas fotos e desejo ótimo feriado. Por aqui os trabalhadores festejam em 1º MAIO! Ótima semana! bjs, chica

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    1. Thank you Chica!
      Your visits are always appreciated.
      Have a great new week!

      Delete
  9. ...I love bridges and this one is neat. Thanks Eileen, enjoy your day.

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  10. I truly enjoyed the Osprey bathing in the river! :)
    Thanks for sharing this beautiful moment.
    Happy labor day to all workers!
    I wish you a great week full of captures, as usual!

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    1. Thank you, I am thankful to all the workers.
      Have a great day and a happy new week!

      Delete
  11. I have no idea what Florida is doing with the virus I have stopped watching it. I love the photo of the bathing osprey and you are so brave to stand on that Swinging Bridge. I don't do swinging Bridges but I would love to stand under that waterfall. In the first collage I love the two little birds in the bottom left corner they look like me and Bob after we had a Tift

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    1. Thanks Sandra! I think those birds were siblings having an argument.
      Have a great day!

      Delete
  12. That setting at Lost Lake is gorgeous. Love the Osprey. Those here may have already headed south. You always do great shadow greetings, Eileen!

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    1. Thanks Marie!
      I do have have fun looking for a good shadow shot.
      Have a great day and a happy new week!

      Delete
  13. Great shadow shot. That place looks like an enjoyable place to visit!

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    1. Thanks so much Rose!
      Enjoy your day, have a happy new week!

      Delete
  14. Hari OM
    Wonderful images again - I always find myself smiling with your shadow shots!!! Have a super holiday - whatever its origins. YAM xx

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  15. I love all of your gorgeous photos! I'm glad you are able to get out and about and happy to hear your numbers are low. Things are still not great here in Florida. Happy Labor Day!

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  16. Wonderful news that you all are entering stage 3. We (in NC) are now at a 2.5 level, which means museums/galleries can open, the playgrounds are open, and maybe gyms. But since kids are in school, it doesn't make sense to keep playgrounds closed anyway. But your totals of cases are pretty high, to my mind. So sorry that many people got sick, and so many died. On the brighter side are your wonderful photos. Thanks.

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    1. Thanks Barbara! There are a lot of heavily populated areas in Maryland such as Baltimore City and the areas around Washington DC seemed to have higher numbers. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead!

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  17. Fabulous shots! I just love that bathing osprey - so cool!

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    1. Thank you Lady Fi!
      Have a happy day and a great week ahead!

      Delete
  18. Eileen ~ Happy Labor Day to you ~ fantastic photos of nature ~ favorite is the osprey playing in the water ~ so delightful ~ ^_^

    Live each moment with love,

    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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    1. Thank you Carol!
      Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead!

      Delete
  19. What a beautiful walk and what wonderful birds you saw. I appreciate hearing your Covid stats. Sounds like you are doing well. Our governor extended state of emergency till October 1 -- masks, distance, limited group size. Many things are open but with regulations. Many ignore the regulations. I don't know when Michigan turned into a stupid state but at least we have a remarkable governor. Take care.

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    1. Thank you Jeanie!
      We see a few people here and there refusing to wear a mask.
      I am waiting to hear if Labor Day weekend celebrations make the Covid case numbers go up again.
      Have a happy day and a great new week!

      Delete
  20. What a wonderful series of photos of your walks Eileen.
    I love the osprey, really beautiful.
    Take care of yourself and stay healthy.

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    1. Thank you Irma!
      I hope you stay safe too.
      Have a great new week!

      Delete
  21. Beautiful pics.
    Have a nice week ahead.
    Happy Labor day to all workers _()_

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    1. Thank you for the comment.
      Yes, we are all thankful to all the workers.
      Have a great new week!

      Delete
  22. I always like seeing your shadow shots and I'm sure they will always be special to you, Eileen!

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    1. Thank you for the visit and comment.
      Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead!

      Delete
  23. Hi Eileen! Happy Labor Day! Essential workers are the best and certainly need all our cheerful support these trying days. A special "thank you" to teachers this week as schools are re-opening everywhere.

    I loved seeing the photos of the osprey playing in the water. He was probably trying to cool off in all the heat! The kingfisher was also a beautiful sight to see as well as the waterfall.

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    1. Thank you pat,
      Yes, I am thankful for the teachers. They are essential workers too.
      Have a great day and happy new week!

      Delete
  24. WoW!! lots of beautiful green today, in addition to the wonderful wildlife!! awesome captures of the osprey bathing, those are beautiful pictures!! i love the bridge and that stoic heron, they are such great fishermen!!!

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    1. Thanks Debbie!
      I hope you are happy a happy day.
      Have a great new week!

      Delete
  25. Great captures of the osprey splashing in the river! You don't see something like that everyday. Yes, it seems like the hiking trails and natural areas are overrun with people where I live too. Although it's good to see folks out enjoying nature, not everyone is respectful.

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    1. Thank you Linda!
      I think we all enjoy nature and still be respectful of others.
      Have a great new week!

      Delete
  26. Imagens absolutamente deslumbrantes, Eileen! E tiradas nos timings perfeitos, pois de facto, não se vêem muitas pessoas nas mesmas... parecendo que estão mesmo em lugares bem sossegados!...
    Umas daquelas publicações para ficar apreciando ao pormenor! Excelente trabalho fotográfico!!!
    Estimo que passem um óptimo feriado e que tenham uma excelente semana! Por aqui... o Covid... está a ressurgir lentamente! Estamos a contar com a segunda onda, dentro poucas semanas... as aulas presenciais... o retorno ao mercado laboral... e os excessos dos comportamentos das férias de Agosto... tudo isso vai começar a repercutir-se em breve... aliado às baixas temperaturas e humidade, do nosso Outono e Inverno... ou muito me engano... ou a fase mais dura do Covid, estará para chegar e ficará até à próxima Primavera... em muitos países europeus, a segunda onda já se nota bem mais! Felizmente, tivemos muitos corredores aéreos fechados! Se tal foi mau para o sector do turismo e comércio... por outro lado, evitou-nos mais problemas ainda de surtos... Possivelmente só mesmo na Primavera, é que teremos vacina, para nos livrar deste pesadelo... mas estou convencida de que será anual, como já se faz para as gripes...
    Deixo um beijinho, e votos de tudo a correr pelo melhor, por aí!
    Tudo de bom!
    Ana

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    1. Hello Ana
      I heard the Covid cases were going up again in Europe. We have seen numbers going up and down since March. I am sure the next season, this Autumn will see increasing numbers here too. Another flu-virus season on top of the current virus that never left, it could be scary. I wish good health to you, your Mom and family. Take care and stay safe. Have a great day and a happy new week!

      Delete
  27. That's a beautiful lake, the osprey is lovely. Great images, Eileen. Enjoy your holiday and have a great new week.

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    1. Thank you Bill! I always appreciate your comments.
      Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week ahead!

      Delete
  28. The Osprey is enjoying a cool down! Love your shadow shot on the bridge and the waterfalls. Everything is just beautiful. We hiked yesterday and there was not one other person there on either trail the entire 2 hours we were there. I don't get it. I'm glad we don't have crowds on the trails but I think people would feel better if they got outside to walk! Enjoy your day!

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    1. Thanks Diane! We do not see many people on our local trails. The parks further away are usually more crowded. Hubby and I enjoy the trails to ourselves. Enjoy your day, wishing you a great new week!

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  29. Oh I would love to see an Osprey. Osprey, as with all species of raptors, have been protected in France since 1972. Following this protection a small but growing number have nested in France each year. Sadly none close to us as far as I know.
    Keep safe, Diane

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    1. Thank you Diane!
      It is always a treat to see the Ospreys, they are here breeding/nesting during our summer months.
      Take care, enjoy your day!

      Delete
  30. I enjoy my virtual walks with you Eileen. Such pretty sights, so lush and green and the birds you did see were lovely! Happy Labor Day, I also am very grateful to all those that keep our lives going and they deserve much recognition. Have a great week!

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    1. Thank you Denise! Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

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  31. What a wonderful park with so many nice places

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    1. Thank you Mikael!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  32. buen avistamiento de aves. Además de apreciar la belleza de estas aves, se contempla la sombra de vuestras siluetas , desde lo alto del puente.

    Besos

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    1. Thank you so much for the visit and comment.
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  33. The osprey looks perturbed that someone is disturbing his (her?) bath. LOL

    Love the photo of you on the bridge. The bridge looks FUN!

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    1. Thanks Dee!
      I am sure the Osprey had it's eyes on the kiddies playing in the river just upstream.
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  34. Wonderful captures especially the osprey in the water. So cute. Happy Labor day to you. Hope you are having a relaxing day.

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    1. Thank you Ellen!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  35. Another great post of your walks...the Osprey bathing is so cute since they dive in the water one would think they don't need a bath..but I guess they do! Hope your day was good I keep forgetting it's Monday.

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    1. Hello Sondra!
      I guess this river is great for bathing, it is not too deep.
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  36. Happy Monday and Happy Labor Day.
    Lovely photographs again Eileen, and I always enjoy your shadow shots - they are such fun.

    Have a good week.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  37. My gosh what a beautiful park, your pictures are just stunning. Glad you are enjoying your Labor Day with a fun walk.

    Hugs Diane

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    1. Thank you Diane!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  38. I love the bridge shadow but the bird in the water is FANTASTIC!

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    1. Thank you Lydia!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  39. So verdant out there. Only brown and char colors are out here in the West currently. Stay safe and cool.

    Worth a Thousand Words

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    1. Thank you for the comment!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  40. A beautiful park to go walking in. Love that bridge.

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  41. You certainly have great places to walk . You observe many critters on these walks. When you talk about staying in it reminds me that we are fortunate that we do not have that many caes.

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    1. Thank you Red!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  42. Such a lovely post! We do labour Day in Canada, as well. Mind you, as you say, being retired, I did 3 loads of laundry and tidied some.

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    1. Thank you Jenn!
      We can always expect there some housework to do!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  43. What a really beautiful place to take a walk!

    A friend of mine found a Kingfisher on the side of the road today - She figures it had been hit by a car, its beak is broken. But she took it to our wildlife center, and they are hopeful that it'll be okay. They are such beautiful birds, as you well know.

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    1. Hello Kim,

      So sorry to hear about the Kingfisher found in the road. I hope the bird can survive. They are beautiful birds. Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  44. Lost Lake looks so serene. I'm glad you have these lovely places to walk, and thankful that you share them with us :)

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    1. Thanks so much for visiting! Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  45. Eileen - a terrific walk in the park. Your shots of the osprey in the water are fabulous. We all have our ways of beating the heat! And I love the kingfisher! We are grateful to live in Montana during these times - it is so much easier to keep our distance from people. On our two-night camping trip, we did not see a soul until an hour before we returned to our car ... Thanks for linking up to Mosaic Monday!

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    1. Thank you Angie!
      It is great to have such beautiful places all to yourselves.
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  46. Shadow People - Go Team Human - Such A Lush Environment - Be Well

    Cheers

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    1. Thank you for the comment!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  47. Looks like a pretty place! Great shots!

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    1. Thank you Linda!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  48. I'm a little late but Happy Labor Day Eileen. It's good news that you are able to get out into the fresh air and to stay safe.

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    1. Thank you Phil!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  49. I am so glad to hear you have some positive news on your covid situation - this little Wren feel like throwing herself in the pond to celebrate like that Osprey! Love your shadows on the bridge pic.
    Stay well
    Wren x

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    1. Thank you Wren!
      There were some kiddies playing in the river just up the river a bit.
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  50. Fabulous walk Eileen. Liked the photos of the osprey and kingfisher. You are right about this virus sticking around. Our numbers are on the rise again especially amongst younger people.

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    1. Thank you for the comment and visit.
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  51. Replies
    1. Thanks so much for the comment!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  52. Hi Eileen!!! I enjoyed with your pictures and really beautiful to see the eagle's (Osprey) bathroom.. Happy week

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    1. Thank you Ana!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  53. What a pretty area! My favorites today are the shadow shot on the bridge and the osprey!!

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    1. Thank you Anni!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  54. Replies
    1. Thank you Birgitta!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  55. Hi Eileen,

    a nice shadow selfpicture from the bridge. Now i know how u are looking ... :-)

    Best regards
    Bernhard

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    Replies
    1. Thank you for visiting and for the comment!
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  56. It’s always a pleasure to walk into nature and this park seems to stretch free and glad there weren’t many people to interrupt the scenes you shot beautifully! Love the green and fresh water bodies and birds.Take care. You might know India has come next to the USA in leading covid cases and it’s really made to worry. Hope we all come out of the pandemic soon.

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    1. Thank you Jeevan.
      It is a popular park to visit, the cars were lined up waiting to get in when we were leaving.
      I hope this pandemic ends and we can go back to some normalcy.
      Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  57. What a pretty area! I love seeing Kingfishers and Blue Herons. I walked at two different areas on Sunday and Monday and both places had packed parking lots! I wasn't even sure I could get a spot, but when I walked I didn't see that many people (I think some of the cars parked were for bikers and some were for kayakers).

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    1. Thanks Vera! This park was crowded but I guess it is big enough people could spread out. We passed a lot of people walking the trail to the waterfall. They had to close the parking lot, cars were lined up waiting for a space to park on this day. Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great week ahead!

      Delete
  58. Eileen, Love the bathing bird! Beautiful photos in this post. Thanks for sharing and have a great week. Sylvia D.

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  59. You had a great outing. The photo of the Osprey splashing is wonderful!!

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  60. i enjoy the bridge and water views. hope u r well this week. so humid here ... i had to work outdoors ... things have to be done around here ... so u gotta do what you gotta do. take care. ( :

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    1. Thank you Beth!
      I hope there is a break with this humidity.
      Take care, enjoy your day!

      Delete
  61. You live in a beautiful area! Enjoyed seeing all your photos especially the lake and waterfall. Our area isn't doing so great with the virus numbers. Several counties in our state in the red. So far our local county is doing okay at least. Hope you have a wonderful week!

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    1. Thank you Jean!
      The Covid cases numbers are going up and down every day!
      Take care, enjoy your day!

      Delete
  62. You have a lovely place to walk! I especially love the bridge and waterfall. Have a great week!

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  63. Looks like a lovely area to walk! Great photos of the osprey bathing!

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  64. Thank you for sharing... I enjoyed reading. To walk with your eyes alone captures. A wonderful landscape.

    Stay healthy and well. Happy MosaicMonday

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Thank you for the comment and visit.
      Have a happy day!

      Delete
  65. Thank you for sharing some Maryland natural beauty, Eileen! That whole area looks wonderful.

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  66. Thank you for continuing to share the importance of masks. Happy your State is doing so well. Love the birds you saw, good pictures of the Kingfishers (envious) and the osprey playing in the water is fabulous...I’ve seen many Ospreys, but never like that! Wonderful...... It always makes us a little crabby when other people decide mid week is a good time to go outside and play ;)j). We always think we are the only people to have that idea.

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    1. Thanks Sallie! It was a surprise to see the Osprey in the river bathing. It was having a fun time.
      Take care, enjoy your day!

      Delete
  67. fabulous pics of the osprey. Its a shame there are so many people on the walking trails but I guess they can't do much else. Your Covid numbers seem so high compared to ours but then we have a smaller population.

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    1. Thanks Diane! I appreciate the visit and comment!
      Take care, enjoy your day!

      Delete
  68. Lost Lake is such a pretty sight in the middle of all that lush greenery. :)

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    1. Thanks for the comment! Take care, enjoy your day!

      Delete
  69. Again, these are wonderful, fascinating shots of this beautiful and interesting place. Bathing the osprey is fabulous. Good to read that things will get better with you. I hope with you and stay healthy, hugs Elke

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    1. Thank you Elke! I hope things get better everywhere!
      Take care, enjoy your day!

      Delete
  70. Love the park photos and especially the osprey.
    Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade

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Hello, thank you for visiting my blog. I always appreciate your comments.

BTW, Anonymous comments unless a name is included will not be published. Also, comments with links will be deleted.

Have a happy day, Eileen

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