Happy New Year 2021 !!!!!!

 

Goodbye 2020!!

Happy New Year 2021  !!!!!!

May every day of the New Year glow with good cheer and happiness for you and your family!  Have a happy and healthy New Year!!  

 

I want to thank everyone who has visited and commented on my blog during the past year.  Thank you also to all the fun meme party host! 

 

Happy Thankful Thursday

 Happy Thursday everyone!

It's New Year's Eve, I think we are all looking forward to a happy and healthy New Year.  Hopefully we can say bye-bye to Covid and return to somewhat of our normal lives.  I am thankful that hubby and I remained virus-free. I am sorry and sad about all those who passed away due to the virus, I am sorry if you lost a family member or a friend. 

I am sharing some favorite photos of the past year, fun times with hubby and simple joys of skywatching and bird-watching. These are a few of my "favorite things".  I am thankful for the simple things that make me happy and bring me joy just looking at them.

1.  January 2020... Florida Brown Pelicans flying by, saying goodbye for now.  We were heading home from Florida on the first of January 2020.  We had no idea what was coming (the coronavirus) in March 2020.  At this time Maryland requested everyone wear a mask,. Keep safe, stay the social distance and keep washing your hands. 

2.  February 2020..full moon

 

 "May the sun bring you new energy by day, may the moon softly restore you by night, may the rain wash away your worries, may the breeze blow new strength into your being, may you walk gently through the world and know it's beauty all the days of your life."

 

3.  March 2020, a Great Blue Heron at our neighborhood heron rookery.  March 15th  was the last time hubby and I met our son and his wife and ate inside a restaurant. 

4.  April 2020...our Grand-dogs the shepherd mix is Nibbles and the Corgi is Winnie.  . Good news is we are looking forward to welcoming our grandson in Feb 2021.  

5. May 2020.. the pink lady slipper is a sight I enjoy seeing each year off of our local fire road.  I am thankful for these rare orchids. May 4th was our 30th Anniversary.

6. June 2020.. we managed a Shenandoah NP getaway staying safe mostly in our car and taking a hike on a park trail.  I am thankful for the beautiful sunsets. 

7.  July 2020, another getaway to the Blackwater NWR in Cambridge Maryland. I am thankful for the beautiful and peaceful nature scenes.

8. August 2020...I am always happy to see the Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in my yard.  I have my feeders up early spring and we plant flowers that we know the hummingbirds love.

9. September 2020...  I was happy to see one of my favorite birds, the Red-breasted Nuthatch return to our area for the winter.  These birds return during an irruption year also called a finch year.

10. October 2020... we did a quick getaway to Chincoteague Island, walks on the beach and we saw lots of ponies and birds.

11. November 2020.. It's Bald Eagle time at the Susquehanna River just below the Conowingo Dam. 

 

 11a... Our Grand-dog Chewy crossed over the rainbow bridge November 4th.  He was a sweetie and is missed..

 

 

12. December 2020.. Pretty sky and geese on the field at our favorite local restaurant.. We are thankful for their great carry-out dinners. December was our birthday month, Dec 2nd was mine, the 7th was my son's 28th birthday and the 10th was hubby's.  "Mine for evermore. Will you still need me, will you still feed me. When I'm sixty-four..by the Beatles.

Hubby and I are thankful we were able to go on a few getaways during this past year. The first of Jan 2020 we were driving home from a trip to Florida, Shenandoah NP, Chincoteague Island, Blackwater NWR are all favorite places to visit.  We were able to social distance and wear our mask keeping safe. Most of these trips were spent in our car..

I am thankful for all my blog followers, for all your past comments and  visits during this past year..

I wish everyone all the best in 2021, a very happy and healthy New year! May the New Year bring you Peace, Love and Happiness! 

I am thankful for the healthcare workers and all the essential workers who have put their lives at risk during this past year.  I remain thankful that we continue to stay healthy.  I hope everyone stays healthy and safe. 

Go outside and breathe deeply.  Enjoy every moment. 

Take care and stay safe! 


Live simple and be happy!  😊 Keep smiling!

Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday.  

Thank you Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday
 

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

Our World, My World

Happy Monday everyone!

We are just days away from the end of 2020, can you believe it?  Whew, what a year this has been.   The virus has made us change our way of life. Hubby is looking forward to be able to get the vaccine. We've have made it this far, surviving this pandemic. We can all make it through to the end, stay safe. 

 

 1.  From my backyard, I love skywatching. 

2.  A winter sky and sunset.

 

3.  A walk on the local fire road to the lake, a view of the Bald Eagle's nest and some pretty berries.

4. A Bald Eagle seen not far from the old nest, I am hoping they are successful nesting this year. 

5. Bald Eagle and the old Eagle's nest used last year.

 

6. Me and my shadow walking on the fire road..

7. We saw a couple of fishing boats on the lake, the water was choppy from the wind.  

 

8.  It was a pretty sky day, but very cold and windy.

 

9.  A view of the trail next to the lake. I believe the berries are from Viburnum bushes.

10. Heading back up the fire road, I had to get away from the wind near the water.  Hubby, my shadow wasn't ready to leave. 

Hubby and I are hanging in there, happy and healthy. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy.

 

Please keep wearing your mask and keep your distance!  Be safe, stay safe!

I wish everyone all the best in 2021, a very happy and healthy New Year!

 

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 #367

 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 hope everyone had a very happy Christmas!  These are some photos from our visit to the Loch Raven Reservoir and dam.  I was looking for two Western Grebes that were being seen in the area, a few birds were seen but not the Grebes. 

1.  The Bald Eagle was seen a distance away, but I was able to zoom in to get a closer look. 

 

 

 

 

2.  I was scanning the trees across the river and found this Great Blue Heron. It was busy grooming to notice me. 

 

 

 

 

3. Canada Geese, Ring-billed Gulls and the Mallard ducks were all being fed

 

 

 

4. The Ring-billed Gulls were hanging out on a little island.

 

 

 

 

 

5. We watched these Mallards running up to a family that was feeding the gulls, geese and these ducks. 

 

 

6. These Canada Geese, Gulls and Mallards must be used to people feeding them,  they all flew and ran past us to get to the food.

 

 

7. These gulls were not interested in the food being offered, they sat out on the little island. 

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.

 

Merry Christmas, 2020!

 Merry Christmas everyone!

 

 Best wishes for you and your family this Christmas!

 Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 

 

 

May your holiday cheer last all year!! 

Merry Christmas, Blog Break

I wish everyone a blessed and Happy Christmas!    

Have a great week ahead,  Happy Holidays to all. 

 

I am taking a blog break this week, I will be back next Saturday with my Critter Party.

Take care and stay safe!  Comments off, enjoy your week!

Thanks to all who have visited and commented on my blog this past year!  I hope to see you all in 2021!

Saturday's Critters #366

 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 posted often about our local family style restaurant, I check out their ponds on my way to pick up our carry out dinner.  Since Covid started back in March we have not eaten inside any restaurant. We will do carry-out supporting our local restaurants. Driving by the ponds, I noticed some Hooded Mergansers and there were lots of Canada Geese.

1. Dec 6th....Canada Geese seen at the Friendly Farms.  There could be a list for this spot as a birding location. Over the last few months I have seen: the Bald Eagles, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Killdeer, Ruddy Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Mallards, Hybrid Ducks, Canada Geese and domestic ducks.

 

Click on photos for better viewing. You really notice more of the geese.

 

 

2.  The family style restaurant is hidden behind the white house in the photo above, the Canada Geese and various ducks can be seen on the grounds and at the pond. 

 

 

 

 

3. Hooded Mergansers and Canada Geese, a few weeks before I saw a group of Ruddy Ducks and a Belted Kingfisher near this same pond.

 

 

 

4. The ducks and geese are used to people and run up to anyone looking for food.  Below some ducks are running toward the cars that were stopping in front of me. 

 

 

 

5. Below are the Canada Geese and a group of Mallards or hybrid ducks. The ducks did not get any food from the people, I was surprised to see them running up to the road.

 

 

6.  The Gazebo and fountain was added withing the last year or so. Below the ducks and geese hang out at the pond. 

 

A closer look at the Canada Geese, they love spending time at this spot, with the fields and 3 ponds. 

A Christmas wish for you:

May the Christmas season fill your home with joy,

your heart with love and your life with laughter!

Merry Christmas everyone!

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!

It is another day to experience the beauty of nature. Life is beautiful, soak it in and be grateful.  

1. I am always thankful for pretty sunny days! These days, hubby and I can get outdoors for a walk.  On this day we drove to the Loch Raven Reservoir, it is a reservoir that provides drinking water for Baltimore City, Md. For the past week,  two rare Grebes ( Western Grebe and possible  Clark's Grebe) were being seen at this reservoir. Of course I missed seeing the Grebes, but we enjoyed our outing.

 

2. We saw  a group of Hooded Mergansers and some Canada Geese just sitting at the top of the smaller dam.

The best things in life are the people we love, the places we've been and the memories we made along the way.

3. Hooded Mergansers, second smallest of the Merganser species. The male has the black bordered fan like crest, a white head patch. Below the crest is seen raised and lowered. The female has the brown crest and somewhat of a brownish body. They have a narrow bill.

4. It was a pretty blue sky day, the dam below somewhat hidden by the bushes along the road.

 

 

5. At times these birds disappeared diving underwater, I never could count them.

 

 

6.  This is a view of the water below the dam and a sunburst, not the best photo. But, I am always attracted to the sunburst images. 

I will share some more views of Loch Raven and more birds on my Saturday's Critter post. 

 I wish all ... peace, love and happiness this holiday season!

As long as Covid numbers are still going up, I remain thankful that we continue to stay safe and healthy.  I hope everyone stays healthy and safe. 

Go outside and breathe deeply.  Enjoy every moment. 

Take care and stay safe! 


Live simple and be happy!  😊 Keep smiling!

Thank you to Jutta for hosting Nature Thursday

Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday.  

Thank you Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday
 

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

 

 

Our World, My World

 Happy Monday,

December is rolling right along, the month is nearly half over. Today we are expecting a raining day maybe changing to some snow, temps could be in the high 30's and lows will be in the high 20's. I have done my bit on Christmas decorating and gift buying.  So, I am ready for Christmas.  Hubby and I will have Christmas dinner just the two of us, I am not sure what is on the menu. 

 

1.  I am sharing a mish-mash of photos,  from our walks, back yard birds and my cute mini fairy light Christmas trees, the Prettyboy reservoir and our local fire road walk.

 

2. This is a popular spot for the kids hanging out, fisherman and just people like us out for a walk.

 

 

 

3.  From our deck I watched a pretty sunset on Dec 9th. 

 

4. Also on Dec 9th, we had a little snow squall. The flakes were huge, it only lasted about 15 minutes and it melted when it hit the ground.  This coming Wednesday we could have a potential storm bringing us 6-12 inches of snow. We will see, it could be less or it could be more..

 

 

5.  I recently bought these cute little trees with the fairy lights, the extent of my decorating this year is putting red bows on the little trees.  I am happy with my little trees, it is not much, but they are all  I need now.  I did not want to deal with our big tree and all the ornaments.

 

 6.  Since our cold weather has started,  I am seeing more  Northern Cardinals in my yard.

7.  The Blue Jay will fuss in the morning, until I come outside with some peanuts. 

I wish everyone a peaceful and joyful holiday season, a blessed Advent and a Happy Hanukkah. May your holidays be full of hope, happiness, health and love. 

 

Be safe, wear your mask and keep your distance.  Wishing everyone good health, take care and 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!