Happy Thankful Thursday!

 Happy Thursday!



The NCR trail is nearly 20 miles long. We usually drive to one of the parking lots and walk in either direction. It seems lately more people are out now, fresh air, sunshine and exercise.  We see lots of bike riders, joggers and a few like us just out walking.  We are still keeping our social distance, I will step off the trail if needed.  

I am thankful for polite, courteous and considerate people on the trail.


I usually hear the Indigo Bunting way before I actually can see it, their song is so loud.

 In a world you can be anything, be kind.

Thankful for the pleasure of a beautiful blue sky, a little different color then the Indigo Bunting blue. 

I am not sure of this bird's id, some kind of Flycatcher or maybe a Vireo? It looks like it has  wing bars and a yellowish color on the belly, maybe an eye-ring.

 The NCR trail, I like the shadows and reflection on the water.

 Me and my shadow on the NCR trail.  I am pretty sure I heard an Eastern Phoebe around this spot.

 A pretty sky day and nice weather for a walk. 

  The Bee Tree Run is seen along side the trail, I am always listening and looking for the birds.  There were Scarlet Tanagers and the Northern Parula, heard but not seen.

My latest book The Huntress by Kate Quinn a historical fiction novel. 

I was thankful to finally find the yeast in the store this week, YAY!

I hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy! I am always thankful hubby and I are both well!


I am always thankful for your visits and the comments. Check back for any replies will be under your comments. 



Live simple and be happy!  😊 Spread joy & happiness!


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!

Saturday's Critters #338

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!


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! 

Thanks and  check back for any replies to your comments.


I am sharing some of my recent yard birds.  The Goldfinches are always a treat to see. A brightly colored male and a female nearby.

 The bunnies have a place in our yard too.

 The squirrels are never far away, they know when it time to eat.

A pair of our pond frogs. 

The Indigo Buntings seem to come and go, I am always surprised to see these pretty blue birds in my yard. This Indigo Bunting looks a little young, not entirely the pretty blue color. 

Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful 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 have said many times before, I am thankful for a great weather day for a hike.  On May 15th hubby and I took a round trip 5.4 walk to the lake, this is a view of the fire road trail. 

 A look at the sky during our walk to the lake.

 Some of the birds I saw while walking to the lake, Indigo Bunting, Wood Thrush, Red-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird.

 Some trees, plants and flowers seen along the fire road walk to the lake. 

"You belong among the wildflowers, you belong somewhere you feel free." Tom Petty

 The sky was reflecting on the lake, looking pretty.

 We had a great view of the Great-crested Flycatcher.

 I am pretty sure this bird below is the Prairie Warbler.

 The wild azaleas were blooming, looking very pretty.

"No matter how chaotic it is, wildflowers will still spring up in the middle of nowhere." Sheryl Crow

Another look at the Great-crested Flycatcher.

The latest books I finished are :
The Other Daughter by Lisa Gardner
The Lost Man by Jane Harper


I hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy! I am thankful hubby and I are both well!


I am always thankful for your visits and the comments.



Live simple and be happy!  😊 Spread joy & happiness!


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!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

 Happy Thursday everyone!


"I hope everyone is well! Be Safe. Be Happy!!

Hubby and I are thankful that we are staying virus-free, we are wishing for an end to the restrictions and request to stay at home.  Our weather lately has been cold and yesterday it rained for most of the day.  My post and photos today are blue themed, are you feeling blue?  The blue sky, Indigo Bunting and Blue Jay, the moon with the blue sky background. 

I am thankful for the pretty skies, my simple pleasure is skywatching. 

 Love these pretty Indigo Buntings, such a pretty color blue.

 The Blue Jay is a regular visitor to the yard, they love the peanuts in the shell.

The Indigo Bunting is one of my summer birds, they have a unique sound. It sat on the feeder but did not stay long. I think it was only checking out the feeder to see what was available on menu. 

Can you believe Maryland could have snow flurries on Saturday?  Our Temperatures are like 20° or more below normal. It does not feel like May weather.  

 

My latest books are:
When you See Me by Lisa Gardner, D.D. Warren series # 11
In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia-Spencer-Fleming




I am always thankful for your visits and the comments.



Live simple and be happy!  😊 Spread joy & happiness!


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!

Saturday's Critters #333

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!


Happy month of May!!

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 seen migrants and new summer birds begin to arrive.  On April 28th I saw my in my yard the Indigo Bunting and my Ruby-throated Hummingbird arrived.  On April 30th, I saw a few Rose-breasted Grosbeaks.

 The American Goldfinches look pretty in their bright colors.

The American Goldfinches land in the butterfly bush before heading to the feeders.

 The birds like this White-throated Sparrow perched in our blueberry bushes. I have have a few of these sparrows around, they should be leaving soon.

Thanks to all my visitors and for all the wonderful comments. I appreciate everyone who loves critters and has linked up their critter post. 




Here is the linky ;



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

Shenandoah Nat'l Park

Happy Thankful Thursday


On July 9th-10 hubby and I took an overnight trip to Shenandoah Nat'l Park. We spent the night in nearby Harrisonburg Va. We picked 2 days when they were calling for cooler and less humid weather.  In 2 days we hiked a total 10 miles, we saw lots of birds, butterflies and some deer. My photos are below with a caption explaining the photo. I hope I identified the birds correctly. 


Below is the view from the Pass Mountain overlook, we took a short loop trail at this parking lot. The next 2 photos show the pretty sky during the first day of our Shenandoah trip. 

The Indigo Buntings were plentiful in the park. 

We also took a short walk on the Compton Gap Trail where we saw this pretty sure this is a Blue-headed Vireo on the nest.

A juvenile Scarlet Tanager or maybe a female?

A deer seen off the Compton Gap Trail.

I am not positive about this flower's id, I was thinking it looked like white Bee Balm.

Bee Balm and a Eastern Black Swallowtail butterfly.

A mosaic with images from the Big Meadows, we saw lots of Milkweed, daises, Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly on milkweed,  unknown bush with yellow blossoms, Thistle, Song Sparrow and a female Brown-headed Cowbird. 

Great Spangled Fritillary butterfly, not sure of the orange flower id?

Some wild daisies on the Big Meadows @ Shenandoah Nat'l Park.

On the Limberlost Trail, we heard a lot of American Redstarts, Hooded Warblers. This is a guess, I think it is an Eastern Phoebe. 

A pretty male Eastern Towhee seen off the Limberlost Trail.

Below is from our walk on the Limberlost Trail. 

I am thankful for the wildflowers. 
I am thankful for nice hiking weather. 
I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


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!

Hashawha Nature Center

Hello,

Happy Thankful Thursday, wishing everyone a great day!

These are some images from our July 1st walk at the local Hashawha Nature Center in Carroll County Maryland.  It is one of my favorite parks, the trails are great. There is always something to see there, lots of birds and wildflowers .  

The trail and lake at Hashawha Nature Center. 

An Indigo Bunting sky. 

Another view of the trail.  

Pretty waterliles.  

Some Barn Swallows. 

The trail and pretty Bee Balm. 

Closeup of the Bee Balm. 

Cedar Waxwing next to the trail. 

A Common Yellowthroat Warbler. Thank you to David for the correct id. 

The Swallow Sky

"Love the world as your own self, then you truly can care for all things." Lao Tzu


Leaving the park, the stare down.  

I am always thankful for the little things.
I am thankful to spend time with nature.
I am thankful for all your visits and comments. 


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!