Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week!

"Mistakes are the usual bridge between inexperience and wisdom."

"Education is all a matter of building bridges."

"We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and a happy new week! 

High Falls and Covered Bridge at DuPont State Forest North Carolina

"Life is bliss if spent close to nature."

A view of the High Falls

"Nature is not a place to visit, it is home."

"We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

Comments off, enjoy your day!

Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and happy new week!

"The waterfalls is nature's laughter."

Looking Glass Waterfall, near the Blue Ridge Parkway, North Carolina. 

"As long as I live, I'll hear waterfalls, birds and winds sing."  John Muir

"We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

Comments off! Enjoy your day!

Happy Monday!

 Happy Monday!

Wishing everyone a great day and happy new week!

" We build too many walls and not enough bridges." Isaac Newton

Swinging Bridge, Grandfather Mountain, Linville North Carolina, Blue Ridge Parkway. 

"Travel is the bridge between you and everything." Rumi

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace." 

"We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

Comments off! Enjoy your day!

Happy Monday!

Happy Monday, everyone!

I hope you all have a great day and a happy new week!

"See the light in others, and treat them as if that's all that you see."

Bodie Island Lighthouse, Nags Head North Carolina

Comments off! Enjoy your day! 

Happy Thankful Thursday!

 Happy Thursday!

 I am continuing with my throwback photos of our visits to various National Wildlife Refuges around the USA.  I found out due to shortages of workers at the wildlife refuges, many of the wildlife refuges are lumped together and called a complex. A complex can consists of up to 7 or more wildlife refuges in one area of a state. A refuge complex could possibly only have a few part time or full time workers.  If you visit, you might want to check to make sure it is not closed for hunting and or maintenance. Visitors centers maybe closed due to COVID but the wildlife drives and trails are open.

 

I have so many photos, I had to break up the post. With these COVID times, we are not traveling. I am thankful to share some archived photos, I hope you enjoy. I am thankful for all these wonderful memories hubby and I have while traveling.

 

1.  I am starting off this post with  our visit to New Mexico, we were able to visit 2 wildlife refuges. This first one is called Bitter Lake NWR, not far from Roswell New Mexico. Below are the Sandhill Cranes, refuge sign, possible Lesser Goldfinch, Pied-billed Grebe, Loggerhead Shrike, White Pelicans with ducks and more Sandhill Cranes.

Click on photos for larger viewing....

 

 

 

Bitter Lake NWR this is a link to my original visit and post.

 2. While on the wildlife drive we saw the migrating Sandhill Cranes, ducks, geese and many other species of birds. Pretty view of the refuge located where the Chihuahuan Desert meets the Southern Plains and wetland area of the Pecos River watershed.

Bosque Del Apache NWR link to original post and photos.

3. This refuge is located in San Antonio New Mexico. This was one of my favorite refuges in New Mexico, the birding was great. I actually saw a Mountain Lion crossing the wildlife drive, my first time seeing this critter. Below are the Sandhill Cranes, top right is the Road Runner a lifer for this trip, Gambel's Quail lifer, White-crowned Sparrow, Marsh Wren, Snow Geese, Northern Harrier and Killdeer.

4. Sunset at the Bosque Del Apache NWR , flock of blackbirds with the Cranes.
 

 

 

 Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge   a link to my original post and photos.

5. This refuge is located in the Finger Lakes region near Seneca New York. Below are sightings from the wildlife drive the Purple Martins, Great Egrets, Canada Geese, Red-wing Blackbirds, Bald Eagle, Northern Shoveler duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Tern, Gadwall ducks, DC Cormorant, Song Sparrow, Mallards, unknown Sandpiper and lots of turtles. 

 

Pea Island NWR  my original post and photos.

6. This wildlife refuge is located in North Carolina at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. Pea Island is one of 9 refuges that make up the North Carolina Coastal Refuge complex.  Below are the Great Egret, Double-crested Cormorants, White Pelicans, Swan, Ruddy Ducks and a Eastern Meadowlark.

 

 

 

 7.  Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge,  Oak Harbor Ohio. My visit here was a quick.  I was on a trip  with a couple of birding friends to Magee Marsh in Ohio. Magee Marsh is a famous spot for spring time birding. My friends and I drove the Ottawa NWR wildlife drive, visited their visitor center, we saw the Bald Eagles, Egrets, deer and the White-crowned Sparrow.  

 

Cape Meares NWR  My original post and photos

 

8. Oregon, one of my favorite states to visit. Hubby and I drove up and down the Oregon coast. Along one section of the coast is the Cape Meares National Wildlife Refuge, part of the Three Arch Rocks, Oregon Islands NWR complex. Nesting seabirds include the Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemots, Pelagic Cormorants and the Black Oystercatcher.  The Cape Meares Lighthouse is actually part of a state park, the surrounding area is the wildlife refuge.

9. A view of one of the islands, covered with nesting seabirds.

 

John Heinz NWR   original post and photos

10. This mosaic is photos from our visit to John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge in Tinicum Township Pennsylvania. It is not far from Philadelphia PA. 

Included below the boardwalk trail at the wildlife refuge, views of the wetlands, turtles, ducks, marsh wren and flowers.

Savannah NWR South Carolina my original post and photos.

Now down the east coast to South Carolina, we were able to visit 2 national wildlife refuges in this state. We have been to the Savannah NWR and Pinckney Island NWR. 

11. Savannah NWR photos below lots of turtle with alligator, lots of alligators, Glossy Ibis, White Ibis, Green Heron, Great Egret with the Snowy Egret. Part of the Savannah NWR is in South Carolina and part is also in Georgia. We have been to both, the wildlife drive and the visitor center.

 

Pinckney Island NWR  My original post and photos.

 

12. Pinckney Island NWR South Carolina near Hilton Head SC .

 Below, Eastern Blue Birds, Common Moorhen, Great Egret, Little Blue Heron, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis with gator and Phoebes.

 

I will have one more post to finish off my National Wildlife Refuge visits.  I am thankful to enjoy all my moments with hubby.  Thankful for the joy of seeing wildlife.

Go outside and breathe deeply.  Enjoy every moment. 

Take care and stay safe! 


Live simple and be happy!  😊 Keep smiling!

Thank you Martha for hosting Throwback Thursday 

Thank you Michelle for hosting Thankful Thursday. 
 

Thank you to Yogi the host of   Skywatch Friday
 

Thank you to Jutta the host of Nature Thursday

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

 

Happy Thankful Thursday!

 Happy Thankful Thursday!


Happy Thanksgiving! 
I hope you all have many reasons to give thanks.  


This is my last post on our road trip to North Carolina. On this last full day of our trip, we visited the Chimney Rock Park. The views and trails are awesome.  We hiked to the top of the Chimney Rock, to the Hickory Nut Waterfall and to the Exclamation Point.

 I am guessing this is an Eastern Phoebe, I was going by the sound I heard at the time.  The lighting is not the best for id.

 The tunnel to the elevator,  a 26 story elevator built inside the mountain. 

 This is a view from the natural made Opera box, the view is beautiful of Lake Lure in the distance.

 The rock shaped like a the Devil's head.

 This is a moderate hike uphill and lots of steps. But, we made to the top.

 A view of the Hickory Nut Falls

Happy mind, happy life. Choose to be happy!


I am thankful for all the things that are important in my life, my hubby and my family. 

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!

Our World, My World

 Hello and Happy Monday!

 There are many parks to visit right off the Blue Ridge Parkway, on Nov 4th we visited the Mt Mitchell State Park. Mt Mitchell is the highest peak or point east of the Mississippi River. The park is located at milepost 355.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It is 35 miles northeast of Asheville North Carolina.

 We walked the steep but short trail to the summit from the parking lot. It was a chilly and cloudy day, but no rain.  I lucked out on this trip with the weather once again. It started raining when we were about 3 hours from home on the last day. There are 360 degree views at the top, well worth the steep walk. 

 Hubby and I hiked and walked a lot of steps during this road trip to the North Carolina Mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway. They say there are 91 species of birds seen in this park. They were hiding from me  🙁 .  I have to say we saw few birds this trip, overall everywhere I go I am seeing less birds.  Very sad.. 

 I loved this view of the mountain ranges.

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!

Happy Thankful Thursday

 Hello and Happy Thursday & 


I have more trip photos from our recent road trip on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Asheville North Carolina.  On this day, we visited Grandfather Mountain State Park, there is an admission fee that is used to preserve this beautiful mountain park, it's biodiversity and all it's nature. 

Below are the Split Rock and Sphinx Rock, rock formations in this park are supposedly dated back to 1.2 billion years. 

Rock formation is title Sphinx Rock, it does have a Sphinx face.

There is a wildlife preserve, we saw the cute river otter, elk and eagles. 

There is a Swinging Bridge, which is a mile high above sea level. The mountain is 5946 feet high and is estimated to be 300 million years old. 

It was a windy day, I was thankful they have anchored this bridge so it does not swing.  

Me and my shadow on the Mile High Swinging Bridge.

The closer view from the Swinging Bridge, I assume the buildings are hotels, condo and vacation homes.  

The American Robin seemed to be enjoying these berries.  

I counted at least 5 Robins in this bush with these red berries. 

I am so thankful to be retired and able to take road trips.

I was thankful to see any birds, this trip was more for hiking and waterfalls than birding. 

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!

Our World, My world

 Hello and happy Monday everyone!

** God Bless and thanks to all our Veterans** 


 Hubby and I recently returned from a road trip to Boone & Asheville North Carolina. We drove the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in both Virginia and North Carolina.  We started off the trip driving the whole length of the Skyline Drive, Shenandoah my post on our first day is here Road Trip.

These photos are from our 2nd day on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We stopped at various overlooks and Blue Ridge Music Center. Our hike for the day was at the E.B. Jeffress Park on the Cascades Trail.

There was still plenty of fall colors along the Blue Ridge Parkway on November 2nd. 

The photos in this mosaic are views of the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Blue Ridge Music Center.  

 The Blue Ridge Music Center, a museum promoting the historic music and blue grass musicians of the Blue Ridge region.

Me and my shadow and the view from the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

From our hike in the E.B. Jeffress Park to the Cascades Waterfall.  The parking area is right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. They call this an easy 30 minute hike. If you take the steps to view the base of the falls it is more difficult. It is just a .8 mile round trip hike out and back, part of the loop was closed.

On the Cascades Trail we walked past by the Falls Creek and little cascades toward the taller falls. The mountain laurel lined the trail and there was still plenty of falls colors.

 A view of a small cascade.

More of the Cascades Waterfall.

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!

Vereen Memorial Nature Park

Hello & happy Tuesday!

I wish all that celebrate a Happy Boxing Day!


I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas, I cooked dinner for my hubby, son and his girlfriend. We had lots of yummy food and my homemade Derby pie and ice cream for dessert. Now we all have to recover from too much food.  I am sharing a park that hubby and visited a few times just across the North Carolina border in Little River South Carolina. It is called the Vereen Memorial Park or Vereen Nature Park. The park consist of 115 acres of forest and marshland.  Here are some scenes from our visits on Nov 5th and Nov 10th.

They have numerous hiking trails and boardwalks. The first day we went the tide was high and part of the trail was underwater. Hubby and I had to backtrack and we took the trail thru the woods and ended up again where the trail was under water.

Most of the birds we saw were the Great Blue Heron and Great Egrets and one Wood Stork.

I believe this is the Northern Bayberry, I have seen it growing in various coastal parks. The berries are enjoyed by many birds, I think I saw a few Yellow-rumped Warblers in these bushes.

The trail takes you up to the Little River and is a popular spot with the fishermen.

Here is a link to my first post on this park we visited with my sister Sunset beach & Vereen Nature Park

I hope you enjoyed our walk at the Vereen Memorial and Nature Park.



As always I thank you for stopping by and as always I appreciate your comments.

My list of memes for today, I hope to see you there. Thanks to both of the host below.


Thanks to Michelle for hosting Nature Notes
Thanks to the hosting team of Our World Tuesday!

Thanks to Stewart for hosting Wild Bird Wednesday