Our World, My World

 Happy Monday!

I am continuing with some of my favorite National Park visits and archived photos.  Hubby and I are not traveling as of yet, we are waiting for the vaccine and to feel safe.  I feel like a LONG road trip is in our future, post Covid times of course! Mean time I have some virtual visits and memories of our country's beautiful National Parks. 

1. Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, hubby taking a break at the lake, I stayed behind and watched hubby climb the steps to the top, one of the many elk we saw in the park, a Grouse was seen next to the road.

2. Moose seen from the trail, a young moose was taking a drink from the river. 

3. This is a view of Alberta Falls, one of the most prominent waterfalls in Rocky Mtn NP.

4.  A herd of Elk in the Rocky National Park not far from the town of Estes Park Colorado. 

5.  Some of the Rocky Mountain NP birds seen during our visit, the Black-billed Magpie, Lincoln Sparrow, Pygmy Nuthatch, Barn Swallows, Mountain Bluebird and  Dusky Grouse. 

6.  Great Smoky Mtn NP Tennessee: Grotto Falls, Dark-eyed Junco, Autumn colors, Cades Cove horses, Wild Turkey, behind Grotto Falls, Autumn colors, deer, view of Cades Cove.

7.  Elk herd, Great Smoky Mtn NP

8.  Laurel Falls, Great Smoky Mtn NP Tennessee

9.   Black Bears were plentiful along the Roaring Fork Motor Trail in the Great Smokies. 

10.  Autumn colors in the Great Smokies, a beautiful sight. 

I think to myself, what a wonderful and beautiful world!  It is hard trying to pick out a few photos to share on this post, I have so many photos.  These are just a few favorites images from happy times traveling with my hubby.  

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

Our World, My World

Happy Monday, 

Our world and my world has not been normal for over a year now. It would be nice to have everything feel normal again.  This week, I am looking forward to having President Biden in office. I am hoping and praying for peaceful times in our country. We may not agree on politics, but we can be respectful and kind to everyone. My post this week is on some of my favorite national parks, since we have not traveled due to COVID these images are from my archives. 

One of my favorite parks is Yellowstone, the scenery and wildlife is just amazing.  The scenic drives in these parks, both Yellowstone and the Tetons in Wyoming are beautiful. 

Grand Prismatic, largest hot spring in Yellowstone. It is the third largest hot spring in the world.  

Various birds seen in the Yellowstone and Tetons National Parks.

Unidentified Hummingbird, Cinnamon Teal, Magpie,
Trumpeter Swan, Cedar Waxwing, Dusky Grouse,
female Mountain Bluebird, Osprey, White Pelican.

Yellowstone's Canyon...  "The best thing about memories is making them."

Glacier National Park in Montana, I am guessing the top left is the Swiftcurrent Lake, we stayed nearby, the Running Eagle Falls or also nicknamed Trick Falls. Lower left the Beargrass looked pretty and bottom right is near Logan Pass Visitor Center. 

Going to the Sun, a very scenic drive in Glacier National Park.   This park road was a hair-raising drive for me.  We saw some Mountain Goats crossing this road, definitely keep your eyes on the road while driving.  

A view of Glacier National Park in Montana. 

Scenic view of  the Grand Canyon National Park.  

"A good life is a collection of happy memories."

Grand Canyon and Colorado River

Arches National Park, the various rock formations all had names, if only I could remember them all.  The top left could be the Balance Rock.  I do remember the bottom left are the Three Sisters and the bottom right is the Landscape Arch. 

Arches NP, Landscape Arch is the longest stone span. It stretches 306 feet and is only 11 feet thick at it's center.

"Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints."

Arches NP, Balance Rock.  "We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

"Never let your memories be greater than your dreams."

We are looking forward to the days when we feel safe to travel and take some road trips. My dream is to visit all of our National Parks.  Our world is beautiful and our country has some of the greatest National Parks to visit.  These are just of few of the National Parks that hubby and I have visited. Some parks we visited twice, my favorites are Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Grand Canyon, Bryce and  Zion. 

Hubby and I continue to be happy and healthy, I hope everyone is doing well too. 

Wear your mask and keep your distance!   

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!

Our World, My World

 Happy Monday everyone!

I hope this will be a peaceful week in our country.  No more wild times in DC. People need to check the facts before they spread lies and conspiracies. No more chants yelling "fight" or "hang pence" or trying to hurt our elected officials. I do not condone violence of any kind,  I am sick to watch more and more videos of the Capitol Building being attacked on  Jan 6th. 

 Hubby and I are going on with our usual activities, nothing too exciting lately.. On the good days we are outside going for a walk and we do our food shopping and the usual chores. I like cooking, but do miss eating out at my favorite restaurants. Carry-out is ok but it is just not the same.

1.  Here are some photos from the past week, scenes from our walks. On Jan 9th we were walking on the NCR bike trail. It was a cold sunny morning, temps were in the high 20's or 30°.

 

2.   I noticed a flock of Eastern Bluebird eating berries from a bush along side the trail. 

 

 3.  Icicles were hanging from a rocky section next to the trail. 

 

 

 

4. A small waterfall seen off the NCR trail.

 

 

5.   Can you find Me and my shadow among the shadows of the trees.

 

 

 

When we arrived at the bike trail parking lot we noticed a group of girls ( maybe girl scouts)  wearing helmets greeting a pack of sled dogs.  The girls were going to go for a sled ride and the dogs were so excited.

I will share more photos of these sled dogs on a future Saturday Critter post.  Maryland's COVID positivity rate is still going up.  The rate when I made this post is 7.3%. A rate of 5% or below is considered a little more safe.

 

 Please keep wearing your mask and keep your distance! 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!

 

 

Our World, My World

 Happy Monday,

 I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas, New Year and any holiday you happen celebrate.  I know some blogging friends took a blog break over the holiday season so I wish everyone all the best in 2021, a very happy and healthy New Year!

I am sharing some mosaics from 2020, another look back at the past year. Some of my favorite places, photos and happy times with my hubby.   I can not complain about the past year, hubby and I were able to get outdoors and enjoy nature, birds and beautiful scenery. We managed to stay virus-free by wearing our mask and keeping the social distance that our governor requested.

1.  January 2020, we walked around the gardens at Washington Oaks State Park located in Flagler County Florida.

2.  February 2020, the NCR bike trail is one of our local "go to" places for a walk.

3.  March 2020, before the lockdown we were in Ocean City Maryland.  We had view of the Worm Super Moon from the beach.

 

4,  April 2020, I watch my yard birds all year round these are some birds from April: the American Goldfinch and a Pine Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco and a Brown Thrasher. 

5.  May 2020: May wildflowers seen along the Susquehanna River trail.  

6.  June 2020, A Scarlet Tanager was seen from the Limberlost Trail in Shenandoah NP. 

7. July 2020, me and my shadow, views are from  the wildlife drive at Blackwater NWR in Cambridge Md.  I am looking forward to hearing the Red-winged Blackbirds singing.

8.  August 2020, the Hemlock Gorge trail is another local trail where hubby and I enjoy our hikes.

9. September 2020, just a couple of cute frogs in our little back yard pond. I can find beautiful nature and wildlife in my yard, I do not have to go far.

10.  October 2020, back yard butterflies are beautiful. 

11.  November 2020, a visit to Assateague Island State Park and National Seashore. 

12.  December 2020, it is always a treat to see the Bald Eagles.  This one was seen near the dam at Loch Raven reservoir. 

Spending time doing things hubby and I enjoy help to keep us mentally happy during this past year.  Any time spent outdoors in nature is a stress free time for me.  I hope everyone can find things they enjoy doing during these Covid times. Until we feel safe, we will continue follow the safety precautions. I think due to holiday celebrations, the Covid cases are going up in Maryland, the positivity rate is now 6.9 in Maryland according to Johns Hopkins testing tracker.  Maryland's rate is still lower than the neighboring states, Pennsylvania's rate is 44.1, Delaware is 8.9 and Virginia is 14.0 and West Virginia is 11.1.

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

 

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!