Happy Thankful Thursday

Happy Thankful Thursday!

The past week we were dog sitting for our neighbor. Early morning, I would go with hubby to take the dog for a walk in the neighborhood. This is a view our yard as we headed next door. 

We took Marlow on the trail to the lake, we are seeing more tent caterpillars on the trees, I wonder if the birds eat these caterpillars? Some leaves are already turning colorful. I assume we did not have enough rain this summer.  Marlow sees a bunny.  

A Great Blue Heron and a flock of Canada Geese fly over the lake, one heron is perched on a tree sticking out of the lake, the bunny was safe from Marlow, a mushroom with a slug.

"Every act of kindness spreads peace to the world, love to the heart and light to us all." Mary Davis

A closeup of the colorful leaves.

"Have Courage and Be Kind."

I noticed these pretty yellow flowers near the lake, another plant I need Id help. 

"Slow down and enjoy life."

I heard these geese coming way before I saw them, I think they landed further down the lake. 

"I find hope in the darkest of days and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe." The Dalai Lama

A pretty view of the sky reflecting on the lake. 

"Kindness is the golden chain by which society is bound together."


I am thankful for acts of kindness, peace and love. 
I am thankful for the simple things, like the beauty of the sky and nature around me. 

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!

NCR Bike trail

Happy Monday!

I am sharing various photos from our walks on the NCR trail. Also known as Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail or the North Central Rail trail. We can drive to various parking lots for different sections of the trail. The trail is a total of 20 miles from Hunt Valley Md to the Pennsylvania Line.

The mosaic below is using photos taken while walking on the NCR trail in the Parkton area of the Gunpowder State Park. 

These perfectly round webs remind me of CD's or DVD's. 

I am not sure of this plant's id? Edit, thanks to Marit for the id, the plant id is Phlox paniculata.

"Today I choose: calm over chaos, serenity over stress, peace over perfection, grace over grit, faith over fear." Mary Davis



The Gunpowder River

The Cardinal Flowers were seen in a boggy area next to the trail. 

These photos are from another day and walk on a different section of the trail called Monkton.

There is a nature center with restrooms, nearby is a store with ice cream and other treats. They also rent tubes for floating down the Gunpowder River. 

For Tom's Sign linky party, my photo of various signs around the visitor center and the beginning of the bike trail. 

This was our turn around point on the trail, pretty view of a farm and house on the hill. Photo included for Cath's Country Scapes. 

A view looking at the trail ahead of us. We walked around 3 miles round trip on this day. The Monkton parking lot to the next road called Blue Mount Rd. 

The Scarlet Tanager is a common bird seen in our area in the summer months. 

"Kindness changes the world, one heart at a time. " Mary Davis


Please check out and visit the following memes and links. I hope to see you there. 

Thanks to Cath the host of Country Scapes

Thanks to Tom the host of Signs

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 #295

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!

I just love watching these Hummingbirds in my yard.  On this day, I think the young ones are coming to the feeder, there may have 5-6 been hummingbirds at one time. 

I do see the hummers at my flowers, but they move so quickly it is hard to capture a photo of them at the flowers.  

 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds at my feeder. I love watching these sweet little birds.  




"Kindness is free, let's pass it on."


I appreciate and thank everyone who links up their post and for all the wonderful comments !





Here is a list of my linky parties;

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

Mish Mash, Around the Yard

Happy Thankful Thursday!


The Purple Coneflowers are looking pretty, the flowers around my yard make me happy.  🙂

It's the little things in life, notice them! 💓

" Kindness is simple. It is seeing the good in everyone and celebrating it." 

Is this  a Pine Warbler or maybe a juvenile Northern Parula. I saw this bird in a tree/vine at the end of our driveway. Another day I saw a Black & White Warbler on my deck, that was an unusual sighting. 

Our Upright Fuchsia has so many blooms, looks beautiful. 

I am thankful for the flowers, they can can expel clean oxygen. 

Outside my dining room I can see the Ruby-throated Hummingbird at our flowers. 

I am thankful that my hubby has a green thumb! 

The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail is a common sight in our yard, seen mostly on the butterfly bushes. 

I am thankful to see the birds and butterflies in my yard! 

On Aug 3rd, I went to a wedding shower for my future DIL Allie.  We had a fun time and I am looking forward to the wedding in October.  I am thankful my son has found the love of his life. 

For my Skywatch photo, I am sharing this shot of the moon on July 14th. Some times when I can not sleep I have gone out on my deck when the moon is really bright, I took a few photos. 

We have a local family style restaurant near our home, this is the view from the window at our table. They serve one of the best Maryland Crab Cakes, YUM! There is a pretty view of the sky, pond and farm land. 

I am thankful for a good book, I am getting into Harlen Coben's suspense/thrillers. Another recent book was Spilled Milk by K.L. Randis  it is a compelling true story. I am waiting for my online library to get the latest Louise Penny book called A Better Man. 


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!

Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge

Hello, Happy Monday! 


Can you believe it is August already? The summer days are flying by. During our recent road trip to Maryland's Eastern shore we made a quick visit to the Blackwater Nat'l Wildlife Refuge. Cambridge Maryland is about a 2 1/2 hour drive from home and we crossed the Chesapeake Bay Bridge almost at the half way point. 

On the road heading toward Blackwater NWR we passed this field of sunflowers. The farm has a stand selling veggies and fruits. They also had a field where you could pick your own blackberries.

The Blackwater NWR wildlife drive is 4 miles long, it has various spaces to pull over and watch the birds and wildlife. Blackwater NWR is designated as an Important Bird Area. 

One of the first birds I saw heading toward the wildlife and refuge was this Red-headed Woodpecker. 

The Osprey nest can be seen from our car. There are 2 juveniles along with the 2 adult ospreys on this nest. 

A view of the Blackwater wetlands, there are terns perched on this posts. See if you can find a turtle toward the middle center of the photo. 

This is a closer look at the turtle. It is big, we saw 5-6 turtles in this area. 

Great Blue Heron

We sat in our car and watched this family of Bald Eagles together. The juvenile looked like it was throwing a fit over missing the meal. 

Pretty view of the wetland and sky. 

"Kindness is choosing love over hate, light over darkness, compassion over judgement."

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!