Happy Thankful Thursday!

Hello, everyone!

 I am thankful for another Thursday, for my fellow blogging friends, the hosts of my favorite linky parties and of course my blog followers.  I am sharing another local county park, about a 30 minute drive from home. I have posted numerous about our walks at Cromwell Valley Park, the park consist of 460 acres of stream, forest, fields, valley and upland habitat. It is a very popular park for local birders and has a hawk watch which may be starting soon. 

These are images from our most recent walk on August 28th, it was a pretty day with a lovely blue sky.   We saw the GB Heron, American Robins, Eastern Bluebirds and a House Finch. They have restored and preserved the historic Risteau Lime Kiln.
 

 Great Blue Heron intent on finding food. 

 A view of the wooded section of the trail.

 Birds on the wire, a House Finch and 2 Eastern Bluebirds.

 A view of the pretty blue sky and the trail.

 You can walk a loop up the road past the barn and then the trail goes back into the woods.

 There was a lot of the Queen Anne's Lace blooming.

 I am not sure of the id of these yellow blooms.

 A young Eastern Bluebird still showing the spotted breast.

A view looking down stream from the bridge. 

  For Throwback Thursday, I am sharing a mosaic of images from previous visits to Cromwell Valley Park.  Photos of the farm land and barn, Palm Warbler, Baltimore Oriole and a Waterthrush.

 

 

 

 

We had other plans this day and did not spend the time needed to find more birds.  I have been on a few bird walks at this park, there are usually lots of Baltimore Orioles and various Warblers. One winter years ago I even saw a Northern Shrike at this park. I am always happy and thankful to take a walk and to do some birding. I hope everyone take care and stays safe. 

Live simple and be happy!  😊 Take care, keep smiling!


Thank you to Martha  @ Throwback Thursday linky  
and her Seaside Simplicity
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

Happy Monday, 

Today is Labor Day, the first Monday of the September. LOL, I am sure you know what day it is. Labor Day is a holiday to honor the  American workers and their achievements.  I think during these Covid times I am especially thankful to all the essential workers, that includes all the health care workers, farm workers, retail workers, child care workers, the list goes on.  Happy LABOR day to all these important workers who are risking their own lives for all us.  Thankfully, I am retired and blessed to be able to stay safe at home during these Covid times.


We are able to get outside for our walks. I am sharing a  recent visit to one of our Maryland State Parks called Patapsco Valley State Park. We timed our visit to a week day trying to avoid crowds but it seems like everyone had the same idea. We managed to get there early enough to get a parking place and take our walk. 
 

 We walked on a few trails at the park, one took us past the Lost Lake, we saw lots of turtles, but birds were hard to find with all the leaves on the trees.  I am not sure of the id of the birds on the lower left photo, possibly the Wood Pewee and there were a few Cardinals. 

 A view of the Lost Lake, they are working on this lake area and on trails in this park that are still closed from a historic flood in 2019.

 Some of my birds sightings included an Osprey bathing in the Patapsco River and the Kingfisher sat on a branch above the river. 

The swinging bridge crosses the Patapsco River. 

I was lucky at one time to get a shadow shot of us with no one else in the photo.  Lots of people were walking across the bridge, some wearing mask and some were not. 

A Great Blue Heron fishing in the river. 

This was my best shot of the Cascade Falls, without too many people climbing on it and around the falls.

Various images below: Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Osprey, me and my shadow, swinging bridge, view of the trail, Cascade Falls and the turtles at Lost Lake.

This was the first time I have seen an Osprey playing in the water, it was splishing and splashing. 

I hope you enjoyed my photos from the park, we had a nice time. It was good to see some different scenery for a change. 



 Maryland Covid Update: As of 9/2/2020 Maryland is starting the Phase 3 of re-opening. Our positivity rate is below 3.5% which is great compared to other states around the country. The rate should below 5% or below for re-opening safely. Latest total case numbers for  Maryland Covid there were 109,319 positive cases in Maryland, 3,623 deaths.  I hear the numbers can change daily, this virus has not ended and it is not just going to go away. We must still wear our mask and keep the distance.   #MasksonMaryland     I hope everyone is staying safe, happy and healthy.  



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 # 351

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!

A juvenile male Ruby-throated Hummingbird, you can see just a small bit of the ruby throated jewel starting to show on this hummingbird.

I've been seeing at least 3 Gray Catbirds in my yard, it appears they like the berries on the Devil's Walking Stick.  The Botanical name for this plant is Aralia Spinosa and commonly called Hercules Club. It is native to north east America.

 

Gray Catbird likes these Devil's walking Stick berries.

The Fritillary Butterflies are a common sight at the butterfly bushes.

The Swallowtails Butterflies are plentiful. 

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

 Hello everyone,

Sending prayers to Michelle and her family.  May Michelle's mom rest in peace, my sincere condolences.  Michelle is the host of Thankful Thursday.

These are crazy times lately, between the Covid 19 virus, weird cult conspiracy theories and the up coming election.  The following two things I need to remind myself  of daily.  The whole future lies in uncertainty: live immediately. Stop worrying about things you can't change.  One thing I can do is VOTE and always check the FACTS.   

Wouldn't it be nice if anything related to politics, politicians and the election was just banned from the news and social media sites for 1-2 months before the election. 

When we focus on the beautiful things around us, life becomes calmer.

Sky-watching and watching the butterflies are a few of  my simple pleasures.  Simple pleasures I am thankful for.....

Sending the warmest wishes your way,
let them lighten up your day.
Just like the morning sun rays!

An Irish Blessing:


May the wings of a butterfly kiss the sun.
And find your shoulder to light on.
To bring you luck, happiness and riches. 
Today, tomorrow and beyond.

Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.

"True generosity toward the future consists of giving everything to the present." Albert Camus

Be like the butterfly, embrace change.
Float above it all,
Sip life's sweetness.
Become something beautiful,
on occasion fly into the wild.

Anne Frank: I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains.     I am thankful for the beauty around me.

These photos above are new, I feel like they must  look like others I have already shared on a previous post. The butterflies continue to enjoy our Buddleia bush. I have been enjoying my yard birds lately, I have a lot of Blue Jays, Cardinals, WB Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers. I have been hearing the calls of the Pileated Woodpecker and the Yellow-billed Cuckoo almost every day. 

For the Throwback Thursday theme, photos are from my younger years. My first day of school and my First Communion. My mother made the Communion dress, she made a lot of dresses for me and my sister.

My ears look so big, lol..

Be Kind! Kindness changes the world, one heart at a time!! 😊

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

Our World, My World

 Happy Monday everyone,

Time to say good bye to August, tomorrow I will welcome September.  I am still not sure where August went, I just know the days and month are in the past. I hope all my blogging friends are safe/survived the Hurricane Laura, chaos and the wildfires.  My world is pretty calm.  Moving right along I am sharing a recent hike at the local Hemlock Gorge. This area is part of the Prettyboy Reservoir watershed. We hiked the trail along the Gunpowder River to a small waterfall which is surrounded by tall Hemlock trees. 

 Views of the trail and the Gunpowder River.

 One section of the trail and Gunpowder River.

 Eastern Tiger Swallowtails

Wildflowers and butterflies seen along the Hemlock Gorge trail.  I think the pinkish plant is Joe Pye weed?

 The Louisiana Waterthrush can be found along the Gunpowder River. We also had a quick look at the Belted Kingfisher as it flew by.

 Views of the Gunpowder River, Eastern Wood Pewee were heard often, Waterthrush and Goldfinches. I also saw and heard the Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe  and the Blue-gray Gnatcatchers.

 These 2 Goldfinches almost blend in with the yellow flowers.

 Louisiana Waterthursh, I have seen these birds on previous hikes in almost this exact spot next to the river. Maybe their nest is nearby?

 Goldfinch mosaic, these birds were enjoying the wildflower seeds.

Back near the parking area we saw this tiny Ring-necked Snake. They say juveniles are around 8 inches, this one was thinner than a pencil. It was black in color and had the yellow band. This was the 2nd day in a row where I almost stepped on a snake.

One last look down the river, there was a rope or wire hanging low over the river. I do not remember that being there the last time we walked here. 

We are still staying close to home, our walks/hikes are done locally. Deer hunting season will be starting soon, I think it starts the middle of September.  We will have to change the places and fire roads we walk on, avoiding the bow hunters. Saying prayers for peace in our country.   I hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy.  


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!