Happy Thankful Thursday!

 Hello and Happy Thursday!  😀

These are some more images from our getaway to Shenandoah National Park.  Since we spent the night nearby in Front Royal Virginia we were able to stay late and watch the sunset from the Skyline Drive. 

Some scenes from our walk at the Big Meadows in Shenandoah NP.

 If you look close some bugs can be seen flying around us during our walk at Big Meadows. At least the bugs weren't landing on us. 

Pretty red plants on the Big Meadows, in the distance the Visitor Center looks tiny on the top right.

Shenadoah NP, the Skyline Drive and the Big Meadows. 

We had beautiful views of the sky at Big Meadows, seen below I like this lone tree. We did not come across many people on this day in the park. We probably see more people in our local Walmart. 

I am guessing at this bird's id, a Field Sparrow seen on the Big Meadows, Shenandoah NP.

Me and my shadow at the Signal Knob Overlook, Skyline Drive @ Shenandoah NP.

 Sunset from the overlook on the Skyline Drive. The end of a beautiful day! 

I am thankful for a beautiful sunset and a great visit to Shenandoah National Park. We wore our mask in public areas and kept our distance.  So we are thankful to have returned healthy. Most of all we returned a little happier  🌝 since we were able to have a change in scenery.  Most of our time was spent in the car except for our hikes. 

My latest books:
Raven Black by Ann Cleeves, # 1 in the Shetland Island series..
Every Last Lie by Mary Kubica, a fiction/thriller and a new author for me
A Dangerous Place by Jacqueline Winspear # 11 in the Maisie Dobbs series..


I hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy! 😊  Please wear your masks and keep social distancing.. I am always thankful hubby and I are both doing 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!  😊 Take care and keep smiling!


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!

My World, Our World

Happy Monday!

 We went on our first overnight trip to Shenandoah National Park. We spent the night in a hotel at Front Royal Virginia, it is close to the beginning of the Skyline Drive.  We had been watching the National Park website waiting for the park to re-open, some trails are still closed. 

A view of the Appalachian Mountains, Shenandoah National Park.

 We saw a lot of deer on the Big Meadows, pretty views of the park and sky.

The trip went smoothly, it was not too crowded. The only thing we could not do was eat at a restaurant, it was take out only.  We took a cooler with some snacks and water. We hiked our favorite trails on the Limberlost Trail, Big Meadows and a little on the Appalachian Trail.  The Mountain Laurel blooms was just about to open when we were there.

The Scarlet Tanager  was heard singing and seen from the Limberlost trail.  My favorite trail in the park, it is very birdie. 

The Scarlet Tanager is a beautiful color, it really stands out among the green leaves.  Other common birds we saw and heard were the Eastern Towhee, Indigo Bunting, American Redstart and I am pretty sure I saw a Chestnut-sided Warbler hiding behind some leaves.  I heard some Veery too, they have a cool song. 

This fungi was everywhere we looked while walking the Limberlost Trail.   I think the fungi is called Chicken of the woods.

The White-tailed Deer are seen along the road, on the road and trails.  We saw a cute fawn crossing the road with it's mama.  You never know what could be around the next curve in the road.  I wish some drivers would slow down, there is a 35 MPH speed limit in the park.

A view of the Big Meadows..Bathrooms were open, which is important for me.  The Big Meadows store was open but their cafe was closed.   

We planned this trip when we had 2 days of good weather for hiking and it had to be during the week. The weekends are just too crowded.  Overall we had a great getaway, I took lots of photos. We are looking forward to the next getaway maybe the Delaware shores..

Knock on wood  14 days later we have come home virus free and feeling good. I hope everyone is doing well, take care and stay well. Now we are looking forward to our next getaway, I have the urge for more road trips.


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 #340

Welcome to Saturday's Critters!

Happy Father's day to all the Dads!




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 am sharing some of my yard birds, these are seen daily at my feeders and in the yard. I have been enjoying the bird sounds in my yard too. I have Gray Catbird and a House Wren that seem to have a competition going on who can be the loudest. 


Two female Downy Woodpeckers are hanging out on the pergola, waiting for a chance at the suet feeder.

 This looks like a young Blue Jay. I have seen the Blue Jays and the Mourning Doves spread out like this before. I assume they are drying or sunning their wings. 

I see a few female Cardinals on my deck, usually more often early in the morning and later in the evening they appear. 

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


Here is my linky:


 

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

Happy Thankful Thursday!

 Hello, 


Happy Thursday, I hope everyone is well.  Is your day/month going as fast as mine? These are some sights from our walk on the local fire road.  

I am always thankful for some pretty blue sky days...This Turkey Vulture was hanging out near the old Herons nest.

 A male Eastern Towhee was heard and seen during our walk.

 The Cedar Waxwings are seen in this same spot often, on this day a small flock of them flew over our heads.

 A White-breasted Nuthatch is a year round resident, seen in the woods and in our yard.

 I love the ferns we see growing along the side of the fire roads.

 😊it's the little things in life, that make me happy and thankful.

 You can just barely see the lake through all the trees and leaves now.

 I am thankful for the ease of online purchases.  Besides my usual morning coffee, I have been trying various teas. Are you a tea drinker, do you use the tea bags or make the loose tea.  I have been trying different tea flavors, these are some of my Amazon purchases. I have tried and enjoyed Rooibos, Oolong, Green tea with mint, Peppermint, Chamomile, Earl Grey and Darjeeling. Do you have a favorite tea?

My latest books are:
A Great Deliverance, the #1 in the Inspector Lynley series by Elizabeth George
Leaving Everything Most Loved, Maisie Dobbs # 10 by Jacqueline Winspear

I hope everyone is staying safe, happy and healthy! I am always thankful hubby and I are feeling good!


I am always thankful for your visits and the comments.


Just smile and be happy!  😊


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!




I have been enjoying my back yard birds and blooms, they are a simple pleasure during these Covid times.  Maryland is opening up a little more each week.  Now, we have open restaurants with inside dining at a 50% capacity limit.  Some places are closing streets in the afternoon and setting up tables outside.  Hubby and I prefer the outside dining at this time.  We finally saw our son and DIL,  we stopped for some carry-out dinner to take to their place and ate outside on their deck.

Some images of our clematis and a Ruby-throated Hummingbird sitting near the feeder. 

Love this clematis, lots of blooms this year.

 Hubby and I enjoy our walks on the local fire roads, some of nice views of the reservoir.   A view of the fire road, our walk for the day.

These are a few of the birds we saw off the fire road, the House Wren top left, Gray Catbird top right. Bottom on left I am guessing it is a Wood PeWee and bottom right is the Red-eyed Vireo.

These pretty ferns grow along the fire road. We heard lots of birds around us, like the Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Titmouse, Chickadees, WB Nuthatch, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Scarlet Tanagers, various Vireos and Flycatchers. One sounded like a Acadian Flycatcher.

 We saw a few butterflies flying around during our walk, this Black Swallowtail landed nearby.

 A view of the reservoir.

 The mountain laurels are blooming, mostly white blooms. Some times they are pink in color.

I hope you enjoyed these images from my little corner of the world,  we continue to do well. BTW, I finally found yeast in the store and have made my first loaf of no-knead bread.  It was super easy to make, it turned out well and tasted delicious.  Next on my list to make is homemade pizza/flatbread dough. I am looking for an easy recipe..

Staying safe and still keeping our distance until we feel safe to be traveling more.   I hope you all are doing well too.  I hope everyone is safe, happy and healthy. Take care and stay well.  

Thanks again for your comments, check back for replies!


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!