Walk by the Boardman.................

Laura, Reina, Tristen and moi went for a walk down by the Boardman River. We wanted to get the kids out and tire them. Well two of us got tired and it was not the kids. We took a few pictures. Its wonderful that we have so many trails around here. The Boardman river goes right through town. At this point there was a dam. They redirected the river years ago and now I think the dam is being dismantled. Somethings going on. Anyway, they installed a nature center and have an extensive trail network now. It gives fishermen, canoeists and kayakers places to enter the water.

The river is quite shallow in several spots that make it wonderful for the kids (with life jackets) to play in. Laura said the other day they found petoskey stones in the river.

We had been on some other trails before and there are several more we have yet to explore. We want to go to the other side. Lots of Queen Annes lace

At first I thought this was a pin cherry tree but I am not sure. I do know bears love them haha.


Back to the river

These are not pin cherries and I am not sure what they are. I am thinking Chokecherry but not at all sure. They look so much like the others, maybe they are all chokecherry and they are poison I think. I have some research to do

It was a very sunny day so my pictures are dark. We are walking in woodlands alongside the river.

Here are Laura and the kids taking a break...........nice that there are places to do that huh?

There are water meadows too, and a place here to sit and watch wild life I would think. They built a gazebo. So nice. We didn't see anything though, well with our two noisy kids and another family close behind its no wonder. While on that subject, when we go out on trails we like to avoid other people. So why oh why with all the trails they could have chosen, why walk right behind us?


Now look at this cute bug.............so pretty. I believe its called an Iridescent beetle.

We rounded the bend and this is what we see (eye roll)the two of them fighting over a stick.


Here is Golden Rod and soon everyone will have allergies. Its so beautiful though, I would like some for my garden. My Dad had it in his back in England.


Going back into the woods. after some open spots it looks so inviting after the heat of open meadows.

The bees were busy here. On some Queen Anne's lace there were two different kinds of bee sort of dancing around each other.





When we got home we took them to the playground. What a noise. Reina has the strongest lungs I ever heard.........she can scream loud enough to hear her two counties over. She is teaching Tristen to scream.





Well it was a fun day if not a quiet one......they had to let rip somewhere and the great outdoors is the place to be. The wild life may not recover their hearing but it kept the bears away


I am sharing with Inspire me Monday

Some Blue for you...............

Today is St George's day........and today I would like to share some pretty Bluebells. I have found some lovely pictures on the web and want to keep them here to enjoy.
St George is the Patron Saint of England and has nothing at all to do with Bluebells. I bet he liked them though if he ever thought about such things.
Its a beautiful thing to drive through the countryside and see the woods just blooming. The blue is brighter than the sky and leaves are just budding so the lime of the buds compliment the blue carpet below.


I have said before about my Uncle Harold. He and I had much in common, we loved writing poems and we both loved Bluebells. Here is a picture taken in the Isle of White where he lived. Harold and Nellie lived there after they retired and Auntie Nellie got Parkinsons. Harold would care for her and when he got cancer all he worried about was how she would manage when he was gone. Well until he died he wrote to me and would still enjoy a quiet walk into Shanklin through a spinney that would be covered in Bluebells. He would walk to the shops and back as often as he could.



I love graveyards. A quiet place to reflect and to dream. What could be prettier than a country graveyard with bluebells?

How I would love to walk through here on a Spring morning.

I can not think of anything better than walking in an English woodland. Especially in Springtime. God created so much beauty and its good to be out and appreciating it. Listen to the birds as they feed their young and the baby bunnies, deer and other wildlife. Spring, season of renewal. A fresh start.

I used to gather arm fulls of bluebells and take them home to mum. Alas they do not like to be picked and do not last in water for long. Better to enjoy them growing.



I have to get some for my garden so that in the Springtime I can enjoy that beautiful blue.

I am sharing this with a few other blog parties.
Make the scene Monday at Alderberry Hill

Also sharing with Adorned from above with thanks

The Last walks of Autumn............................

Autumn walks

I see Autumn leaves all swirling down
In shades of olive, scarlet, amber and brown.
I take deep breaths of cold crisp air
and catch a stray leaf in tendrils of hair.
I raise my face towards the sun
It's weaker now that summer is done.
My last eager walks in woodlands deep
before all is done, and put to sleep
under blankets of snow and freezing ice
everything now is so special, so nice
The sky is so blue, so pristine and bright
soon it will be leaden and looking like night
I don't want to miss out on these heavenly days
I want to soak up these last gentle rays
JKS 2011 Nov