I came home from work with a hellacious headache. Not a bad day at all. Just a headache. I skipped the school lunch so it could be from that. A Luna bar and apple being not quite enough to get through the day. Or my hair still being damp when I put it in a ponytail. Either way, this is just going to be enough of a post to stick to the Blog 365 goal.
Here are a few phone photos from the park where I stopped for a minute on the way to work yesterday. The roads weren’t bad by the time I went to work. I had allowed myself too much time and didn’t really want to be there super early so I stopped at the park for a moment.
I’ve needed this weekend to rest and recharge. So not too many photos today.
Take rest; a field that has rested gives a beautiful crop. (Ovid)
There is virtue in work and there is virtue in rest. Use both and overlook neither. (Alan Cohen)
Life is all about balance. You don’t always need to be getting stuff done. Sometimes, it’s perfectly okay, and absolutely necessary, to shut down, kick back, and do nothing. (Lori Deschene)
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)
I visited all my favorite garden places around the yard yesterday. (Thrown in below are also some photos of this past spring and summer blooms as well)
Front yard:
The garden year has no beginning and no end. (Elizabeth Lawrence)
August of 2022
One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it provides. (W.E. Johns)
Side Yards:
The promise of spring’s arrival is enough to get anyone through the bitter winter. (Jen Selinsky)
Backyard:
The color of springtime is flowers; the color of winter is in our imagination. (Terri Guillemets)
To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow. (Audrey Hepburn)
“From December to March, there are for many of us three gardens—the garden outdoors, the garden of pots and bowls in the house, and the garden of the mind’s eye…” (Katherine S. White)
Garden quotes from the following sources where you can find additional quotes on gardening:
I made myself go out on a walk again this past Sunday. It took a bit of effort to get going and I ended up at the same park as the previous week. However, it’s large enough that I had plenty of new spaces to walk. I’m so glad I went because I finally saw one of my bucket list birds.
Who? Me?
Oh no, not you silly little sparrow!
This one, right here. Photos aren’t great but I have to share anyway.
Pileated Woodpecker
We are barely on the edge of their range here but they have them in the area where my husband hunts as well as in Arkansas. I spent lots of time searching to see one when we went on our Arkansas trip. I did hear them a few times. Alas, never spotted any.
And then, just in my own neck of the woods (well, a little 15ish minute if that drive south to the park) and my wish came true!
I had just walked a little further past the bridge where I saw the cedar waxwings last week (I was actually looking for them) and stopped to look up into the tree line. Funny thing, it was sort of a long week and I was having a bit of a silent conversation with God about how I could use a “win.” And then, this magnificent creature flew and landed there for much too brief of a moment before flying all the way to the other side of the park.
Feeling a little extra grateful this Thanksgiving week.
And maybe a few random thoughts. As I mentioned Monday, I went for a walk at one of my favorite parks on Sunday afternoon. It felt nice (though a bit chilly) to get out the camera again on a walk.
The weather did come as expected on Monday night, not too much snow. However, it’s still cold this morning as we’re sitting at 24 degrees with NW winds making it feel like 18. Next week, seems to be back to normal. Definitely thankful for that!
Killdeer
Sometimes I see these little birds at this park but not always. They’re usually pretty shy so I was happy (with the help of the zoom lens) to get some semi-decent pictures.
I also saw a rather large group of doves. It was fun to capture them all in flight when I was trying to determine what they were.
Doves
Not the best pictures of the doves because we have these in the backyard so I wasn’t too excited once I saw them properly.
We also have lots of sparrows in the backyard but I never realized until I started seriously bird-watching how many different types of sparrows existed. I think but very well could be wrong that this little bird below is a song sparrow.
Sparrow
Sometimes without the high end zoom on a camera it’s hard to get a decent shot (and of course, if I had said high end zoom, then it requires a tripod to get a stable shot and that’s too technical for me). Here are couple of shots that needed better zoom and/or more cooperative birds.
Hide and Seek
some type of sparrow hiding hereYou have to search but there are 2 Cedar Waxwings in each of the photos.
The Random Bits Plus Another Bridge Photo
Clearly, I don’t do well with the concept of wordless Wednesdays.
Anyway, a bit of fun about this park. It used to be an old race track so it’s quite large and tends to feel empty. It’s been a work in progress for years probably.
I have a terrible nickname for it of “Serial Killer Central” (Note: I’ve never really felt unsafe here, just need to use common sense). However, now they’re doing this:
Gonna need to find a new nickname, I suppose. At least the parking here will be better (I hope).
Today is anti-procrastination day in Fly lady land. I’m off to clean up a bit around the house, pay some bills, and work. Later, I’ll deal with the last task on my anti-procrastination list and call my brother to see if there are any Thanksgiving plans out there.
Full on working day yesterday and I wasn’t wrong about this week being busy. Had an early morning work day Tuesday as well, a half-day, voted, then worked in the yard. These photos are extras from Sunday that I didn’t have time to edit before my HHM post. Hope you enjoy!
I snapped these while working in the yard, had taken a break to grab the photo of the bunny I did share in Monday’s post.
A fall hydrangea bloom? And it’s still vibrant and pink…
Can’t walk in the front or back yard now without hearing the crunching of the
LEAVES
Still a few on the trees on Sunday, the Oak tree leaves (and the neighbor’s gum tree leaves, not pictured) are always the last trees to become bare.
And of course, the birdfeeders are kept busy with our constant stream of
Backyard Birds
Never did get a close enough look to determine the species of this silhouetted bird but still liked the photo.
These were taken in no coat (though long sleeved tee-shirt) weather. Still nice this morning, all changes tomorrow when our weekend highs are supposed to be the normal ones for January (36 degrees!), not November.
Thankful Thursday Things
So, this is a bit of a double post. I scheduled the above to publish yesterday morning but for whatever reason, it did not. I think the date on my blog doesn’t match the computer. Something to check into later. However, I’m just going to turn this into a 2 for 1 post. An early Black Friday deal but you don’t have to buy a thing!
A few Thankful Items From This Week
Beautiful weather! The chance to get my wildflower garden seeds and spring bulbs planted.
The right to vote
The joy and laughs I get from working at a preschool. An election day gem: A parent arrived late saying she took her kids with her to vote. Told us how her 3 year old daughter was very confused when they got there because she didn’t see “the boat”. Ha! How fun would it be if we could go on a boat to vote!
New adventures with old friends
Light in the mornings again! (Apologies to my night owl friends but this is so much better!)
And coffee (a staple of any time change)
A good night’s sleep
My list is of course, longer but I’m stopping there today to keep this post from getting too long. What things are you thankful for this week?
Our November is starting off with some beautiful fall weather. Warm, just a bit of a breeze. Breezier today than yesterday when these photos happened. Good weather for a quick hike in the woods at a local nature park.
I know a lot of you have jumped forward to planning Thanksgiving and Christmas. However, I like to take the first week of November and simply pause. Catch my breath before the “big” holidays get going in full swing.
Seems like the time between holidays gets squished closer and closer together each year. I’m certainly not one for denying someone their joy if they want to put their Christmas tree up today (or leave it up year-round) but that’s not me. I read where the holiday drinks at Starbucks come out tomorrow.
All this, Christmas time is starting as soon as Halloween ends but we’ll give Thanksgiving 2 days doesn’t make sense to me. Whatever happened to the waiting? Isn’t the waiting part of what makes things special? I know some special city holiday lighting things need to happen (I guess) before Thanksgiving to fit them in on our calendars but personally, I miss the excitement of the waiting.
Whatever happened to the anticipation? I don’t want a peppermint mocha on November 3rd, I want to look forward to enjoying one properly after Thanksgiving.
Maybe it’s our unseasonably warm weather or perhaps I’ve become a cranky old lady (possibly both) but it seems the specialness of it all fades when we rush it along.
I’m taking a moment to breathe between my holidays? Care to join me? And I promise I’ll look the other way if you happen to have a peppermint mocha in your coffee cup.
Well, this is really going to be a mostly wordless Wednesday post. Like the little turtle pictured below, I moved a bit slowly this morning and now I’m running a bit behind on things.
I also saw bald eagles, a muskrat, fish, kingfishers, a majestic blue heron, deer, and turkey vultures. However, this turtle was the only creature happy to pose for a portrait.
Of course, I have more photos to share. And if I can figure it out, a couple of videos as well. Stay tuned. Happy Wednesday, friends!
