Thursday, June 16, 2011

A Beautiful Morning for a Walk

I have so many options when it comes to taking a walk. I can go around the block for 3 miles; or I can go around a different block for 2 miles. Then I could just cross the street and walk forever. I’m not into forever. After 3 ½ miles I begin to stagger! ☺

I start at my front door and walk east up to Route 5. Turn north and walk a half mile to Bridge Lane. Left on Bridge Lane and I’m heading west, toward the river. About half way between Rt. 5 and the river is this lovely gazebo and pond.

NOTE: Click on pictures to enlarge.

Continuing west, I come to the railroad tracks. This house sits between the tracks and the river. The best of both worlds!



Here the tracks are shown going north and south. I’m going south, too, so for the next mile I’ll be walking along the river.
Tracks looking north.

Tracks looking south.

With all the vegetation leafed out, I can’t see much of the water, but I can hear it roaring and hissing over the rapids. Once in a while, I will come upon a pretty patch of flowers.

At the 2 ½ mile mark I come to the town boat launch and it’s a good excuse for me to sit on a boulder for a while and watch for eagles. If they don’t show up I know the Canada geese will.

While I’m sitting and watching, I hear the train whistle as it comes across Hayden Station in Windsor. Then I hear it come into Windsor Locks. I’m moving now with camera at the ready and catch the gate down and the train barreling through. I don’t know how I got such a clear picture of the train…he was going fast.



With nothing else exciting happening, I finished the final ½ mile home.

A morning well spent. ☺

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Am I Responsible?


Last week as I was riding home on my bike I spotted a good size snapping turtle coming out of a swamp and would eventually cross the road. I took notice and rode on.

About a half mile down the road I saw a man out for his morning walk and I mentioned the turtle as a point of interest in nature. He smiled a very big smile and said something that sounded like he was very happy to hear that.

Today I rode past the same spot and I saw the smashed shell of a turtle in the grass where I had seen the live snapper. Just the shell, no flesh.

Did that man kill the turtle and take the flesh home for soup? There are people who do that. I felt so bad…to think that I might have been responsible because I mentioned it to that man.

He probably would have seen it anyway, but next time…if similar circumstances present themselves…I’ll keep my mouth shut.

I Surrender! ☺

When I went to bed last night I was not expecting any more storms. The line that went through earlier in the evening had some brilliant lightening…cloud-to-cloud and ground to cloud streaks that we so seldom see.

I left windows open and fans on thinking I would cool the house down over night then close it up this morning. I really didn’t want to turn the C/A on.

At 1:30 am I was rudely awakened by thunder and realized the rain was coming in my bedroom windows. I flew out of bed, whacked my right shin in the oscillating fan that was on the floor knocking the cage off the front. I frantically closed the windows and unplugged the fan. Then I ran downstairs to close the living room sliders and the kitchen window.

I limped back upstairs and inspected my leg. Ugh. I found the Neosporin and a large bandaid and patched my self up.

This morning I decided to go out early on my bike to get a few groceries before it got hot. At least that was successful! When I returned home I discovered I had left my car windows open last night. I…don’t…believe…it!

As for the C/A, I turned it on…I caved in…I ran up the flag of surrender. The weather is going to be threatening all day into the night and the temps are going to be up near 99. I’ll cool the house off all right! I’ll turn the C/A on forget the whole thing.

Check back with me tomorrow when the weather is cooler and drier. I’ll be in a better mood. ☹