My one week vacation starts today. I haven't had a vacation since October 2018. I would have taken this year's in October as well, but if you recall, I had a bit of a difficult time in October. I may have been out of work for a month, but it was full of the hurly-burly of crisis and waiting and in and out of hospitals; a time of recovery, but not exactly restful and relaxing. And of course it didn't include the things that soothe my soul the best - walking out in the woods and the countryside.
So this week I'll be out and about in the woods and along the country roads. Tomorrow I plan to walk out to Burnt Mill Road again to visit the yellow trestle bridge and the springhouse and the long-haired, long-horned Scottish cows. Part of what soothes my soul is old barns and cows; especially cows. So there will be a lot of that this week.
But walking in the woods is also a requirement for my relaxation, and I started with that today in the Dykeman Spring Nature Park. And after an extended period of almost Spring-like weather today was downright wintry - cold, overcast, with a stiff breeze and occasional snow showers. I needed to wear my furry ushanka hat and my shooter's mittens (fingerless gloves with flaps that turn them into mittens); with my leather jacket and my beard I looked like an 18th Century trapper in the far north, what I call my Jeremiah Johnson mode. But despite the cold I enjoyed myself and got some good shots. Come take a look.
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Three of the park's resident feral cats were there to greet me to the wetland,but only this one stayed to keep an eye on me. |
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The moss and other greenery growing on this log caught my attention |
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A tangle of tree roots on the banks of the creek in the park |
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A reminder of mortality |
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A pair of domestic Muscovy ducks who seem to have taken permanent residence in the park |
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Winter stars - leftover husks of Calico Asters up on the meadow |
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A male Cardinal in a tree along the edge of the meadow |
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Me in my Jeremiah Johnson mode up on the meadow |
© 2020 by A. Roy Hilbinger
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