Goslings On Parade: Birdorable (#271)

Every spring season, adult Canada Geese come to stay along an improved section of the Lehigh Canal, one of my favorite places to walk when I am in Pennsylvania.

The canal is part of a larger national park, the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor.  Brochures for the Corridor invite us to “follow history on the 165 mile path where America was built.”

The Canada Geese arrive at the canal in pairs sometime in late March or early April.  They mate, make their nests, lay their eggs, incubate and hatch them.   All during that time the many people who use the canal and its towpath are blissfully unaware that these bird families are forming.

Then one bright sunny day, out they come.  Wary yet prideful goose and gander, vigilant guides for their gosling children.

Mother and Father Goose with their foraging Six-Pack of Goslings

Another Goose Family Out for a Promenade

A Lucky #7 Gaggle of Geese

Ever Grateful,  Annie

About these ads

Ten Flowers For Mother’s Day (#270)

The best kinds of flowers for any day are ones that can be seen alive in their native surroundings.  Hope you enjoy these natural beauties.

May Apple

Pink Dogwood

Spring Beauties

Wild Geraniums

Yellow Asters

White Trillium

Lady Slipper

Violet

Mystery Flower

Swamp Honeysuckle

Hope all the Moms enjoyed their day!

Ever grateful,  Annie

Wine, Travel, And Fun! (#269)

The first annual National Wine Tourism Day took place all across North America yesterday.  Wineries all across the US and Canada offered events to promote the concept of traveling to wine regions on vacations or day trips.

This event started in Europe in 2009.   Now it has made its way to America to support the importance and economic benefits of wine tourism.  But also to combine three of my favorite things: wine, travel, and fun!

So my friend, Sher and I heeded the call of Bacchus the god of wine.  We took a road trip to Clover Hill Winery in Breinigsville, PA.  Or as my daughter, Amber, saw it: “Hey kids, MumMum’s going on a booze cruise!”

Seriously! It’s a wine sampling!  But that fell on deaf ears.

When we arrived at the vineyards,  we went into the newly built wine display rooms, paid a small entrance fee, were led to our table and a wine connoisseur brought us three samples of wine each along with a tray of various cheeses paired to the wines.

Our Riesling, Dolcetto and Cabernet Wine Samples

I suppose you can tell we were through the first 2 wines and on to the Cabernet.

Our Orchid Centerpiece

A Wine Connoisseur Explaining The Wine Selections

Friends Enjoying The Day At Clover Hill Winery

A Rose Bush on Each Grape Vine Row Alerts to Possible Insect Intruders

Vineyard Landscape

I thoroughly enjoyed the Wine Tourism day and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of wines grown just a ways down the road from my hometown.  It was another successful road trip.

Ever Grateful,   Annie

Birth Root Or Stinking Benjamin: What’s In A Name? (#268)

In the Pennsylvania woodlands I am always thrilled when I find myself walking on undisturbed land.  Land that has not been tilled for farming or moved around for roads and houses.  How can I tell?  The presence of native wildflowers is a sure sign.

Red Trillium

One of the prettiest flowers I found is the Red Trillium growing in rich soil beneath a canopy of trees.

With an interest in ethnobotany, learning about the history of this revered plant is an added bonus.

A few hundred years ago it was known as Birth Root by Native Americans who used the root to induce childbirth and to aid in labor.

Native Americans Taught Settlers About Their Healing Plants

To green flies it is a place to lay their eggs.  Why?  Well, that’s where another name for the flower comes into play.  It’s been called Stinking Benjamin because it has a faint odor of meat gone bad.  That aspect attracts the green flies who incidentally pollinate the flowers while laying their eggs.

Red Trillium Pollen 

Since it has three leaves the Red Trillium also has a connection to the Holy Trinity.

All this from just a walk in the woods.  I am always in wonder at our beautiful natural world.

Ever Grateful,  Annie

The Pseudo Orchid Of Penns Woods (#267)

If you were a chipmunk, you would still be taller than a particular wildflower in Pennsylvania that, at first glance, looks very much like an orchid.

In its natural habitat on the forest floor you could easily walk right past the Fringed Polygala, also known as GayWing or Bird on the Wing.

Can you spot it in this photo?  It’s pink, in the center of the photo and the size of a dot!  I took this photo from about 5 feet away while walking along Trinity Gorge trail at Beltzville State Park.

Natural habitat for Fringed Polygala 

Now here is this beautiful wildflower up close.  It stands about 3 inches tall and grows in colonies from April to May by creeping its stems along the ground.

The Pseudo Orchid of Penns Woods

The study of Ethnobotany claims this plant was used by American Indians to treat skin inflammations.

This macro photo really shows off this flower’s nickname of “Bird on the Wing”

Bird on the Wing

Up Close and Beautiful

How exquisite are the little things in life!

Ever grateful,   Annie

 

 

CamperForce 2013: Picking Up The Gauntlet…..Again! (#266)

Come September, I’ll be trading my Tin Can Annie moniker for CamperForce Annie as I’ll be returning to Campbellsville, Kentucky for my second year as a CamperForce Associate.

Last year in June I posted this story about my efforts to train for the job:

Mum-Mum In Training For CamperForce 2012 (#185)

In the story I remarked that I was training for my job by walking 10 miles a week. At the time that seemed like a lot!  After a season (September thru December) of walking 10 to 12 miles a day as part of my job requirements at Amazon, I now marvel at my beginner’s training regime.

This year my training started back in March.  I now easily walk 30+ miles a week.  I owe this invigorating change to my CamperForce job with Amazon.  I definitely have lots more endurance and energy.  Just read another of my stories where I tell the tale about my “real boss” at Amazon:

Meet My Boss At Amazon: Jillian Michaels (#212)

What made me stay and complete the program?  There were so many factors.  The most important ones were the people. They made my day.  Whether fellow CamperForce members or full-time employees; everyone was caring and kind.  And if they weren’t, I knew they wanted to be.

My supervisors, the safety team, my co-workers and especially the Human Resource folks were all angels in disguise.  I wasn’t another warm body just there to do a job.  I was someone who mattered.  It made all the difference.

During the last month of my personal challenge to complete the season, things got even tougher.  We went to a mandatory 50 hour work week.  That’s when I decided to reward myself for succeeding by booking an oceanview site over Christmas for my tin can cottage in South Carolina.

It worked!  I spent those hard days envisioning myself walking sandy beaches, basking in the sunsets, smelling the wonderful ocean air.

This year I’ll hold another carrot out for myself as I keep smiling and enjoying yet another season in Campbellsville with my friends at Amazon.

For those considering the challenge or who are already hired, here are my other stories about my experiences as a CamperForce Associate:

CamperForceAssociate; That’s Me! (#201)

Just Another Beautiful Day For A CamperForce Worker (#203)

Pass The Prayers And The Chocolate Cake (#215)

I Did It! I’m Done! It’s Over! But I’m Too Tired To Celebrate! (#217)

Ever Grateful,  Annie

From Above {Weekly Photo Challenge} (#265)

A walk along the cliffs

Where edge of land above

Spies ocean and cave below.

From Above

 

Ever Grateful,   Annie

 

 

A Dragon With A Warm Heart (#264)

Wondrous, serendipitous moments happen every day of our lives.  Serendipitous moments while holding a camera are just priceless!

The latest magical event walked right past me as I sat in my car waiting for my granddaughter at Cedar Crest college.

As I sat reading the last book that beloved Irish author, Maeve Binchy wrote, a figure with 6 legs moved past me.  I did a double take and looked again.  It was actually a man with 2 legs and a strange creature with 4 legs straddling his backpack.  The strange four foot long creature looked just like a dragon.

Stunned!  Amazed!  Agog!  I threw down my book,  grabbed my camera,  leapt from the car.  I saw the magical creature and her human playing on a grassy expanse of lawn not far from where I was desperately trying to compose myself.

Visions of elaborate Asian artwork danced through my head.  I saw hand-painted dragons curving their serpentine bodies around and into porcelain bowls, cups and spoons.

Back to reality!  The dragon’s name is Rocko.  Yes, she looks very much like a dragon to me but in reality she’s an iguana.  Her owner, Jared, walks her in the grass so she can nibble on the dandelion greens.  They supplement her fresh vegetable and fruit diet.

Rocko is all of seven years old, likes to climb trees, and when she rides in the car she runs from one window to the next eager to look out at the passing world.

Rocko the Dragon

Rocko Eating Her Greens

Smiling Dragon

Tree Climber Extraordinaire

Rocko’s Profile  

A Dragon and Her Boy

Rocko, a dragon with a warm heart.

Ever Grateful,   Annie

Culture {Weekly Photo Challenge} (#263)

Every Saturday along the highway between Mendocino and Fort Bragg in northern California: practicing a Culture of Peace.

 

Peace Demonstration Along Highway 1

 

Love,  Annie

Spring Cameos Along The Lehigh Canal (#262)

Where mules once pulled long boats laden with anthracite coal through the dredged and man-made Lehigh Canal.

Where young lads walked along the canal towpath guiding their mules as they pulled the boats downstream to an ever-growing market for fossil fuels in the cities.

Where now, with spring in our midst the towpath and canal are used daily for walking, biking, fishing, jogging or just sitting on a bench and watching the world stream by.

My impressions of spring along the old Lehigh Canal in Weissport, Pennsylvania.

Tree Blossoms Along The Canal

Fishing in the Canal; Biking on the Towpath

The “Nowhere Bridge” Across the Canal

A Meandering Stretch on the Towpath

Greetings By Grape Hyacinths

Historic Tavern on the Canal; Now a RedNeck Bar

Leaning House Along the Lehigh Canal

Historic Pothole Parking Lot at Towpath Entrance (Humor)

I hope Spring is just as grand and nostalgic and joyful for all my dear readers wherever you are.

Love,  Annie