State Hospital trails................

So on my bluebell woods blog I wrote about the first part of our day. We stopped at the new visitors center to explore what was going on. We eventually got off on our walk. Laura had come by because it was such a nice day, so off we went.

There are miles of trails above the State hospital. The fields look down over the town. Some of the trails are steep and slippery.

Some were blocked by windfalls.Note my footwear, I was not expecting to have to climb haha,


Tristen got through OK.

He enjoyed climbing on the rocks and trees. We enjoyed the walk other than the slippery steep paths, that was fun but for me rather iffy, hard for me to see what I was doing and my glasses kept steaming up.


We found a bear in the woods (no not really)



I personally needed some exercize after the birthday party at the weekend. Still have not recovered from that.
Some of the things that we saw in the woods...........one beautiful toadstall/mushroom

Plenty of flowers left and the bees are still bizzy.

One day I will try to figure out the names of all the different bees I find. Tristen found a poor old grasshopper who got squished on the path


Its was a fun day with a few laughs

We saw a friend out jogging with his dog but I bet he didn't go on the trails we did haha...............Tristen enjoying the stream

The sky was beautiful and the fields were going fully into Autumn.

Queen Annes lace is gone till Spring

we will continue to go on hikes as long as we can, till the snow falls. I would love to go all winter but I don't have and can't afford snow shoes or skiis so.........hoping for a very long Autumn season. Taking a break......

Just one more picture, this is at the visitors center and were the only deer we saw that day

Lots of great art work with more to come.......its going to be great there. Can't wait to go back. Think I will use some proper shoes next time. I am always telling Laura to do that haha.

Looking forwards to Autumn,,,,,,,,,,,,

The change of season has been in the air for a few weeks now. You can smell it in the dampness and crisp morning air. Almost but not quite frost just yet. Time to start to bring in the indoor plants. A nice rain today will nourish them. Then to get some potting soil and some containers to put them in and its time..............not a job I enjoy. I am always afraid of bringing in critters I don't want to house for the winter.

The above is not my picture naturally. I can't wait to be able to get out and take my own pictures. Right now the colours are not changing. Just slightly, the rain wont help. What we need is dry cold nights and sunny cold days to set the colours off to the best advantage,


Henry Wadsworth Longfellow..........
Thou comest, Autumn, heralded by the rain,
With banners, by great gales incessant fanned,
Brighter than brightest silks of Samarcand,
And stately oxen harnessed to thy wain!
Thou standest, like imperial Charlemagne,
Upon thy bridge of gold; thy royal hand
Outstretched with benedictions o'er the land,
Blessing the farms through all thy vast domain!
Thy shield is the red harvest moon, suspended
So long beneath the heaven's o'er-hanging eaves;
Thy steps are by the farmer's prayers attended;
Like flames upon an altar shine the sheaves;
And, following thee, in thy ovation splendid,
Thine almoner, the wind, scatters the golden leaves!

Soon the time for hay rides, apple orchard tours, toffee apples and cool days with bright sunshine. Sunflowers and pumpkins

Changing my front porch.

Soon be time to rake the leaves. Not a favourite job for any in this house. Still a way off though by the looks of things.
I will work on getting my inside plants ready to come inside.


sharing with Inspire Me Monday

Little critters..........

I love bees. I have done a lot of posts on them. I can't help it. They are so busy and intent, they live their lives fully and at top speed. I have got some good pictures that I will share here today.

There are quite a few varieties in just my own back yard.


I see the bee with one spot on his head a lot around here. Any idea who this guy is


So pretty. The little green ones are like little jewels. This guy is a bit different I think?

More of the same, the wings are so beautiful.

Well, I must include a couple of birdie visitors because the yellow finches have not been here all summer


Then the Thrush came back.

Have not seen the Thrush all summer. Not to be confused the the junior Robin, its a different shape and size. Finally a Monarch in my garden

They must be getting ready to leave. I have not seen more than one other all summer, and that one was dying. So bon voyage to this healthy one.

Sunday Drive.............

We took a long Sunday drive. You can see it on Bluebell Woods blog. Here I will show some of the nature pictures I took. The lakes were pretty and they are just full of life. I saw this little guy up on the Dunes.

This one on a rock on the beach. I don't like bugs. I try to, but I don't

I didn't see too many birds. Just the big ones, Sandhill Cranes and Turkey. Loads of Turkey. Several Blue Heron. They are always fascinating birds. Ungainly but swift when they need to be.

There were Autumn flowers growing all around. Wild Asters. Could have come from old farms? or maybe they just grow wild. In any case they certainly do well here. Why are they so fussy in my garden?????

I saw some Monarchs wow.....they will soon be leaving for California. One had a torn wing. I doubt she will get far.


Still some pretty Water Lilly on the ponds

Lots of small fry in the water, tiny fish, do they live through the winter? I suppose they go deep and among the weeds. I didn't get a clear picture so wont try to show it. Lots of berries now.

The bear will enjoy some good meals before they go to sleep this winter. I think its supposed to be a long one again. Lots of Rose Hips. Should gather those but didn't

Well this is it for tonight. I will do part 2 on Bluebell Woods tomorrow.
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Also with Adorned from above

By the Boardman.........

It was thundering all night, torrential rain. It did clear up today though and even though Tristen was cranky, he has a cold, we went for a walk. Reina was here for the day and Laura was working. They played with the Petshop stuff for a good few hours. I had bought Tristen some so that they had more to play with, Raylene stayed home with her dad. Well after they got bored and restless we decided to go for a walk. It was nice and cool but sunny. We didn't want to go very far so decided on the Boardman trails.

My camera ran out of juice so I didn't get a whole load of pictures to choose from. We walked a short trail by the river before taking the other trail though the woods. In some parts it was so steep down to the river it could have been scary if you fell. The river
was rough and wild today. After all the rain the river was full. It was running strong and fast. Plenty of warnings posted about the dangerous banks. The water undercuts the banks and washes away the dirt and trees.

I really wanted to get some good pictures but only got a few mediocre ones.


It's beginning to look like Autumn with the berries on the plants and the apples on the trees, nuts falling to the ground. The leaves are only just beginning to change, we have not had that much cold weather yet. Waiting for a frost.
Today they learned about Sumac, it was the first thing I saw and they had mentioned the trees they knew already. So even though Tristen was only 1/2 paying attention and was cranky with his cold, well I figured I may as well add another tree. They are sort of into this, I am happy about that.

We walked on through the woods and there were some good views. It would have been better if it was not so damp and if the river was calmer,

We saw a place that looked like a lookout but the path was closed because some of the banks had fallen in, we carried on.

If the river had been calmer I had seen several spots to look for stones, you know, Petoskey stones. I dare not let the kids near the edge in case it caved in. The water was so fast and going towards the dam so I am over cautious, always am.

Some pretty flowers still blooming, I had wanted to get some good shots of the water and the berries ETC but the camera gave out. I had checked the battery before I left. I usually take both cameras but today I didn't. Ah well...........it was a nice walk anyway.