Desperate times call for desperate measures.  I'm now having to adventure vicariously.  At least it kept the kids and I busy for a while.  Be safe out there!

Decided to switch things up and go for a early morning stroll today.  The drizzle wasnt so bad and times like this remind me how much I like it around here when it is this quiet.  Looked out the back window and another local guest was hanging out.  Earlier in the week I posted a pic of a Pileated Woodpecker when there was 3 of them.  Today I think we had a Red Naped sapsucker working a tree on the property line.

Hoping one of the local birders can chime in and confirm or correct me.  Pretty cool to watch these guys work as fast as they do.

Woke up reading some media posts on earth day and it got me looking ... and realizing I have literally taken thousands of pics from around this state and each of them represents something, whether it be to me or somebody else.

I think over time we all get a little complacent and forget to stop and recognize just what an amazing place we are fortunate to live in.  I think we also end to ignore the simple fact that it, like us, needs to be taken care of as well.  This post is my 100th, most of them just blabbering selfish jaunts out and about like so may others have done, a few of them I enjoy looking back at once in a while.

This one also reminds me that aside from work, daily tasks, errands, kids, life's challenges etc there is always something truly awesome to appreciate.

I wish I could post a 1000 pics from around the state but the system, like me has limitations (grin).  Therefore, I am just grabbing 4 that mean something to me.  Now time for a daily stroll in the rain ... because that is what we do.

Hope you all do the same.  Have a great day and Happy Trails!

Tis' the season ... when everybody's car is now a shade of green from the wonderful dust floating in the air known as pollen.  As we have 30 large fir trees in our yard there is no reason to waste time washing any car right now.  Blow it off and enjoy it ... for 5 minutes.

Sheesh.

Stayed around the hood again today but not before getting ready with an ample supply of protein and energy.  The body needs fuel and top it off we did.

Didnt see much interesting stuff along our 5 miles today.  Some happy people out enjoying the weather.  A pier slowly fading into the sound but really, the cook things showed up after I got back home.  

In my own yard.  Yep, sometimes you dont have to go far to see the cool stuff, or at least the stuff you feel is cool to see.

Stay safe, stay healthy my friends....

After a six-mile loop around the neighborhood, the 11-month old twins and I decided a little trail maintenance was in order in the last few steps of the lollipop loop trail.  "We" completed this backyard park and trail system almost exactly a year ago (and by we, I mean a talented group of professional designers, landscapers, and contractors.)

You can approach the loop trail two ways - the easy, no elevation choice, accessed by the Traitor's Gate on the south side, or the more scenic Royal Mews from the north. This way has a little bit more elevation change, but the views from the top are amazing.

The trail was in pretty rough shape, after a grueling 10 minutes, I wiped my brow and called it a day.  The boys had different plans - they were pretty terrible at the safety and work part of the morning, despite my safety talk. However, they did a great job of having fun and getting dirty!

Looking forward to getting back to trail maintenance that more than 2 humans and 2 canines will benefit from soon! ;-)