Skywatch Friday

Taking a trip out to Lake Erie and the beaches at Conneaut, Ohio offered some gorgeous skies, and some wonderful warm temperatures.
Happy Skywatch Friday. Click on to http://skyley.blogspot.com to see what this great meme has to offer.

Pics from this week

On my daily walks with Tauqua we pass 5 groundhog burrows along side the road. This GH doesn't seem too afraid as I stop to take it's picture. I liked the flower effect too. This Barn Swallow has a insect in it's beak on the way home to feed the kids.

My Marigolds are doing well despite all the rain.

I found this old gas grill ( free) at a yard sale several years ago, and it makes a great place for flowers.

We've seen 3 doe and 3 fawns the past 2 days, and this is the only picture I got. The fawn with this doe was off to the right side, and with a vehicle coming up behind me I had to move on, and didn't get a shot of it..

This funny looking tree always catches my eye.

Early morning fog streaming through the trees in our front yard.

I found this American Toad on the driveway this afternoon. I have no idea where he was going...

We're in store for a few nice days. I can't believe it. Take care all.

World Bird Wednesday-Babies

With all the rain we have had the past 2 weeks, I have been taking more bird pictures at home. Here are a few of the babies I see.

Beginning upper left and going clockwise.

Female Cardinal, Mama House Wren making her 2nd nest this time in the Bluebird house, Chickadees, Downey Woodpeckers, family of House Finches, Hairy woodpecker, and Mourning dove. Be sure to click on over to http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com to see lots more birds.

Ruby Tuesday

This has got to be the strangest Ruby Tuesday I have posted, but I couldn't resist. Across the road from us is a huge hay field, and it has been recently mowed. There are 100's of Cowbirds out there searching for seeds, and when they hear a loud noise, they all fly together and land on this hay wagon.
Click on over to http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com to see what Mary/the teach has done with this fun meme.

Macro Monday

I have lots of Marigolds this year, so they are my subjects for this weeks Macro Monday.
Click on over to http://lisaschaos.com to see lots more close-ups.

Critters

At the local firehouse, right in front at the base of a telephone pole this mama duck is sitting on her eggs. A really strange place to set, but so far she has been safe. We went by there this morning, and I saw a dark fuzzy little baby moving around right by Mom's head. Not wanting to bother them, we left and will check up on her in a day or so, to see if any more hatch.

The Goldfinches are still coming around.

A baby Hairy woodpecker is still begging food from the parents.

In the back yard lives this mother Groundhog. I saw her eating Milkweed leaves. YUK!

Our dog goes crazy when he sees her, and will stand at the window for hours just watching.

Baby Mourning doves everywhere. It has been a good Spring for them.

Very early Thursday morning around 6AM this doe was spotted in our back yard. The light wasn't the best, so that's why the picture isn't so good.

Lots of Cabbage white butterflies around too.

That's all I have to post for today. We have received 3" of rain since Tuesday. Enough is enough! It could always be worse, and it could be snow. :~(

Weekend Reflections

While on vacation we visited the National Railroad Museum in Altoona, Pennsylvania. It is a marvelous place, and out in the huge yard you can see lots of old railroad cars, passenger, and freight in various stages of restoration. The windows on the side entrance to the museum makes for some interesting reflections.
Click on over to http://newtowndailyphoto.blogspot.com and see what James has done with this fun meme.

Skywatch Friday

On our recent vacation to Gallitzin, Penna I always am on the lookout for unusual cloud formations. Maybe it's because of the high altitude, but there seems to be lots of them around especially before a storm. I thought this one resembles Remy from the movie " Ratatouille"
Happy Skywatch Friday. Do click on over to http://skyley.blogspot.com to see lots more sky shots.

Pics from vacation, and home

Our vacation was spent in Gallitzin, Penna where we stayed at an awesome B&B right along side of the Norfolk Southern railroad mainline. The trains travel all day and all night, so there is no excuse for not getting enough train time. The B&B has a wonderful deck on which you can sit with a cup of coffee, tea, or soda while you visit with other train fans while below on these tracks the trains travel East and West through the Allegheny mountain range. This particular control point is the highest point on the line, and from here East to Altoona, Penna is all down hill. The Eastbound train traffic must stop here while checking their brakes. The tunnel on the right is the Gallitzin tunnel, built in 1854 and enlarged in 1995 to permit double stack trains. The other tunnel the Allegheny tunnel was built in 1904 and is no longer used. The tracks have been removed, and at the present the workers are closing up the tunnel with cement blocks mostly to keep kids from getting into trouble. Check out the man in the yellow shirt, and then you can see just how mammoth these tunnels are. The larger one is almost 1 mile long. Back home the Downey woodpeckers are bringing the kids now for lunch.

A Bluebird checking out the house, but sadly they left, and when I went to check out why, I found an ants nest inside. I cleaned it out, but I think they won't be back this year.

These shots are out of order, but here are some "helper" engines. They attach to the rear of the trains and help by pushing going up hill as the trains travel West toward Pittsburgh, Penna.

While on the deck waiting for the next train, I spotted this Robin doing a bit of preening.

Finally finished, he sat on one leg for quite a while just resting.

We've had more rain last night with tons of lightning and thunder. We even lost elec. power for 2 1/2 hours, and expect more coming our way later today. The grass is growing by leaps and bounds,so it requires mowing at least twice a week.

World Bird Wednesday

I know, I know, there are Canada geese everywhere, but when I'm near them I just can't resist taking pictures. Now that the goslings are growing up, they actually take on the appearance of their parents-somewhat.

I love the fuzzy faces and heads. They are so adorable!

Happy World Bird Wednesday and do click on over to http://pineriverreview.blogspot.com/ to see lots more birds.

Ruby Tuesday

On our trip recently we passed through the little Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney. This town is known for it's famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil. The little critter that is teased out of his burrow very early in the morning every February 2nd, to predict whether we will have 6 more weeks of winter, or if winter will end early depending if he sees his shadow or not.. No matter it always lasts 6 weeks more or less. Many states have their own weather predicting animal too.
In Punxsutawney there are many many statues of Phil dressed up like different businesses, and placed on various street corners..
Click on over to Mary's site http://workofthepoet.blogspot.com/ to see more RED.

Macro Monday

It's that time again for the Queen Ann's Lace to blossom. I just love the lacy look, and don't forget to put some in glasses of colored water for your own rainbow bouquet.
Happy Macro Monday and do click on over to http://lisaschaos.com to see lots more close ups.

Father's Day

It's Father's Day, and I want to honor the memory of my Father Rusty Templeton. He was a wonderful, warm, and oh so caring Dad, and I still miss him every day. This week Gary and I went on a short trip, as we try to do near Father's Day, to a really cool B&B where we could watch trains all day! My Dad was also a huge train fan and he would have loved this place! Happy Father's Day Dad, and to my husband Gary who is also a super, marvelous Dad. We took a side trip to the Horseshoe Curve where the trains come and go all day and night.

This neat street light always caught my attention, and this time I got a picture of it.

We visited the National Railroad Historical Museum in Altoona, Penna. Outside the museum is a big yard with many old railroad cars in various stages of restoration. Back at the B&B this is the upstairs deck where the railroad tracks are within 30 ft, and it offers such a good safe view to watch trains and take lots of pictures. There is also a chiminea where you can build a nice fire to keep warm on cold nights. I take my computer out to this table so I can keep in touch with my family and all my Blogger friends while I'm away from home..

Another place to watch trains is from an old Model "T" car bridge that crosses over the tracks.

From the deck at the B&B this is the view we see as the Amtrak passenger train climbs up the hill from the Horseshoe Curve. This and 2 other tunnels were built all by hand tools in the 1800's by mostly poor Irish immigrants. These tunnels are the only way for the trains to cross the Allegheny mountains from Pittsburgh, Penna to Harrisburgh, Penna. I'll post more on the tunnels next week.

That's all for today. Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there.