Slow Down, Look Around and Enjoy

I've been hiking pretty regularly over the last two weeks, and have seen the progress of how things change day by day.  I've posted some pictures of fungi and didn't realize they were the same plant, just different after a few days growth.

I took this picture on a Sunday:

Monday, the following day I came across the same fungi.  Only now it looked like this:

This is not the exact same plant, but this is what it looks like after a little more growth.  So pretty in all 3 stages.

Here is another, "do you see what I see?" picture.

Joggers/runners and those just not paying attention miss so much.  Sometimes being the fastest isn't the best.  Stop, listen and look around.Can you see them now?  There are two.

Second Looks From the Forest

All was good with my visit to the doctor.  Blood pressure was good and all of the results of the blood tests were good too.  The only bad thing was my doctor informed me that he is retiring from private practice next month.  He will continue to practice but will be part of a large company in Indiana.  I am sure it is difficult to be in private practice these days with all of the government stuff involved.  I will miss my doctor, he genuinely cared about his patients.  He even asked for a hug.  I am bummed, but made my next sixth month checkup appointment with the nurse practitioner who I've seen in the past when my doctor was not available.

I think the hiking has really helped me get the blood pressure back to where it belongs.  While I was waiting for my knee replacement surgery and afterwards while I was recuperating, my blood pressure was a bit on the high side...probably from no exercise.

So, Finn and I are determined to keep that blood pressure in check.  Here are a few shots from a recent hike.

Do you see what I see?

Can't quite see it?  Here is a closer view.

I love seeing the Great Blue Heron.  They always look so out of place here in Ohio.  I think of these types of birds only in costal areas.


I took this next picture because of the fungi growing on the tree.  After a second look, I liked the way you can see by the leaves the going of summer and the coming of fall.  Green leaves mixed with the brown fallen leaves.

Here is a closer look of the fungi.  What a magnificent specimen!

The Road Less Traveled

I've been trying to hike as much as I can and get in the best shape possible for tomorrow is my 6th month checkup at the doctor.  I know you can't cram exercise and good eating habits into a week and hope for fantastic results, but it's a good excuse to get moving again.  I hate going to the doctor.

Yesterday, Finn and I did our usual two times around on Kingfisher Trail.  The weather here has turned into very nice cool fall days which brings out all of the part time hikers.  Part timers you never see in the heat of summer or in the cold of winter, so they will be gone soon.

On our hike yesterday, Finn and I passed two young mothers walking 3 children around the 3 to 4 year age range, and carrying an infant.  Though I'm always happy to see children getting out and enjoying nature, they were very noisy. Lots of squealing.

They were walking so slow, when Finn and I turned around to walk the trail in reverse, we caught up to them again.   That's really slow walking...because Finn and I are pretty slow.  There is a path that runs between the lower and upper portion of the trail, so Finn and I decided to take the path to avoid the squeals of the children...and I'm glad we did!

Finn is on alert...he spotted something!

Don't know if you can see it, but there is a deer up ahead!  There were actually two, but one had already walked into the cover of trees.  Finn and I stood there for a long time until the deer moved away on his own.  I'm sure they moved up higher on the trail to get away from the squealing kids as well.  Thanks kids!  It was a treat seeing the deer!

Here is a cropped picture, so you can see the deer better.

We also saw some pretty fungi.  I like the ring that runs around the outside, so pretty!

In this one, you can see a tiny strawberry on the left too.

Sometimes, the road less traveled is the best!

Catching up...all things outdoors.

I'm still catching up on my outdoor pictures.  Here are a few shots of my last hike on a nature trail...about a week ago.  Pretty little odds and ends. In some ways, I like these better than flowers.  I have taken a few more hikes since then, but mostly on paved trails due to wet weather.

 This one looks like a heart to me.

And lastly, from yesterday, our kids always go to one of our state parks for a Halloween Campout.  It's always a lot of fun, and I usually drive up to spend some time on Saturday with them.  I didn't get a chance to take a lot of pictures, so here are two.

This one is my youngest granddaughter, Emmi.  She is nine, and I am lucky to spend pretty much time with her every week.  She's always such a delight to be around...always in a good mood and has so much energy.

The young lady on the right (dressed as Grumpy Bear...my favorite Care Bear) is my granddaughter Inez.  She is my oldest granddaughter and is in college.  Now that she's all grown up I don't see her as often, but I used to watch her pretty often when she was little.  She is still very sweet, quiet, and very smart.  Normally, I would post my grandkids pictures on facebook, but I'm not sure if she'd be OK with me posting this picture.  I think it's cute, but maybe she wouldn't.  The young lady next to her is Inez's good friend Janee (or Pokeman)!