About Me

My photo
Recent retiree--35 year's experience teaching reading, English, adult basic education and volunteer leadership skills. Started this blog to exchange ideas and commentary with friends and others having an interest in joining the discussions. Greatest life accomplishments include: 1.organized my 3rd grade class to check out library books for me to get around librarian's weekly limit--Amazon.com, the Mullins Elementary 3rd Grade Class of 1956 is still waiting for "thank you" notes; 2. volunteered in the Peace Corps, island of St. Kitts, West Indies; 3.taught adults to read, earn their GEDs., and speak English as a second language; 4. bought a border collie puppy for $6, got evicted rather than give him up, and began a life-long love affair with all things "Dog"; 5. joined a physical fitness boot camp in my mid-50s--don't mess with someone who's been doing regulation pushups in wet grass at 5:30 a.m.; 6. walked across Northern England with best friend Sally--over 80 miles from the Irish to North Seas; and 7. travelled to many foreign countries for pleasure and work.

Monday, May 27, 2013

Chet's Walk in the Park



Chet here - hope you're having a great Memorial Day weekend if you live in the U.S., folks.  The Roommate is taking it easy today, so I'm standing in as guest blogger.  Thought I'd take you along on one of my daily park walks.  And I don't mind admitting that I'm just the right height for some macro views.  The only problem is that I have a hard time slowing down for the Roommate to get those macro shots, so don't be too critical of her photography. (click on the photos and mosaics to enlarge)

We go through three connected parks, so in order here are just a few of the interesting things we see.  First, these nifty tulip poplar blooms that fell in the grass from Neighbor Mary's tree:


Next we cross over the bridge to get to the second park.  Sometimes the sun makes a little water magic on the creek:


Now we were walking along the creek bank when I spotted these strange things.  The Roommate jerked me back and yelled "Don't eat!"  Like I'd confuse this with a Beggin' Strip!  Anyway, she thinks they're mushroom or fungi, but can't find the same thing on Google.  Anyone help us out?


Now here the proper position to get a macro view of your world--every time we go through the park I have to check the hole in this tree trunk.  Keep hoping I'll find a snake.  The Roommate, not so much:


Now when I was down in the macro position, look what I almost stepped on!  At first this old Turtle Boy had his head out all friendly and then he just closed up shop.  Believe me, I was just as scared as he was.  His backside is not quite as cute as my "bubbles", but he is very handsome:


At this point we're heading back through the parks.  Of course the Roommate was oohing and aahing about the wildflowers and bushes, especially the honeysuckle and dogwood.  And she keeping going on about interesting the sycamore bark is.  Me, I'm still thinking about Mr. Turtle:



Final stop on our walk is in Neighbor Mary's yard.  I take the opportunity to lie down and rest for the walk home while she takes photos of this bench.  I pointed out the robin having a foot long worm (get it?) with my macro vision:



Well, I lied.  The bench was next to last stop.  The Roommate has been trying to get a macro shot of these Japanese maple whirlygigs for a long time.  Here I get one as a cap, so suggested that we let well enough alone and go home!


Hope you enjoyed tagging along for a view of my world.  Enjoy your summer and we'll chat again further on down the road.  Chet

Linking to: Macro Monday and Mosaic Monday and Our World Tuesday .

11 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

chet, you do have a very cute bubble butt. :) and i like colorful mr. turtle, too. beautiful blooms your human found.

Linda Kittmer said...

So many interesting images, but I must tell you the texture of that bark really caught my eye too!

betty-NZ said...

Thanks for the tour, Chet! All your adventures look fun! The dogwood has to be my favorite of the photos, but they are all just gorgeous!

Indrani said...

I liked the turtle,
difficult to have a pet like that in apartments.

JoAnn ( Scene Through My Eyes) said...

Chet - you are a very good blogger - it is interesting to see things from your perspective. And The Roomie got some fabulous photos and made wonderful collages (I'm guessing you had some input as to including a lot of pictures of yourself) Wonderful blog - thanks Chet - now have a Beggin' Strip and let the Roomie have a rest.

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing your walk with us Chet. You saw a lot of interesting things. Have a great summer!

Fun60 said...

What a wonderful selection of flora you see on your walk, Chet. Hope you didn't tire your owner out too much.

eileeninmd said...

Thanks for the nice walk and tour, Chet! The flowers, mushrooms and the turtles are all beautiful nature scenes. Great shots, have a happy day!

Unknown said...

Great walking companion!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

Lane Mathias said...

What a fabulous walk, Chet. You're a natural at this tour guide thing. And that turtle is something else!

Living Life said...

Chet - you crack me up! I'm sure you have a whole different view of the world at your level! It was nice of you to slow down just a bit for your roomy to get some great macro shots!