Walking daily......

....is a healthy habit. It gets me into another neighborhood that is quite different from our farm. The neighborhood I am referring to boarders Stone Creek Golf course and is the golf course. This route has been the same path I've taken, with my walking partner, for the past four years. We have worn out several pairs of shoes and enjoyed some pretty lively conversations! We often talk about the benefits of walking like: lower cholesterol, keep weight in balance, eye health, lower blood pressure and attends to vitamin D deficiency. I'd like to say that walking has allowed me to lose weight, but that is not the case. It allows me to eat without gaining. We walk in the rain and sunshine. There is also the exception of rain blowing sideways and extreme wind! Many times we have gotten wet down to our underwear but not as often as some report! Every day it doesn't rain is appreciated and noted! :)

A friendly neighbor puts out fresh water for those who walk with their dogs.

Daffodils grow freely against the fence and will be there for years to come.

Way up, over our heads, we hear honking. A gaggle of Canada Geese fly in V formation, heading towards the East, with a stop at the pond.

We head down into the wooded area, along the creek and behind the golf course.

Deer fern grow on the rocks and trees along the path. They are so pretty and won't grow in other places...like pots.

Trillium are scattered all along the creek and path.

Ahh..the sunshine is beginning to peek out beneath the fluffy white clouds!

Many of the homes along the golf course are large and very well appointed. We get to look at their pools and lovely landscapes as we tread by.

This planting is exceptional and if we ever saw the owners outside we would say, "thank you!"

In a few short weeks it will be changed out and another amazing show will be displayed!

I encourage those of you who want to walk to find an area that is safe and one that you enjoy. Start out slowly and build up to a distance that is further than you think you would like to go. Four miles sounds like a lot to me, but it is the distance that has built up my strength and given my body the opportunity to repair itself in areas that were lacking. It is also the distance around the golf course and back to my walking partners house. It's been a good thing.

Caution

In a few days Mt. Hood will be covered with snow, but today the snow will melt. The next three days will be in the nineties!

As I walk each day, Mt. Hood and the trees surrounding Stone Gate Golf Course show signs of the coming change in season. See the line of red maples? I love this three mile jaunt around the golf course. There is a wonderful area that goes down into the woods and along a roaring creek. Today there was a sign posted and we must assume it means what it says! I will be taking a large can of Mace with me from now on! I hope that big kitty finds a better place to live!! The golf course was a farm before it was tranformed, and did not encroach upon the Cougar's territory.

Seeing a sign like this, after you have just walked through the woods, is sobering!!

Have a good week and beginning to the Autumn season!!

Sights while walking

Each day when walking I see this grouping of plants at the entrance of Stone Creek Golf Club and walking path. It is such an interesting display of height,texture, and color in plants. I wanted to record it just in case my garden needs tweaking next year...I have already decided it does and I can use this roadway garden as a reference. These plants are tolerant to all kinds of weather and don't need constant attention. The path around the golf course goes into the woods and along a stream. There is a fresh feeling in the woods and the water sounds so peaceful.
At one point I looked up to see this huge maple looming over me. Another photo opportunity!!
On up the hill we plodded and back into the open, there are golfers playing their game.
Back up the road to the entrance again and I take another picture from the perspective of leaving the golf course. It's a beautiful place to walk and certainly a good bit of exercise.

Two eggs in the hand are worth two birds in the bush...

It was brisk and windy on my walk today. I took the familiar path that meanders around the golf course. Usually my walking partner is along but she had other things going on today. Since I was alone there was more time to look around the landscape and notice things...tiny things.
These two birds eggs were within 50 feet of each other and on the path. Several people had passed me going the other direction and one guy even had a dog with him. It was surprising that the eggs had not been stepped on. The blue egg is a Robin egg and its color is true to what is commonly called "Robins Egg blue." The other egg was not so easy to identify, so I asked my husband and he said it was a Pheasant egg. But I have never seen a Pheasant on or near the golf course. What I have seen are Killdeer birds. They nest in the grass and scurry around making all kinds of noise when someone comes near their precious eggs. As I researched the Killdeer, sure enough that is what the egg is. Take a look by clicking on Killdeer! I put both eggs in this beautiful pottery dish along with a tiny Hummingbird egg that I found earlier. They are displayed on a dresser sitting beneath the assemblage art piece, "Homecoming", that my niece created.
When that was all done I decided to step outside to see how things were growing and I felt a presence. There above my head was a squirrel scolding me.
He looked me right in the eye and kept on talking. His fur was fluffed and he looked as if he would like to jump on me. I decided to back off but not before I got these pictures! After all, I have a blog to attend to and everything is a possibility for subject matter!
Thank you, Mr. Squirrel!!

Wild Oregon Iris is found while on my walk today.

These Wild Oregon Iris were showing themselves, on this warm May morning, while I was out on my walk. There is always something new to see but on days like this when something so beautiful is facing the path, there is an extra thrill to the walk! Since taking up blogging my camera has become my constant companion for shots such as these.
It is a simple delight but nonetheless...a delight!
And, a little Oregon sunshine on my back completes the experience! When there is a shadow I know this is a good day to be outside! You probably think it's funny that I mention the sunshine so much but it's been a long wet spring!!