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Good News and Bad News

July 19, 2012 by Pat Bean

“The longer I live the more I realize the impact of attitude on life … I am convinced that life is 10 percent what happens to me and 90 percent how I react to it. And so it is with you. We are in charge of our attitudes.” – Charles R. Swindoll

Pepper after getting into the sprinklers and then the ferns at a friend’s house. Yes, she’s a cutie pie, but … — Photo by Pat Bean

 

Which Do You Want to Hear First?

There seems to be more birds here at Lake Walcott this year than last, an eye-popping treat for this enthusiastic birder. But perhaps that’s because there are more bugs as well.

Thankfully they’re not the stinging kind, just clouds of mayflies thick enough to provide a privacy curtain and little black gnats that like to fly up your nose.

A gaggle of Canada geese making their getaway as Pepper and I near. Too bad they can’t take their poop with them. — Photo by Pat Bean

It was so much fun watching the Canada geese and their goslings when I first arrived here in Southern Idaho mid-May. There was a bumper crop of young’ens. But now I find myself stepping around tons of goose poop – and they poop big – when I walk the bank paths. Yuck!

Pepper, the Scotty mix puppy I rescued after losing my longtime canine traveling companion, Maggie, brings daily adventure and joy to my life. But she wakes me every morning at 5:30 a.m., and makes sure we take long walks no matter how thick the bugs are outside.

And so life goes.

There’s always bad with the good, and good with the bad. Swindoll got it exactly right. Attitude is the key to our days.  I’m grateful I see my own glass as always half full instead of half empty.

What about you?

Bean’s Pat: Green-rumped parrotlets http://tinyurl.com/brwgre2 From egg to adult. Fantastic. Blog pick of the day from the wondering wanderer.

Posted in Adventures With Pepper, Birds, Lakes, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments »

Lake Walcott: What Happened?

July 18, 2012 by Pat Bean

 “The man who never alters his opinion Is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.” William Blake.

These flowers bloomed while I was gone. There were big bunches of them all along a short section of the bank in the upper tent campground. — Photo by Pat Bean.

Life Goes On

And the milkweed plants, which the butterflies love, here at the park went from this … — Photo by Pat Bean

I’m Back now at Lake Walcott, after leaving for four days to fly to Texas for a granddaughter’s wedding. I had a marvelous time. I got to see a new great-grandson, now almost seven months old, for the first time. And I’m still feeling the love from all the family hugs I received.

Homecoming, when it involves loved ones, is always sweet after an absence. It’s a benefit that helps make up for the distance my chosen on-the-road life and the scattered residences – from Texas to Florida, Illinois to Arizona, with Argentina thrown in for good measure – of my children and grandchildren.

But while I was gone, this southern Idaho state park where I’m volunteering for the summer continued its ever-changing life cycle, welcoming me back with new wonders.

My hummingbird feeder was empty and the bird seed feeder, which I had filled to the brim before taking off, had only a few sunflower seeds remaining in it. I had left both full, not wanting to disrupt the continuity of the birds that visit my RV site.

A black-headed grosbeak and an American goldfinch – a study in orange and yellow – were at the feeder when I pulled in. It was the first grosbeak that had visited and I was delighted to see it. I suspected that the Bullock’s orioles had emptied the hummingbird feeder as I’ve only had a few hummers visit this year.

Black-headed grosbeak — Wikipedia photo

My first walk around the park after being back was full of changes too. Along with coming across branches that had blown down from the weekend storm I missed, I noticed that the milkweed had matured, and that some bank plants had come into bloom while I was gone.

It was fun to see the changes, which so often are missed on a day-to-day basis. Life goes on where ever one goes.

Bean’s Pat: Katmai National Park http://tinyurl.com/765d97z Fishing bears. I couldn’t resist sharing this. Blog pick of the day from the wondering wanderer.

Posted in Birds, Favorite Places, Journeys, Lakes, Nature, Travel, Wildflowers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments »

Favorite Places: Jamaica

July 17, 2012 by Pat Bean

This passing boat looks just like the one I cruised the Black River in. — Photo by Pat Bean

“The Mark of a successful man is one that has spent an entire day on the bank of a river without feeling guilty about it.” Chinese Proverb

Typical passing scenery at the start of the river cruise. — Photo by Pat Bean

The Black River

Toward the end of the cruise, it was just one mangrove tree after another. — Photo by Pat Bean

I had one day to spend in Jamaica as part of a Caribbean cruise, and I chose to spend it cruising some more — on the  Black River.

But first there was a ride in a rickety old bus to get to the other side of the island. 

“No problem.” That describes the Jamaican way of life I learned. 

It was a fun bus ride, and a fun boat trip.

George — Photo by Pat Bean

 One in which a crocodile named George came at our boat captain’s call, and one in which all aboard toasted our captain with a Jamaican beer after he called the alligator over to say hi.

Honest!

Bean’s Pat: Retiree Diary http://tinyurl.com/7orn9dq Keep traveling with this blog, which takes you to Croatia. Blog pick of the day from this wondering wanderer.

Posted in Favorite Places, Nature, Travel, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment »

Favorite Places” Glen Canyon Recreation Area

July 14, 2012 by Pat Bean

“For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.” — Robert Louis Stevenson

Color  Stop

My RV,Gypsy Lee, couldn’t help herself. She just had to pull over to the side of the road so her driver could take some pictures of this awesome scenery. — Photo by Pat Bean

 

Posted in Favorite Places, Travel | Tagged , , | 2 Comments »

Favorite Places: Point Pelee National Park

July 13, 2012 by Pat Bean

 “To stand at the edge of the sea, to sense the ebb and flow of the tides, to feel the breath of a mist moving over a great salt marsh, to watch the flight of shore birds that have swept up and down the surf lines of the continents for untold thousands of years, to see the running of the old eels and the young shad to the sea, is to have knowledge of things that are as nearly eternal as any earthly life can be.” – Rachel Carson

A walk over the water through lily pads. — Photo by Pat Bean

Boardwalk Through the Marsh

Marsh color. — Photo by Pat Bean

Point Pelee is the southernmost point in mainland Canada, and is part of a bird and butterfly migration corridor over Lake Erie. Over 360 species of birds have been sighted here. It was a beautiful place to visit, which I did in 2006.

Bean’s Pat: Grand Teton National Park http://tinyurl.com/6w4leaa  Yet another of my favorite places. Blog pick of the day from this wondering wanderer, who is flying to Texas to attend a granddaughter’s wedding.

Posted in Favorite Places, Travel | Tagged , | 4 Comments »

Favorite Places: Great Sand Dunes National Park

July 12, 2012 by Pat Bean

“The artist is a receptacle for the emotions that come from all over the place:  from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.”  ~Pablo Picasso

Visitor Center Art

A mural near the top of a wall in the visitor center at Great Sand Dunes National Park caught my attention, and I lingered for a while simply enjoying it. I thought you might, too. So Below are three of its panels. I found many surprises in each. Do you?

Panel 1: The eagle flies free. — Photo by Pat Bean

Panel 3: The elk stands tall. — Photo by Pat Bean

 Bean’s Pat: Life on the Farm http://tinyurl.com/77qhgwo A tomato sandwich. I have this cookbook, and love it. But forget the diet.  Blog Pick of the Day as selected by this wondering wanderer. FYI: I’m flying to a granddaughter’s wedding in San Antono and not taking my computer,  so my blogs will just be a few photos of my favorite places. I hope you enjoy

Posted in Art, Favorite Places, Travel | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments »

Lake Walcott Has Many Moods

July 11, 2012 by Pat Bean

 “It is not enough to fight for the land; it is even more important to enjoy it. While you can. While it’s still here.” – Edward Abbey

Always the Same But Always Different

 

I often sit on this bench to watch birds. The area is a favorite hangout of western kingbirds and Bullock’s orioles. — Photo by Pat Bean

Before I became a full-time wondering wanderer, I enjoyed the familiarity of my frequent hikes on the benches of Utah’s Mount Ogden, whose shadow stretched down to touch my pleasant home.

From day-to-day, season-to-season, year-to-year, I got to watch the same landscape in its different moods and growth. It was an awesome experience.

While I truthfully tell everyone the only thing I miss since paring all my belongings down to fit into a 22-foot long RV is my bathtub – showers have just never been my bathing choice – I’m beginning to think I also miss the continuity of watching one particularly landscape change on a daily basis.

My volunteer position as a campground host here at Lake Walcott State Park for the last three summers is what started me thinking about this. I walk all around this park daily, several times in fact since my canine traveling companion, Pepper, needs an outlet for her energy. And I never tire of seeing the same landscape over and over.

Today the lake is mirror smooth, and so provides a canvas for the landscape to paint.

Part of that is because it’s ever-changing. The slant of the sun, the shadow of a cloud, the arrival of the nighthawks, a new flower opening its petals, the mirror smoothness or crashing waves of the lake against the shore, all this and much, much more add variety and delight to my walks.

Edward Abbey got it right. It’s as important to enjoy the land as it is to protect it. The first, I suspect, will make us fight all the harder to accomplish the latter.

Bean’s Pat: Life in the Bogs http://bogsofohio.wordpress.com I chose this blog as my pick of the day because its author/photographer frequently posts pictures of the same pond in its many moods. I never tire of seeing her pond day after day.

Posted in Adventures With Pepper, Birds, Favorite Places, Lakes, Nature, Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments »

Yes Virginia, There Really are Angels

July 10, 2012 by Pat Bean

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.” Seneca

And They Work for Delta Airlines

If I could, I’d give this whole garden of flowers, which I found growing at the St. Louis Botanical Gardens, to my two Delta Airline angels. — Photo by Pat Bean

I have a granddaughter getting married this weekend in Texas.

So about six weeks ago, so as not to leave my campground hosting duties here at Lake Walcott for too long, I made airline reservations that would get me into Texas early Saturday morning for that evening’s wedding. Or so I thought.

The plan was that my son, who lives only a couple of hours away, would pick me up at the airport. But then I got a call from him yesterday asking me to take another look at my flight reservations.

“You’re booked to catch the 8:10 p.m. flight, and not the 8:10 a.m. flight,” he said.

And may their days be full of rainbows, like this one I saw near Crazy Horse Monument in South Dakota. — Photo by Pat Bean

He was right – and I was in a panic. My flight wouldn’t arrive in Texas until after all the happenings had ended. And of course I had purchased one of those non-refundable, non-changeable tickets.

Trying very hard to not panic, I called Delta Airlines. After the usual wait for an agent, I was connected to sweet, young, voice, the kind that you just know is not going to be able to help you. Fate, I thought, wasn’t going to be kind to me.

But after I, as calmly as my fast-beating heart would allow, explained my predicament, the honeyed voice asked if I would hold while she talked with a supervisor.

It wasn’t a short hold, but the voice came back several times to let me know she was still working on my problem.

Finally, as if this were a fairy tale where everyone lived happily ever after, she told me that my flight had been changed from an evening one to a morning one, and that there would be no charge.

“Normally it would have cost $350 to change,” she said, “but this was clearly a mistake.”

I wished I could have hugged this delightful young woman, and the supervisor who approved the change, too.

I now believe in Angels.

Bean’s Pat: The Kindness Kronicles http://thekindnesskronicles.wordpress.com I wonder if my angels ever read this bloggers post about daily kindness. Blog pick of the day from this wondering wanderer.

Posted in Travel | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Route 66 Icon Recalled

July 9, 2012 by Pat Bean

 “In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these.” – Paul Harvey

Now I Know The Rest of the Story

1931 Studebaker President Sedan in Greenfield Village at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan. — Flicker Photo by Steve Brown

I don’t know how many of you recall Paul Harvey, a folksy radio personality whose career began in the 1930s and continued into this century. “And now you know the rest of the story,” became his trademark on completing a tale after intermissions for advertising.

Knowing the rest of the story, what goes on behind the scenes, has always captured my wondering interest. I hate it when I’m left hanging, which is exactly how I felt after neither myself nor my readers, could identify the model of car that sits as an icon to Route 66 off Interstate 40.

Now I know, thanks to bloggers Brian and Shannon at: http://everywhereonce.com The two of them are wanderers like me. I’ve accused them of following me around, but then they could say the same of me. It’s quite fun, actually, to read their take on places I’ve also visited.

Time and age have turned this old 1931 Studebaker into an art memorial for Route 66. It sits off Interstate 40 (note semis in background) that replaced the Mother Road. — Photo by Pat Bean

Today, their blog is about Petrified National Forest, which I visited in May. Like me, they mentioned the same glorified clunker that sits in the park as a memorial to Route 66 , which still passes through the forest.

The big difference in the two blogs is that my May 24th post didn’t identify the make and year of the vehicle – and theirs does.

It’s a 1931 Studebaker.

I truly should have known, especially since it was a 1948 Studebaker convertible in which I learned to drive. Of course that model and the rusted remains of the 1931 Presidential Series Studebaker that sits in the Petrified Forest have little in common.

Anyway, Now I know the rest of the story and will sleep better. Perhaps there are other wondering minds out there who will also sleep better now, too.

Bean’s Pat: Colors of the Rainbow http://tinyurl.com/cdw7omj Fantastic photo taken in Yellowstone National Park. It touched my nature-loving soul. Blog pick of the day from a wondering wanderer.

Posted in Favorite Places, Nature, Travel | Tagged , , , | Leave a Comment »

Lake Walcott: A Morning Walk

July 8, 2012 by Pat Bean

“More than anything else, I believe it’s our decisions, not the conditions of our lives, that determine our destiny.” – Tony Robbins

 

Killdeer abound here at Lake Walcott, but I usually see them on the shore, where they dart around too quick for me to photograph. — Photo by Pat Bean

 

Slow Down Pepper

With my birding binoculars around my neck, my point-and-shoot digital camera in the pocket of my campground- host vest, and my canine traveling companion, Pepper, tugging impatiently at the end of the leash I’m holding, I headed out this morning for a walk around Lake Walcott State Park.

One of the many bunnies that calmly stay just outside of Pepper’s reach. — Photo by Pat Bean

There will be more walks to come during the day, a necessity when you need to burn energy off a seven-month-old terrier mix — but the morning one is always my favorite.

No walk is the same, and each walk brings me some new delight – and occasionally not, like three days ago when a swarm of gnats found us and followed us the rest of the way home.

Today’s walk, however, was perfect. It began with the overhead flight of a lone white pelican, whose white feather’s sparkled against a backdrop of blue sky. The pelicans mostly stay outside the park, preferring to fish in the Snake River below the Minidoka Dam that holds the lake in place, so today’s air show seemed special.

The mullien is just starting to bloom. — Photo by Pat Bean

Pepper, meanwhile, was more interested in the two bunny rabbits that frequent the lawn by our RV, tauntingly staying just beyond her reach. The robins and the killdeer here at the park tease her the same way, and today was no different. I’ve learned to keep a firm grip on her leash.

This morning is cool and breezy. The lake, however, is mirror smooth, the perfect reflective surface to capture the vibrancy of overhanging trees and the upside-down images of the flock of geese that are hanging out near the boat dock.

A lone nighthawk circles overhead, passing in front of the pale white moon, with only a sliver missing, that is still visible in the morning sky. The sight adds an extra touch of magic to the morning, and I feel my body relaxing into the moment.

Barn swallows swoop along the banks. A great-horned owl hoots in the distance, and mourning doves coo a reply. No human symphony ever sounded better to my ears.

One day a golden dandelion, the next a fluff ball of seeds waiting for a breeze to blow them to their new digs. — Photo by Pat Bean

Pepper is interested in everything, darting here and there. She lunges at a butterfly, chases a fallen leaf, sticks her nose in a ground hole, and plunges through a puddle left behind by the sprinklers. She’s getting better at knowing how far she can run before hitting the end of the leash – and has already learned she can run full-out if she does it in circles.

I tell her to slow down, to enjoy the moment. Her tiny pink tongue lolls, and her eyes dance with excitement.

Slow, I realize, is not in her understanding. But at least she’s enjoying the morning —  as am I.

Bean’s Pat: Chicks With Ticks http://tinyurl.com/6nlun9e Oaken Earth Mother. Blog Pick of the day selected by this wondering wanderer, tree-hugger.

Posted in Adventures With Pepper, Birds, Dogs, Favorite Places, Travel, Wildflowers | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments »

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