I’ve been in Annapolis, Maryland, and the weather is spectacular. Yesterday after classes I managed to get out to the trails I like at Broad Creek Park. I like these because there is access about one mile from my hotel, which means I can walk over there right from my room.
It has been a good week for training with the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW). They take such great care of me, and the classes of VFW employees are always great. They pay attention, they really want to learn, they ask good questions, and they thank me. Such a simple recipe for a happy employee (me). And I thrive in this environment. Apparently one of my inherent gifts is being on stage and presenting. It’s a good gift, and I am grateful.
When I’m presenting, I do get exhausted. Especially since break time is question time. So when I’m not talking to the class, I usually have a short line of people hovering and waiting to ask a personal question. After class, I jet out of there as soon as I can, and disappear so that I don’t have to talk to anyone.
The trail yesterday was perfect because the weather was outstanding, and I only saw three human beings sharing the trail with me. Two at a distance, and one passed me while he was jogging.
I also spotted about 20 teenagers playing baseball outside their high school. And they were perfect.
I noticed a new kind of pink flower that I don’t recall seeing, and took multiple photos of it.
I spotted two vultures circling above me. I called up to them and complained about the message they were sending, but then I forgave them for the insult, and picked up my pace so I looked more like an alive person. I tried to get a photo and failed.
I did, however, get a video of a male cardinal. This is wonderful not because of the image, which is fuzzy, but because of the sound. It’s hard to put sound into a blog post. This is only 20 seconds, but it will bring you over here with me, and I’d love to have you. Listen:
At this point, Broad Creek is more of a broad estuary, but that’s due to the nature of being on the fringe of the giant Chesapeake Bay. I’ll forgive the not totally accurate name because I had a lovely, lovely time there, no matter what it is called.
I have been here before. In fact, I try to come here every time I am in Annapolis. Sadly this time, the water level is lower than I’ve ever seen it. I would expect more water at this time of the year, but perhaps rain comes in the summer for Annapolis. The tiny creek (with the rocks) is all but completely dry. Broad Creek is so low that there is an established trail right across a part of it that has been under water every time I’ve seen it before. This seems worrying to me. I’m going to decide though, that since I only come once or twice a year, that everything is ok.
My flight leaves from BWI tomorrow at 9:30 pm. Ugh. So awfully late for me. Typically I like to be fast asleep at that point in a day. Then I find it nearly impossible to sleep on an airplane, especially propped erect in a sitting position – the most uncomfortable ever. On our flight to New Zealand, Pedro suggested I try his Zzquil sleep aids, and those little pills knocked me out! I have some with me now and I hope they work again. Now I need to wander around and keep myself entertained and alert all damned day long before I go to the airport. Will I find anything to do? Oh gosh, you know me. Of course I will. 😉
Conscious Engagement 
I really like the little pink flowers you cpatured – and the center one was my fav – I was tryign to think of the name of that flower because I feel like I know it – but could not come up with anything until I recalled they reminded me of Grandma Tereena’s Columbine flowers – hers were yellow – and so I wonder of those are pink Columbine?
I can relate to feeling exhausted from speaking, answering questions, etc. and it sounds like you know how to pull away – oh and lastly, I was so grateful for the cardinal video because we have some in the yard and I was trying to identify different bird sounds.
It is wonderful to hear from you! I am glad I was able to help you out with bird song identification. I have a blogger friend who often posts the bird song of bird photos he posts, and I especially appreciate that.
Columbine makes a similar flower, but this is a different plant. These pink flowers were on tall bushes, that grew over my head, sort of like a rhododendron. I will add that columbine is one of my favorite flowers of all time – aren’t they gorgeous?! I have deep midnight blue ones getting ready to flower at my home right now, but I won’t be there to see it happen. I think it is special that you had a chance to remember your grandmother. ❤
Thank you for leading me down the grandmother memeory lane (my husband’s grandma, and I wish we had gone to see her more when she was still around).
Anyhow, it sounds like you know a lot more about flowers than I do – and whatever those pink beauties are – they sure are wonderful.
Last night, on a short walk, we could smell tons of honey suckle and saw the spurts of yellow and white. ❤
You took us there with you
I am glad it worked! Thank you for popping over to Maryland for a moment. ❤
This post felt like a breath of fresh spring air—thank you for taking us along with you to Broad Creek Park. Your vivid observations, from twisty logs to tire photo ops to circling vultures (and the cheeky dialogue with them!), made me smile. It’s clear how much you value both nature and meaningful human connections—whether with your VFW students or the birdsong of a cardinal. Here’s hoping your ZzzQuil works its magic again, and that your next visit to Broad Creek brings higher water levels and just as much peace.
Thank you for the great response! The ZzQuil did its trick and I arrived with a bit of energy in England, that I spent touring Windsor Castle.
That sounds like a perfect transition—from peaceful Broad Creek to royal Windsor! Glad the ZzzQuil pulled through for you. Hope touring the castle was as energizing as it was awe-inspiring—can’t wait to hear what stood out most from your visit!
The cardinal sang so beautifully! Thanks for capturing and sharing that.
Lenore, I see that I missed your comment back in April! I am glad you appreciated the cardinal. I thought his song was pretty and I was grateful that he held still long enough for me to capture it. I hope you have been having a nice Spring.
Hi Crystal. So you are/were back at Annapolis. I’m not surprised they take good care of you. You provide them with such good information, and apparently in a well-presented form. Tony would certainly agree on the quality of the information you gave him. He finally got full disability. A pretty area for sure. We have a number of cardinals in our yard (when we are there), so we get to hear their delightful song often. The funniest thing I ever saw one do was fall in love with the mirror on our van when we had it. He just had to mate with the lovely lady he saw and she was so cooperative. Over and over. I had to wash the mirror afterwards.
Peggy and I are at a lovely state park: Lyman Lake, in central easter Arizona. It’s on the Little Colorado River and was on the route the Hopi followed on their multi-year journey from the Colorado River to their final homes. Lots of petroglyphs, including some beauties for Peggy and I to explore.
What a funny story Curt!! Oh my gosh. I think I will enjoy your future posts.
Hi Crystal. I’ve been a bit slow in the blogging business. Make that glacial. Lots of traveling and exploring, plus our friend Tom Lovering and his significant other, Lita, joined us for a week. Just maybe I can get back in the groove of things. Maybe.
A glacial pace is absolutely allowed. Especially during this season when there are so many reasons not to be sitting in front of the computer!