Chapter 11 - Feelin' the Burn!! 5/31/20

I got an early start to this day. This pic was taken at 0357 and I was up already about 45 minutes by then. But it was good as I enjoyed working on the puzzle.

I have to pace myself working this puzzle or I'd try and do it all in one day. I like spreading the joy out over a week or so.

And, because the day started so well, I decided to take myself a long and leisurely walk. And I did. And in this case today, my notion of what a long walk definitely exceeded the ability of my legs to comfortably carry it out.

And so I began and I looked at the world around me. Like this fellow who has stood the test of time and has the scars to prove it. There were a number of small statues in this yard . . . this one had the most character. 

I've been making it a point to explore side streets where I would not normally go while on a walk. And up one of those streets I saw this pleasant scene. 

It was a nice home with a well-tended and decorated yard. Especially that piece on the right in front of that small bush.

And this part of it was what caught my eye. 



It was a day destined, although I didn't know it at the time, to be a day for flags. But I was on the road and seeing what I could see and the day was still young.

Then I spotted this happy gathering across the field in front of the City Government Center. Seems the Leonard Hall Naval Academy was holding its graduation ceremonies. I think this was before the actual ceremony started as it appeared they were setting things up as I looked on.

Wonder if these kids will go on to serve in the Navy?

A beautiful day to make this huge transition in a young life.

Rotsa Ruck!!

And one of the many beautiful houses on Hollywood Road. Notice the festive and patriotic bunting? The good folks of Leonardtown do it up for Memorial Day. 

And Nature was doing it up as well.

And this. My gosh, this is amazing.

Whup!! Back to earth. I mentioned this phenomena in the previous chapter . . . a new and easily recognizable piece of modern trash. 

C'Mon, people!! It isn't that difficult to dispose of these things. Jeez, Louise!! Idiots.

On to lighter things, like this bumblebee getting his honey on. This fellow was working fast and furious and I considered myself fortunate to catch him in this one, viewable, image. He wuz fast!!

And the flowers. It's fun to stop and take a good look at these flowers. Maybe it's a product of my age that I enjoy taking the time to see these flowers. I know as a young man I rarely stopped for them. 

And now I see them everywhere I go. And I am rarely disappointed. Rarely.

Well into my long 'walk' (read: trek), I neared the sleepy little downtown of Leonardtown. Busier than it has been on my previous visits. 

Oh, yeah, Governor Hogan has allowed restaurants to open with outdoor seating only. And, as you'll see, folks were out and visiting the restaurants.

Here's the outdoor seating area for the Olde Town Pub. The waitresses were wearing masks and the patrons were packed into nearly all the tables. 

And across the street the folks were dining on the veranda of The Front Porch. Happy to be open and the folks were happy to be eating out.

A quick grab shot of these two. It's like the one is checking to see what the other is up to. Songbirds, go figure.

And so they had some Adirondack chairs sat out in the island in the center of the plaza and I availed myself of them. I was feeling the distance and so I forced myself to sit for five minutes before I started out again. I get antsy so I have to set time limits.

And then I got into my inner B&W. Hahaha, I love me some B&W. It's a radically different way of seeing my world.

    
Because there was plenty of color to see. Everywhere.

I saw this wall with the stairway on it and wanted to try it out. The colors were good to me. They stood out and invited picture taking. 

I also appreciated the woman who walked by for giving the picture a little interest and additional color.

Then I rounded the corner and saw this!! Right in the residential area of downtown Leonardtown. Not two blocks from the Square. What an amazing place!! I've read where the osprey population was in peril 20 or so years ago and then they set up nesting areas and the raptors made a strong comeback.

Hooah!! What a life!!

What a kick in the pants. Talk about being surprised.

And, no, I have no idea why or how the traffic cone got up there. But, yet, there it is. Along with a nesting osprey. 

Oh. My. Gosh. I love this world.

I had seen on FaceBook a notice about this Brudergarten Beer Garden and I thought it'd be fun to walk there and have a Blue Moon.

So this was my goal today. And I made it. Barely. I was ready to sit down and enjoy a beer. This looks like a cool place. The inside is small and there are two garage-sized door to the garden.

I'm in the same position as the previous picture just turned to the right a bit. I wanted a picture of the steins but widened it up to get the whole thing.

And the garden. Kinda cool, eh? It was nicely done and the shade was great.

And I quickly gravitated to the swing for my solitary ale. Hahaha, it is a long story but suffice it to say there was a little bit of drama leavened with some humor in getting this shot on the swing . . . which I finally got on the third or fourth try.

Next door to the Bru is a trendy store with a number of stalls where the vendors display their stuff and you pay at the door as you go out. Interesting.

But what caught me in this tchotchke store was the number of Old Bay knick-knacks. Merry Land is DEFINITELY proud of their Old Bay Seasoning. They put that logo on a lot of different items. 

Walking out, I spotted this House Sparrow warming up a perch on the wire. I'm liking these small birds and trying to get them in my sights when I can. They're more elusive than you would think.

Some more of that Memorial Day thing. I don't know, it just reaches me to walk along and see these little displays of gratitude and thanks.

And they're Nats fans, too.

I saw these guys and was taken back to LCO. I shot a lot of these kinds of flowers in the yard of the house two doors down. A lot. 

It was good to see them again.

Just an interesting display. I don't know. I saw the one piece of bright green and liked it.

OK, I am at a loss as to the correct name for this bird. Larger than a sparrow and with a thinner beak, it has thrown me. I can't find any that look like this one with his white stripe and speckled chest. 

Any help?

Ask and you shall receive. I sent Carol a pic and she nailed it. This is a female red-winged blackbird. I was hoping it was a Northern Waterthrush but, no.

A tip of the hat to the Indomitable Carol for her Bird Knowledge!! 

The color. The form.

You've seen these birds before with different colors and presentations. This one is at the hospital for some odd reason. It struck me, after seeing all that Old Bay stuff in the store, to see this bird also hyping Old Bay.

Small world.

I know, I know. I was feeling my age along about now and so when I got to this wide expanse of green, I decided to lay down and take a breather. And while I did, I played with the camera. 

This was my view from my hot, fevered and sweaty brow down to my achy-breaky feet.

I've always enjoyed seeing trees. They're cool is all. 

I've tried capturing them but always, always fail. I tried again today. This beauty was reaching up into the sky from this ocean of green. What a neat shade tree.

And then, not 50 feet along my way, I glanced down the side street and saw this one. I've been by these trees maybe a dozen times now and never noticed them. Shame on me.

This little guy was scratching around the ground of a feeder. I likes me some Song Sparrows.

And the flags. I've visited this house before for its many flowers. Today it was the flags.

All over the place. It looked good. I appreciated it.

They put flags nearly everywhere.

And, of course, there were these other beauties.

One last one. I just liked the angle and the light.

I do like this Merry Land Tradition.

And so I ended my walk. I got 10,303 steps today. A personal best for me!! I think my prior best was in the 8,000 range.

It was a good day for walking. I'm glad I met the challenge because, to be honest, there were times along that little jaunt I was strongly considering calling Shelly and asking for a ride. But I persevered and made it. 

Hooah!!

Life IS good!!