GETTING AROUND at the Canal Cottage ... and elsewhere

 

This one is elsewhere -- seen on one of the Colorado backroads we recently explored with our kids:

 

 

I can get lost in a large closet, so I love my GPS.  But I  would know better than to use it on a backroad.  And better yet, I know smart people who do have a good sense of direction who are happy to take me along when they drive them!   

Here are a couple of places where even I don't need a GPS:

 

Morning on the Canal

 

Rise and Shine

Both the above pictures were taken  across the Canal from the Cottage on my morning walk.   I've taken similar pictures for years, but this great start to the day never gets old.

And below, a little further away from home, are pictures from  Franklin Locks Park  where I walked one day last week.    This park is just a bit past our current favorite Farmer's Market,  so the car pretty much knows the way all by itself!

 

 

Ibis along the edge of the river, taken from the pedestrian bridge at the Lock.  And below is my Bird of the Week, the Northern Shrike,  perched on a fence at the edge of the Park:  

 

 

At least that's what I hope it is as it seems to match the description in my books.   Even if I'm wrong he is still my bird of the week just because he posed so politely for me.    

 

Grateful for ordinary days!  

 

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   TRAVEL PHOTO SOUVENIRS;  OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; SIGNS SIGNS; THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS; and  SATURDAY CRITTERS;

 

Comments

[Yvonne]

Your ordinary days are always so fulfilling for ones soul. Lovely photos.

[Michelle Banks]

Beautiful photos.....Michelle

[My Corner of the World]

I can navigate, but I let Hubby do the driving since he knows the backroads very well! I love the places you went and the awesome photos you took along the way!

Thanks for sharing your link at My Corner of the World this week!

[Anni]

Pretty scenes and terrific birds!!

[mae]

Your photos are beautiful — you have such a pretty place to walk and watch the sky and the birds.

best… mae at maefood.blogspot.com

[Shiju Sugunan]

Lovely sightings and captures. I especially like the silhouette shots.

[Eileen]

Hello Sallie,
Great captures of the birds, I love both the White Ibis and the Shrike. Beautiful sky photos! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend!

[Linda W]

Lovely scenes. There are roads here in the mountains that have signs like that.

[riitta k]

The Rise & Shine photo is amazing. Beautiful surroundings and such cute bird. Warm greetings.

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Excellent skies.

[Peter B.]

My sense of direction is not very good, and I rely heavily on my GPS device when out hiking off-trail. Lovely photos!

[Barb]

I love that sign! Bob and I help each other with navigation (while Google also helps), and sometimes we still get lost! Glad you're enjoying FL sunshine.

[Amy Franks]

A very pretty bird, I used my GPS system once and then put it in time out when it tried to send me in a different direction, haven't used it since.

[Pat]

Colorado has such a good assortment of Trucker's signs...lol! It's a hard state to navigate at times with all our mountains and rural roads.

Glad you are enjoying beautiful weather, sunrises, and sunsets, and bountiful birds and greenery!

Have a wonderful Christmas season!

[Debbie]

what a beautiful post sallie, pictures 2 & 3 are so pretty!! i really chuckled at the first picture of the sign, that's a good one. i hope it is a specialty made sign...i would not want to think it is popular!

i always enjoy seeing ibis, i don't see them here and have never seen one at all!! enjoy today, i hope the week has been good to you!!

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Great post.

[Lorrie Orr]

What a sweet little bird! Definitely the bird of the week! Several years ago a Canadian couple used their GPS in Idaho, I believe, and were taken way up into a remote area. They ran out of gas. The husband walked, looking for help, while his wife stayed by the vehicle, near a creek. She was there 40 or more days before being found, and later the husband's body was discovered. Such a sad tale. GPS is great, but not in remote areas.

Well, that was a sad tale - hope it's not too much of a downer on your lovely post.

[Alan]

We finally got a little cold weather here and I am really envious of your warm weather.

I like your attitude, even if that bird is not a northern shrike, it is still the bird of the week.

Keep on enjoying your walks

[Sami]

Beautiful photos Sallie. Love the little birdie posing for you, so cute.
I use my gps quite often too, if going to places I don't know well.

[Linda P]

A lovely post Sallie. What wonderful early morning walks you must have along by the canal! Loved seeing the sunrise, the ibis and the shrike. An unusual name and the little bird posed beautifully. Thank you for sharing.

[Karen @ Beatrice Euphemie]

Wish more back-roads had signs like that - such a good idea. Love the beautiful morning scenes. The little bird looks quite strikingly fierce with his dark mask and curved beak! Wonderful photos. x K

[Iris Flavia]

This is beautiful and... I love especially your last words!

[Lillian]

What a fascinating birdplace, thank you for showing me ...

[Dixie]

Love the pics of the birds.
And the sky photos too.

[somewhereinireland]

Love your beautiful start to your day, those sunrises are absolutely beautiful. Love your bird of the week, it knows you want a photo of him. :)

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...some people rely on their GPS too much!

[Veronica Lee]

Gorgeous photos as always, Sallie.

I especially love those sky images.

[Lady Fi]

Beautiful shots! Hope all is well!

[Angie]

Sallie - generally, we are so grateful for our GPS, but it is true that it is not reliable when we go in the backcountry! That's when a good old-fashioned map comes in handy! Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

[Lydia C. Lee]

Lovely pics #SharonsSouvenirs

[Sondra]

Hi Sallie, I enjoyed your canal post...everytime I see a Shrike, I go through the same thing is it Northern or Loggerhead, and the short answer is I don't know...lol I usually refer to the "map" in the book and go with what is historically there...either way I agree it's a great bird to enjoy! We need more signs like that one!!
TC

[Fun60]

Sunrise and sunset look so beautiful. I use a GPS but I like to check out a map first just to make sure I have some idea of the direction I should be taking.

[Lavender Dreams]

He might be a loggerhead shrike...we see those here sometimes. Love seeing what it looks like where you live. I so often wish I was closer to some water! I'll just keep going out into the forest until I get brave to drive to the coast! lol Enjoy your week! Sure is pretty!

[Gillena Cox]

Luv your shrike
Happy Mosaic Monday

Much💜love

[Carol]

The sign made me laugh. Thanks for that! I don't have great direction sense myself and always need intricate details to arrive at a new place.

[Eileen]

Hello Sallie,
Pretty sky images. I love the White Ibis and the Shrike! Great captures. THE GPS directions are not always correct. Take care, have a happy new week!

[Ellen Bayles]

It's good to know your way. It's also good to know GPS can fail you miserably. Beautiful photos! Happy December in Florida!

[Gaelyn]

I LOVE that sign! And your sunrises divine.

[Geoff]

Quick story: I was out fourwheeling not far from that sign. It was a pretty tight, scary little road. As I got back to better, graded gravel I was flagged down by a car asking for directions. Their gps had sent them up this very definitely 4wheeldrive road and they were scared and rattled. On the good section. I helped them turn around and get back to the highway. The shortcuts out here are wild.

[William Kendall]

Beautiful, especially that last one.