Bite-Sized Nature

One of my happy places is the James A. McFaul Environmental Center in a neighboring town. I've shared pictures of it before, too. But I don't care, because this winter was long and terrible and I wasn't able to go to my happy place for months on end. So you're getting more pictures, because we (finally!) got to go there for a nice family hike last week.

This is on the observation deck, which gives a beautiful view of the pond. 

Usually the peacocks and peahens roam around freely, but this time they were locked up in here. And from the sounds they were making, I don't think they were happy about it. 

These little bridges are my favorite. 

One of the trees on the far side had a nest of owlets. When we walked over there, a bunch of people were watching them through telescopes. They let us have a turn looking; it was so cool. 

Of course there was geocaching. We're still struggling with one that's supposed to be in this area. 

I think what I love about the environmental center is that it's so accessible. There's even a boardwalk with ramps so that people in wheelchairs can explore a bit. And it's like 10 minutes from my house. And you don't have to worry about packing a ton of water or going to the bathroom in the woods because you're never more than 15 minutes walk from the main building. I like nature - I just don't want to be overwhelmed by nature. 

Wandering Wednesday: Back to the Center

The Environmental Center, that is.

For a short hike in between the town poster painting contest and the open house at the fire station. I would share pictures of those events, except that then I would have to blur out the faces of all the people we know who are also in the pictures and that seemed like a lot of effort when I have pictures like this:

This is the kind of stuff we hide far away from our turnpikes and interstates so that more people don't move here.

The kids had a blast. Of course, it helped that there were some geocaches there.

Getting ready to start the search. 

That's a fox in the cage behind them. 

There must be a silly pose. 

But I like the pensive ones better. 

See?

This way my kids can't complain that we're never in the pictures, which is what I say to my parents all the time. 

More searching for clues. 

Hugmonkey was "mining" in the dirt. Thanks, Minecraft.