Graduation, walks in the woods, being a tourist.....

A beautiful evening for Newtown Connecticut  High School Class of 2023 graduation.   And, the last of the grandchildren to transition to an exciting future.    Mason will become an Aviation major at the University of North Dakota.   His father graduated from there (same degree)   and his grandmother spent her freshman year there way back in 1961. !!     UND is considered one of the best school for aviation.      And for those of you who keep track, yes, that is my official graduation attire....however, humidity is lethal to my thick hair.  

And then we went for a walk in the woods..... this is my favorite place.    So green, so mossy and with interesting mushrooms and lichens along the way.   The state flower, mountain laurel, was in full bloom.  

Lake Zoar appears at the end of one trail along with the waterfall....water was fairly low but the lovely brooks were bubbling along and deep enough for Murphy to splash around in.   

The frog was small but struck a good pose.

Murphy always looks his best.

And then we came home and were greeted my first perfect cherry tomato..... life is good.   

We did go into NYC to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.    Mary Beth's brother and Susan came to celebrate Mason so we explored these landmarks.     Lots of walking and ferry rides and stunning views.... At the Statue, they allow access to the pedestal, up to her feet.   It's 195 steps.   I decided to walk up and about halfway came to a family of teen girls and parents...... the girls were complaining mightily about the climb.   I finally said, " If I can make it, you can make it..... I am 80".     They all turned to look at me  and were generous in their comments.    and we continued upward , quietly.....    

I'm reading "H Is For Hawk"..... actually bought it in book form as I think it would be a good reread someday.   So far I'm learning a bit about training goshawks and her meditations on nature.   Also, listening to "Lady Tan's Circle of Women" by Lisa See.   It's OK and an easy listen on my walks and on airplanes.     The narrators voice is a bit irritating and hoping the story line improves.     I plan to reread "Covenant of Water" when P is finished.   There are so  many books on my TBR list.....
 

Iris, peonies and lupine..

Still here..... one never knows when you get this old.                    And, I've followed this directive quite nicely and have no fear of being kidnapped based on the scale's message.     But, I'd prefer pie.  

I have very painful arthritic fingers/hands.    In order to play golf, I need to take a Motrin prior.    I find that annoying.    A fellow golfer showed off these golf gloves and said they were wonderful for her hands.   So, I ordered one for each hand and wore them for league play yesterday.     They are very compressive....have no idea what the copper does.   BUT, I did not take drugs and wore these gloves and I had no pain !!    I was impressed.    As I said, they fit very tightly.     And then I took them off and the pain came back with a vengeance....but tolerable if I'm not needing them to grip a club.  I found it to be an interesting experiment and will continue to use them.     Fortunately, I can knit and draw and paint without wearing golf gloves.    

For the long time subscribers to this blog....and no, the price isn't going up...... you may remember that we once did exciting hikes with our Cobble Creek Hiking Club.    We even went on overnights and climbed among the mountains on high trails and in thin air.    The Club has gradually diminished as most of us have aged and some younger ones have moved on.    But it still does a weekly hike and I finally got off the couch and joined them.     Last week, while some did part of the Perimeter Trail in Ouray (rocky and strenuous), I stayed lower and several of us did the river walk.    The river is running very high and fast 

and it was a perfect walk.  

Meanwhile, back at the homestead, the tomatoes are showing up.     I have about 8 tomatoes on 2 plants.   The plants really haven't grown much but lots of yellow flowers and the growing fruits.   I worried that they were getting too much sun and tried an umbrella as some suggested that they needed shade.    Of course, the umbrella would not stay put and I gave up.     A friend has many tomato plants and she never shades them ...... 

The iris are abundant  and now the peonies are showing up.    The roses are covered in buds.  

And so today, I went on a 2nd outing with the Hiking Club.   ( hiking wardrobes are not always flattering) Today, we went up to the top of a mesa near Ridgeway and walked two trails.     The Meadows trail meanders thru the pines and the wildflowers were just beginning their spring bloom.    Lupine everywhere.   

 

The Escarpment trail leaves the pines and abruptly comes to the edge of the mesa overlooking the green valley and the San Juans in the distance.   The trail then stays on the edge for most of it and the views are nonstop...... We did almost 4 miles.    The weather was perfect, 59 degrees at 8000 ft.     The group split and some just did the Meadows but I was determined and did them both.    Being the oldest, by at least 5 years, I was pleased that I could keep up altho I did slow more than I wanted on the uphills.   

 Finished the "Covenant of Water"..... I may need to reread it to better absorb the nuances but I thought it excellent.     I'm listening to "Remarkably Bright Creatures", starring an octopus and a 70 year old cleaning lady at the aquarium.   It's a good listen.  

Fewer hummingbirds this year.    Others on a Colorado bird sighting FB page are reporting the same.  And still mostly finches enjoying the feeders.    We do have a kingfisher who is fun to watch.    He hovers above the stream, his wings like large hummingbird wings, then dives straight down, splashes and presumably has a fish as he flies straight up.   I read that they drop dead fish into water to teach their young how to fish.  

Packing our bags for our pending trip this weekend.    Mason is graduating.... I think he has grown much too quickly.