Changes on the Horizon

This time of year...love it!  We've been taking advantage of the cooler temps and walking different parts of the town.  Forest Park is always a favorite, but we've been down by the river and yesterday was perfect for a short hike out at Shaw Nature Reserve.  There is just the slightest hint of color beginning to appear in the trees.  The prairie grasses were so pretty in the blowing wind. 

I'm feeling the winds of change in our life again...a new season may soon begin.  It's so hard taking that first step that can change the course of a lifetime.  But, sometimes, I think, we just have to jump in with both feet and see what God has in store.  Don't you wish that He would just write it in the sky, tell us what we should do.  Well, as we all know, it's not that easy.  I have to rely on the peace I feel when a decision has been made, that it was the right one. 

 

Along the Meramec River



 

Forest Park

 

 

Shaw Nature Preserve

 

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
⁶ in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6  (NIV)

A Walk in the Park

There's a park practically in my backyard that I didn't even know about until a friend of mine mentioned she'd been there called Lone Elk Park.  There are a couple of trails in the park, but what makes it special are the Elk and Bison that live there.  Our first trip, we walked a part of the one trail.  We went near sunset the second time and saw some deer near the lake.  Had hoped the elk would be down near the water...not this evening.  It'll be beautiful this fall with the lake against the changing leaves.  A great place to go practice my mountain hiking, get ready for our next trip!

 

The whole family

 

 

Awww...a baby! 

 

 

 

 

 

World Bird Sanctuary

Been meaning to get out to this place, the World Bird Sanctuary, for months.  Well, a friend of mine and I finally made it.  It sits at the entrance of Lone Elk Park.  We enjoyed walking and viewing the variety of birds, some in cages and others strapped but out in the open.  If you are looking for a day trip with the kids, this would be great.  I don't remember what all of them were called.

Great Horned Owl

 

 

Hawk

 

 

Bald Eagle

 

Golden Eagle

 

 

Pelican

 

Peregrine Falcon

 

Spring in Shaw Nature Reserve

We've had a few nice days amidst the rain around here.  John and I love to get out and walk some of the local parks.  Shaw Nature Reserve is a great place to go with walking trails through woods and meadows.  This time of year the fields were full of daffodils.

This first picture was my first attempt at photo stacking.  It's a composite of six photos taken with different focal points then merged to produce a clear picture through most of the finished photo.  There was a slight bit of wind movement so it's not perfect!