Spring Lake...

As we drove around Spring Lake looking at the trees that are in bloom,

I could not help but take a few pictures of the lake itself.

So many of the pretty trees I shared yesterday are scattered around the lake, 

you can see them in these pictures.

There is a sidewalk around the entire lake, and plenty of benches to sit and relax on. 

 

We have taken pictures in the past, here by this unusual tree.

Our resident Osprey is back, 2 reside here, the other is probably out fishing!!

Look at those talons...if you are a fish, you would not have a chance!

 

Spring Trees...

 Yesterday, we decided to take a ride through our town and around Spring Lake.

The ride was exclusively dedicated to seeing and photographing the amazing trees that bloom in spring.

This was the only Tulip Magnolia I saw.

Plum Tree

Red Bud

Japanese Flowering Cherry

Eastern Redbud

Plum Trees

Plum Tree

Juneberry Tree

Japanese Flowering Cherry

Japanese Flowering Crabapple

Japanese Flowering Cherry

"Well- loved" and so beautiful...our area is so full of color

We also saw some gorgeous tulip displays...

The grasses are green and the tulips oh so lovely!

More Favorites...

I hope you read yesterday's post, if not it is easy to find but I will leave you a link right here.

I thought of another really special moment in my life, 

the first time I held my great nieces and the day I watched them cheer in a competition for the first time.

They wear the same colors I wore 

and cheer for the same team I did as a young girl and young adult, it's so special.

I thought of another movie I love - Before We Go, it's a good one.

Now let's go with a few more favorites...all of these pictures are mine.

Favorite Flower...

Lilacs - my favorite flower since childhood.

Hydrangeas - another favorite since childhood.

Hyacinth - oh the fragrance. 

Tulip - because it signals spring is near.

Anemone - it has a gorgeous shape and color.

Favorite Season...

Fall - the weather is most predictable and the season the most beautiful.

Spring - not predictable and almost as beautiful fall.

Winter - I love snow.

Summer - I don't enjoy the heat.

Favorite Bird...

Goldfinch - the males are gorgeous.

Great Blue Heron

Red Bellied Woodpeckers

Bald Eagle

Red Winged Blackbirds

Favorite Activity...

Knitting - it has become an obsession.

Needle Punching - more new to me in the last few years, I really enjoy it.

Needle Point - I have done my entire adult life.

Photography - I am not pro, I just enjoy taking pictures.

Embroidery - A craft I have enjoyed my entire life, even as a kid.

Scrapbooking - it has taken a back seat now.

Favorite Sport... 

Football - hands down my favorite sport.

Soccer - I loved it when my boys played, fast paced, still 2nd to football.

Baseball - it's ok, if there is nothing else to watch, I enjoy being at a game.

Favorite Team...

 The Chiefs - there is no other.

The Yankees - just because.

Now come on and share some favorites!

Favorites...

In life, we all have favorites. 

A favorite moment, movie...color, but I think it is those favorite moments that bring us the most joy.

When we think about those moments, our heart smiles and we remember them with great happiness.

For me, being married is my greatest joy and giving birth, perhaps my greatest memories.

As I thought about my other favorites, 

I could not limit it to just one movie or song so I decided to list my top 5, even 5 was difficult.

Favorite movies...

The Notebook - the greatest love story ever written.

The Family Stone - I still cry every time.

How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days - I still laugh every time.

Bridesmaids - I still laugh at every single scene.

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation - I know every single word.

and

22 Bridges - It's just a great movie.

The Peanut Butter Falcon - another great one that came to mind as I proofread this post.

I'm sure you have a few favorite books, even though I am not much of a reader, I have a few.

maybe - a story about the endless potential in all of us.

The Boy, the mole, the fox and the horse

Vera Wongs Unsolicited Advice For Murderers 

Any Magazine

Favorite Foods...

Pasta - Any kind.

Bread - I could live on it.

Lobster - hot, drenched in butter.

Short Ribs - as long as I cooked them.

Pot Roast - it has to be prepared by me.

Favorite Songs...

 Treat People With Kindness - Harry Styles

In My Life - The Beatles

Fight Song - Rachel Platten

Marry You - Bruno Mars

Perfect - Ed Sheeran

Favorite T.V Shows...

The Amazing Race - This is an amazing show,

you can race around the world from the comfort of your living room.

Dateline

20/20

Survivor - Don't judge.

Yellowstone

Favorite Color...

Purple

Yellow...the only other color there is.

Next time we will talk about our favorite birds and favorite flowers.

Share some of your favorites in the comments.

Wise Words On Sunday

Saturday Critters #540

More from The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge

The drive looks primarily like this...

"This refuge center is about an hours drive from home and one of the best I have ever visited.

It protects more than 48,000 acres of southern New Jerseys coastal habitats and wetlands.

There are several hiking trails and one 8 mile wildlife drive, 

where you can stay in your car and observe the wildlife from the comfort of your vehicle.

You are permitted to leave your car to take pictures.

There were so many reeds and so much vegetation growing along the shoreline,

it was difficult, at times, to get good, if any, pictures of certain species.

They have a recorded bird list with over 360 species sighted.

I took over 400 pictures when we visited on Easter Sunday, 

so I have a lot to share and will be sharing them over a period of time."

Northern Shovelers

I usually see this duck at Lake of the Lilies but did not this year.

Only present at the Jersey Shore during the winter, 

they are easy to identify due to its long, flattened bill, like a shovel.

The male has a shiny green head, white breast and chestnut on its flanks and belly.

 

Northern Shoveler

Greater Yellow Legs

A robust, elegant wading bird with extremely long, orange-yellow legs.

They have a long, thick bill turned slightly upward which you can see in this picture.

This bird has a beautiful wing pattern, and my bird book says it is here only in winter.

They have frenetic feeding habits.

Greater Yellow Legs

As I was photographing the Yellowlegs, I saw this...

Great Blue Heron out of the corner of my eye.

It seems he bit off more than he could chew and threw the fish back.

Sharing today's images with Eileen at 

Viewing Nature With Eileen 

for Saturday Critters