Charlotte, NC Greenways

I was recently in New York City and had a fantastic time.
I love going to Time's Square, the cool restaurants, and all of the museums. The only thing that was missing was the GREEN. Sure there is Central Park, but I need more.

Seriously, New York City is a concrete jungle. That is why I like Charlotte so much. It has lots of green spaces called Greenways. There are currently 37 miles of developed and 150 miles of undeveloped Greenways in Charlotte. You can walk, jog, ride a bike, or  just sit on a bench. Enjoy!

Here are some pictures I took while walking on the McAlpine Greenway. Very peaceful. Very clean. Very green!

So, ask a friend or bring the dog and head out to the Greenway.

Click on the link for more information about the Greenway 

and trails around Charlotte.

What do you do with the cork?

ATTENTION WINE DRINKERS.  I know wine comes from
fermented grapes and tastes delicious. There are so many 
varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot, Riesling, and on and on. I like 
taste testing them all! It is so much fun going to vineyards 
and sampling the goods. Wine comes in different packages as 
well: Boxed, bottle,  and now wine in a can. 
A can? Yes! The Skimm recently wrote about a new summer 
wine in a can. Thanks, Skimm (click to learn more about the 
Skimm).

I haven't tried the can yet, and I don't usually drink out of the
box. So, what can I do with all those corks?  Well, I decided 
to save the corks and make some cool projects. Today? 
Not today, maybe someday... after another glass of wine.

So, start saving that cork from the wine bottles.

You might need a glue gun as well.

You have so many projects to do!

I found these projects on Pinterest.

*All cork pictures from Pinterest*

Who doesn't like crafting?

I love to craft. Who doesn't? It is a time to unwind, unplug, and enjoy. And, it is  really neat to see the finished project. Even if the project does not turn out exactly the way I want,
I still feel like I have accomplished something. 

I get my ideas mainly from stores and Pinterest. I buy my supplies at a local hobby store (don't forget to check the weekly coupons!). A glue gun is a must! I also look at thrift shops and Goodwill for inexpensive items. My favorite local spot is Changing Thymes located in Grandville, Michigan. There are two locations bursting with cool stuff to buy! 

These are the projects that I have completed this summer.

 Inexpensive lamp, stones, hot glue gun.

With the extra stones, make a cool picture frame.

I bought the bird house for $5.00, seashells from the beach and 

a hot glue gun.

I saw this at an antique store for about $45.00 I made it for less than $10.

I bought a Styrofoam ball and added shells with the hot glue gun.

I cut a little off the bottom before gluing to help it stand right.

With any left over shells, hot glue them to a picture frame!

Instant memories.

So, grab that hot glue gun and have some fun!

Blue Ridge Parkway

Have you ever wanted to just get in your car and go?

Here is a suggestion: Drive the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

Millions of people visit the Parkway everywhere for its miles 

of trails, scenic views, waterfalls, and quaint North Carolina 

towns. It really has the most amazing views. You can see 

miles on a clear, sunny day. It was constructed in 1936, and 

is about 469 miles.

Map of the Blue Ridge

In the Fall, the foliage on the trees does not disappoint. 

But be warned: traffic is very heavy on Saturdays and 

Sundays during the peak color season.

So, pack a cooler, grab your camera, and head out to the Blue 

Ridge Parkway. You will not regret it!

View from Blue Ridge Parkway. North Carolina

 Click here for more information.

Food conditioning

Have you ever fed birds at the park or at the beach? It is so adorable to see birds and other wildlife practically begging and eating out of your hand. Is there anything wrong with feeding animals? Yes. It is very wrong to feed wildlife, and the term is called food conditioning.

Bird waiting for scraps at the Cloisters-New York

Food conditioning is a basic learned behavior that teaches animals to like human food. So what? What's wrong with that? Once an animal is conditioned to receive handouts, their behavior has changed. They will continue to seek out humans for their food.

Birds are everywhere at the Cloisters food court-New York

Even though it is tempting, do not feed the animals. They become a nuisance! They will continue to beg and seek out food.

Pigeons hanging out at Times Square-New York

Helpful tips from the National Park Service website:

How can you help?Black bears, raccoons, coyotes, squirrels, crows and other wildlife are enticed by human food left in campsites, on picnic tables, offered from an outstretched hand, or in litter. Do not feed wildlife! Feeding animals or allowing them access to human food causes a number of problems:

• It changes behavior by causing wild animals to lose their instinctive fear of humans. This lack of fear causes panhandler or "nuisance" animals to be more unpredictable and dangerous when they encounter humans.
• Nuisance animals can damage property and injure people. These animals pose a risk to public safety. They can also teach their cohorts this dangerous behavior. Often, they must be euthanized.
• It transforms wild and healthy animals into habitual beggars. Studies have shown that panhandling animals have a shorter lifespan. Beggar animals may die from ingesting food packaging. Many animals have died a slow and agonizing death from eating plastics and other materials. Many are hit by cars and become easy targets for poachers.
• Food left unattended attracts gulls, ravens and crows to picnic areas and beaches. Our beach areas provide nesting habitat to the federally endangered piping plover. These same birds will prey upon plover eggs.
• Remember, Garbage Kills! 

Source: https://www.nps.gov/slbe/learn/nature/do-not-feed-the-bears.htm

Injured wildlife

Today, I saw a duck with an injured leg. The leg was pulled 

up, and the duck could put very little weight on it.

My first thought was to go over and pick it up! I wanted to 

help it in someway. Somehow!

We've all heard about those tourists who put the baby bison 

in the back of their SUV at Yellowstone. We all know that it 

is a big no-no to interfere with wildlife. But, what are our 

options?

This website lists phone numbers for wildlife rehabilitators 

for each state. Here are four tips for helping injured animals. 

But, ask yourself before you call...does the animal really need 

your help? Sometimes it is just nature's way.

Grandville walking trails

I love walking around Grandville, Michigan on walking trails and 

parks. I visited Wedgewood Park and Kent Trails this week. 

The park has a stream called Buck Creek running through it. 

I also tried to walk Buck Creek Trail but it was flooded due to a 

recent heavy rain. If you like finding new trails, download the app

AllTrails: Your guide to the outdoors.

Grand River

Bee on a flower

Root exposure on a tree.

Bee about to pollinate that flower.

Wildflower along Kent Trails

Ducks at Wedgewood Park

Fungus fun!