Along Lake Erie in Ohio

So a few years have passed and I haven't written anything on this blog. I thought about deleting it but I decided that I would post pictures to where I have moved to. Mind you that where I moved to has full seasons, so I will be posting some cold pictures.

I do have an art page on Instagram -- murcmarischal_art. On there will be drawings, paintings, quotes, photography, jewelry and bits and pieces about me.

So this post will be about the month of March 2019.

So most of the sunshine photos are taken my backyard or down my street.  The icy photos are of Marblehead Lighthouse. The dock picture is in Carroll Township in Ottawa County. 

Enjoy. 

James Boyce Park

James Boyce Park is located in a suburban area of Charlotte, NC near Sardis Road going towards Matthews, North Carolina. You can find it at 300 Boyce Road off Sardis Road.  The hours are from 8am to 6pm everyday. It is a free park. See website for more information  https://www.mecknc.gov/ParkandRec/Parks/ParksByRegion/SouthRegion/Pages/James.aspx

It has many walking trails and some you can use your bike on. There is a restroom located here. It has a playground the children, a softball and soccer field and plenty of places to have a picnic. The day I went I took one of the trails. It took me back into the woods where 2 picnic tables were and wrapped me all the way around to the playground and back up to the parking lot. I then turned around and went back to see if I saw anymore bits of nature. 

So down the trail the first time I saw these pieces 

Then on my way back I spotted all these pieces 

A mushroom that I thought was a piece of gum or a squished marshmallow.

This was a tree that someone had painted these pastel colors on the bark but what I liked the most about it was how well the colors played off the layers of mold inside the slivers of bark.

A tree "fruit". I thought it was a leftover rotten piece of food but come to find out that they are everywhere on the trail.

Fungus and seed pods.

Then as I was getting back into the car, drenched from a nice walk I saw these beautiful flowers. I thought they were blue when I drove by them but they are actually quite purple. The play of the eye. 

So pretty that I halted the car about half mile back and put my hazards on so I could run back for a photo of them.  Delicate and beautiful.

So until next time.

This is a ginger walking. Hoping for daisy finds.

Mary

Marshville, North Carolina

The last few days I have been stuck inside my apartment. No means to move around except necessities. I collected a cold somewhere. 

So now that I am much better I am capable of showing the places I went to last week. I went for a drive through Wingate, Locust, Marshville, Wadesboro and Peachland. I was trying to get into the towns to see their collection of parks but I realized that I should have started earlier in the morning. 

Much to my dismay I got to 4 parks. Two were in Marshville and two were in Charlotte. Not as many as I liked to see in the small towns but one town had 11 parks to visit. Sounds like I have to plan better. 

Marshville, North Carolina is a 55 minute drive on Highway 74 heading towards Wadesboro. It is a small but beautiful town. I though must warn you that you should not be caught going above 20 mph in town. The area is enforced and protected. 

This town is located in Union County and has the population of just under three thousand residents. There is a diverse economic environment including agriculture, industrial, retail, small businesses and high techs. 

For me, I wanted to explore any  kind of nature they had available. I visited Marshville Municipal Park and Lois Morgan Edwards Memorial library which also had a nature area surrounding it. 

Marshville Municipal Park includes a walking path, a playground , tennis courts, 3 baseball diamonds (which also can have softball games), areas for picnics and a concert area. Plenty to do if active in sports or just want to have a quaint place to have a picnic or family fun. 

See this website for more information https://www.naturefind.com/places/marshville-municipal-park/

Then the next were the scenes around town that I loved. I am sure there were more. 

If you have more questions about Marshville, North Carolina please see their website 

http://www.marshville.org/

So until next time. 

This is a ginger walking. Hoping for daisy finds.

Mary

Windsor Park, Matthews, North Carolina

This place is so quaint. It is just over 5 acres. It is missed by so many people. Definitely suits the slogan of many local guides - a hidden gem of a park.  The park is located on 10200 Northeast Parkway; Matthews, North Carolina 28105.

If you want more information about this park checkout their website
http://www.matthewsnc.gov/facilityview.aspx?fid=49


When I went it was nearing 6 pm and definitely getting bitten by bugs and the water in the little creek was really low. However that did not stop me from wandering nor two young ladies watching either minnows or tadpoles in the water.

All that I am going to show you is what I was able to get in fifteen minutes time.


These are all scenes from the creek. As you can see that it is really low.

A green metal bridge.

So low almost not existent.

So I reverted to looking all around me for interesting sights. Nature is grand even in the smallest pieces.


Texture texture texture.. QUEEN!!!

I love the lines inside the pod

This wonderful leaf  makes me think of a nice flame in a bonfire.

Pods, shells and seeds. Cracked texture and grain details on edges as well as defined lines inside the empty shells. 

So that is all I have in fifteen minutes at this hidden gem of a park. I hope the next time I go the water will be higher.

So until next time.

This is a ginger walking. Hoping for daisy finds.

Mary