Reflections at Beaver Lake

by earthriderjudyberman In Nature 15 Comments

FawnBy Judy Berman

Our footfalls gave us away. Moments after we entered the woods, we saw a mother doe and her fawn leap off the path and bound out of sight.

It’s just the beginning of a 3-mile trail thru Beaver Lake Nature Center in Baldwinsville, N.Y. We meander along paths thru trees so close they crowd out sunlight. Then we traipse thru a bog area before we rest in a cove where Great Blue Heron stalk their dinner.

I drank this all in, filled up on it when we were here last – five years ago. This is the reservoir of memories I fall back on until we return.

At day’s end, we cap off our visit by relaxing on the deck of the visitors’ center. We lean back on Adirondack chairs and sip the sweet-tartness of lemonade while watching the chipmunks stuff sunflower seeds in their little cheeks.

In that idyllic setting, the chipmunks and squirrels chatter, and the birds warble their delightful tunes.

“The earth has music for those who listen,” George Santayana.

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“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” (Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken”)Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville, N.Y.

“Forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the wind longs to play with your hair.” (Kahil Gibran)Beaver Lake Nature Center

“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” (Albert Einstein)Beaver Lake Nature Center

“Look! A trickle of water running thru some dirt! I’d say our afternoon just got booked solid.” (Bill Waterson, Calvin and Hobbes)Beaver Lake Nature Center

“None of this is ours … it’s on loan to us, and there is a challenge that goes along with the loan … and that is to make sure we are good stewards of the property.”  (Doyle Carlton, Florida rancher in Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition’s documentary on PBS. See link below.)Beaver Lake Nature Center

“ … All creatures great and small … The Lord God made them all.” (Cecil Frances Alexander, “All Things Bright and Beautiful”)

chipmunk
chipmunk

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Video – Florida, my home since 1999, also has many wonderful places to view nature. Check out Florida Wildlife Corridor Expedition’s movie trailer from a one-hour documentary. Broadcast on Public Television in Florida begins on Florida PBS stations on April 1st and the rest of the United States on June 1st. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAF0MllGNDg&sns=fb

Video – Beethoven – 6th Symphony – Pastoral. World United Music, Life in a year of photos set to music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMJPZ-mu-Ts

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COPYRIGHT NOTICE: Judy Berman and earthrider, 2011-15. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to (Judy Berman) and (earthrider, earth-rider.com, or earthriderdotcom) with appropriate and specific direction to the original
content.

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Main Photo: Fawn – Taken in Muster, Indiana, by Walter Mains, May 2008 http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Fawn_3.jpg/750px-Fawn_3.jpg

All other photos were taken June 2008 at Beaver Lake Nature Center, Baldwinsville, N.Y. by Dave and Judy Berman.

  2. This is the best spring message I’ve read so far, Judy!…Excellent
    Enjoy the spring, and enjoy your Easter weekend! 🙂

    1. The fawn’s photo is beautiful. I wish I was able to get a photo of the fawn and doe we saw before they scampered out of sight. A back yard like this would be wonderful to dream in. Thank you for your comments.

  4. I miss Beaver Lake, it was always such a nice place to go walk. I remember when we found that Nativity scene under one of the trees, and we tried to hide it so no one would ruin it. Good story Mom.

    1. Thanks, Jenn. I have a picture of that tree. But I’m not sure I have the one with the nativity scene under it. Beaver Lake Nature Center is a wonderful place to walk and relax in.

    1. We do really enjoy this walk, Kate. We’d been here many times over the years – in all kinds of weather. Twice we saw deer. Once, I suspect the doe was trying to trick us by darting off one way while leaving a fawn in the other direction. The last time there, we saw the doe and her fawn. My only regret is I didn’t have my camera out when we first got on the path.

  6. Seems like your day did get booked solid 🙂 Marvelous shots Judy, particularly of the fawn and that lone chair in the woods. Love the quotes too.

    1. Wish I had taken a photo of that fawn. That’s from wikimedia. Dave and I took all the rest. There is something about that lone chair in the woods that really touched me. Glad you liked that and the quotes, too. Thank you for your comments, Madhu.

  7. All creatures great and small…I’m not sure if we humans are great or small, Judy, but I’m so glad the Lord God does love us all.
    Lovely post. The greens are so lush, and the quotes are perfect accents.

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