As part of my new healthy lifestyle modification, I have been walking in my neighborhood several times a week. I have really been enjoying being out in nature while I work on getting more activity into my life. The woods around my home is home to lots of critters and birds. There are pathways that I haven't been on since my childhood around here. My pet trio loves to come along with me. Cubby Bears, the chow, is our security guide. He makes sure there is nothing out there that is gonna hurt us. The other day, Cubby sprang into action... he went scavenging around in the bushes beside the road, and I could hear something else in the bushes too. Sure enough, out springs a young buck, hopping through the forest and dashed across the road right in front of us! Saved! From a rouge deer on the loose! That's my Cubby!
Then there's Jack E. Cheez, the chihuahua, my shadow. He thinks he's tough, but gets scared of other dogs out there on our walk. Jack has learned to hitch a ride with Grammy when we encounter stranger dogs.
Stanley Oliver is our lake cat. He loves to follow along, just like he was a dog. He doesn't like the 'stranger dogs' either, and will hide in the woods. Me and the dogs will continue on, and when we get back, Stan will still be in the bushes waiting for us. A few meows, and he'll come hopping out and start following us again. Lately, I've been leaving poor Stan home, because he really does slow me down. Poor kitty, he has been real ticked about it.
I use the iPhone MapMyWalk app to log my distance and time when walking. The upgraded version allows me to take photos within the app along the way. So I thought I would share some of my photos from my walks. Hope you enjoy!
This is the Great Blue Heron seen down in Cedar Beau Bay.
Just another beautiful sunset in our bay. I never tire of this scene, whatever the season, it is beautiful, peaceful, and best of all... my home.
This afternoon I heard some commotion outside and went to check. It was two male Mallard ducks 'discussing' some business. I thought it might be a fun picture, so grabbed my camera. By the time I got back, the discussion was over, but there were now three male Mallards, and another unidentified duck. They were far enough away that I knew the pictures wouldn't be the greatest, but took a few snaps anyways. The unidentified duck turned out to be either a female or young male Common Goldeneye. I'm gonna assume it was a female given the behavior of the three male Mallards! 
Every time I leave my house or come home, I drive by a particular Red-necked Grebe's 2nd annual nest atop of a floating orange life jacket. It's nothing fancy, but seems to provide these pair of grebes a suitable nest each year. I was excited to get pictures this year since I have a better zoom camera now. I parked my car behind the cabin that the nest is by, and used the cabin as a blind while I adjusted all my settings. Zoomed right in on this pretty lady duck, as she sits on her nest. Her mate is never too far away. The nest is only about 25 or 30 feet from the shore. I'll be looking forward to seeing the baby chick. Only thing is, once the chick hatches, they are off to explore the lake and will no longer hang around the nest. 
My main chance to get pictures of a baby grebe riding on it's parents back will be in my bay with the resident grebes nest there each year. They defend the bay as their own most of the summer. I think I saw a grebe possibly nesting on the island when I looked through the binoculars the other day. The bay pair I was just talking about was over by the island squabbling and raising a rucus. As I looked through the binoculars, I saw a grebe (I think) ON the island. Maybe I can confirm that at a later time.
