Every Time I Go Mexico

Beautiful guitar band @Lake Needwood today.


First, we went for a nice kayak boat ride around the lake.


Then I couldn’t help stopping and listening to this relaxing and peaceful music.ย 


These guys were great–I’d pay to listen to them.ย 


Just a bunch of friends getting together to play beautiful music.


This is life as it should be. ๐Ÿ˜‰


(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Golden Retriever Swims Like A Fish

Out on the kayak today with Rebecca in Maryland.ย 



This beautiful golden retriever named Rudder was playing on the bank and in the water.ย 



He was swimming and chasing a toy that the friendly owners were throwing way out into the pond.ย 



On this hot sunny day, this dog was having a blast, and the people seemed to enjoy talking with us about him.ย 



Overall this was a welcome break from the Dog Days of Summer. ๐Ÿ˜‰



(Source Video: Rebecca Blumenthal)

The Fisherman

The Fisherman
I took this photo yesterday of this man standing on the bank and fishing.ย 



I was out in the water in a kayak enjoying the beautiful surroundings.ย 



I paddled over near to the fisherman, but not so close as to scare away his catch.ย 



It was hot and very sunny out on the water–there was only a little shade near the bank of the pond–and I frequently had to wipe my forehead beading with sweat under the open sun.



But it was nice to just be out there–on the water, surrounded by the greenery, the sun overhead, some birds and frogs about, and a even a little breeze shimmering over the the water.ย 



Even better than paddling itself, is just stopping, sort of sitting back, and just listening to the silence, breathing in the nature, and letting everything else just go for a little while.ย 



One with nature, one with G-d, and feeling integrated myself. ๐Ÿ˜‰



(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Turtle Tank

Turtle
I took this photo while kayaking yesterday in Maryland.



Turtles are one of my favorite creatures.ย 



The challenge in photographing them while they sun tan on the tree trunk is that when you get to close they simply dive into the water.ย 



This one turtle was a little older and larger, and was basically fearless.ย 



We paddled right up to him and ย he held steady there.



So awesome–turtles live in and by the beautiful water, have a tank-like protective armor, and are basically peaceful loving.



While I never got into the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, I think the real ones are all that. ๐Ÿ˜‰



(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Reflections

reflections
We did a little kayaking at Lake Needwood today.



I couldn’t believe they open at 6:30 in the morning already to rent boats on a Sunday.



In the boathouse, there was a huge spider on the floor crawling around, and the boat attendant came with a thingamajig to grab it and throw it back in the lake.



As he took the spider away, he made sure to tell us that is was POISONOUS!



On the lake, I took this photo of the gorgeous trees and greenery and it’s reflection on the water…a perfect mirror image.



Thank you G-d for the amazing world you have created and allow us to enjoy. ๐Ÿ˜‰



(Source Photo: Andy Blumenthal)

Attempting A Serenade

This was a really crazy Memorial Day weekend:

1. When I was kayaking, a guy in another boat races after us. He yells out about his wife leaving her keys in the boat. He gets so excited he falls in the lake…this really happened.

2. A couple getting married in the park are taking pictures by the lake. The photographer eggs the lady on to go down to the bank of the water with her new adoring husband. She hesitates, but finally gives in and then falls on her butt in the mud in her beautiful gown… oops.

3. This must’ve been the weekend for outdoor weddings, because we saw another couple getting married on the hiking trail’s overlook. It was a beautiful place for a ceremony and quite economical too. We wondered what they had planned if the weather hadn’t cooperated and it had rained–perhaps, “Ah, why don’t we get married next week instead!”

4. A couple comes up to me asking if I’ve seen their lost dog. They are screaming into the woods to see if they can locate the Airedale Terrier, Rosie. I asked what happened to their dog, and they explain that the dog saw some deer and chased after them into the woods and didn’t come back. They are there with their extended family with walkie-talkies and all searching and putting up signs. The next day, I am surprised to see the lady sitting on a stoop in the woods with the dog wagging its tail. I ask if this is the lost dog and what happened. And she tells me how the dog found its way out of this enormous park and walked along the side of the road home, until the neighbors sighted her and called them with the news.

5. And finally in this video, I just sort of spontaneously burst out into serenading this lovely lady. All’s well that ends well. ๐Ÿ˜‰