Archive for May 2025
Rome Day Three. A Walk Around The Vatican Before An Emotional And Solemn Mass Honoring Pope Francis
I was up early Saturday morning during my recent visit stay in Rome. I traveled to the Eternal City to attend the funeral of Pope Francis. The funeral would begin at 10 a.m. I wanted to receive the Sacraments of Confession and Communion during my stay and at the funeral. I was raised Catholic but…
Read MoreRome Day Three. An Afternoon Exploring Rome With The Crowds After Pope Francis’s Funeral
I was in Rome last week to pay my respects to Pope Francis. I walked past his coffin as he lie in state on Friday and attended the funeral mass Saturday morning. The solemn and emotional funeral mass ended around noon. It was a very moving spiritual experience for me. It was a warm sunny…
Read MoreI Love May. A Beautiful May Day Hike In The Susquehanna Wetlands And River Lands
I was anxious to return to the Susquehanna Wetlands on Thursday , the first day of May. I was gone for almost a week. And a week is a long time in the Spring, I made a last minute trip to Rome last week to attend Pope Francis’s funeral. ( More on that trip in…
Read MoreRome Day Four: Exploring Rome. A Hike In Villa Ada Park And A Return To The Vatican.
I was only in Rome for a few more days after the funeral of Pope Francis. I had explored many of famous historic sites in Rome on my two previous visits to the Eternal City. There were countless more to explore but , it was Spring and I wanted to hike in some of the…
Read MoreI Love May. Another Beautiful May Afternoon And Hike, This Time On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails.
It was another beautiful sunny and mild May afternoon Friday. And, once again, I wanted to enjoy it. So I decided to hike on another one of my favorite trails, the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails located a few miles from my home in Hazle Township, Luzerne County, As I noted in my previous blog, every…
Read MoreRome Day Five: A Visit To Pope Francis’s Humble Tomb And A Hike In Another Park In The Eternal City
It was my last full day in Rome after attending Pope Francis’s funeral. I was up early and was going to hike in another of the city’s parks, this time in Pineto Regional Park, located near Vatican City. First I decided to walk to Basilica of Mary Major where Pope Francis, breaking with tradition, was…
Read MoreAnother May Hike, This Time On The Deleaware And Lehigh Trail At River Drive in Lehigh County
It was another beautiful day in May when I awoke Saturday morning. And, like the previous two day I couldn’t wait to get outside and enjoy it. I decided to hike on the D & L trail in Lehigh County, starting at the River Drive trail head. I had hiked here twice before, in the…
Read MoreA Coudy And Windy Afternoon Hike In The South Cape May Meadows
I returned to Cape May New Jersey last weekend, my third visit to this quaint little shore town. I was here last October for the first time in 25 years, when I came for the Fall bird migration. I was here on Friday for the Spring song bird migration. Cape May is located along the…
Read MoreAnother Day Exploring Cape May, This Time Under Blue Skies And Brilliant Sunshine.
It was still windy, but the skies were clear, when I awoke early Saturday morning at the Jetty Motel in Cape May New Jersey. I was up early to watch the sunrise. After a cup of coffee in my room I walked to the beach across from the hotel but I didn’t see the sunrise.The…
Read MoreA Sunny Sunday Morning In Cape May And A Lot Of Cool Stuff On The Beach And A Lot Of Birds In The Meadows
I was only in Cape May for a short visit last weekend. I arrived Friday afternoon but was heading home on Sunday. I had scheduled the visit for the previous week, but had to change my plans after my last minute trip to Rome. I had a lot of chores to do back home…
Read MoreBirds, Flowers And Green Everywhere , A Magical May Morning At The Susquehanna Wetlands.
I missed another weekend in May at the Susquehanna Wetlands. I spent a weekend looking for migratory songbirds in Cape May , New Jersey. It was a nice trip but, Spring, and May, are magical in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I like to spend as much time as I can in our woodlands this time of year.…
Read MoreSpring Arrives At Community Park In Hazle Township
I finally returned to the local Community Park near my home in Hazle Township Luzerne County. I wasn’t there all Winter. ( I have been walking on the streets near my home during the week days all Winter.) It is hard to believe it was almost five month ago. The seasons, especially Spring, seem to…
Read MoreMigratory Birds, Gnats And Ticks On Another Walk Near The Penn Forest Reservoir.
I decided to hike on the Bethlehem Authority lands near the Penn Forest reservoir in Carbon County on Saturday. This wasn’t an easy decision. There are so many great trails in the State and local parks and private nature preserve here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I decided on the Penn Forest reservoir trails since it’s quiet…
Read MoreA Hike Around Leaser Lake In Lehigh County On A Cloudy And Chilly May Morning.
On Saturday I decided to hike at Leaser Lake in Lehigh County. Once again it was a hard decision. We have so many great hiking trails here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I decided to hike at the lake since it was cloudy and cold with a light rain falling at my home in Luzerne County. Leaser…
Read MoreA Couple Of Memorial Day Weekend Hikes On The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails
Memorial Day was always one of my favorite holidays as a child. It was celebrated on the 30th of May when I was young. My birthday was on June 1. Everything was green and alive. School was ending and the warm. long days of June and Summer were here. It was a magical time…
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