Tag: alcyon lake park

Photo Challenge – Alcyon Lake Signs

On By TimelessladyIn Photo Challenge at WordpressLeave a comment

October 4th – WordPress Photo Challenge – Signs

This week, publish an image of a sign — from the signs you encounter on the street to more personal, less obvious signs that hold meaning for you.

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This is my first attempt at taking part in the WordPress Photo Challenge. I chose to take photographs of Alcyon Park. I have visited Betty Park (another name for the site) since I was about seven years old. Once an amusement park, the same land now hosts a gentle playground on one side of the lake, ball fields and walking trails on the other. I loved this place as a child. I watched many a July Fourth firework show from its grassy banks. When I was a young mother I played with my sons in the park, now I bring my grandchildren for outdoor fun. Thank you Alcyon Park in Pitman, NJ for many years of happiness.

Park Signs

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Photograph – Mourning Dove

On By TimelessladyIn Quirkiness4 Comments

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Today was gorgeous here in New Jersey. I took a long walk around the park at Alcyon Lake. As I strolled, a shiny gleam caught my attention. A beautiful dove was intently watching me. She was still…not moving at all, blending into the drab foliage and bark around her. Only her beautiful eyes gave her away. I was thrilled to see her, but also sad, she has built her nest too close to the walking path. Many people pass by every day, many of them with their dogs on a leash. When her babies hatch and begin to peep, she won’t find it easy to blend in and keep her nest a secret. Below is the same birdie with the zoom lens in place.

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Stay safe Mama Bird.

Phascination – Unexpected Roadblocks

On By TimelessladyIn PhascinationLeave a comment

I was walking in Alcyon Park when I noticed a fallen branch. Oh…not a branch at all…

…A long, rather large snake.

I thought at first he was not alive,

until I prodded him with the toe of my shoe. Yikes!

He didn’t appreciate that at all.

He continued to advance and coil, and I retreated…quickly.

He was at least four feet long.

Of course, I posted my pictures on Facebook.

Friends thought he might be a…

Rat snake, King Snake or a
Black Racer.

I am not sure, I just know he was a “BIG” snake.

He/she retreated back into the woods.

I won’t be walking in there anytime soon.

After googling the names my Facebook friend suggested, and checking out the photographs on the sites I found, I am convinced he/she was an Eastern Black Rat Snake. This means he is a very good snake to have around. I’d rather have hundreds of this fellow living in the woods nearby, than have hundreds of rats and other destructive, disease-carrying rodents.

My slithery friend didn’t fall under any category I use for my blog, so I used my blogger’s prerogative, and took some creative license when I created the new category of “Phascination.” (fascination)