Views of the Neighborhood

January 1, 2017 · by John W. Howell · in Views of the Neighborhood · 53 Comments

This week’s walk in the neighborhood took two separate visits to Paradise Pond. The first was during the Thanksgiving holiday and the second yesterday. The reason I had to make two visits was I wanted to get a photo of the resident ducks and so waiting until I received a new lens for Christmas was a must. I could never get close enough to capture them before. I hope you enjoy the visit.

Paridise Pond

Paradise Pond is located near the downtown area and is a bird sanctuary supported by gifts from the Holt family.

This Photo will give you an idea of the walkway constructed so that interested parties can walk back to the pond

Paradise Pond

The walkway leads to the pond which you can see in the background

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Here we are. Notice the algae and the unkempt appearance? This pond is to remain natural, so this good growth is healthy. (The sky was much prettier on the first visit)

Paradise Pond

Here is another shot with some ducks coming on the scene

Paridise Pond

Here is the reason I returned. This family of ducks has a lunch and bath time.

Paradise pond

I also managed to score a chickadee in a tree (excuse the alliteration)

Paradise Pond

This board is in place so that bird and nature watchers can provide each other with sightings. I noticed some idiot wrote a sighting of Fiction Favorites. (I made the idiot erase the graffiti before we left)

Paradise Pond

This sign indicates that the pond is undergoing some new plantings.

Paradise Pond

Here is an example of some of the work. The tree has a support and you can see little red flags by the new seedlings. I think they will try to save the tree otherwise they would have cut it down.

Paradise Pond

I hope you enjoyed this little stroll. Happy New Year

Tags: author, books, fiction favorites, His Revenge, John W. Howell Author, My GRL, Our Justice, thriller fiction, Views of the Neighborhood

53 comments

anisioluiz2008 · January 1, 2017 - 4:07 am ·

Reblogged this on O LADO ESCURO DA LUA.

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 8:16 am ·
  
  Thank you for the reblog. 🙂
  
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Gwen Plano · January 1, 2017 - 4:19 am ·

Loved the stroll, the sightings…even the graffiti! 🙂

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 8:15 am ·
  
  Thank you, Gwen. It was very peaceful. 🙂
  
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quiall · January 1, 2017 - 5:00 am ·

Beautiful! Happy New Year John!

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 8:15 am ·
  
  Happy New Year, Pam. 🙂
  
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Jan Hawke · January 1, 2017 - 6:37 am ·

Sure the story ducks appreciated the Fiction Favorites sighting, however brief! 😉

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 8:13 am ·
  
  Ha ha ha. Thanks, Jan. 🙂
  
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Charles Yallowitz · January 1, 2017 - 7:00 am ·

Nice pics and I can see why you waited. Funny how the board has all those birds and the. ‘Iguana’ circled.

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 8:13 am ·
  
  Must have been an unusual sighting. 🙂
  
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patriciaruthsusan · January 1, 2017 - 7:02 am ·

Lovely pictures, John. Congratulations on Santa leaving you the new camera lens you needed! You must have been on his ‘very good’ list. Happy New Year 2017 to you and yours! 🙂 — Suzanne

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 8:13 am ·
  
  Thank you, Suzanne. Happy New Year to you. 🙂
  
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Jill Weatherholt · January 1, 2017 - 7:07 am ·

“I made the idiot erase the graffiti before we left.” LOL! Happy New Year, John!

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 8:12 am ·
  
  Thanks, Jill. HNYTY 🙂
  
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coldhandboyack · January 1, 2017 - 7:50 am ·

Love the images, and the chalk board.

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 8:11 am ·
  
  Thanks, Craig. 🙂
  
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Teagan Geneviene · January 1, 2017 - 8:08 am ·

I’m delighted that you are still enjoying Santa’s lens. 😀 Especially since we’re sharing in the results. Personally, I thought the graffiti was superb, the illusive Fiction Favorites can’t be found just anywhere. I am curious though, about their thinking with the fallen tree. Perhaps it creates a different (desired) habitat if it can survive in it’s leaning position…
Thanks for beginning 2017 with another lovely stroll. Happy New Year. Mega hugs.

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 8:38 am ·
  
  I think I’m going todo a follow-up to the tree. My guess is it has been slowly sinking and maybe they will shore it up somehow. Happy New Year, Teagan. BTW my spell check has not problem recognizing your greatness. I taught it to know the smart ones long ago. 😀
  
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  1. Teagan Geneviene · January 1, 2017 - 10:01 am ·
    
    LOL. Flattery & compliments happily accepted here. I really did get a kick out of Dan’s comment about that. I try to convince myself there are worse things than being a nonentity at work. Being “assimilated” would be worse. 😈 Have a sublime New Year’s Day Sunday, my friend.
    
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    1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 3:17 pm ·
      
      Thank you, Teagan. What would be worse is not knowing you were a nonentity. There are so many of them.
      
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Lynn · January 1, 2017 - 8:55 am ·

Those darn graffiti artists! They’re everywhere😂

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 3:20 pm ·
  
  They are. Good thing I was on to them. 😀 Thanks, Lynn and Happy New Year.
  
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tpolen · January 1, 2017 - 9:14 am ·

Those graffiti artists run rampant sometimes. Nice walk!

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 3:19 pm ·
  
  They do. Especially the ones armed with chalk.
  
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Dan Antion · January 1, 2017 - 9:17 am ·

Did someone write “John Cannon?” You might want to duck (no pun intended) if he’s around.

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 3:18 pm ·
  
  Ha haha. I should have thought of that.
  
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Pit · January 1, 2017 - 9:29 am ·

Thanks, John, for taking us on that little stroll. I didn’t know of that park. I really need to go there when we’ll be in Port A again. Thanks for making me aware of it.
A Happy New Year to you, too,
Pit

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 3:18 pm ·
  
  It is a quiet little place off the “cutoff road.”
  
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  1. Pit · January 2, 2017 - 8:28 am ·
    
    Thanks, John. I’ll find it.
    
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    1. John W. Howell · January 2, 2017 - 12:01 pm ·
      
      🙂
      
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rijanjks · January 1, 2017 - 11:13 am ·

Nice pictures! The lens was definitely a great gift!

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 3:15 pm ·
  
  Thank you, Jan 🙂
  
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S.K. Nicholls · January 1, 2017 - 11:38 am ·

Nice stroll around the pond. I think the ducks are bashful. I saw more tail-feathers than duck bills…lol

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 3:15 pm ·
  
  Ha haha. Thanks, Susan. 😀
  
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The Hook · January 1, 2017 - 4:08 pm ·

Your blog makes an ideal sanctuary from winter in Canada, John.
Thank you.

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 4:45 pm ·
  
  Thanks, Hook.
  
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Charlotte Hoather · January 1, 2017 - 5:08 pm ·

Weather looked good for a walk, lovely photos 😊

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 5:52 pm ·
  
  A little overcast but warm. Lovely. Thanks, Charlotte.
  
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Let's CUT the Crap! · January 1, 2017 - 7:30 pm ·

Indeed, I do enjoy your tours. It’s a.l.m.o.s.t. as good as being there. Your photos are fantastic. 😀

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1. John W. Howell · January 1, 2017 - 7:37 pm ·
  
  Thank you, Tess. Tis coming from the tour maven is a real compliment. 🙂
  
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  1. Let's CUT the Crap! · January 3, 2017 - 1:22 pm ·
    
    😀 😀 😀 Hardly.
    
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    1. John W. Howell · January 3, 2017 - 5:18 pm ·
      
      🙂
      
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John Fioravanti · January 1, 2017 - 10:53 pm ·

Thanks for the lovely glimpses around Port Aransas, John!

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1. John W. Howell · January 2, 2017 - 8:13 am ·
  
  Thanks for the visit and the Molson., John
  
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Don Massenzio · January 2, 2017 - 7:22 am ·

Great photos. Thanks for sharing.

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1. John W. Howell · January 2, 2017 - 8:07 am ·
  
  🙂
  
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circadianreflections · January 2, 2017 - 8:57 am ·

How exciting that you got a new lens and now can make images of the ducks and birds at the pond!

I’m looking forward to more images from you and the pond, and maybe that tricky Fiction Favorites.

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1. John W. Howell · January 2, 2017 - 11:59 am ·
  
  Ha ha ha. Thank you, Deborah. 😀
  
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Audrey Dawn - Oldest Daughter Redheaded Sister · January 4, 2017 - 10:28 pm ·

Reminds me a place called Challenger Park in Webster, TX. Loved it there. Great photos, John.

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1. John W. Howell · January 5, 2017 - 8:19 am ·
  
  Thanks, Audrey. Nice to see you again. 🙂
  
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  1. Audrey Dawn - Oldest Daughter Redheaded Sister · January 5, 2017 - 9:24 am ·
    
    Thanks. Nice to be back, John
    
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macjam47 · January 5, 2017 - 8:19 am ·

I enjoyed strolling through Paradise Pond with you. Lovely pictures. Happy New Year, John.

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1. John W. Howell · January 5, 2017 - 1:32 pm ·
  
  Thank you Michelle. Glad to have you along. Here have a margarita.
  
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