*Holiday Baking with Wednesday Wee Ones*

On the days I don't hike, I stay busy working playing around the house. I scrub and clean, get my laundry caught up, oh....and dress dollies! 

Well, you know what they say! And I definitely don't want to be DULL!

So one day I dressed Noel in her pretty holiday dress and then made sure she had her apron and hat for her baking 'chores'. I made all of these little clothes, even the potholder, mitt and dishtowels. 

I even made those gingerbread men....years ago!

 And I got to meet M.A. Vessey years ago at an art show in Hendersonville, NC. She painted this Christmas scene. 

 

I wanted to buy some little cookies but they all looked so fake! (at least the ones in my price range did! lol) So we're not sure what's in the oven but I'm sure it will be yummy! (we'll REALLY have to use our imaginations now)

So don't forget in this busy holiday season to

Take Time to Play!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays . 

 

 

Creative Banners

I was planning to change my banner for December and went back to see what banners I had made for November.

A lot of them I never used.

When I get home from a hike, I love to work on my photos and usually see photos that would make pretty banners. 

But then I find one I like and stick with it!

 So I tried to make some mosaics with my November banners.

It's a 'work in progress' to use Photoscape but it was fun! (and time consuming! lol) Everyone has to find out what size photo works best in the layout they have. Crop and resize a fav pic and then play around with it and see what looks good!

Hope your December is off to a great start! Ours started with a hike! Of course!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE .

I'm breaking out of this place....

I think he can do it, don't you? heehee!

And I know there's bad weather in so much of our country right now,

but Florida has been beautiful!

And the birds have flown South!

(bad news for the worms!)

I've never seen so many birds on my hikes and in the forest!

I know we've probably seen this little Vesper Sparrow in the past but this was our first time to positively identify him.

And after we saw him at the Pruitt Trailhead,

we saw another one on the Florida Trails.

And I took a card out to the mailbox and looked up at this small flock of Sandhill Cranes.

They squawk constantly as they fly over so I had time to run inside and grab the camera.

 We had just seen the Crane family at Pruitt this week. They are there year round.

 It's hard to stay inside with the sunshine and temps in the 70s! Want to 'break out' with me?

There might be 'monsters' in the woods! 

 

 

 (it's a big oak leaf in the trail! lol)

 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE 

 

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving from Florida!

I love taking part in Thankful Thursday every week. 

 It's wonderful to count our blessings every day and share them on Thursdays.

The Robins showed up this week by the hundreds!

 

 I spent some time with my Florida Wildflower book and the closest I came to an ID for this pretty purple flower is Deer Tongue. If you have any other ideas, please let me know.

I hope your day is filled with joy and happiness....and good memories. Have a blessed day wherever you live!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays . 

A Dreamy Hike at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve

We live in the Sunshine State so most of the time when we hike the sun is bright! And that's one of the things we love about living here. 

But last weekend, we had a overcast day and cool temps and set off to hike farther on the Halpata Tastanaki Preserve trail at the Pruitt Trailhead. 

It was interesting when I viewed my photos at home. 

Since the sun wasn't washing out the colors, the fields took on a dreamy look.

Still lots of green here at this time of year and hundreds of wildflowers.

I need to try to ID these purple flowers!

 We have hiked this trail many times but it was neat to see something 'new' when we got down the trail.

And just where we decided to turn around, we saw a Forest Ranger up ahead. He came to us and we had a nice chat about what wildlife we had seen. He had photos of a Wild Boar and fox squirrel and 3 deer that were running so fast that all three had their feet off the ground. Amazing!

You just never know what you'll see when you get out into the wilderness. 

What's the weather like where you live?

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE .

 

 

The Unexpected!

I love living an interesting life and having lots of neat experiences along the way.

I always tell everyone to get out there, especially in the parks and nature trails to see what they can see. (use your imagination!)

Even on the days I don't see much....

I see lots of beautiful sights and meet interesting people.

These 2 men were 'serious' hikers from St. Pete, hiking a section of the Florida Trails and staying overnight in one of the primitive campsites. I enjoyed meeting them and hearing about their adventures.

And when I get home, it's fun to look at my photos and see what I've captured.

I had no idea what I was looking at when I saw this on the side of the trail.

A cluster of leaves? A big yellow butterfly?

It turned out to be a Warbler hanging upside down on a weed. 

Of course when I stepped forward to get a better view, it flew!

 

Now that the weather is so nice (70 degrees for a high yesterday), I can hike in the afternoons again.

 

Which leaves the mornings to do 'needful' things like shopping at Walmart!

And look who I found in the produce aisle of Walmart! My blog buddy Barbara from Sweet Tea and Sandals. She lives in the same town and we have plans to meet soon but why not grab a few smiles and hugs at Walmart! She is just as cute as can be and has a blog that is filled with interesting things and inspiration too! Visit her HERE!

Fill your day with beautiful things and maybe some unexpected treats will come your way!

Did you use your imagination?

 

Have you had a good week?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE 

 

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

 

 

Fall Fun...while it lasts!

Well, I think the Fall Craft shows are probably over now. Fall has never been my favorite season but here in this area, it's the time for craft shows and Fall festivals so that's been great!

I'll feature the jewelry trees in this post! Oh my! They are gorgeous and the sweet lady that makes them is a volunteer for Hospice too! She works at the thrift store where I love to shop. 

She makes beautiful jewelry and the trees she makes are decorated with jewelry...a lot of it vintage!

I bought one of the small trees last year so I got another one and found a temporary home for it until I decorate for Christmas.

The view from my chair in the living room...don't you love it?

A few other fun finds and treasures. (some glass creations I didn't buy but LOVED!)

I love the basket lady! We have become friends over the years and I have a nice collection of her baskets. But I can always find another one that I need!

And I bought new pillowcases from this talented lady! I should have gotten an extra set! I hope she keeps making them!

 Isn't this the cutest leather barrette? 

 This lady is so artistic that I hope she'll make other things with this pretty face. I had her pull the barrette off the back of mine so that it lays flat. I may glue it on one of my altered books.

Do you have craft fairs in your community? I love buying anything hand made, don't you?

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays  and

Katherine's Thursday Favorite things HERE.