The Last Evening at Reed Bingham State Park

 

That sounds harsh....the last evening! But in my memory, it was just the last time I could stand at the lake to take photos before packing up to go home the next morning. 

And I still plan to drive up to Adel, Georgia and go to this lake again some day. 

But the trips we took last summer were the last camping trips we would take.

I don't miss camping as much as I thought I would. I still want to visit State Parks but I'll look at what accommodations are nearby and plan accordingly. 

Green Heron

Standing at the lake and watching the sun go down reminds me of camping in Arkansas when I was a girl. I always loved to walk to the lake at sundown and sit on the bank until it became pitch dark. I'm glad my parents gave me the freedom to do that when I was growing up. Memories like that stay with you for a lifetime. Just like these camping trips will stay in my memory forever.

Great Blue Heron

White Ibis

Little Blue Heron (juvenile)

Wood Stork and Great White Egret

Did you enjoy camping out when you were growing up? One of our regular summer trips was out to Little Fir on Lake Ouachita  in Mount Ida, Arkansas. Maybe I should add this spot to my list of places to visit again!

Love, Diane

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

Back in time, Reed Bingham Lake

 I'm going to spend October of this year, sharing photos from camping trips that were taken in 2025.

I had photos I never shared and they are just too good to ignore! HA!

So WHAT in the WORLD is this?

A Great Blue Heron of course!

But isn't it one of the wildest Blue Herons you've ever seen?

I think he was proud of himself....

showing off for the camera.

I stood there in awe!!!

And that day, I saw so many beautiful butterflies too.

So let's enjoy memory lane 

and photos from last year!

Do you like to look back at your old photos?

Sometimes I do....

sometimes not so much!

Love, Diane 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

Life goes on.....'Reed Bingham State Park'

 I wrote 'Life goes on'....but somehow that seems wrong. My life has gone on but like so many of you this past year, we've lost people that we loved and our lives are forever changed. 

So even though life goes on in one sense, my life is forever changed.

I'm thankful God continues to bless me in this life so I plan to write posts in October featuring camping trips I took last year and never shared.

Reed Bingham State Park

Adel, Georgia

An early morning hike to the lake features the Wood Storks.

 

Wood Storks

I took a 'few' photos!

I'll go in order of taking them.

I can't pick a fav!!

Hanging out with a Little Blue Heron

All of these were taken in June, 2025

Good memories

I don't have any plans to camp again but I hope to visit some of my favorite State Parks in months to come. I have a list that I would love to 'revisit'. But as we all know there are new paths to explore and new trails to follow.

We need strength to step out and follow our dreams.

Do you have a list of places you would like to visit in months to come? I need to add to my list!

Love, Diane 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

I would rather HIKE!

 I spent the summer complaining. I knew I shouldn't but I did it anyway. It was too hot to hike. I had a heat rash that made it miserable to even be outside. Whine...whine...whine! hahaha!

But John took me for some evening drives to my favorite trailheads.

And each and every one gave me such a great feeling. And of course we saw things every time we got out in nature. I had to be good and not wear my hiking shoes so I would not be tempted to get out of the car and hike! 

The weather is changing. I'm improving. So I am excited about this next chapter of my life.

So here's a couple of trailheads and what we saw.

Halpata Tastanaki Preserve (hwy 200) trailhead

Of course I got out just to 'look' down the trail.

And I spotted this little lizard on the fence post.

He was happy to be photographed.

Another evening we drove to Shangri La trailhead and campground.

This tree was full of bluebirds darting around like flycatchers.

But they wouldn't stand still!

So I caught a couple on the fly! 

Do you ever complain? 

Do you have trouble 'standing still'? 

I DO!

Love, Diane 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

What does a squirrel have in common with a horse?

 

I wish I could come up with something clever but in truth all I can think of was the fact that they were both at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve on days I couldn't hike! HA! 

I've had a lot of those this summer. It's really been too hot to hike but my reason for observing wildlife from the comfort of the Jeep is a prickly heat rash. 

It's the first one I've ever had but it was stubborn.

So I've taken a few drives out to the preserve just to observe!

I actually had something exciting happen the first time I went out there in the mid afternoon. I took my coffee drink and a snack and pulled over into a shady spot to enjoy it. I had it all out in my lap when I saw movement in a tree across the way. I almost dumped everything in the floor I got so excited.

I witnessed a Fox Squirrel building a nest. It kept going out to the end of a branch to gather Spanish moss, and back down to the nest to 'feather' his nest. I didn't get any great photos but I sure enjoyed watching him.

And then on another day, John and I  drove out to the preserve to watch the horses in the field.

This one horse came out from behind the tree, walked a few steps, stopped to pose and then went on across the field. I had just enough time for a couple of photos but that's all I needed.

Thank you Mr. Horse!

Another beauty in the field!

It sure was a beautiful day for a drive 'off road' in the Jeep.

Sometimes you have to be happy with plan B. 

I think I had a plan B summer! 

Has that ever happened to you?

Love, Diane

John from John's Island wrote me a poem this morning!

A squirrel gathered moss on high,
a horse posed proudly beneath the sky;
though summer changed the plans for you,
nature made magic from Plan B, too.
Sometimes when hiking has to wait,
a Jeep-side view can still be great!

Thank you John! This has made my day! Hugs! 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

Once Upon a Time....

Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to marry a princess, but she would have to be a real princess. He travelled all over the world to find one, but nowhere could he get what he wanted. There were princesses enough but it was difficult to find out whether they were real ones.

"The Princess and the Pea" byHans Christian Andersen

Did you ever imagine yourself in a fairy tale? I have actually written a few fairy tales over the years and should take them out and dust them off. Of course I should shake up my creative juices and write or sketch or paint or draw. But I think the time will come when I feel artistic or creative and in the meantime, I will write! I will BLOG! And that makes me happy.

And driving out to Halpata Tastanaki Preserve makes me incredibly happy and I always find something to blog about.

So how did the white horse turn into a unicorn in my imagination? 

I saved an image of a horn and then added it to my horse photo in Photoscape. Easy peasy!

I got to hear 'the rest of the story' from the trainer of these two beautiful horses. The dark horse BIT the white horse. Or as the trainer said, 'SHE BIT HIM!' So she had her hands full trying to get control of these two fairy tale creatures.

Have you enjoyed any fairy tales this week? Maybe we should all pull out our story books and spend some time in fairyland!

Sorry about the background color on my text. 

Sometimes creating a blog post is even a creative challenge! hahaha! 

AND the winner of my blog anniversary giveaway is Jeanie from The Marmalade Gypsy. I'm sending you a gift certificate for something fun on Amazon. She and I started our friendship because of our love of books and continued because of our love of LIFE! Thanks Jeanie for adding so much joy to my life over the years. We've shared our love of life AND blogging! 

Love, Diane 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

Sing, sing a song

 Sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong

Sing of good things not bad, sing of happy not sad

This was a song made popular by the Carpenters in the early '70s.

Sing, sing a song, make it simple to last your whole life long,

Don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear

just sing, sing a song

The Eastern Meadowlark sings his heart out from the tops of the trees! 

And it always lightens your mood and brings joy to your heart!

Do you include music into your every day life? I lived in a house that was perfectly quiet for almost a year and then someone had to remind me to listen to music. What a difference it has made in my life. I started off listening to old country songs and then I added Christian music to the mix. I cry and laugh and sometimes I dance. I can't sing so I try not to burst into song! hahaha! Thanks John for reminding me to enjoy music again after so long. 💜

I'll include a link to the song below (if it works) or look it up on YouTube.

Sing Sing a Song

It's my 18 year blog anniversary. 

I'm having a Giveaway HERE if you would like to enter! 

Love, Diane 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!