Saturday, May 30, 2015

The Florida Softshell Turtle

We were so happy to see this Mama softshell turtle digging a nest to lay her eggs when we walked along a pretty marshy area at Fort Cooper State Park.


We were able to get close for a good view.


Okay...maybe she's not very pretty and we should back out again! haha


Here's a roped off area next to where she was digging. I guess she didn't know she was supposed to dig in a specified spot!


 You can see the path she has taken and that she is starting to dig in these pics. 


I found more info on Wikipedia HERE. "The turtle is almost entirely aquatic, only emerging from the water to bask or to lay eggs. It prefers the still waters of ponds, streams, lakes, and swamps. Like all softshells, it is very fast-moving in water and on land."


 Here's a view of the pond she came out of. 


We love visiting our State Parks! 

You can always see something you've never seen before. 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE.



Friday, May 29, 2015

Change Change Change

I’ve always known that things change. It’s inevitable. And to fight it is useless.
Going back to bed and pulling the covers over your head won’t stop it! (that’s what I always threaten to do)

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I started blogging 6 years ago and within the first few months, I started using Windows Live Writer to compose all of my posts. It’s like anything else…once you learn it, you become accustomed to it. I like to write my posts from start to finish and then ‘plug in’ the photos. (and Live Writer resizes them, one less thing to worry about)
But Windows Live Writer is no more. 

BOO HOO!

So I feel like I am starting all over again. Bear with me!




I also want to thank everyone for their prayers for my healing. I tripped and fell on my face a month ago! It’s like I took a running start and threw myself on a concrete sidewalk, face first. So it’s been quite a healing process. Most of my bruises are healed and I’ve been using Rosehip Oil on my face and it looks much better. The skin is still tender and my cheekbone is still painful but it’s healing. I’m back to doing everything I love to do. (except exposing my face to the full sun, or wearing make up)
I’ll keep changing with the times!
I mean what else can we do?
It will be FUN!


PS A diet tip I wouldn’t recommend. I remember my mother saying years ago that the only way to lose weight is to get sick or worry. We can add 'getting hurt’ to the list. Not being able to eat my favorite foods and taking twice as long to do it took 5 pounds off. Wonder how long it will take to put it back on? 5 minutes? lol Where’s the chips?

Thursday, May 28, 2015

She left the suds in the bucket and…

the clothes hanging out on the line fence!

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We love this song by Sara Evans and we both started singing it when we saw this fence.

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Blueberry bushes behind the fence.

Hope you’ve having a great day and singing while you work!

I’m joining Tex for the

Good Fences party!

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Summer Time Reading

Here in Florida we have nice weather during the winter months. When it gets HOT in the summer, we have to plan more activities inside. I love to read and we have a beautiful pool that we can walk to with a bottle of cold water and a book (and a hat and sunglasses!). Or I can sit in the lanai in the air conditioning, under the fan!

My blog buddy Terra shared her 10 favorite authors of all time in a post HERE. I’d love to do this soon.

Stacey at Poofing the Pillows has So Many Great Books HERE

And Farm Girl Sam showed off some of the books she’s been reading HERE. She has other posts with books this week too.


I mentioned that I went to the library and came home with a stack of books.
These are the big oversized paperbacks and they were for sale in the lobby of the library. Paper backs are 50 cents and hardbacks are $1, so you can’t go wrong. (it’s a great place to donate books, too)

(in order of popularity from top to bottom)

I did something fun this time. I looked each book up on Goodreads to see what each one was rated. I wrote it down on little slips of paper and then put them in order. It might help me decide which one to start with.
Like Dandelion Dust was rated the highest at 4.20.


Right now I’m reading Mademoiselle Chanel by C. W. Gortner, all about the life of Coco Chanel. I’m finding it very entertaining.

(I checked these two books out at the library)

What are you reading this week?

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Thrifting for Holiday Decor

You just never know what you’ll find when you thrift shop.

I was hoping to find something ‘new’ to read but found this instead! (and then I found some books and magazines at the library the same day! YAY!!!)

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It was a dusty old cross stitch that I loved at first sight!

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And it was perfect for a little ‘red white and blue’!

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Look at the writing on the back.

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I love that this Nana signed her creation!

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This bookcase has all of my old children’s books that I cherish and I try to mix things up on the top shelf.

I’m joining the Vintage Inspiration Link party HERE,

and Roses of Inspiration.

I hope you’ve had a wonderful holiday weekend!

Monday, May 25, 2015

Happy Memorial Day!

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“God Bless America”

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source

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday and

Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday.

 

Saturday, May 23, 2015

My New Toy “The Canon PowerShot SX50 HS”

What do bloggers love to do most?

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(I’m at a winery but don’t say drink! hahaha!)

Take photos!

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Hubby surprised me with a new camera for Mother’s Day, the Canon PowerShot SX50 HS.

Montanagirl mentioned this camera HERE and I might have ‘hinted’ for it.

I still love the tiny Canon S100 but I wanted one that had a more powerful zoom.

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This was taken at Sholom Park.

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And I needed a better Macro setting for taking flowers and critters.

Debby asked me about my camera when I posted the photo of this woodpecker.

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I was about 10 ft away from him and zoomed.

I was across the street from this Red Shouldered Hawk.

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It’s been such fun to use and I’m still learning.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Lake Griffin State Park for Good fences

What might you see if you hike some of the trails at Lake Griffin State Park?

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Dead River feeds into the lake and it’s beautiful!

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But what brings many people to this park is this ancient Live Oak Tree.

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Follow the nature trail to see the 2nd largest Live Oak tree in the State of Florida, estimated to be 300 – 500 years old according to the Florida Parks website HERE

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It is GIGANTIC!

It really is hard to get a photo to really show what you are seeing!

Hubby stood in front of it. He’s 6 ft tall and slender but he looks like a little kid standing there.

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I look tiny! hahaha!

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What a wonderful place to spend the day!

I’m joining Tex for the

Good Fences party!

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

“Hoo Hoo”

WHO? Who is lucky? That would be ME?

I was so happy to be one of the winners of the Mother’s Day giveaway at Folk Art and Primitives.

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Isn’t this owl the cutest from Popple River Primitives?

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Her Etsy store is HERE and she has such cute creations.

I also won this beautiful pillow from Kim, Valley Primitives.

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Her Etsy shop is HERE and I ordered this pretty candle mat from her shop, too.

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Everyone is happy with some new items on the baker’s rack.

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Especially lucky ME?

Thanks ladies!

Do you love Etsy as much as I do?

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

The Backroads of America “Russell Stover’s”

We took a drive to visit 2 Florida State Parks we had never been to before.

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Imagine our surprise when the road between the 2 Parks had a Russell Stover’s Candy Factory!

We had heard about it years ago but then forgot about it.

So we pulled in to enjoy the air conditioning and the wonderful smells of deep dark chocolate!

There was a big section just for sugar free candy. I don’t eat sugar at all and I limit artificial sweeteners but who can resist THIS?!!!

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I was in candy heaven.

I even found a little Honey Bear, Brownie to come home with me.

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So what’s in the bag?

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And a few days ago, I went to my favorite thrift store. (my first trip out on my own after getting hurt and staying inside for over a week. I got my hair cut and went to the thrift store. lol)

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I was hoping to find a ‘new’ tea cup but found a Bambi coffee mug instead. It’s ‘made in Japan’ and has the prettiest blue inside. I fell in love with it!

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It’s so nice to feel so much better and get out in the real world again. You’ll always see something interesting traveling the backroads of Florida!

I’m joining the Vintage Inspiration Link party HERE,

and Roses of Inspiration.

Monday, May 18, 2015

‘The Surfman’ for Mosaic Monday

Looking out at the Atlantic Ocean from Canaveral National Seashore, you can be assured of seeing some beautiful scenes.

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But this was a first for me.

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I called him the ‘surfman’.

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He came from the South and rode the waves,

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paddling for all he was worth…

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to arrive in front of me.

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It was amazing to watch him and of course, if you know me, you know that I talked to him when he came out. He said it was a sport lots of people did right up into their 80s.

Hmmmm…I’m not that ‘old’ but I think I would have needed to start before now! lol

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These photos were taken a couple of weeks ago

at Canaveral National Seashore.

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday and

Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday

and Amaze me Monday.