My Best Week Ever!

We visited several of our 'favorite places' this past week!

 

And saw some beautiful sights but what was the best part? We had 'kids' and grandkids to share them with.

 

(Family pic taken at Rainbow Springs State Park)

The rest of these were taken at Homosassa Wildlife Park. 

 

The weather was fabulous and we packed a picnic lunch to spend the day at the park!

 

It was amazing to see manatees in the wild and then walk all through the park to see wildlife native to Florida.

Some manatees were more 'wild' than others! heehee!

 

It was a SUPER FUN week....but it went by way too fast.

How have YOU been? I can't wait to visit all of you and see what you've been up to.

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday and

Amaze Me Monday HERE .

Mending Fences

Miles and miles of wooden fences.

I took these through the windshield while we were going to Rainbow Springs a few days ago.

 

(hubby was driving this time)

 

Mending fences...someone has to do it!

 

Which do you prefer? The brown wood or white?

 

I'm joining Tex for the

Good Fences party.

February Flowers

I wanted to share more of the beautiful azaleas we saw at Rainbow Springs a few days ago.

 

The camellias are blooming like crazy too and I think one of these blooms is a red camellia.

We are 'out and about' this week having some extra special fun. I'll take tons of pics and share them with you SOON!

 

I put Spring flowers in the basket on my front door. 
(and used the Waterlogue app on my IPAD for the effects)

 I hope you have a fun filled week too!

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday and

Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday
and Thoughts on Home on Thursday HERE. 

Eagle Sighting "Time and Chance"

My husband and I both walked outside at the same time and when we looked up into the beautiful blue sky....

this is what we saw!

 

How fortunate to see a majestic eagle flying right over our house!

 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

 

I hope you have a beautiful day. 

Keep your eyes open, (and your camera handy)

you might just see something AMAZING!!!

Crockpot Corn Chowder

What a wonderful soup for the weekend.

 

Nana Diana featured this Corn Chowder on her blog HERE a couple of years ago and it's a favorite of ours now too.

 

I used this Applewood Smoked uncured bacon and it fried up crispy. I probably used a little more onion and a little less celery.

 

And I used red skinned potatoes but I followed the recipe pretty closely. (I thickened it at the end like she suggests.)

 

Even using this secret ingredient, Thyme!

Nana Diana's Easy Crockpot Corn Chowder

Ingredients:

1# bacon

2 large potatoes- baked in microwave until done.

2 cans Cream of Corn

1 can Niblets Corn

2 large celery stalks- I used one- chopped

1/2 cup chopped onion

4 to 6 cups of whole milk

1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon thyme

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
In Crockpot- Mix together 2 cans cream of corn and 1 can niblets corn.  Add milk.  Stir in Thyme and salt and pepper.  Stir in 3/4 pound of the bacon-reserve a couple pieces for garnish.

Meanwhile:  Bake 2 large potatoes until done.  Peel skin off and cut into bite sized chunks.

Saute: chopped celery and onion in 2-3 Tablespoons of bacon grease.  When translucent transfer then to the crockpot. Heat through on low and serve.  Makes 4 to 6 servings.
   
If you want a thicker chowder

take about 1/3 cup flour and mix with 1/2 cup milk until smooth.  Slowly stir into hot chowder and let cook until thickened.

Garnish top of bowl with a few bite sized pieces of bacon.

We crumbled some of the crispy bacon on top and shared a garlic bagel.

It's a wonderful meal for any kind of weather. Please keep Nana Diana and her sweet husband John in your prayers.

 Have a wonderful weekend!

I'm linking to Cooking and Crafting with J & J HERE and
 I'm joining Thoughts on Home on Thursday
hosted by some of my very favorite bloggers.

  I hope you'll join us HERE. 

  

Rainbow Springs State Park

I know with all the winter weather going on in the country right now, it's hard to believe this is what Rainbow Springs State Park looks like this week. February in Florida....I love it! We've had gorgeous weather with temps in the 70s this week.

 

And the azaleas are blooming.

 

I tend to take pics 'over' the fences but I stood back and made sure to get some fences in some of the shots!

 

White azaleas aren't usually my favorites, but aren't these blooms beautiful? I like RED, what's your favorite color?

 

I hope you have some pretty flowers to enjoy this week!

I'm joining Tex for the

Good Fences party.

White Elephant Sale

I love a big community sale. You never know what you'll find!

 

I walked over to the White Elephant sale last weekend that takes place in the Palm Grove Auditorium. And I found some goodies. 

 

One of my favorite finds was this wonderful Dinnertime Cookbook by Ree Drummond. I LOVE her Pioneer Woman series on TV, don't you? She is a sweet lady with a fun blog!

 

I also got a beautiful big piece of coral to put with my mermaid.

 

The other items are movies, wooden boats, a cream pitcher(for 50 cents!) and some old beaded button covers that look like a craft project to me! 

Have you been to a big sale like this lately? 

Any ideas for the button covers? 

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday and

Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday.

*Happy Valentines Day*

I hope your day is filled with love and happiness.

 

Do you visit Princess Sassy Pants HERE?

BJ at Sweet Nothings introduced me to this special lady and I go to her blog every day. Doesn't she have the sweetest art?

 

I'm closing comments today because....
 

 I love you!!!

horses...horses...horses!!!

We live in the 'horse capital of the world' and see horses and horse trailers every time we go out. There are horse farms between our house and our grocery store and the library. 

 

Doesn't this horse trailer look 'retro'? (and it stopped next to a fence just for good fences)

 

A smaller trailer had this on the front.

 

And this is a mailbox I spotted with a horse on top. They need to trim around it but I like it just the way it is.

I usually brag about the weather here in Florida but this week we've had some days in the 50s with WIND! It sure feels chilly! How's your weather?

I'm joining Tex for the

Good Fences party.

Wednesday Wee Ones "Valentines"

I dressed my dollie Noel in her pretty hearts outfit. It doesn't feel much like capri weather this week. I know it's colder North of here but for Florida, we think 50s with wind is mighty chilly.

 

Of course Holly wanted to join in on the fun photo shoot.

 

And as soon as I loaded the photo to my computer, I realized that she needed a Valentine in her hand too. (I'll fix that in a minute! lol)

 

I received a beautiful hand made Valentine from my friend Gina at With Twigs and Branches this week. The other two Valentines I have saved from other years. One is from Celestina Marie from Southern Day Dreams and another is from my friend Shelley at Living in Quite Abundance. Do you save Valentines that are special to you?

I made the little cowboy Valentines in the wagon.

Don't forget to take time to PLAY this week!

JoAnn has dollies to share today too! Visit her HERE! 

Shelley has a doll post HERE and 
Candy has one on her blog HERE! 
Thanks ladies! 
I'm joining Thoughts on Home on Thursday
hosted by some of my very favorite bloggers.
I hope you'll join us HERE....

   

Happy Valentines Day!

Let's play, What doesn't belong?

Remember the pages in puzzle books that showed similar objects and one that 'doesn't belong'?

I was so busy taking photos of all of the beautiful mushrooms and fungi in the forest last week that I didn't realize I had found one that 'doesn't belong'.

 

After all this one is a mushroom!

 

But this one is an orange or tangerine. Right at the base of a tree under some leaves. How funny is that!

 

I’m joining Beautiful Sunday and

Lavender Cottage for Mosaic Monday.

"Old Florida"

We call places like this "Old Florida" even though we appreciate the 'new' changes, like the beautiful bridge I'm standing on to take these photos.

 

(And for those that asked about alligators....skip to the end! haha!)

There are marshy areas around the Withlacoochee River bridge and lots of 'wildlife'.

 

These photos were taken last May. We didn't see any alligators the last time we went but I had gotten a few good photos then.

This is a small gator.

 

Not sure how 'small' this one is.

 

And how do you like old mossback? 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE.

North Central Florida is a wonderful place to live, with wildlife galore. You just have to respect the 'critters' that have made their home here much longer than we have and ENJOY the beauty that surrounds us.

Withlacoochee River Bridge

It sure is a beautiful hike to see the views off the Withlacoochee River Bridge.

 

But don't even think about jumping off! lol

 

Just look over the railing (or fence) to enjoy the view!

 

And enjoy your day, Florida style!

 

Come on DOWN!!!

 I'm joining Tex for the

Good Fences party.