Thursday, November 8, 2018

Being thankful for the little things!

It’s been wonderful to have a blog to share my life and I am surrounded by blog buddies that are kind and caring…..

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and thankful! (don’t worry, that’s NOT snow, it’s SAND!)

I hiked at Halapata Tastanaki Preserve a few days ago (again) and tried to keep my hike at about 1 hour.

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We had plans for a longer hike the next day so I didn’t want to over do it.

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So when I drove by Ross Prairie State Park…

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I couldn’t resist pulling in for a ‘short hike’ there too.

And look what I found!

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A painted rock! Isn’t it pretty?

According to Ocala Style Magazine

“If you find a rock, you can keep it or give it away—immediately or whenever the mood strikes.”

“Once you put your rocks out there, you don’t own them anymore,” says Cindy Lynn, who routinely keeps a painted rock in her pocket so she always has one to leave.

“We really just want to spread joy and inspire creativity. It’s a way of paying it forward, giving freely without the expectation of anything in return,” she adds. “You’re randomly leaving something for someone else to find and make their day.”

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I took a photo of it and then walked down the trail and left it there.

So I was glad I made that extra stop, something unexpected to smile about!

But when I saw this tree in the forest…..

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I thought it was time to make like a tree and leaf! hahahaha

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays.

36 comments:

Sandy said...

Oh my goodness that tree! That is hilarious.

eileeninmd said...

Hello, wonderful collection of natures scenes and images from your walk. The butterfly is beautiful. It is nice finding the pretty painted rock. Happy Thursday, enjoy your day! Have a great weekend!

Anonymous said...

now that's a happy happenstance lol,, wow!

Jeanie said...

They are predicting one to three inches of snow this week in my world. We are not amused. Love the rocks.

Linda @ A La Carte said...

Such wonderful places to hike. I love that you left the rock for someone else to find! Hugs!

Out on the prairie said...

Lovely treasures and thoughts. the first time I found a rock I wondered if a child may have dropped it.Later down the trail I found more and felt the purpose more to share.

Linda said...

That tree is amazing! Scary!
I painted rocks long years ago back before this recent development of leaving them places. I gave them as paperweight gifts and used flat stones to paint like the recipient’s home.
On our recent Sibling Trip, my sister found a necklace with beads and a cross hung on the hook in a public bathroom stall along with a little note saying she was meant to find this and it was a reminder that God loves her. It instructed her to keep it or give it away and she gave it to our Andie girl. In these tense times in our nation, a small kindness like the rocks or necklaces go a long way in promoting peace and love.

Silver in AZ said...

There is a Facebook group in Gilbert, AZ, that paints rocks to put in public places to be found and then re-hid (after taking a photo and posting it to their page. The info is glued to the back of each rock.) I think it's so awesome, and plan to join in the fun when we move to AZ next year. :)

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

Wow, the tree is quite foreboding looking! I love the rocks we find around and the one you found. Spreading kindness takes many forms, doesn't it? ♥

MadSnapper said...

glad you decided to leaf after you saw that spooky tree. looks like it is alive to me... beautiful place to hike and I love those moss draped trees

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...


What a beautiful walk, Diane! I have been painting rocks with my oldest granddaughter to scatter around. It's fun to make them and to find others!

Tom said...

...you can find the neatest things if you slow down and look!

Ann said...

What a nice place for a walk and a nice surprise finding that rock. When I find them here I usually just take a picture of it and then leave it for someone else to find.
That tree is pretty creepy looking. I would have high tailed it out there too :)

Meditations in Motion said...

Beautiful pictures of your hike! I miss the butterflies. Sadly, they are all gone for now where I live (PA). Those painted rocks are so much fun. My grandson found one once, and he was thrilled!

Lea said...

A Halloween tree!
Pretty butterfly! And the butterfly rock is cute.
I keep saying I am going to do a few painted rocks, but haven't yet. I have no artistic talent, but surely I can paint one with spots like a ladybug

Vee said...

Oh my! That tree! Glad that it was early in the day. Will you be painting some rocks?

Jeanna said...

That's a talking Wizard of Oz tree if I ever saw one and it's definitely watching you, LD.
I think an hour is a perfect amount of time for a walk and I doubt I could make that unless I piece together all the times when I pull over and venture off to take photos.
Love the painted rocks, tried to get my mother interested in it and the last time I was looking for good rocks to paint winds from a closeby tornado picked up my glasses and blew them away. A story for another day.

BeachGypsy said...

So cool my friend!---you found one of the rocks! I found one last spring I think it was, I did post a picture of it on the blog. Then about a month or so later we had granddaughter at the park and lo and behold, she came running with one she found too! I photographed mine and put it back for someone else, and granddaughter loved hers and kept it! Just such a fun fun thing to do, we paint them and leave them but I'm not part of any group that posts where the rocks are placed/found or anything, it's just something I love to do, and i taught it to granddaughter, she LOVES LEAVING THEM around the city! At first she didn't understand "why?" but I taught her it's just for the joy of giving something to someone else and not expecting anything in return. She accepted that and now loves it. Love your hike pictures--such gorgeous scenery!! That tree does look scary though, doesn't it?? LOl

Terri D said...

That tree looks like it is looking at us!! Hahaha. Good Halloween tree, indeed! Your photos are always bright and beautiful and uplifting! Love Florida!!

happyone said...

Oh how neat to find that stone. I think I will make one and leave it somewhere along my walk.
Your last line made me smile. : )
Nice to hear you are still out hiking! : )
What a beautiful butterfly.

Michelle said...

Love seeing your photos! Nice to see the sand, but snow is on our way for Monday night :( Thanks for linking up today!

Cherdecor said...

Tonight I enjoyed reading your latest posts and pictures of your hikes. That tree takes the prize for the best Halloween costume.

ann said...

You had a great day, including Freaky Tree. Love he butterfly , too. Is it a queen? Great statement on rocks. Thanks for taking us along.

Cranberry Morning said...

I have been walking every day also and just love getting out there. But now winter is starting to set in. I think I'm starting to panic. It's not the cold so much, but wind and then when we start to get ice and snow on the roads. Wausau Wisconsin also does the painted rock thing. It's so much fun and is a great idea!

acorn hollow said...

It always makes me feel good to move around and hike. Cute stone.
Cathy

Julie's Creative Lifestyle said...

Hi Diane, I love going on those walks with you. How exciting to find the rock and then leave it in another spot for someone else.
I hope you don’t do these hikes alone and have your husband or a friend with you.
Thanks for your visit and the wishes. It’s because of blog friends like you that I continue to blog.
Have a nice weekend
Julie

Connie said...

Oh my goodness, how would you like being lost in that woods at night and coming upon that tree. Can anyone say, "Heart Attack".

It's me said...

What a beautiful place ....lovely weekend love Ria x 💕

Red Rose Alley said...

I think that rock was just for you, Diane. And that tree!! That is the most unusual looking tree I've seen. I often wonder how these trees grow like that. The butterfly is so delicate, and even the wildflowers are lovely.

Have a restful weekend, Diane.

love, ~Sheri

ps....thanks for sharing the info. on the rocks, cause I see them around here now and then. It's so nice when people leave them. : )

QUILTING IS BLISSFUL, DI said...

I think the rock thing is a good thing--
and I would of wanted out of the wood if I had seen that tree too! but what a photo find really--neat tree--
and here today--that is snow--yep--we got snow already today--nothing stuck here in the valley--but up on the hills they got a couple inches---I am soooo ready to come back to Fl I like your kind of 'snow' sooo much better--
enjoy, di

Lois said...

Beautiful photos! I have found painted rocks several times. I try to rehide them, but I have kept some of the more beautiful ones. That tree in your last photo is a little creepy!

Linda Walker said...

lol! Love the last line!! The painted rock is a nice idea! Easy way to make someone's day!

Lowcarb team member said...

I love painted rocks.
As for that tree, I think it's great!

All the best Jan

Angie said...

You were meant to find that rock, and 'leaf' it for someone else!

EL RINCON DE CHELO said...

Preciosas fotografías

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

i've found a couple of rocks and like you left them -- wish I'd thought to take a picture ... what a good idea that is. Love this walk as always and espcially that last spooky picture!