Florida Trails Hike # 75 and #76!

We’ll finish out the year with two hikes in one day!

I don’t really do that in ‘real life’ but I want to keep this series moving!

The highlight of Hike #75 was seeing an Eagle!

It’s an immature Eagle so it’s not quite as easy to identify! But thrilling no less!

Hike #76 was beautiful!

The trail looked great!

The sky had some pretty wispy clouds,

and there were lots of birds to photograph.

Cardinal, Tufted Titmouse, Bluebird, Red-Bellied Woodpecker.

So we’ll finish the year with 2 hikes!

But don’t worry, we’ll start again ‘next year’ 2019!

Can you believe it?

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE.

Hiking the Florida Trail, all 1300 miles of it!

Don’t worry…we’re NOT going to do that! But when we got to the bridge on the Blue Run Park trail in Dunnellon on Hike # 74 we met a man that was doing just that!

How amazing is that! It will take him about 3 months to hike the over 1300 miles!

It is officially called The Florida National Scenic Trail and you can visit the link HERE to learn more about it!

I love maps, don’t you?

Red shouldered Hawk

Most of the trails I hike on are a part of this Scenic Florida trail system. But of course we just hike for a couple of miles and then turn around and go home! heehee!

A second hawk

But it sure was interesting to meet a man that was hiking the WHOLE thing from Big Cypress National Preserve in the south to Gulf Islands National Seashore in the western end of Florida’s panhandle.

Anhinga

We saw a lot of beautiful sights on this hike.

White Ibis

Moorhen

But the highlight was meeting the Florida Trails hiker!

I wonder where he is right now….

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

*Merry Christmas from Florida*

I hope your day is filled with happiness and all of the things that make this day special to you!

I made some postcards to share.

And grabbed a few from the archives!

Even a Christmas ball I saw in the forest a few years ago. I looked up in a evergreen tree….

and there it was!

    I’m so thankful for all of you and wish you a very Merry Christmas. 

I’ll even share  a pic of me in my Christmas PJs.

(I probably shouldn’t go hiking in these! heehee)

Be sure to check your Hallmark channel today. We are watching a beautiful fireplace scene with cute critters and Christmas music in the background. It’s fun to have on all day long!

Have a joyous and blessed day!

Your blog buddy, Diane

Christmas Mosaics

I love making mosaics, especially for the holidays.

It’s a fun way to share LOTS of photos.

Christmas lights,

holiday dollies,

even Poinsettias that grow in the flower beds here in Florida.

I made one more little pinecone ornament to show off!

Are you still holiday crafting?

Keep walking so that we can go on a hike again soon!

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE.

Christmas Critters in Florida!

We really do live in a beautiful community where people love to decorate for Christmas.

A few years ago, I noticed this lovely home just down the street from us had extra special decorations.

They looked so fresh and lively!

WHAT! It may be because they ARE alive!

I spotted a Great White Egret among the decorations.

And followed it from house to house.

It is a regular visitor in our neighborhood so it wasn’t frightened off easily.

But I think it saw something better on the other side of the road! heehee!

So it FLEW!

I hope you’re have a beautiful holiday season!

I’m still hiking and I’ll take you along soon!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

*Letters to Santa*

Have you written one yet? It’s not too late you know!

My blog buddy Jeanie from The Marmelade Gypsy and I are getting our letters ready.

We’ve both been very very good this year! heehee!

I got out the altered books that I started last year to find my letter writing supplies!

Isn’t it a fun time of year to be a crafter?

This is another little book I made.

And some of the pages inside!

I cut old wrapping paper and print out music, make tags and add recipe cards!

Just something pretty I stamped. First I stamped it with black ink, let it dry and then stamped it again with silver. Isn’t that neat?

Have you made anything special this year?

I like making books and adding to them every year!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays.

Hike #73 The Downy Woodpecker

This little Downy Woodpecker stole the show on this hike!

 

He just kept jumping from one limb to another

but always in view of the camera.

So I stood still and kept shooting!

I saw lots of Warblers

and Bluebirds too.

I always say, Bluebirds of Happiness when I see them!

Do you know what this odd looking pod is in the tree? It’s almost as big as a golf ball and appears to be growing on a tree, not on a vine. I’ve searched online but can’t figure it out.

It was a warm day with hardly any wind…

perfect for the bikes I saw!

There are paved bike trails and mountain biking trails at the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway.

Do you think we should take our bikes and ride one day?