High in the Sky!

I went to the library and stopped at the library pond to see if any birds were nearby. 

But my best sighting was when I got home, White Ibis flying over my head! 

I was still in my driveway but I had my camera with me so I took a few pics.

We've seen a juvenile lately and he is still with his family!

And I love these two together!

This is a Black Vulture.

If a Vulture can be beautiful...he IS!!!

 And last night I walked outside and saw the most beautiful cloud formations! 

So beautiful....HOT but beautiful! lol

I hope your week is filled with wonder and beautiful things too!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays .

"Happy Memorial Day"

I have lots of photos from recent hikes so I put together a couple of mosaics to share what I've seen on the last two!

(Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly)

Hike #71

I hope everyone is having a beautiful Memorial day and taking time to be thankful for the sacrifices made to keep us free! I'll be spending time visiting the patients at the Legacy Hospice House today. I always feel humbled when I spend the day with those that are at the end of their lives. Let's all be compassionate and pray for one another.

Hike #72

*God Bless America*

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE .

 

 

Red-Tailed Hawk and Kites

We have a Red-Tailed Hawk perching on the tall pine tree behind our house right now.

He's in a spot where he can look down the golf course.

Not sure he's looking for the best shot though, probably something more natural, like his next meal.

Maybe he's just enjoying the sunshine!

 And we see a lot of Swallow-Tailed Kites here right now too.

So when I went to Sholom Park, I wasn't surprised to see them. 

What I didn't expect to see was Mississippi Kites in the same area.

They are really beautiful too.

And speaking of acting naturally....

I think these 2 are making babies.

Just saying! lol

Have a wonderful holiday weekend! Get outside and have some FUN! We'll be in the upper 90s every day so I'll have to get out early if I get to hike at all!

Do you have special plans?



Click on the short video above to see the Mississippi Kites!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE 

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

Blue, Silver, Blue, Silver

I wore my new cap for the first time on Hike #70 at the Pruitt Trailhead of the Florida Trails.  Look at that bright blue sky!

This photo shows how 'color coordinated I am now! heehee! Blue cap, silver hair, blue shirt, silver capris! Everything nice and lightweight and COOL! 

And we had one of the neatest wildlife encounters.

We 'froze' on the trail when we spotted a deer close by.

He saw us too but didn't seem spooked at all.

He was grazing and this photo shows his tongue! 

We went to a turn around on the trail and made a loop by getting onto another trail and even saw him again through the brush. It was amazing.

I've seen a few deer this past week and one even snorted at me one day. But they were always on the run and my photos looked like pretty pics of the trees! lol

We don't get to hike as often in the summer months but we'll be looking for some cooler mornings to get out early when we can. Florida gets hot and it doesn't cool down much overnight either. I hiked 5 times last week taking advantage of good weather. Good weather = Less hot!

Click on the short video above.

I'm thankful to live in a beautiful place with so many wonderful hiking trails nearby.

What are you thankful for this week?

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays .

for the love of hiking.....

I love hiking! 

 Oh, I've mentioned this before? teehee!

Every time I go, I see something amazing!

Have you ever seen a mushroom as beautiful as this one?

The photo is 'straight out of the camera'! It really WAS this color! And right along the trail where I could see it up close! It was about the size of a saucer too!

And when we went on a 'Mother's Day Hike, we saw a Yucca in full bloom!

That was an beautiful sight!

Someone on a bicycle told us to look for it on the trail ahead! I see a lot of the same people since I hike the Florida Trails so often.

I'm not sure they will recognize me the next time I hike though!

I got a new cap from one of my sons. He said it would match my shirt! (I have 2 Columbia hiking shirts, one is more green and one more blue...I think I need a PINK one, don't you?)

 Look who it came to...Hiker Mom!

Have you had a chance to get outside and walk this week?

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE .

Baby Birds, how we love them!

It's been fun to see so many babies lately. We've taken morning hikes at the Florida Trails and there have been lots of birds to see and photograph. This looks like a young one, all fuzzy on his head! (hike #67)

   Such a pretty woodpecker!

Downy Woodpecker

And 5 or 6 of these little ones greeted me on the Florida Trails another morning (hike #68). 

They were chattering like crazy in the bushes.

 But finally one of them flew into the tree to speak right to me! It looks like a Warbler but I'm not sure what kind! If you know, please let me know!

Update: thanks for your ideas on what he might be but when I looked at my Florida bird books and Sibley's, I still think it is a Warbler....a Pine Warbler. I heard him and he had more of a Warbler sound, he has faint yellow on his breast AND there are always lots of Pine Warblers and Palm Warblers on this section of the Florida Trails.  Maybe I'll get to see them again!

And on the days I don't hike, I usually walk down to the neighborhood pond. (this doesn't count as a hike! lol) 

 Imagine my surprise to see these precious little ones swimming together on the pond all bunched up!

Easy to see what they are when Mama Moorhen comes to collect them!

Wait up Mama....we're going as fast as we can!

 This duck walked right up to me while I was taking pics!

Do you have babies nesting near you? 

One of the nice things about Spring!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE 

 

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

Spring cleaning in 'spurts'!

If it's cool enough in the mornings, I like to go for a hike. But here lately I've had Spring fever!

I've been going 'room by room' and doing a little deep cleaning.  Nothing looks very different but it's nice to have everything in place and dusted.

I put all my cleaning supplies away each day so that I can start fresh each morning and not feel like I'm in the middle of a big chore. And of course I don't clean every day. 

It's more fun to hike or do my art or read or blog....or just about anything else! lol

I bought myself a gift for Mother's Day. I don't usually get a lot of presents and this year was no different so I 'treated' myself! I have good kids that I am very proud of so I'm happy with the flowers, phone calls and cards I get all year round! I am blessed!

I've wanted one of these little toys stoves and had the perfect place for it in my kitchen. But when it came, it was a little too big for that spot so I put it on this bookshelf for now.

 My roses were more beautiful each day as they opened up fully. And for those that wondered...I found out who sent them through a process of elimination.  When I talked to each son, I told them I got a wonderful 'early' gift and when they started 'guessing' what it was, it was pretty easy to cross them off the list, one by one! heehee!

Do you treat yourself with something special sometimes?

 Feels good, doesn't it?

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays .

Beautiful flowers!

'Someone' had some fun with me on Mother's Day! They sent me beautiful roses with a sweet note to have a wonderful Mother's day. And then they signed it, 'YOUR SON'! Tricky....with all the boys I have!

I've enjoyed them and every day they open wider and look more beautiful!

I also have bouquets from the knock out roses in my flower beds! 

 I haven't counted how many roses I have in vases but they are everywhere!

 I've never had so many at one time!!!

 I wanted to show a little of my 'art' today too. 

 I'm still painting and sketching some every day.

 I arranged them in little 'mosaics'!

 

I bought a sketchbook at the big store that starts with a W. And the paper is so much nicer to draw on.

I'm trying to branch out and do some scenes and quotes so I'll share them soon.

 (a sketch in progress)

Art is something I'm enjoying, more than I could have imagined. All the years I've 'created' things, this seems to come natural to me. And I keep everything ready on my desk so I can sit down at any time and draw or paint. Easy peasy! I've been inspired by so many of my blog friends. I won't try to mention them all here because I would be sure to forget someone. But I appreciate you ALL so much!

Hope you had a beautiful Mother's Day! I am blessed with sweet 'kids' and grandkids and love them all very much.

 Thanks to everyone that made my day special...including my sweet hubby! 💓

I’m joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE 

and Amaze me Monday HERE.