Our Beautiful World

Sometimes I compose a post in my mind but then when I sit down to write, it doesn't seem quite right....it doesn't seem like enough! We are all learning and adjusting as time goes by and I do think it has brought us all closer together....as citizens of the world.

Most days, I find lots to do and stay very busy.

And on the days I can get outside and hike, I feel wonderful.

I'm grateful for my good health, a beautiful place to live, nice weather and a trail to hike on near my home (and a sweet hiking buddy to go with!). 

And this week, my blog buddy Sheri from Red Rose Alley even sent me a lavender rose. I put it in my sidebar Sheri! Thank you SO much for thinking of me!

I received this in my inbox from Hospice this week. I am a patient visitor for Legacy House and we are not able to do our visits at this time. One of the many things 'on hold' now.

How are you doing this week? Want to share something you are thankful for in the comments?

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

How about a trip to the 'hog waller'?

You don't have to be Southern to walk with me to the hog waller! And I'll tell you why....there weren't any wild hogs there so we can relax and enjoy the trip! And if you want to call it a 'wallow' I won't hold it against you. I looked up the definition of hog wallow, "The shallow depression denuded of vegetation and potentially muddy, created by the wallowing of hogs." Sounds a lot like a hog waller! hahahaha!

The first time we hiked this side trail we found a mud bog with hog prints and hog 'wallers' so that's what we named it.

Most of the time, you can't get down this trail because the grass is grown up or the sand is too soft to walk on. But it was perfect a few days ago.

Imagine our surprise to see such a pretty sight! 

It looked more like a tropical garden that a hog waller.

A few more sights along the way!

Isn't this the most perfect tree you've ever seen?

And I love this big ole bumble bee!

Have you seen anything out of the ordinary this week, or that has surprised you?

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Pretty Pickerel Weed and Musical Meadowlarks!

Say that 10 times in a row real fast! hahaha!

But even though we can't get out as much as we want, we drive out to the Preserve a couple of times a week to take a hike and take photos. 

It's such a beautiful time of year....

and the weather has been fabulous!

The Pickerel Weed is in full bloom now.

It grows in the wet marsh and has spread all across the preserve.

Right along the trail, we spotted an Eastern Meadowlark.

It was perched on the top of a weed and stayed there for the 'photo shoot'.

And then finally it took a look right at me....

and said, do you think you have enough photos now?

Another Meadowlark flew by and they went off together and lived happily ever after! lol

I hope you have a place to experience nature or a nice view from your windows. It's been hard staying in so much....I know! How are you doing?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

Take a Walk in the Woods with me!

I know we have to stay home more and I know most of our hiking trails are closed but I know where we can get out in the woods nearby! 

So let's go and see what we can see!

I was walking along the trail and saw movement in a tree! 

I think it may be a Dwarf Huckleberry.

And what I DO know for sure is that it was active with bees and butterflies!

Isn't this Zebra Swallowtail gorgeous?

I had such fun trying to get a few good photos!

I also saw one Butterfly weed...

and one Day Flower.

Lots of cactus in bloom right now too! They love the warm temps and sandy soil that we have here in Florida.

I saw one big bunny rabbit but I didn't get a photo of him... 

just this bunny cloud! lol

Are you seeing flowering trees in your area now too? How are you doing this week? We are fine and for that I am very thankful.

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

Let's BAKE!!!

It seemed like the perfect time to get out my old cookbooks and BAKE! I had to wait on flour first but it was worth it!

(would one of my 4 sons like to confess to coloring the cover of this cookbook with crayons? Email me, or TEXT! lol)

I use King Arthur flour and it's high quality...'wheat flour grown and milled in the United States'! YAY! If you can't find it in your stores, you can order it online. A link to their website is HERE!

They have all kinds of tips and recipes too! Tried and true recipes like the ones I use from my own collection.

When my boys were growing up in the '70s I baked all of our bread. And I baked with whole wheat flour. They had a friend say once that we ate everything whole wheat. We even had whole wheat water! hahaha! We still laugh about that! But we were an active family and stayed healthy!

Bread is not low calorie and homemade bread is even harder to resist so be balanced about it! Exercise to maintain your weight and be sensible with what (and how much) you eat. My weight stays the same now but my husband actually has the problem of being underweight and needs to gain weight. 

So when you bake, enjoy it fresh out of the oven but freeze some for later and share with others. 

The first recipe I made was French bread. It's just a basic French bread recipe that you can find online. (not many ingredients needed to make this bread)

My hubby cut some in cubes and made croutons for our salads. That was amazing!

Then I made Hamburger buns!

Yes my kids grew up eating home made whole wheat hamburger buns! 

'Burger Buns

 1 pkg yeast

1/2 cup warm water

1/2 cup warm milk

1 tbsp. sugar

1/2 tsp. salt

3 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup white flour

1 egg

2 tbsp soft shortening

After you mix ingredients together and knead, place in greased bowl. Cover and let rise for 1 hour. Punch dough down and let rest 10 minutes. Shape dough into 12 balls, place on greased baking sheet and flatten slightly.

Cover and let rise for 30 minutes.

Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees.

(as you can see, I made a few changes to the recipe)

And oh my, they are delicious! 

Comfort food! What can I say! 

But when life gives you lemons....

(the very first mask I made, don't ask....!!!!
I've made several since this first disaster with success!)

BAKE BREAD!!!

And stay safe and healthy!

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Who Cooks for Youuuuu!

Yes, there's been plenty of cooking here at home lately! But more exciting than that was this Barred Owl that we saw on a hike. 

Most of our trails are closed and we are not going out as much anyway.

But this particular day, it was too beautiful to stay inside. We only saw one other person and he was finishing up his hike and we spoke from a distance. (hollered is more like it!)

Isn't this Barred Owl a beauty?

This is actually the first photo hubby took. Doesn't it look like it's looking down at us wondering what kind of critter WE are!

And it stayed on this branch long enough for a few good photos.

We are looking into the trees where it was dark and I changed the setting on my camera.

But some of the photos still look more brown than he was.

It was amazing though and we were both excited to see something so beautiful! 

At least there weren't a lot of limbs between him and us.

He's in the center of this photo!

Well, until he flew! Hubby got this one....

and I took this one with my camera!

Hubby thinks it's funny to take one of me....taking photos!

I hope you've had a chance to get out and walk some. I definitely see more people walking in my neighborhood than I ever see on a hiking trail. I'll sure be happy when they open them back up.

Live Oak Tree

How are you doing this week? I hope you are staying safe and healthy!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.