Monday, November 29, 2021

Johnson Pond Trailhead in the Withlacoochee State Forest


 We kept waiting for a cooler day with big puffy clouds! It had to be both!


It's a nice hike to Johnson Pond but there are mosquitoes in this area so you need to be able to wear a shirt with sleeves! 


And the big poofy clouds are necessary for pretty reflections in the pond!


On Thanksgiving Day, we had the perfect conditions!


We've had the big family dinners in the past (and I'm so thankful for all of my memories) but it's nice to start new traditions too.


And living in Florida provides some beautiful weather for the Fall and Winter months.

I hope you have a good week ahead. Let's all keep counting our blessings and being thankful for what we have.


I've saved my most favorite photo for last....


the lily pads!

And now to add to my FUN! 

Tom from The Backroads Traveller sent me a special gift this year! A beautiful Christmas wreath!


I wish you could see it and smell the evergreen scent! It's incredible! We hung it on the Jeep just for a photo op! It's back on the front door now! 


Thank you, Tom! You've made my holiday season even more beautiful! I owe you a ride in the Jeep! 🚗

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too! 


38 comments:

Creations By Cindy said...

Love all the beautiful pictures. Oh girl...that beautiful wreath really is pretty and looks so adorable on your jeep! Who wouldn't want to sport that cute jeep around...especially at Christmas! Happy Week to you. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

Tom said...

...Johnson Pond looks like my kind of place, but I'm not a fan of mosquitoes! I'm glad that you enjoyed the wreath.

Caroline said...

Beautiful photos. How warm is it in your country ? Here 6 degrees at the moment.

Salty Pumpkin Studio said...

The scent of a fresh wreath is fantastic!

Gillena Cox said...

OMG! what an adorable wreath.
Have a good week Dianne.
Thanks for dropping by and linking to Mobday WRites

Much💜love

Carol @Comfort Spring Station said...

Love the pond and reflections. Your mosaics are lovely too. How nice of Tom to send you a beautiful wreath!

MadSnapper said...

fantastic wreathe and I think I smell it.. love the collage, i have not touched that app, can't remember the name in months... forgot i had it. life is slapping me down. love thedecor on the jeep

Olde Dame Holly said...

What a gorgeous wreath! Nothing can beat the sight of a fragrant, beautiful wreath on your door! The lilypads look big! So pretty.

Jeanie said...

You definitely were rocking the day and it sounds terrific in every way! I love it all -- and that wreath! Oh, my! It's just beautiful and what a wonderful, thoughtful gift. Happy week to you, Diane. I hope those puffy clouds stick around awhile -- they're gorgeous!

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

I love what you said about TG memories and also making new traditions now -- we share the sentiment!!! Beautiful post -- the jeep and wreath look like a perfect Christmas card photo ))! Oh also know exactly what you mean about Florida's big puffy clouds and the reflections. Love your walk!!

Terri D said...

That is a beautiful wreath! I laughingly tell people that we know when Fall has come in Florida because the lilypads change colors! That is a great photo that says exactly that!! xo

gluten Free A_Z Blog said...

I enjoyed all of your photos and agree that the lily pond photo is the best. I love the smell of evergreen and like the berries on your wreath. Glad you enjoyed Thanksgiving

Lowcarb team member said...

So lovely seeing all of your photographs.
That is a lovely wreath from Tom.

Enjoy the week ahead.

All the best Jan

Connie said...

I love, love, love water lilies . . . not the greenhouse high-bred kind but the wild and wonderful kind. Thanks for sharing. Gorgeous wreath!

Cloudia said...

Wow! Thanks for sharing!

Ann said...

Love the clouds and the reflections. That wreath is beautiful and it looks really cute on the front of your jeep.

happyone said...

Beautiful photos. I think a Thanksgiving Day hike is a great idea!!
Tom's wreaths are beautiful. I love mine too. :)

The Joy of Home with Martha Ellen said...

You have a lovely friend to send you such a beautiful wreath! Your last photo looks like a famous painting! So lovely as are the puffy clouds against the blue sky. Have a nice week.

Conniecrafter said...

Autumn looks great there and the Pond looks like a fun place to go visit, I love reflections in the water, the clouds look neat. I like the turn of the colors on the lily pads!
Have a great week!

Lorrie said...

The lilypads are so pretty! Great photo. What fun to have a wreath to decorate your Jeep. Very festive.

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

Beautiful captures of the sky, clouds and the reflections. The hike to the pond looks nice. We had a quiet Thanksgiving, a hike was a good idea. Your wreath is lovely, what a nice gift. Take care, enjoy your day and week ahead.

Hootin Anni said...

You and Karen are a couple of the privileged few who received the beautiful gift wreath from TomthatI know of!
And such a glorious area to hike. Loving the lilies!!

David M. Gascoigne, said...

Some terrific photographs here.

Teresa said...

Me alegra que pasaras un bonito día. La corona se ve muy bonita. Besos.

Edna B said...

Your wreath is gorgeous! Your reflection photos are beautiful. Florida really is a beautiful place to live. You have a super day, hugs, Edna B.

Ricki Treleaven said...

Your jeep has made my morning, LOL! Too cute. BTW I love reflective photos like yours. Several of my artist friends have painted landscapes with water reflections, and they are always so pretty.

Rain said...

Tom is such a nice person! I LOVE that you hung your wreath on the Jeep!!! :) Beautiful photos, love the puffy clouds!!! :)

Vee said...

That's a beautiful wreath. You are blessed. So you're saying you'd rather hike than have a big Thanksgiving dinner? I used to enjoy both.

SImple and Serene Living said...

Love your wreath. As I was walking past the garden center yesterday the smell of the trees and wreaths was wonderful. Have a great day. xo Laura

Julie's Creative Lifestyle said...

Wonderful scenery on your hikes Diane. How thoughtful to be gifted that wreath from your friend. I hope you have a nice week Diane.

Sandy said...

Awesome pictures, especially the one that was your favorite, but how did you do that? Agree on new traditions are nice. We did not do the big family gathering again this year for Thanksgiving. Too many people to be safely indoors together without everyone being vaccinated and too many who are out and about a lot...thus the risk factor is higher.

Sandy's Space

DeniseinVA said...

A lovely gift from Tom, such a sweet thing to do. It is a beautiful wreathe. Fun to see where you have been to. Happy to hear you had a nice Thanksgiving. We also are starting a new tradition from the huge family gatherings of years ago.

John's Island said...

Hi Lavender Dreamer! First of all, that is a really cool header. Nice work! I enjoy your photography and the way you take us along on your outings. Someday I hope you and hubby will visit Seattle and we can walk the waterfront trail. What a super nice gift you got from Tom. The wreath is a beauty! In your previous post, Storks have landed, lots of great bird photos! Thanks, as always, for sharing!

lesh Stgermain said...

Am always for new traditions. And we had had one, or rather, it was the first time in 7 years I cooked Thanksgiving dinner, because my daughters live in California, and we are now in Texas! Love your first view with so many lily pads, it looks like a page from a fairy tale book:)Emille (former: Jesh from the Jeshstudio)

Soma @ inkTorrents.com said...

The pond does look wonderful with the pretty reflections of the clouds. So great that you had such a lovely walk and took some wonderful photos. Evergreen scent is one of my favourites. Enjoy!

-Soma

Linda said...

Beautiful pond! I'm jealous that Tom sent you a wreath.

Angie said...

Diane - Sorry for the delay in commenting - I had to make an emergency visit to Ohio to visit my brother in the hospital.

I'm not sure - but is this a new header? Gorgeous! I love the very first picture of Johnson Pond - amazing composition! And what a terrific gift from Tom! I was just admiring the mosaic of wreaths on his MM post!

Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

Red Rose Alley said...

That is a very nice wreath. Simple with the evergreen and red berries. It looks good on your door, and a fun picture for the jeep! What a thoughtful gift.

~Sheri