What does a squirrel have in common with a horse?

 

I wish I could come up with something clever but in truth all I can think of was the fact that they were both at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve on days I couldn't hike! HA! 

I've had a lot of those this summer. It's really been too hot to hike but my reason for observing wildlife from the comfort of the Jeep is a prickly heat rash. 

It's the first one I've ever had but it was stubborn.

So I've taken a few drives out to the preserve just to observe!

I actually had something exciting happen the first time I went out there in the mid afternoon. I took my coffee drink and a snack and pulled over into a shady spot to enjoy it. I had it all out in my lap when I saw movement in a tree across the way. I almost dumped everything in the floor I got so excited.

I witnessed a Fox Squirrel building a nest. It kept going out to the end of a branch to gather Spanish moss, and back down to the nest to 'feather' his nest. I didn't get any great photos but I sure enjoyed watching him.

And then on another day, John and I  drove out to the preserve to watch the horses in the field.

This one horse came out from behind the tree, walked a few steps, stopped to pose and then went on across the field. I had just enough time for a couple of photos but that's all I needed.

Thank you Mr. Horse!

Another beauty in the field!

It sure was a beautiful day for a drive 'off road' in the Jeep.

Sometimes you have to be happy with plan B. 

I think I had a plan B summer! 

Has that ever happened to you?

Love, Diane

John from John's Island wrote me a poem this morning!

A squirrel gathered moss on high,
a horse posed proudly beneath the sky;
though summer changed the plans for you,
nature made magic from Plan B, too.
Sometimes when hiking has to wait,
a Jeep-side view can still be great!

Thank you John! This has made my day! Hugs! 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

Once Upon a Time....

Once upon a time there was a prince who wanted to marry a princess, but she would have to be a real princess. He travelled all over the world to find one, but nowhere could he get what he wanted. There were princesses enough but it was difficult to find out whether they were real ones.

"The Princess and the Pea" byHans Christian Andersen

Did you ever imagine yourself in a fairy tale? I have actually written a few fairy tales over the years and should take them out and dust them off. Of course I should shake up my creative juices and write or sketch or paint or draw. But I think the time will come when I feel artistic or creative and in the meantime, I will write! I will BLOG! And that makes me happy.

And driving out to Halpata Tastanaki Preserve makes me incredibly happy and I always find something to blog about.

So how did the white horse turn into a unicorn in my imagination? 

I saved an image of a horn and then added it to my horse photo in Photoscape. Easy peasy!

I got to hear 'the rest of the story' from the trainer of these two beautiful horses. The dark horse BIT the white horse. Or as the trainer said, 'SHE BIT HIM!' So she had her hands full trying to get control of these two fairy tale creatures.

Have you enjoyed any fairy tales this week? Maybe we should all pull out our story books and spend some time in fairyland!

Sorry about the background color on my text. 

Sometimes creating a blog post is even a creative challenge! hahaha! 

AND the winner of my blog anniversary giveaway is Jeanie from The Marmalade Gypsy. I'm sending you a gift certificate for something fun on Amazon. She and I started our friendship because of our love of books and continued because of our love of LIFE! Thanks Jeanie for adding so much joy to my life over the years. We've shared our love of life AND blogging! 

Love, Diane 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

Sing, sing a song

 Sing, sing a song, sing out loud, sing out strong

Sing of good things not bad, sing of happy not sad

This was a song made popular by the Carpenters in the early '70s.

Sing, sing a song, make it simple to last your whole life long,

Don't worry that it's not good enough for anyone else to hear

just sing, sing a song

The Eastern Meadowlark sings his heart out from the tops of the trees! 

And it always lightens your mood and brings joy to your heart!

Do you include music into your every day life? I lived in a house that was perfectly quiet for almost a year and then someone had to remind me to listen to music. What a difference it has made in my life. I started off listening to old country songs and then I added Christian music to the mix. I cry and laugh and sometimes I dance. I can't sing so I try not to burst into song! hahaha! Thanks John for reminding me to enjoy music again after so long. 💜

I'll include a link to the song below (if it works) or look it up on YouTube.

Sing Sing a Song

It's my 18 year blog anniversary. 

I'm having a Giveaway HERE if you would like to enter! 

Love, Diane 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

Why do I blog?

18 years ago I started  'Lavender Dreams blog'.

18 years! When I think of this journey and what it has meant, I feel very sobered and very honored that so many of you started this journey with me and continued on for 18 years. 

And then there are those of you that have just started following my blog this past year. Many of you knew I needed my blog friends these past 12 months, both old and new.

Of course we can go back and look at comments and see how many are not with us any more for one reason or another. But every single person makes an impact. I've shared happy times and sad in the past 18 years. And we have prayed. We've cared and supported each other through it all. And for that I am humbled and very very thankful.

I was encouraged to start my blog by my childhood friend, Lila. And she continues to be an inspiration to me. Thank you Lila! What a difference you've made in my life. I remember telling you I was going to keep my blog private, just share it with a few family and friends. You suggested I open it up to the public. And oh my, what a difference that has made in my life.

Now I have over 1500 followers, over the years I've had close to 100,000 comments and I don't know how many posts I've written or photos I've shared. But it has made my life so much richer. YOU have made my life so much happier! I ended my first post with a promise to Kaila (my friend from the Middleton doll forum who is no longer with us).

"I promise not to post scary BUG pictures, Kaila."

I'll have to admit to breaking that promise. But she would understand and she would love it! 

This is a Robber Fly anyway, so it doesn't count! haha

I had a little drama a few years ago when my blog was shut down HERE and I want to thank my loyal friends who stuck with me during that fiasco. 

I'm going to send a little thank you gift to one of you. Just leave a sweet comment or even a happy face to be entered. I wish I could send you all something special but consider yourself HUGGED and LOVED and so very appreciated.

Thank you for spending time with me on my blog. Thank you for being my blog buddy. Thank you for praying for me.

Thank you for sharing your lives with me for 18 years! 

God bless you all!

Love, Diane 🐝