A Good year for Hiking!

 It was such a difficult year for us all...

all over the world!

But we were fortunate to have good hiking trails to hike and unusually good weather this year. I feel blessed to have the good health to get outside and enjoy nature.

I wanted to choose a bird or critter from each month to highlight but I didn't realize how hard that would be. We see so many amazing sights here in Florida. 

Join me for hiking through the months of 2020!

January - River Otter at Blue Run Park

February - Bobcat at Blue Run Park

March - Eastern Coral Snake, Florida Trails

April - Fox Squirrel, Florida Trails West

May - Blue Grosbeak at Pruitt Trailhead (Halpata Tastanaki Preserve)

June - Bobolink flock, Halpata Tastanaki Preserve

July - Gopher Tortoise, Halpata Tastanaki Preserve

August - Bobwhite Pruitt trailhead, Florida Trails

September - American Redstart, Blue Run Park

October - Barred Owl, Florida Trails West

November - Barred Owl, Florida Trails West

December - Great Horned Owl, Halpata Tastanaki Preserve

How privileged we were to see so many owls this year! We even saw one early in the year too. 

We've ended the year with 157 hikes. 

Now let's keep going!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

We met our goal! 150 Hikes for this year!

 

We wanted to go to Blue Run Park for #150 and it was a beautiful day for a hike! I have an Apple watch that helps with the stats to add to my hiking journal. 

It was 70 degrees with 63 % humidity. Perfect!

But on the way over we passed this 'critter'. What is it? (think about it and get the answer in your head to add to the comments! because the answer is at the end of the post and you can't change it then! hahaha)

We always have quite a list for the hiking journal on this particular hike. I'll show a few of the critter sightings and let you hurry along!

Limpkin

Moorhen

Ibis

Little Blue Heron

Pileated Woodpecker

Alligator

and me!

 

Oh and the mystery critter? 

What did you guess? We see him every time we pass this way but today he came to the fence and there was no traffic on this little back road. 

He's a beautiful horse, isn't it? With such unusual markings!

What's your weather like this fine December morn?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’. 

Playing with Dolls

 I play with dolls....now I've said it! Are you happy now?

Well, it makes me happy and life is too short to spend it all doing chores! I've been keeping my house tidy these past few months. I can't stand to stay inside so much and have clutter.

And I didn't want to do as much this year with holiday decorations. (I looked back at this post and this may seem like WAY too much clutter to some people! lol But everything is in place and that's what I need...pretty things all in place!)

So I decided to make a little holiday tea party on the doll's bed. I didn't even change everyone's clothes! 

I did put a cute little reindeer onesie on this little doll.

These are all dolls from around 1960 and dolls just like the ones I had at the time. I bought them from a sweet lady on Etsy. I don't know how she could sell her childhood dolls but I'm happy to have them.

And my girlfriend Pat has made wooden 'paper dolls' for me over the years.

So I got out Santa...

and Mrs. Claus!

And the dolls changed their outfits. (really they did)

Have you taken time to do something just for the fun of it this week? 

I'm thankful to have some toys to play with and good health and so many other things! My gratitude list is LONG!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

Thankful Thursday around the house

 

I'm very thankful for having a nice home to 'hang out' in during this troublesome times. It's never a dull moment! 

Even the Sandhill Cranes came by for a visit!

They were in the back on the  golf course and then walked between the houses to the front yard.

And when our electricity went off for close to an hour, was it a coincidence that this vehicle was in the neighborhood. We rarely have this happen so we went into high gear finding candles and getting our dinner ready to cook on the grill.

But it came back on and no one had to eat a cold supper! lol

I've put out a few pretty Christmas throws in the lanai and my pixies are on a shelf in the sewing room with wooden blocks in front. 

My girlfriend Lynn O. has written a book, Dream Come True and had it published! 

Well done, girlfriend! I'm so proud of you and love my book!

I bought some pretty wintry coasters from Etsy at Prickly Pillowcases HERE and they will come in handy. Big enough for a cup or even a cereal bowl! And so well made! I love them!

Linda from Linda's Life Journal sent me a Christmas card with her 2020 Santa and Mrs. Claus. 

How delightful!

And I bought a Llama dishcloth from Swedish dishcloths HERE. I use them all the time and I've never had one especially for Christmas!

Have you treated yourself to anything new this week?

(should I put it on MY wish list? I've been very very good, I promise!)

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!

Decorating with dollies! Anything Goes?

 My dollies think that 2020 brings decorating challenges! They are forced to 'make do' with what they have! So let's see what they've done this week!

Opal was all dressed in her Christmas dress (from last year) but couldn't find the Christmas balls or twinkle lights so she decorated the tree with seashells! And instead of elves, the snowmen came inside to help with the decorating!

Zeta went outside to build a snowman and decided to have a tea party in the snow!

Oh and she wore her Pajamas instead of a snowsuit.

 Surely she did not wear PJs all day long...my oh my! 

And Noel went to the kitchen to bake sugar cookies...in her GOWN! 

But then she realized she didn't have all the ingredients to make them so she ordered a Pizza to be delivered!

And then there are the elves (or pixies as I called them as a girl) that were no help at all! 

A few have even 'fallen off the shelf'!

Hope your decorating is going better than ours! All dollies are wearing clothes that I made them last year and we're still waiting for the pizza delivery truck! 

 ☃ Happy Monday!!! ☃

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I'm linking with All Seasons at the Jesh Studio,

AND my Monday post HERE.