Hiking on a four lane hwy! Is it safe?

 It seems pretty safe on this particular highway!

I rarely see another hiker and I've managed to avoid seeing a bear.

But the blackberries are ripe and I see 'evidence' that they've eaten there!

I love walking down in the canal diggings and that's where I took the trail photos.

This one was taken after a rain shower passed through and left it a little 'less hot'.

Out in the open there are lots of wildflowers blooming.

I always see butterflies.

But on this particular hike, I watched a large hummingbird.

It was the biggest one I've ever seen and really surprised me.

I'm not hiking as much now with the heat but I get out when I can.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

Summertime Adventures and Blackberry Crumble (recipe)

 It's been a nice start to the summer here in Florida.

Our temps have been nice enough in the mornings to hike.

And I even made a special trip to the blackberry patch at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve. (SR 200 trailhead)

I put on a long sleeve shirt and reached in the brier patch and picked sweet ripe blackberries until I had enough for a Blackberry crumble. 

I saved a few to eat with vanilla yogurt too. Yummy!

One of my favorite sightings this week was this beautiful White-tailed Deer.

 When I looked over into the woods, he was looking right at me. I think it's a 6 point buck.

It was hard to get good photos through the trees and when I moved he bolted.

He ran across the trail in front of me so I got another good look.

But as you can see in this photo

....he easily disappeared into the deer woods.

One of my favorite bird sightings this week was this pretty yellow Summer Tanager.

And here's the best recipe I've tried lately. I took a recipe and changed it up so that is was 'lower' carb and sugar free. The topping came out so crunchy and perfect for the tart blackberries. 

Blackberry Crumble

Wash blackberries and pour into buttered baking dish. Sprinkle with a couple of tablespoons of Erythritol 'sugar'.

Crumble topping

• 3 tbsp Whole Earth Organic Erythritol
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup of almond flour
• 1/4 cup of oat fiber
  
• 1/2 cup of unsalted butter cold
• Sprinkle of salt
• 1/4 cup of slivered almonds (opt)

1. 
   
2. Mix dry crumble ingredients except the almond slivers.
3. Cut up the cold butter into chunks.
4. Work the butter into the crumble.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
6. Sprinkle the crumble over the top of the berries.
7. Sprinkle slivered almonds over the top. (opt)
8. Bake at 30 minutes until a golden brown.

I didn't have any almond slivers but I'm sure that would add to the crunch. And it would be really good with sugar free ice cream on top or whipped cream. 

And what do you mean some of it is missing? 

Those crazy kids! You have to watch them all the time! 😉

Have a wonderful weekend! 

Get outside if you can and enjoy the great outdoors!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

  Mosaic Monday HERE and I like Thursdays HERE !  

Butterfly havens!

 I hope everyone had a beautiful Mother's Day weekend. We had a wonderful Sunday. The weather is so fabulous here right now that we're working in a few extra hikes. It's hot already and it will only get hotter! 

But the mornings are nice and there are wildflowers and butterflies on every trail.

We even had a neat sighting in our front yard.

A Monarch butterfly was on our rose bushes and then it flew down to the grass.

Hubby put his hand out and it crawled right up onto his hand.

We don't see as many Monarchs and it was a special treat to see it up close and personal.

Lots of other butterflies, bugs and bees to share!

Gulf Fritillary 

I may need to do a few more posts while I'm seeing so much and taking so many photos.

Are you spending time outdoors this Spring?

Here are a few more of the bunny I saw on Beauty Berry Lane (49th Ave trailhead).

It's nice to go outside, even if it is just in your own backyard.

There's even more beauty to observe when you get out on the hiking trails!

I picked my first few blackberries on a hike this weekend. And yes I ate them without washing them first. I blew on them! hahaha!

Joining Mosaic Monday HERE and I like Thursdays HERE ! 

Beautiful Birds at Blue Run Park and berries at HTP!

 

Summertime hiking in Florida? I wouldn't recommend it! 

I can't stay in the house all the time so I've gotten out some. 

But the hikes are fewer and shorter and earlier!

The vegetation loves the heat and pop up showers we have in the afternoons but it makes it a challenge to get good photos.

The Black-crowned Night Heron was a good sighting though.

And this Great Blue Heron is trying to beat the heat under a tree with Spanish moss. (and you know I always imagine what my critters are saying)

You know if you climb up here you'll sink us.

See what I mean.....your end is already sinking!

Hmmmph!!!

Are you still here?

The Rainbow River is very beautiful and definitely 'old Florida'.

I zoomed in to see this house on the river.

Oh, look! Here comes a river boat motoring down at a leisurely speed.

Life is going at a slower speed. So what can you do?

Oh, let's see....put on long sleeves and go out in the heat and pick blackberries at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve?

There are a few wild blueberry bushes in the berry patch too.

And it's not too hot to cook in the oven for an hour to make a cobbler, is it?

Life is good! Even in the heat of summer!

Stay cool and safe this week and enjoy each day!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

Summertime and the living is HOT!

 It's been awfully HOT to hike (even in the mornings) but I've managed a few this past week. 

And it's been a great week for sightings!

Mr. Bunny and I stopped under the same shade tree. I pulled out my water bottle to get a drink and looked over and he was watching me! 

I'm not sure what this little bird is but he was well hidden in these leaves!

Dragonfly and Swallowtail Kite

The Palmetto Palms are in full bloom and you can smell the sweet scent and hear them buzzing with bees and insects!

I call the hill at the turnaround point, Bluebird of Happiness Hill and we always see a nice variety of birds and critters.

I even heard 2 Bobwhites calling each other at the end of my hike when I stopped to pick a few blackberries. Don't pick this one! It's not RIPE yet!

Is it blackberry season where you live? 

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.  

Into the Forest we'll go!

 As long as there's a little breeze and the morning temps are still in the 70s it's nice to hike deep into the forest.

And nothing feels better than stretching your legs and looking at all there is to see on a beautiful summer day.

I made a pretty tree mosaic after seeing the one my blog friend made last week. Traude's blog is HERE. 

There's always a bird to hear and a few to spot in the branches.

And lots of wildflowers and butterflies. I even picked a few blackberries on this hike to eat on top of vanilla yogurt. Southern goodness. I can close my eyes and be transported to my childhood in Arkansas with the sweet and slightly bitter taste of the berries.

At the very end of our hike we saw Tommy the tortoise. We always look for him at this burrow but today he was at the top of the hill. 

It looks like my hubby is saying, "No I think it's safe to go this way. I don't think there are any bears down there!"

He stopped and got still when some bikes came along. But he didn't completely pull into his shell.

It was the highlight of Hike #84!

We'll keep hiking as long as we can. When we finish, the house is nice and cool and after a shower, you really feel refreshed and reenergized! 

What's new in your world this week? Do you have big plans for the month of June?

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

Also I like Thursdays HERE.