My Special day and a 'deer' story!

 

I thought I would interrupt the regularly scheduled blogging to have a 'special day'!

Yes, it comes around every year and this year it's a good chance to catch up on the highlights of last year.

When we are at home, I hike some of the same trails over and over. And it's amazing how different each hike can be. 

There's a small herd of deer that I am seeing in the same area. 

The Mama Deer came out onto the trail and grazed on the side of the paved trail. 

This is the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway. I don't walk on the paved part very much but use it to get to other forest trails.

I stood really still and it crossed in front of me.

But it didn't go away. It stayed put watching me.

And when I didn't leave, it crossed back over.

I looked into the forest and understood why. Several young deer were hiding in the forest.

And they were waiting for Mama to give them the go ahead to cross.

It was a neat sighting and when I decided to quit taking photos of them, they bounded away.

White tailed deer

I get such enjoyment getting out in nature and I always feel refreshed and rejuvenated after a hike. I really prefer hiking deep into the forest. And I'm very thankful for the good health and trails nearby.

Last year was a challenge. But I managed 142 hikes for the year and got to hike a lot of different trails with our camping trips. I want to give my sweet hubby a big thank you for hauling me all over the place to camp at state parks and hike new trails. 

Hopefully for my birthday this year, I'll be out and about doing what I love best! 

HIKING!

My sister, my cousin...

and I'm the tall blonde! 

Happy 'special day' to all my blog buddies, family and friends!

I'll save you a chocolate birthday brownie!

"Short and Sweet"

 

We have a fun weekend planned so I'll keep this post 'short and sweet'....like ME! 

And yes, it's my birthday weekend so I hope the weather is sunny and we can spend our time in nature!

I don't know if I'll have time to play 'dress up' but maybe I could wear this hat hiking!

Or I could ride my bike on the trails!

I could always play my record player!

So much fun to look back at birthdays long gone!

And more fun for this weekend!

I'll share my favorite bird photos of the week.

We saw these beautiful Mourning Doves on the Shangri-La trail.

They scared me when they flew out of the tall grasses next to the trail.

But they were nice enough to perch nearby and give us a chance to photograph them.

It would be fun to put captions to some of these pics.

Enjoy your weekend! 

I'll save you a piece of birthday cake. (Actually I'm making birthday brownies with a KETO mix)

HAVE FUN!!!

(I don't MEAN to be bossy!) hahaha

PS I have some exciting news to share and have a post scheduled for January 23 with an announcement! 

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !  

An afternoon drive to the Preserve!

 

We drove past Halpata Tastanaki Preserve while running an errand. 

When we finished and made the turn around, the Jeep drove right into the gate at the Preserve.

It was impossible to drive past it twice in one day without stopping!

Great Blue Heron at a distance

We didn't even get out of the vehicle but we saw so much.

Dove

I always encourage everyone that reads my blog to get out in nature and sometimes that means taking a drive to a park or preserve. And if you can't do that, maybe you can sit outside when the weather is nice or look out the window at bird feeders when it's not. Letting your mind relax and enjoy the outdoors is what's good for you!

Great Crested Flycatcher

American Kestrel (on the drive in)

All photos taken from inside the car!

Red Shouldered Hawk

He sees US now! 

And another Kestrel on the drive out!

Time to FLY! 

And guess what? Another year has flown by and it's my birthday this weekend!

And guess what my sweet hubby gave me for my birthday! 

A Victrola record player! 

I've been playing records and dancing and he's been singing! So don't peek in the windows and get skeeeered! We both still have a few of our old 45s! 

I'm sure I'll be out on one of the Florida trails enjoying nature or at least taking a ride some place interesting.

Have a wonderful weekend!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.   

November in Mosaics (updated at the end)

 It's been an exceptionally good month to hike and we've gotten out every chance we could.

I've taken so many photos that I thought I would do a post with 'November in mosaics'!

These are a few of the leftovers.

Warbler and water lily

Kestrel

Bench at the top

Birds and squirrel

Wildflowers

Bare trees at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve

Golf course behind our house and our Camellia bush in full bloom.

Interesting clouds

I hope it's been a good month for you too. It's not like Novembers in the past. Times change and we are constantly changing along with it. Look around and see what makes you happy and do more of that!

After I wrote this post, I had a call to tell me my mother had passed away. I wanted to share my favorite photo of my parents. My mother is pregnant with me and they were teenagers in this photo. (My mother turned 20 just before I was born.) I think they look very happy here. 

So the month has ended on a sad note. I would appreciate your prayers. They are both gone now and I feel incredibly sad. I know you've all suffered losses and understand. 

Thanks for your friendship always, Diane

I'm joining Mosaic Monday HERE 

and I like Thursdays HERE !  

Felburn Park and the 'flying fish'!

 

When we drove to the Gulf Coast last week, we took our picnic lunch to Felburn Park. More info HERE.

It's a state park and one of our favorites here in Florida. 

And after we ate, we walked 

the trail to Phil's Lake.

 Then we spent some time looking out at the Cross Florida barge canal.

It was too hot to be out for very long. It was still in the 80s but the humidity was very high and there wasn't much of a breeze. No problem with bugs or flies here thankfully!

I'm generally a happy person and it's not unusual for me to laugh out loud.

And I had a lot to laugh about!

The Striped Mullet or "jumping mullet" were putting on a show.

More info HERE!

Hey! I think I see one over there!

And there's TWO!

It was funny to see them jump out of the water but it was just as funny to try to photograph them.

When you saw one jump, it was too late to focus in and take a shot.

So all of our photos were lucky shots!

We saw lots of beautiful wildflowers 

and this amazing Mississippi Kite!

Mississippi Kite perched in a tree.

And then we saw each other too. 

But don't ZOOM in so much! 

Give me a minute to 'strike a pose' next time! 

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too!