The Neighborhood Pond at Sunset

 This is one of my favorite times to walk to the neighborhood pond.

Mourning Dove

I'm seeing a trend on my blog lately, the word 'favorite' is showing up a lot.

It's probably because I'm experiencing my 'favorites' again after a year of hard times.

The lighting can be odd at sunset so you never know what your photos will look like until you get back home.

Downhill Ducks

Canada Goose

Goose with the broken wing

Just a few favorite pics after a walk to the pond at sunset.

Magnolia bloom in a cube effect (a fav!)

Do you have a good place to walk near your house?

Try to get out when the sun goes down and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you.

Love, Diane 💜

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE!

Sightings close to home!

 I haven't been on the trails as much this week but hopefully I'll get back out more regularly after this week. We've gotten a lot of things done around the house and in the yard so I feel good about how my time has been spent! 

But I'm going to need some trail therapy soon! The weather has improved and I can't wait!

How do you like this Great White Egret that walked through the neighborhood?

And this was a funny sight looking out the window in the back!

Off you go!

They look like they are saying I'm not very nice. They only wanted to scratch in the courtyard and make a mess! 

We have a Dove family that I see every day. 

This looks like a young one!

And the sunsets have been spectacular.

I didn't enhance these colors.

(taken from the courtyard)

It really was this vibrant!

I also ordered a new camping journal. 

The green one is from this past year and I filled it up.

The brown one will be ready when we are....which I hope is soon!

Enjoy your weekend!

I hope you have something fun planned!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE. 

A Sixty minute hike!

 

Because of the hot weather and a foot that has bothered me, I've made more sixty minute hikes this summer.

Mourning Dove (on the trail! I had to say Shooo to get it to move!)

It's hard for me to make that turn, 

I always want to go a little bit farther.

But it's been good for me I think.

Dotted Horsemint in full bloom

I've definitely enjoyed getting out in nature whenever I can, for any length of time!

And we've had some funny sightings around the house lately too.

Who wouldn't want a little red MG delivered to the front door?

Our neighbor has a 'new ride' now!

And this Red-shouldered Hawk perched on the roof across the street.

To get ready for Fall....

this black cat walked all the way around our house.

Does that ward off goblins and ghouls?

Can't hurt! lol

Sixty minutes is enough time to get some good exercise and experience nature. (that's a forest monster not me!)

Has it cooled off at your house this month?

Are you ready for Fall?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE !

"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 !  

Peachy Keen

 

Peachy Keen, an adjective meaning extremely good or exactly right.

My blog break was good but not exactly 'peachy keen'. We are still working on that! lol

But the term came to mind when I saw this Mourning Dove.

I was convinced it was something special because of it's soft peachy colors.

It was just gorgeous.

We took this hike at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve from the Pruitt trailhead on a very windy day. 

It was around 70 degrees so it wasn't cold but it was extremely blustery.

One good thing about it was we walked into the wind so that when we turned around, the wind blew us back to our vehicle. 

That's a good thing when you are tired!

We saw several American Kestrels that day.

They have such rich colors with the soft light of a cloudy day.

And one of my favorite photos to take are the 'winter trees'. 

The grasses were all a burnt orange too.

I hope your holiday week has been good. 

What did I miss? 🚘

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE ! 

The Florida Scrub-Jays at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve

 One of our favorite hiking trails in the cooler months is Halpata Tastanaki Preserve from the SR 200 trailhead. 

Florida Scrub-Jay

It's a very open trail and there are areas of white sand that reflect the sun, so it's better for a cool day.

We have in the past seen Florida Scrub-Jays on the back loop near the Savannah. But they are banded so we knew these birds were a different flock.

They were very near the parking area and would be easy for someone to find without taking a full hike. 

We spotted one at the top of a tree as soon as we started our hike.

And then another one hopped out onto the firebreak and showed off for us.

He was really fun to watch!

We saw 4 while we stood there taking his photo.

One of them was really bright blue.

This one was shy!

They are so unique and it's so nice to have these habitats for this endangered species.

It's on the federal endangered species list because of the decline in habitat caused by extensive development. 

So we watched and marveled at this flock of friendly birds.

And then we walked the loop and saw a few more birds and lots of wildlife tracks! (deer, bear, turkey, coyote, raccoon, wild hogs and rabbits)

Black and white Warbler, thanks David Gascoigne for help with the ID!

Palm Warbler

Mourning Dove

Halpata Tastanaki Preserve is a nature lover's paradise!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

 Mosaic Monday HERE and I like Thursdays HERE !  

We were honored to be featured in the Ocala's Good Life magazine this month and would like to share a link to the online version below. Thanks to JoAnn Guidry for such a wonderful article! What a fun experience! Happy Trails!

     

Enjoy our article in Ocala's Good Life magazine HERE.