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!

With the help of family and friends....

 I've felt uplifted this week.

And I know God is blessing me all along the way.

I'm getting outside as much as I can to see what nature has to offer. I still have low energy but I think I am seeing some improvement already.

So thanks again to all of you that have followed me on this journey and stuck by my side.

One of my favorite sitings in Florida is the Sherman's Fox Squirrel.

He is such a fun little critter and very photogenic!

Ahhhhh.....spring! 

Two red bellied woodpeckers were chasing each other from tree to tree.

Have you enjoyed some time outdoors this week?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

The Sherman Fox Squirrel on the Greenway!

 I've gone all of October without a single hike but my good friend, J. has kept me informed with her Greenway sightings. And that sure makes me smile.

She saw one of our precious Fox Squirrels this week and even followed it on the trail. 

These are photos I took in March of last year.

They are here in the woods year round so you might see them at any time.

The weather has been gorgeous and that has been a good thing.

But our lives have been turned upside down and my husband had a bad week. As you all know by now, he has a very rare cancer...B cell Lymphoma. 

I appreciate the prayers and words of encouragement. Every time I think of taking a blog break, I know it's not a good time to do that. Visiting your blogs is one of the best things I can do right now, when I have time. And I will comment when I can. I know you understand.

The bluebirds have been in our yard all week, even perching on the mailbox. 

Enjoy this beautiful blessed Fall.

Sweet hugs, Diane

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

Gnome Sweet Gnome and Foxy too!

 

We took 2 camping trips in March and had such fun.

I hiked...a lot! And I had some 'gnome' adventures along the way.

I found some gnomes on the trails I hiked....

and I left a few gnomes and fairies along the way.

It's been popular all these years but I just started joining in the fun.

I left this one on the tortoise trail at Reed Bingham State Park, Adel, Georgia on a bird house.

I'm not going to get carried away, don't worry.

I'm leaving a few gnomes and fairies on some of my most frequented trails.

It's just something fun and I'll make sure they don't detract from the forest or become litter.

And of course I was out on the trails near my home when we got back.

When I hiked a section of the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway, I was lucky to spot a Fox Squirrel.

This one had some distinguishing marks so I'll know it if I see it again.

I don't see one very often so it's always a thrill!

I have been calling it Silver Foxy because of the thick silver tail.

It's always an adventure when you get out on the trails.

Isn't he cute!!! 

And I have lots of photos to share from our camping trips.

Have you been taking advantage of the nice weather to get outside?

Happy Spring!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE 

and Nature Friday HERE!

The Foxy Family in the pine forest!

 

I had planned a quick hike on the Greenway. (hiking the section between SR 484 and Hwy 200)

But before I even had my camera on, I looked ahead and saw something unusual on the ground!

Sherman's Fox Squirrel

Of all the critters you might see in the forest, the fox squirrel is one of the cutest!

I saw the one next to the trail run into the forest so I watched him climb a tree.

And lo and behold I saw another one scampering at the base of the same tree.

I was trying to stand perfectly still so they wouldn't go deeper into the forest when I lowered my camera to look around.

And there was one in the tree right next to me, watching ME!

I got lots of photos of him.

They are such beautiful critters!

There were really only two that I could get good photos of but I enjoyed watching them chasing each other!

I think they had fun watching me too!

This one was ignoring me. Doesn't it look like a cat in a tree?

But after awhile, I decided to finish my hike. 

It was hard to step away.

Right at the top of Bluebird of Happiness Hill, there was a big bird in the distance.

I love photographing this palm tree that grows in the wild.

And it turned out the big bird was an Eagle! WOW!

Bald Eagle.

When I turned to go back to the Jeep, I saw the Fox Squirrels again.

Two of them were together chasing each other up and down a tree.

One of the signs that a Fox Squirrel has been around is the stripped pine cones. They love to eat these.

I had fun watching them but they were playing their tricks to get rid of me.

Stretching out to be less noticeable?

This one was in a big hurry to get away. lol

And don't worry, no animals were harmed in the making of this post. They jump from limb to limb and keep on going!

What a fun sighting to see THREE of these critters in the forest! (two in the photo below)

Have you had a good week? Did you get out in nature to enjoy the surprises it holds? ENJOY!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.  

A few things that 'jumped out' at me this week!

 

You just never know what you'll see when you get out on the Florida Trails and this week held a lot of surprises.

The most fun was the Sherman's Fox Squirrel we spotted on the Florida Trails (trailhead off SR 484).

He was running as fast as he could toward me until I turned to alert my hubby!

Then he stopped in his tracks to decide what to do.

Go this way....or that?

Or just run lickety split back the way you came! lol 

His bushy tail earns him the name of Fox Squirrel.

He looked a little like a monkey or very small bear from a distance!

And then when we were leaving Halpata Tastanaki Preserve (Pruitt Trailhead) this Mud Turtle crossed the dirt road in front of us. 

All pics were taken from my driver's window. He stopped and posed, in a safe place! 

I know this sounds strange to say because we see SO many turtles here, but I don't think we have seen one like this!

It was very small and solid black.

This White Ibis is a juvenile. He flew right in front of us on the trail and then lit in a tree to watch us!

We also saw one pretty bunch of sunflowers on that trail. Just one.

And then there is this Robber Fly in the trail that we stepped around. He is a mimic bumble bee but is known as a bee killer. He had a red wasp in his grasp and did not move out of the way, so we gave him a wide berth. More info on him HERE!

You just never know what you'll see when you get out in nature. 

Have you been on any nature walks this week?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.