Johnson Pond Trailhead in the Withlacoochee State Forest

 We kept waiting for a cooler day with big puffy clouds! It had to be both!

It's a nice hike to Johnson Pond but there are mosquitoes in this area so you need to be able to wear a shirt with sleeves! 

And the big poofy clouds are necessary for pretty reflections in the pond!

On Thanksgiving Day, we had the perfect conditions!

We've had the big family dinners in the past (and I'm so thankful for all of my memories) but it's nice to start new traditions too.

And living in Florida provides some beautiful weather for the Fall and Winter months.

I hope you have a good week ahead. Let's all keep counting our blessings and being thankful for what we have.

I've saved my most favorite photo for last....

the lily pads!

And now to add to my FUN! 

Tom from The Backroads Traveller sent me a special gift this year! A beautiful Christmas wreath!

I wish you could see it and smell the evergreen scent! It's incredible! We hung it on the Jeep just for a photo op! It's back on the front door now! 

Thank you, Tom! You've made my holiday season even more beautiful! I owe you a ride in the Jeep! 🚗

I'm joining Angie for Mosaic Monday HERE . 

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays and

I like Thursdays HERE too! 

The rest of the story....

You may remember that I mentioned seeing a Barred Owl a week ago. (yes, I know I keep posting about it but it's part of this story too! hahaha)

Well, it all started when Tom the Backroads Traveller told me he wanted to send me a beautiful handmade wreath! One that he made himself. He showed some on his blog HERE and when I commented on it, he said he would send me one. And I told him I would send him a box of ordinary pinecones. 

So that's what we were doing in the woods. Looking for perfect pinecones. 

You can tell I was serious about the task at hand!

And that's when we saw the owl. 

That sure was easy to work into another post! lol

*The Lavender Cottage*

So this week I am thankful for Tom, my good blog buddy. And that I went out that day pinecone huntin'!

(we keep our snowmen inside in FL so they won't melt)

This is the prettiest wreath I've ever had!

 Thank you Tom!

                   I’m joining Thankful Thursdays .