Last night..in my back yard...

Today we were visiting Green Springs in Enterprise, Florida. Standing next to the green waters, I decided to look up and snapped my shot.....

With the onset of fall-like weather, I've been wanting to go hiking. Today turned out to be more of a "walk" than a hike. Although we did get off the path a bit, the pace was slower because my 8 year old daughter was with us. Of course she's always with us but we've not gone hiking for a while. I think everyone's lost their "hiking legs". Our pace was about 1.5mph on average today. But that's alright. It wasn't about the exertion but the fun and enjoyment of being outdoors.

This is by no means the greatest photo. I actually took this with my Android phone. I had just exited the grocery store and was struck by the beauty of the sky. I had no other camera available (shame on me!) and so I hoped for the best.

Just a simple, unimportant shot showing the beautiful White Ibis at the pond.

Nachos and Music

Saturday night, we attended the Autumn Festival here in DeBary.  Originally this was going to be a post about the festival but, as it turns out, our camera doesn't want to give up the photos.  That's okay.  I had something else I wanted to mention anyway.

I haven't posted on this blog in a while. I've been busy. Life takes these long winding roads at a break-neck pace and my nature studies and hikes are usually the first thing to fall to the roadside. But I'm back in gear now.

 It has been quite a while since I've posted. Keeping up with life has been a challenge but one I think I am meeting. One of my challenges has been my new yard. There is something very different about the soil on the west coast of Florida. It sucks! I've noted that it isn't only my yard, but the majority of yards, which are bad. And by bad I mean sand, weeds, sand spurs, very little grass and large sandy areas.  I've been fighting this yard for months now. It's looking better but I see a lot more work having to be put into it next February.

Our front yard (sorry--bad mobile picture!)

Yesterday while studying the shadows in my yard for optimal spring planting layouts, my dog took a sudden interest in something outside of his fenced area. I looked, curious what held his attention, to find there were 5 Sandhill Cranes walking down the street! 

I quickly called the girls outside and grabbed my camera. We have seen these quite a bit, since coming to Hernando County, Florida, on the sides of roads, flying over our house and, now walking down our street!

We don't have a lot of "winter" to share but what a beautiful sky winter gives us here in Florida!