Ross Prairie and the Gopher Tortoise

 

I had to gas up the Jeep last week so I took a little drive over to Ross Prairie and actually hiked for one hour! One hour for the months of Oct and Nov! I haven't worried about it though. I'll hike when I get a chance and right now I have other priorities.

It was neat to see a brand new sign up at the trailhead.

And of course I love these piney woods hikes. The pine straw on the trail softens the sound and it is quite an experience. There was only one other hiker on the trails, a nice lady with her Yellow Lab.

There were so many Gopher Tortoise homes in the woods so I went back and found some old photos I had taken on this trail a few years ago to share.

I had hoped to keep up with my blog while we are going through a really hard time. But I realize now I can't. I have too much to do and rarely get on my computer. I look at my IPAD and try to read blogs and a library book when I sit down to take a break. But I am struggling. My husband has cancer, as most of you know by now and he is not doing well at all. He had 6 hours of Chemo yesterday and everything is a struggle.

I hope you all have a blessed holiday season. I need to take a break now for a couple of weeks but I so appreciate your prayers and kind words of encouragement.

Sweet hugs to you all, Diane 💜

Happy Thanksgiving from Florida

It's just the best time of the year here in Florida!

And this week I'll share the 'yard birds' I've seen around the house!

These turkeys were hanging out on the golf course.

You can see how many leaves have fallen from the Poplar tree this week.

Their feathers are so beautiful.

But they better stay on the run to avoid the roasting pan this week!

We had a wonderful surprise when we looked out back and saw a big flock of Robins.

They usually show up on Christmas day.

But this year they were early and it sure lifted my spirits to stand outside and watch them. And isn't my neighbor's Poinsettia gorgeous!

We had a Great White Egret walk through the neighborhood.

He's across the street in these photos.

And a small flock of White Ibis even showed up for the holidays.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day and a blessed week.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

A Taste of Fall!

 

We've had some nice Fall weather lately and this week I stood in my courtyard and took a few photos looking onto the golf course.

When we are fortunate to have time at home we spend some of it in the lanai.

And this is the view looking out at my neighbor's Yellow Poplar tree in all of it's fall glory!

It's been beautiful but my days are spent doing 'have to' things lately.

Our Camellia is blooming like crazy right now too!

And we've had little Warblers flitting around,

as well as our neighborhood Mockingbird!

But we've always loved living on the golf course and having such beautiful views.

We had one really long day at the cancer center this week and Ron was able to get a full chemo treatment...8 hours long! He's been weak and tired the rest of the week but we are hopeful the treatments will have good results. Thanks for your continued prayers and for your friendship! It sure makes a difference in my life. I so enjoy reading your blogs too and will comment when I can.

Have a beautiful weekend!

 Lots of hugs, Diane

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

Photos of Fall in Florida

 I looked back at the past couple of years and I took a lot of photos that I didn't share so I have plenty to choose from.

Still no hike this week. We went to the cancer center on Thursday but Ron's blood levels were not good enough to have a cancer treatment so they have scheduled an appointment for next Tuesday. We hope and pray he will be able to have chemo to fight this cancer. As my friend Tom said...and other sweet blog friends, "Cancer is Cruel". We faced more challenges this week but I still want to blog and treat myself to some blog visits this weekend. I hope you are all well and I continue to pray for so many of you that are going through hard times too.

The Cardinals are especially pretty.

And this is Palafox and it only blooms for a short time at the end of summer.

It's rare to even get to see it!

I try to learn to ID plants here but it is a challenge!

Take care and thanks for the prayers and friendship. You are the BEST!

Love, Diane

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

Florida Fall but still no hikes!

 

My sweet husband has been in the hospital all week but at least they were able to give him a cancer treatment there. (his first full treatment) We are still waiting to hear when he can have another one.

The weather has been gorgeous and I've been thankful for that. The hospital is not very far but it's very nice to have an easy drive.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. I may sit down and write some comments today....God willing.

I miss you all but my days start early and I go to bed at night without even looking at the clock. I 'conk' out! lol

These are photos of the prettiest little Flycatcher that I took last Fall at Halpata Tastanaki Preserve.

And a wooly worm predicting the winter!

Take care of yourselves.

Sweet hugs, Diane

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

Florida Fall...seeing the beauty!

 No one wants to be inside when the weather is so beautiful here in Florida right now.

Eastern Bluebird

But Ron has been in the hospital again this week for blood transfusions and platelets.

He was not able to get the chemo again this week because his blood levels were too low.

Thanks to everyone for keeping him in your prayers and to all of you that have left sweet comments and reached out to me in emails. It sure makes me thankful for good friends.

No one wants to be in the hospital but our hospital here in Ocala is the best. We have been blessed with so many caring people there.

I don't feel like taking photos while I am there. BUT....you look out the windows in your room and see palm trees or the American Flag and that is welcome. And I found a place to park next to a retention pond and I see Great Blue Herons, Little Blues, Egrets, Ibis and all kinds of ducks and geese. So I always stand there a few minutes and see how many different birds I can spot.

This Common Sneezeweed is in full bloom now too and it is gorgeous!

Common Sneezeweed info HERE.

Thanks again for your prayers and encouraging words. For those that missed my last post, my husband has a very rare cancer....B cell lymphoma and he is very sick. 

God Bless you, your blog buddy Diane

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

A Cardinal is a blessing for the whole day!

 

I heard someone say that about Cardinals and I've never forgotten.

My husband and I have been very blessed over the years and we are thankful for that.

(taken on a hike on the Florida trails last month)

But now we are going through a very hard time and I wanted to write and ask you for your prayers.

Ron has a very rare cancer....B cell Lymphoma.

There's a good article HERE. He has the Splenic subtype. 

It is too advanced for surgery to remove his spleen so they have started Chemotherapy treatments. He's been in the hospital receiving blood transfusions too. 

I'll update you all when we get farther into the treatments. I had thought about taking a blog break but I get so much enjoyment from reading my favorite blogs and I know you will all give me encouragement.

I've come to know most of you over the years of blogging and know you have all been through hard times too and I have prayed for many of you over the years. So I'll thank you in advance for your prayers and I will be around to visit soon. I know I'll read my favs and I'll comment when I can.

God bless you, your blog buddy Diane

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

A Florida Fall

 It will be a few months before we get any cold temps here in North Central Florida but some of the vines and trees change color at the end of the summer and give us that hint of Fall.

White-eyed Vireo

I was finishing up a hike on the Marjorie Harris Cross Florida Greenway when I saw a dozen or more birds flitting around.

Most of the birds I got photos of were White-eyed Vireos.

They are so petite and beautiful.

I always think they are Warblers at first, until I see the eye.

I enjoyed watching them flying from tree to tree.

And then I saw this bird.

I thought at first it was a Tufted Titmouse but now I am not sure. 

This was in the same spot that I saw the bear one week, and then the 8 point buck the following week.

It's a good spot to slow down and look around.

I also saw a hoverfly. The wings were a beautiful bronze color.

More info HERE.

And I saw the biggest stand of Forked Bluecurls.

The blooms are only open in the mornings and they are tiny.

The flowers are less than an inch long! More info HERE.

There's always something to see in nature and it's fun to come home and do research on birds and wildflowers....an hoverflies! We can all enjoy learning new things.

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

  and Mosaic Monday HERE.