Tag Archives: Florida

On The Road, Photos-Birds, Photos-Landscapes

~A few photos from Rainbow Springs State Park~

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Rainbow Springs State Park…..

We spend four nights at this beautiful state park in Dunnellon, Florida. We have visited this park many times and enjoy it each and every time! If you love to kayak then this state park is a must stop for you.

Rainbow Springs
Rainbow Springs
Rainbow Springs State Park
Rainbow Springs State Park
Me and My Pack
Me and My Pack
Enjoying the warmth of the Sun
"Mom, I think there is a bird up there you might want to see!"
“Mom, I think there is a bird up there you might want to see!”
"Maybe it is a new one for you!"
“Maybe it is a new one for you!”
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (This is the bird Kloud was looking at.)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
(This is the bird Kloud was looking at.)
Northern Cardinal (femaile)
Northern Cardinal (femaile)
Northern Cardinal
Northern Cardinal (male)
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Phoebe
Tufted Titmouse
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Chickadee
Northern Cardinal
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Phoebe
Rainbow Springs State Park

We are currently at Silver River State Park in Ocala, Florida. This is our first visit to this state park and we have fallen in love with its huge, gorgeous sites, the thick forrest of oak and pine and the laid back environment we so enjoy!

I can’t say I enjoy leaving the park and driving around in the heavy Ocala traffic; however we will put this park on our list for future stops! 

Hopefully, I will have a few photos to share during the week.

"You look up side down"
“You look up side down”
On The Road, Poetry

~Up high she jumps and over she sails~

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"Did my Mom tell you about the felled tree I jumped over?"
“Did my Mom tell you about the felled tree I jumped over?”

A true story…..

Four paws and a heart of gold,

my little Keeshond and I head out the door,

we decide to take a hike along a tree-lined trail,

with hopes of seeing a few birds, maybe even a covey of quail.

~~

Up ahead along the path, we spot a felled tree,

its height, from the ground, comes up to my knee,

I look at Skye and she looks up at me,

“Over” I say with encouragement, “you can do it, you will see”.

~~

The expression on the face I see looking up at me, says  “I don’t know”,

a few seconds pass, a decision is made, off she runs, at first a little slow,

picking up speed, front legs pointing the way, back legs tucked up close to her belly,

up high she jumps and over she sails, just like a little filly.

~~

She lands, she stops, she turns just her head and looks back at me as if to say – Alright!

I can tell she is excited and the expression upon her face is one of pure delight, 

you see, with this small achievement, 

she tickled herself and brought me extreme merriment.

~~

"I made my Mom laugh today and I even tickled myself."
“I made my Mom laugh today and I even tickled myself.”
On The Road, Photos-Birds, Photos-Landscapes, Poetry

~Poetry, For now a Rest~

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with her mate, she sits in her tree

exhausted after a day of nest building

knowing soon their essential skill as hunters

will be required to provide food for their young

for now, a rest

vivid colors cast the perfect backdrop 

to showcase her strong resolve to survive

as the beauty of this day lingers

a few minutes more

Look close and you will see two
Look close and you will see two

survival, a simple quest or is it

survival, a simple quest or is it
Another hunter, enjoying the peace at the end of a day
Last performance
Last performance
(the other hunter slowly moves our way)
A Silver Ending
A Silver Ending

I truly enjoy photographing the setting sun and these magnificent birds from a pier on Lake Hammond in Lake Louisa State Park.

On The Road, Photos-Birds

~A Gathering~

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It was a fun four days! 

We gathered with friends, all of us members of the Family Motor Coach Association Amateur Radio Club, at the Central Florida Fairgrounds in Orlando, for an Amateur Radio Convention. 

We parked our rig on the fairgrounds along with a hundred others! We had water and electric and were able to park with our club members for camaraderie, eats, drinks and just to pass a good time (as they say down south)! 

Hams from all over the world attend this convention every year and this was our four year to attend!

Vendors and other hams setup booths to sell radio equipment and other miscellaneous items in the main buildings located on the fairgrounds property. Outside, people setup tables and tents to sell their “fleas”. There are food vendors, as well, to feed all these hungry radio people.

It was great fun!

One afternoon, I took a walk down by a lake that borders the fairgrounds and found a few of my two-legged feathered friends hanging around – a few seem to be having a fun gathering of their own!

Muscovy Duck
Muscovy Duck
Ring-necked Duck
Ring-necked Duck
"Come with me"
“Come with me”
"The meeting is called to order"
“The meeting is called to order”
Mallard (female)
Mallard (female)
"What do I do with this feather"
“What do I do with this feather”
“Do you think I can sell it”
American Coot
American Coot
"I'am late for the meeting"
“I’am late for the meeting”
Pretty Red Eyes
Muscovy Duck
Cattle Egret
Muscovy Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Ring-necked Duck
Friends
American Coot
Muscovy Duck
"See Ya"
“See Ya”

When we left the Central Florida Fairgrounds we headed to Lake Louisa State Park with six wonderful friends, for three days of additional camping. We ate some great food, attended a few happy hours, hiked some beautiful trails for some much needed exercise and watched a gorgeous sunset!

We left our friends this morning and headed to Rainbow Springs State Park, in Dunnellon, Florida. It was sure sad leaving, but we need to slowly make our way north and then west! 

You would know – it rained most of the day and turned a little cool! What will the weather do and how slowly will we have to travel west toward home?

"See Ya"
“See Ya”