Thanksgiving stroll.

After getting so full of Thanksgiving dinner we traditionally go for a walk around the block before eating desert. This year since we were at my Aunt's house we decided to walk her property.

Delicious  and juicy bird.

 We had to decide if we were going to wear  jackets and shoes because for Florida it was pretty chilly. The high was only 63.

You can see the fireplace fire was pumping.

 All my Aunt's animals decided to go for a walk too.

Manx cat following and listening to us.

 We found some interesting things.

Gopher tortoise hole. Gopher tortoise's are endangered. And once one is on the property you can not disturb it.

 Scattered through out the property are places to stop and meditate.

Buddha

 As we walked and explored we felt eyes on us and realized we were being watched.

Barred Owl

 From our family to yours Wishing  everyone has a happy Holiday Season this year.

An update of what's been going on.

 

 

We acquired one of those plastic fish ponds set it up and be for we knew it we had a visitor. She's pretty unusual for a toad she was yellow. Kind of pretty for a toad. You can tell she is a toad and not a frog because toads have bumps on their backs.

 

Yellow toad

 

Southern toad or bufo terrestris.

 Eventually we will try and put some gold fish in the pond. I think it is too small for koi. It has a recirculating system ( water drips over the rock in the middle) and so that should be good for air circulation. I don't know about algae that might grow in it. We are going to have to do some research on these things. The husband planted some lily pads that should also aid with the oxygenation and frog landings.

 

 We have also been enjoying wonderful sunsets every night as Autumn moves in and brings cooler temperatures. Soon Thanks Giving will be here.

Sunset picture I took off the back deck.

Silent Sunday!

Walking the dog.

So youngest daughter and I thought the dog was getting a little flabby and decided to take him to the park for a walk.
So

Youngest daughter with The Pooch.

This is one of the twin lakes. Yep it has been dry for a while now.

 You can tell it is the beginning of fall because of all the beauty berries.

 

 

I love the symmetry of palm trees.

Only one bundle of flowers on this crape myrtle. But what a beautiful bundle.



This old oak with its strange appendage has become an old friend over the years. Before picnic tables it was the only bench.

This old hickory is suffering from a hole, perhaps put there by a wood pecker.

Here are some hickory nuts that were strewn about. It looks like the squirrels are making their stores for winter already.

The way out.

After a nice long walk The Pooch was ready to head home. Boy is he out of shape.

War of the Armadillo's and cancer scares.

I went to let the dog out this morning when I found, right off the back porch, two armadillo's. One trapped in the cage and one desperately digging underneath the trap. Chris removed the trap and expected the other to run away but it didn't so.... sadly he had to shoot it. They do carry leprosy and we don't want to take a risk. Also it was digging up my back step the step is now moved away from the main step. I'm sure if it believed we were going to harm it's home it would have done the same to us. Still.... It is always sad to end the life of a living creature. The one in the trap was safely released into the national forest near by. The other was buried in the back yard.




What I woke up to.

Armadillo!

 We decided to shore up the hole with some concrete to help keep the step from sliding away and hopefully to detour other armadillo's from digging in this same area. This makes six armadillo's that have been trapped. And one shot. I don't know why the corner of our house is so attractive for them.

This hole doesn't look large but it is huge.

As some of you may know I found a lump in the back of my head earlier in the month. Of course I would think the worst but fortunately it was just a enlarged blood vein or something. The doctor said nothing to worry about. My mother has been struggling with a bad esophagus for some time. And of course I worry that it could  be the worst but they have not said that and are working to get it fixed. The problem is of undetermined cause. She is doing much better now. But may still need a operation to fully fix the problem. And then my daughter found a lump in her breast. Which the doctor said was very rare for her age 16. So she had to have it removed, which she faced like a trooper, and the preliminary test are all good. We should get the all clear on Wednesday. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and ask every one to keep them up until then.