Happy Thanksgiving Blessings!

We are very blessed to be spending Thanksgiving week in the mountains of NC.

It’s been wonderful to visit with family and to spend time in our condo.

The mountains put on a wintry show for us this week.

We woke up to snow on the mountains!

So even though it was cold and the wind was blowing a gale, I went in and out taking photos from my balcony!

When the clouds lifted off Mt. Pisgah, I could even zoom in on the tower.

Later a wispy cloud formed on the tower and gave me another ‘photo op’!

I wanted to share this Fall Cross Stitch I did many years ago. It hangs above my sink in the kitchen.

I didn’t want to take it down (it’s hanging straight right now) so my pics aren’t the best.

I’m wishing you a joyous Thanksgiving week. We are all blessed no matter what the challenges of life. And I hope this is your best Thanksgiving ever. I’m going to take a little break and catch up with you when we get back to the Sunshine State (and thaw out)! heehee!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays.

The Last of the Fall leaves

After November 1st you can be sure most of the leaves will be on the ground here in the Mountains of NC but I found a few ‘hangers on’!

I’ll have to zoom in for you to find these!

But quite a few were still colorful on the ground.

We hiked at Fletcher Park and I took pics on the run. It was cool and windy!

This Cypress tree was gorgeous and there were some people having a picnic nearby. (they didn’t stay long!)

Do you recognize this green leaf? It looks a little like a mitten, doesn’t it?

Have you been able to get outside and walk this week?

I’m joining Mosaic Monday HERE .

“Hiking in the Mts of NC” Fletcher Park

It was a cool and windy afternoon but the sun was out bright so we took a brisk walk! (hike #42)

Right when we got to Caney Creek a Hawk flew in front of us and landed in the tree along the path.

We’re pretty sure he is a Red Tailed Hawk but if you think otherwise, let me know.

He was a little smaller than the ones we’ve seen lately in Florida so at first we thought he something different.

I got good photos of his back, breast and head though.

I think he’s looking at me here! lol

We also saw a big fat robin and other song birds on the trails.

We noticed that we were walking at a little faster pace with the temps in the 50s and a 20 mph wind. It felt great though!

I’ve lived in this area for many years and it’s always like coming home. I love it!

Fletcher Park still had it’s tribute for the Veterans out so that was nice to see too!

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

The Mountains of NC!

We are happy to be spending some time in the mountains this Fall.

Our first view of the mts from the interstate! YAY!!!

The leaves have fallen but it’s still very pretty.

The mountains are always beautiful no matter what the season.

We have a wonderful view of the mountains from our condo and I stood out on the balcony to get some sunset photos. I’m sure I’ll have more pics to share. I saw one tree that was still loaded with dark red leaves…if we go back down that road again. We love going to our favorite stores and shops here. And of course eating at our favorite restaurants. We’ve already eaten lasagna at Iannucci’s….it’s always amazing!

We have family to visit here too so there will be lots of happy times ahead. And great places to hike, too!

Let’s see….it was 34 degrees one morning but the high was in the 50s that afternoon. Let’s see how long this lasts! And how long WE last! heehee! Bbbbbbrrrrrr!!!!

What’s your weather like now? Enjoy your week!

I’m joining Thankful Thursdays.

Florida Fall Forest Foliage

Try to say that 3 times in a row…real fast! heehee!

The forests are beautiful right now and probably look more like late summer than Fall but I thought I would share a few pics with you from our hikes.

It’s beautiful here any time of year. So many of our trees and shrubs stay green year round.

Have a wonderful week!

I’m ‘here…there…and everywhere’ this week so I’ll visit when I can!

I’m joining Mosaic Monday HERE .

‘The Florida Trails’ Hike #41

I started researching what this trail was exactly and spent about an hour looking at hiking trails in our area. Check out the Rails to Trails website HERE. It’s the time of year when we ‘hit the trails’! The high temps have been around 80 degrees and we usually have a light breeze….perfect!

This was a very ‘quiet’ hike. I went by myself. Yes, I know all the dangers but there are dangers walking around the neighborhood too. There are dangers inside your house if you really think about it.

They’ve improved the trail greatly by paving it. I still prefer a rugged trail through the woods but it’s a lot easier to walk on a smooth surface. Lots of evidence of wildlife (watch where you step! haha)

I saw lots of tiny birds.

Flocks of pretty little Palm Warblers.

A Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis). Thanks to David from Travels with Birds for a positive ID on this bird! I love learning the correct identification of the birds I see.

And even a Great Crested Flycatcher.

He posed! lol

When’s the last time you got out in the woods to enjoy nature?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

The “Glad Books”

I made a ‘quick’ stop at the library this week and came away with some wonderful old books from the lobby ‘book sales’.

This was my favorite, Dora Deane. Isn’t the cover gorgeous?

And I had no idea there was a whole series of Pollyanna Glad books. Did you?

I love the covers and illustrations in all of these books and still find it amazing to be finding books that are printed in the 1800s and early 1900s in such good shape.

I also went to the Arts and Crafts show at the Palm Grove Auditorium this weekend.

Can you find me in the pics?

I bought a copper chain and two beautiful silver rings, made in Thailand. The lady that had them for sale actually visited Thailand and brought them back with her. I got a little quilted eyeglass case from the ladies at the quilt club.

And hubby surprised me with 2 of the sweetest little clip on charms. I didn’t even know that he had bought anything! One has ‘diamonds’ and a little heart and the other a flip flop with a tiny dolphin.

Did you have a good weekend too?

I’m joining Mosaic Monday HERE .

Our Baby Hawk ‘all growed up’!

Do you remember the baby Red Shouldered Hawks we saw in the nest at Blue Run Park last Spring?

Well, this one was very near that nest.

So we think it is one of our ‘babies’!

He was so very beautiful.

And although we don’t really ‘like’ squirrels around here….

this one was especially pretty.

(look how ‘hairy’ his toes are!)

And as long as he stays at the Park and not at our bird feeders, we can get along!

Sometimes when I look at my pics, I think Florida looks like a jungle!

What gorgeous weather we’ve had for hiking.

Do you have plans to get outside this weekend?

I’m joining Saturday’s critters HERE

and I’d Rather B Birdin’.

Sholom “Peace”

We are so blessed to have the beautiful Sholom Park nearby.

And even though trees were lost during Hurricane Irma, it is still a place of peace.

My hubby and I spent about an hour walking all through the park this week and saw lots of workers still restoring some of the areas.

 

But for the most part, it is in good shape.

The weather has cooled quite a bit so we’ve taken advantage of it to get outside.

It’s been a very good week for me. I am on a new computer TODAY! And my hubby worked hard to transfer files from my ‘old one’. It didn’t exactly fail, it just slowed down to a crawl. I couldn’t visit much because of the problem with loading a page. Even my emails took forever. So I’m very pleased to be on a new Acer Netbook. I’m zipping right along. And if I haven’t visited with you lately….shout it out! I can’t wait to catch up with everyone!

I’m also writing this in Windows Live Writer. It hasn’t been available in awhile so I’m anxious to see if this will work! Cross your fingers for luck!

What’s new with you today?