What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Friday, September 23, 2016

Friday Foto Friends #46 and My Pics of the Week

Happy Friday...and Happy Fall y'all!!!  Fall is my most favorite time of the year! Even though here in Florida we don't have the pretty leaves like most northern states have...we do have fall-like weather from October through at least March...so how could anyone complain about that?  It sure beats the heat of summer and frozen months of winter!

So, this past week we have been on a little "stay-cation" with a friend visiting us from up north (Ohio).  The days were actually a bit too warm and muggy for very much outdoor activity, but we managed to fit in a little bit of fun here and there, which also led to some great opportunities for my "pics of the week".

 One evening we went out to eat at a seafood restaurant along the banks of the St. John's River. From our vantage point on the deck of the restaurant, my hubby kept saying he could see what appeared to be an eagle across the river in the trees.  This was with his naked eye...no glasses.  So I started zooming in on the trees with my camera, and sure enough! There was an eagle perched up in the tree, watching the water below for his fish supper!  Good eye, hubby!


 After supper I walked down on the dock and watched some shrimp fishermen casting their nets.  I wanted to call out to them like Jesus did to His fishermen disciples so many years ago:

"Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No."  And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some."  So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.  John 21:5-6

But they were busily casting their nets and I didn't want to disturb them. They were kind enough to allow me to take their pictures.


As the sun was setting
behind us in the west it was thrilling to see the reflections of these boats on the water. Such a peaceful, glorious evening.

The next day we determined to take a little "cruise" on the river at the Fort Gates Ferry

And so we followed the directions above, and waited, and waited, and waited. I did a few jumping jacks on the "wooden ramp", hoping to attract some attention... (no picture of that, thank goodness!)
And finally after we about ran out our car battery on the headlights and I about ran out my energy jumping around like a Mexican Jumping bean, we saw the ferry barge slowly making its way across the river.

 When the ferry hooked up to the ramp, my hubby very carefully drove the car onto the ferry, and off we went...right onto the river...
 This is the little tugboat that actually did all the work pulling us across the river!
 It was a lovely ride across the river...

Here we are playing "tourist" with our sunhats and sunglasses...
Hubby was even enjoying himself once he got the car on the ferry safely...


And after about 20 minutes of riding on the water we finally made it across to the other side.

 Next we drove to a local restaurant for lunch, and saw this classic 1956 Cadillac parked in the parking lot! Now that was sweet!!
 After lunch we headed back to the ferry, and were greeted by this white heron...
 And this Anhinga drying her wings in the sunshine,
 And also this alligator waiting in the water for someone to throw him some fish... (not me!!!)
 Soon we made it back across the river to our home side...

And off we go again safely back home! Whew!

I hope you enjoyed this little "stay-cation" with me! It's always fun to do something a little different and spontaneous now that we are retired! It helps when company comes on vacation and that gives us an excuse to "play tourist" and see and do some things we probably wouldn't do on our own! So thankful for the good weather, good health, and God's amazing creation here for us to enjoy!

Here are some thoughts from Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 that seem appropriate for us retired folks:

Verse 1:
"To every thing there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven..."

Verses 9-13
"What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?

I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied.
He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time.
Also He has put eternity in their hearts,
except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,

And also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor--
It is the GIFT of God!!


I take it from this that our retirement time is a "gift of God", and we are meant to enjoy it! Therefore, I hope and pray that we will be able to do just that all the remaining days of our lives, and give thanks to the One Who made it possible! Praise God!

I am linking up with Deb and friends over at "Friday Foto Friends"  Click on the link to see what fun
 and interesting photos others are sharing today!

20 comments:

  1. Oh, how I am looking forward to retirement!! What a fun time for you and your company! We do the same when people come. Love it.

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    1. I know you will love retirement when you finally get there! It has been an adjustment for me in some ways...hubby and I home together all day...sometimes that is great...sometimes not so great, but we do have a good time. Our weekends are filled with taking care of his mother, so we really don't have a lot of "free time"...therefore we try to take advantage of the weekdays when she is not here. Thank you for stopping by today. Enjoy your weekend!

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  2. What a nice time with your friend from Ohio! I have to admit, I would be a bit nervous about that barge but you all did okay. How great to see the eagle! I'm glad you enjoyed your staycation.

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    1. Yeah, he was a little nervous driving on and off, but once he did it he actually had a good time. It really was a relaxing trip over and back.
      Yes, the eagle was a surprise...especially that hubby could see it from so far away! Thank you for your visit today. Hoping and praying you are feeling better now.

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  3. It looks like a marvellous day for a staycation and the scenery is beautiful. I love it when I get a guest and we "have to" go somewhere I don't usually get to go. It forces (helps) me to see things I don't get to appreciate as often as I would like. There is so much beauty all around.

    Your birds photos are fantastic.

    Did you like the little ferry ride? It has been a very long time since I've been on such a small ferry. I quite like them. It is always amazing to me too just how much a little tug boat can pull or push. I used to see a lot of them here helping to steer the big ships into the harbour.

    Thank you for stopping by and commenting on my post today. I've seen added a photo of my hat but I couldn't get a good photo of the vest. Enjoy your weekend. xx

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    1. Thank you so much for your visit here today. And also thank you for posting the picture of your new hat on your blog. I commented over there. Love it!
      Yes, we did enjoy the ferry ride very much! It was very peaceful, and also saves about 30 minutes of driving if we had driven all the way around to that same point...it would have taken about an hour or more, and this was so much more fun! I'm glad you enjoyed the bird photos. They were a bonus...plus the alligator! Have a blessed weekend my friend. Please feel better soon.

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  4. Oh Pamela, I love your stay-cation! What wonderful pictures and your husband does have the eagle eye! That ferry made me a little nervous. I'm not sure I would have gone on it. I liked all your hats. What fun! We need to enjoy life as long as God gives us life.

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    1. Thank you Nonnie! That ferry has been serving this area since the Civil War, so I guess it must be pretty safe. But it was a little nerve-racking for my hubby driving the car onto it. But all was well and we had a great cruise! Thank you for liking the hats. I was glad we thought of it as the sun was quite bright and hot! It was fun...and God definitely blessed our day.

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  5. It's good to get out and about in your own area, we do that sometimes now that we are retired as well :)

    Diana

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    1. We've lived here almost 5 years and still haven't seen everything around us...so I am trying to check them off one at a time. It may take a while, but at least we are getting started on it! Thank you for stopping by! Happy Fall!

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  6. Oh, mercy, those are awesome pictures. What a beautiful area you live in. The scripture fits perfectly. Thanks bunches for sharing. I'm so sorry to be so late in visiting. Happy Saturday!

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    1. Thank you Debbie! We are blessed to live here in the beautiful Ocala National Forest. So much of God's glorious creation all around us. Thank you for your thoughts. So glad you could stop by! Never too late!!!

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  7. Stay-cations can be so much fun, exploring your "home" as a tourist!
    You got some great pictures!

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    1. It was great fun. I hope to do some more exploring now that I'm retired. Summers are too hot here in Florida to do much, so I am looking forward to fall and cooler weather and more adventures! Thank you for stopping by!

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  8. Gorgeous photos, Pamela! I felt like I was right along side you on this adventure.
    We just returned from Jekyll Island, so the scenery looked so very familiar. Don't you just love that mysterious Spanish moss?
    Blessings!

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    1. Oh, I wish you were right along side me! Next time you are that far south, you must just keep on coming down the coast and then travel a little inward...
      Spanish moss is lovely in the trees...but don't get too cozy with it. It has little tiny red bugs that will get under your skin and drive you crazy!!! Trust me, I've been there and done that! Have a blessed weekend!

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  9. Fun trip, watch out for those gators!

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    1. Oh yes! I do watch out for them...I don't go in the water unless I can see what's coming! It was fun. I can't wait to go again sometime! Have a blessed weekend.

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  10. Pam: I love these pictures. Our pastor reminds us every week that "Each new day is God's gift to us." While we are not as active as we would like to be, we are thankful for each day. "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice anc be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24).

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    1. What a great reminder from your Pastor each week! Yes...each new day is God's gift to us...and some days it is good to just "Be Still and Know that I am God!"...and that is just as wonderful as being out there exploring! Thank you for coming by today. Blessings to you dear friend.

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Thank you for visiting here today. I would love for you to sign my guestbook and let me know you stopped by. I always enjoy reading your comments and words of encouragement! May you be blessed as you go on your way. Please come back and visit again soon.