Friday Foto Friends ~ A Ride Through the Woods

Here it is time for Friday Foto Friends again, and I realized tonight (Thursday) that I didn't have any new pictures to share with you.  It's been a busy week, and I already shared pictures earlier in the week, and just didn't get out anywhere interesting enough to take any more pictures.

So tonight I told my hubby I was going for a ride down further on our road, which I rarely ever do by myself, especially in the evening, because of the possibility of bears, etc....but hubby didn't feel like going with me, so I got brave and went by myself! 

 It is a long winding dirt road through the woods, which is actually a kind of a peninsula surrounded by marshy waters, leading to houses and canals at the end of the "key" into Big Lake Kerr, but for two miles there is nothing but woods and wildlife. Thankfully God was with me, and He provided lots of interesting things for us to see!

There were actually two turkeys running down the road,

and as I was driving it wasn't easy to get a picture quickly enough. (These pictures were taken through the front window of the car as I tried to stop and focus before they disappeared)

So thankfully this turkey straggled his way into the woods, enabling me to catch a quick pose before he disappeared...(He's thankful it isn't Thanksgiving yet!)

This "pond" used to be just a marshy area before last fall's hurricane and the subsequent rains...I was amazed at the amount of water still in these marsh areas...that is actually a good sign that our water tables are rising.

These grasses along the side of the road and pond on the other side show signs of paths worn through them from the deer and possibly the bears...

I should have let you hear the frogs croaking while taking this picture...they were very loud.  There may have been an alligator croaking as well, so I didn't want to venture too far from the safety of the car...

Again, this used to be very dry and barely a marsh...and now it is teeming with life.

This tree was staring at me as I drove further down the road...interesting face, don't you think? Not sure if that is a llama or a deer...it certainly got my attention...

The Florida Live Oaks are always very interesting in their shapes...

Mr. Red Shouldered Hawk flew right in front of me and landed in this tree. It was nice of him to pose for a quick picture before taking off again after his supper...

When I got back to the house, I decided to walk around to our own little pond area to check on the Sand Hill Crane family, and ran right into the deer family on their evening stroll...as you can see they are quite as curious about me as I am about them...

This picture is funny...the deer on the left has four ears and  eight legs...and the one on the right is leaping away as quick as he can...literally caught in mid-air.

 "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

The Lord God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer's feet,

and He will make me walk on my high hills."

Habakkuk 3:18-19 NKJV

What a treat to discover the Sand Hill Crane family settling down on their island for the night.

Here is one of the "colts"...as you can see they are getting taller every day.

From a distance you can see the four members of the family spread out across the sand bar island, where they settle in every night...the same place where their nest was.  I guess they feel safe out there.

Last, but not least...this dragonfly landed on a frog-gig spear alongside the dock. And time for me to head back home, thankful to have found some pictures to share with you!

I hope you enjoyed this little ride through the woods near my home. If you ever come to visit for real, we will be sure to take this little ride (or walk if you're brave enough!)

Now let us walk on over to see what our other friends have been up to this week.  You can find them at Deb's place, Breathing In Grace.    Have a blessed and beautiful day my friends! What do you see outside your open window?