Another beautiful day in March

Last night I finally cooked up my last batch of frozen blueberries that I picked last summer and mixed them with some cranberries that I had stashed in the freezer.

I simply added some water, a little sugar and lemon rind to cook a tasty, tangy compote that I spooned over my pancake this morning instead of syrup:

Tasted great with coffee after my morning's walk with Gizzy!

Close to midnight last night, I heard this rustling outside my living room window, so I opened the door when I spotted the Armadillo in the bushes by my front porch digging up the dirt and chomping on morsels.

That's the best I could do, considering it was pitch black outside and I couldn't see exactly where I was aiming ... besides I was too chicken to go closer towards him since the last thing I wanted was to startle a wild animal, no matter how docile it may seem.

This morning was nice and cool, so Gizzy and I went for our walk around 8 am and we met up with some friends and I took a lot more photos, so I hope you will enjoy them:

I've lived here six years already and am still fascinated with the Spanish Moss. Morning light adds an additional dimension that gives everything an enchanted and sort of romantic look.

The view walking down the hill towards the lake...

  

A bird condo way up high on a tall post - safe from the roaming kitty cats!

looking up into the old Live Oak tree laden with Spanish Moss

Everything is bursting into bloom. The trees near the entrance of the Nature Trail are showing their pretties to entice the busy bees to come and visit.

With still so many bare branches, the early bloomers are bound to steal the show...

...and the Caroline Jessamine (Jasmine) is no exception! 

This is one of my favorites! I have a small piece in a bud vase sitting in my open kitchen window right now; each gentle breeze drifts a heavenly whiff of the fragrant, yellow blossoms. 

I find that there's something unassuming and innocent about the scent of a spring blossom that transporst me back to my childhood and memories of field trips in the woods.

Doesn't this photo of Gizzy look phony? To me it looks as if it had a fake back drop. Earlier this morning, the lake was perfectly still, reflecting everything in its water like a mirror.

I just now enlarged that photo and noticed how dirty Gizzy is...the grass was still wet from dew and him being so short, he's a regular mop...and what is he looking at? It looks like he's watching some crawly thing in his path, doesn't it?

If you were suffering from a stiff neck today and were unable to look up, you'd only have to look down into the water to see the sky!

Lucky me, came upon a Wood Stork busily stalking his breakfast. His massive beak poked in and out of the water as I watched him swallow several morsels.

He must've found a good spot because he seemed preoccupied enough for me to sneak up a bit closer.

New, green tips on a tree overhanging the water near a little boat ramp.There are no motor boats allowed on Lake Irma, but you can use a paddle boat or row boat, anything that does not pollute the water with gasoline.

If anyone knows the name of that bush, I would be interested in finding out, please!

A Bald Cypress (or Swamp Cypress) standing in Lake Irma.

What is sitting on the little peninsula? Looks like Mr. Wood Stork and a white Egret...

Sure enough: A Great Egret (L) and Mr. Wood Stork

This is as close as I got before the Egret flew off, leaving Mr. Wood Stork sitting by himself.

He didn't seem to mind on such a glorious morning!

I turn around to see Gizzy watching me as I had to sneak up on the birds using trees and a trash can to hide behind. 

On the home stretch, I enjoy some more Camellias.

If anyone knows the name of these pink or lavender blooming trees, please let me know. I think they are just magnificent:

Near my apartment we find more blooming Bradford Pear (or Callery Pear) trees that I love so much:

That's where I live - the tree is at my back door!

Right below the white "snow" glory, is my back door and I go inside feeling snug as a Hobbit in my little corner of the world. I know that I'm blessed and often feel that I don't deserve it, but I'm so thankful to have my eyes to see God's beauty every day!

Thanks for coming along. I hope you enjoyed our walk together!