A morning on La Chua Trail in Florida — On December 1st, my friend Gina and I visited La Chua Trail, which consists of almost three miles of trails and boardwalks through wetlands and marshes. Wherever there is shallow water in Florida, you’ll find a Great Blue Heron, the largest of the North American herons. Although a very tall…

The story behind the photo — Sometimes, what you don’t see is the real story. The photo above shows a Red-Shouldered Hawk on a branch. What you don’t see is the squirrel to the hawk’s left. The squirrel wanted to go all the way out on that branch and ran several times toward the hawk as…

December Writing & Photography Prompt — Our November prompt was In Flight, and thank you for all the entertaining and delightful stories and photos about birds. When I saw this Mallard Duck photo by Sharing Words, I knew it would be our December banner, and our prompt would be Afloat. It seemed the perfect opposite of…

In weather and mood — Sunday was dull and gray, as most of November has been. And cold. As Syau and I walked on the trail, a Great Egret, who’d been fishing in the drainage ditch to the right of the trail, took flight, soaring a couple of feet above this man’s head to settle…

Responding to Comments — I recently wrote this piece about a friendship that died after the 2016 election: Trump Killed My Friendship Crow’s Feet Writing Prompt #20 — Friendshipmedium.com I entitled it “Trump Killed My Friendship,” although that’s not a known fact. Perhaps he contributed to its demise indirectly, but really, it was indifference to depression that was the cause. I texted my oldest friend…

Another birding escape — Last week I wrote about a birding trip I took with Gina when one of Ben’s daughters came to visit in August, before his fall in early September: Seeking Solace at Sweetwater An escaping to nature photo journalmedium.com A week after that daughter visited, two more arrived. Again, I took advantage of the free time their visit afforded me and…

Ask Empowering Questions Series — You ask questions that my younger self would answer differently than this woman knocking on the door of seven decades — for time and experience fashion answers as surely as youth and innocence. Age doesn’t bring clarity but often acceptance and sometimes, judgment. Any deserving forgiveness received it long ago; I don’t forgive easily…

My Week in Photos — Sunday was my Tropical Storm Nicole cleanup day. The storm flattened many of the plants in my front garden area. I had to trim them back so they’d eventually become upright again. My Hibiscus plants loved the 3-inches of rain that Nicole brought and are loaded with blooms. I tried…

Crow’s Feet Writing Prompt #20 — Friendship — She was 6, and I was 5 when my father, sisters, and I moved into Deb’s neighborhood. She was horrified that I didn’t have a mother (she died when I was an infant) and offered hers. Deb’s mother would be my substitute mom until her death 40 years later. We…