Every Day is a Gift!
One of my granddaughters helped me plant a Cara Cara Orange tree in April, 2021. The tree has survived snow, an ice storm, and tropical storms. Up until this year the tree has only produced a few edible oranges.
There are several oranges on the tree but it will be a while before they are ready to pick. I can’t wait!
Shared with John’s Cellpic Sunday
October 10, 2023 – Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
When I read that the 2026 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta began yesterday, October 3, memories of my experience at the Fiesta three years ago came flooding back.
Tuesday, October 10 was the first of three incredible days at the Fiesta. There was a lot of activity on the field as the pilots and crews prepared their balloons for launch. The sky was filled with hot air balloons of all shapes, sizes and colors.
My brother volunteers as a launch director every year. They are called Zebras because of their black and white striped shirts. Their job is to make sure the balloons take off safely. I tried to keep up with him as he ran around the field giving the pilots the go ahead to launch their balloon.
I was exhausted and my feet hurt at the end of each day of the Fiesta but it was an experience I will never forget.
Shared with John’s Cellpic Sunday
John is our host this week. His challenge: “Share up to six waterscapes—images where water shapes the scene. Choose your favorite places, your favorite photos, or a single location that inspires you. Natural or man‑made, peaceful or wild—if water helps tell the story, it’s fair game”
When I first read John’s challenge I thought it would easy. Oceans, rivers, creeks, lakes, swamps, bayous, and salt marshes are a few of my favorite places shaped by water. However, for this challenge I decided to focus on a place near and dear to my heart, the Okefenokee Swamp in my home state of Georgia. The Okefenokee Swamp is first site in the United States to be added as a World Heritage Site in over 30 years and is the only site in Georgia to receive the designation.
The Okefenokee Swamp is North America’s largest blackwater wetland and one of Georgia’s Seven Natural Wonders. It was designated as a National Wildlife Refuge in 1937 and on July 25, 2026, the Okefenokee Swamp was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can read more about the Okefenokee at Okefenokee World Heritage Site.
One of our favorite state park campgrounds was once named Stephen C. Foster State Park located in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Fargo, Georgia. The state of Georgia renamed the park Okefenokee State Park on September 1, 2026. We camped there many times during the years. Our favorite thing to do was to take a boat ride into the swamp. Sometimes we went on a Ranger led boat tour, sometimes we rented a canoe to paddle through the swamp, and sometimes we rented a small motor boat. As we rode through the swamp through Spanish Moss Covered Cypress trees we always saw plenty of wildlife including alligators and birds.
Here are a few of my favorite images of the Okefenokee.
Last week Sofia’s fun challenge of What is it? had us guessing what was depicted in a photo. You had some really great photos that made me think “I have no idea”. Thank you to everyone who joined the challenge.
Many thanks to our host John for this week’s fun challenge. If you would like to join the challenge please be sure to tag your post with Lens-Artists and include a link back to his post Lens-Artists #412: Places shaped by water.
Be sure to check back on Saturday, September 12 at noon eastern time when I will be your host for the challenge.
You can keep up with all of our challenges by subscribing to the Lens-Artists team members websites: Tina, Patti, Ann-Christine, John, Sofia, Anne, Egidio, Ritva, Beth.
For information on how to join the Lens-Artists challenge please click here.
Every Day is a Gift
I have reached the age where I don’t have to travel to an exciting destination or have a big party to celebrate my birthday. Last year we enjoyed our anniversary celebration in Darien so much I wanted to return this year for my birthday.
We traveled south on U.S. Hwy 17 to our destination on the Darien River in Darien, Georgia. Our first stop was Mudcat Charlie’s at the Two Way Fish Camp on the Altamaha River in Brunswick. After some delicious wild Georgia shrimp for lunch we walked around the dock and looked down on an 11 1/2 foot alligator in the muddy water.
Savannah is the oldest city in Georgia but did you know that Darien is Georgia’s 2nd oldest city?
For the next day and a half I swam in the pool, enjoyed the view of the Darien River from our deck at the hotel, watched young alligators swimming in the river, enjoyed seeing the huge Live Oaks draped with Spanish Moss as I wandered around the hotel, and ate some more delicious meals.
Live Oak
Relaxing and spending time with my husband in a beautiful setting was a perfect way to celebrate my birthday.
Every Day is a Gift
If you are traveling along I-95 through Georgia and want to take a break The Smallest Church in America is worth the short drive off the interstate. The church is located on the side of the road on US Highway 17 in Townsend, Georgia. There are two picnic tables under the oaks if you want to eat lunch or just relax for a few minutes.
An arsonist burned this church in November, 2015. Volunteers rebuilt the church in 2016.
Directions: Take I-95 exit 67, about one mile south on US Hwy 17. Look for a white sign on the left (east) side, “Smallest Church in America”. You can also search Google Maps for “Smallest Church in America”.
Shared with John’s Cellpic Sunday
Every Day is a Gift
