the dance of the brown skink

Another hike at my local, neighborhood state forest.  While I was egrossed in studying a beat up ole live oak.

I heard a ruslting in the leaves.  I couldn't see what it was so I moved closer and found a pair of brown skink doing a dance.  Maybe the dance.
 

First they would approach and posture up  . . .  closer and closer until their urge to fight was irresistable.

Wow! they were tangling (tangoing) so fast you couldn't even see it.

They would land - disoriented -  figure out where they were and  . . .


 Then they would go back to the posturing part of the dance.


and again tangle. . . .  in the unending dance. 

I felt like I took too many pictures and spent too much time with these little guys so I moved on to bigger but not necissarily better things. (like the otter)

The whole experience reveals several insights to me: First, that small things can facinate as much as big ones.  Second, I get distracted easily.  And third,  I need to start taking video because the pictures somtimes just doesn't cut it when the dance is on.

More Ocala National Forest

It was such a nice day on a Friday I ducked out of work early for a quick hike in the forest.
After due consideration and some google earth I chose a place I hiked about 7 years ago.

A section of the Florida Trail just of the side of the CR 314.  It was windy today and the clouds flew across the sky.  The sunlight flowed through the trees in waves across the grass.

I was really here looking for spring wildflowers but I guess it's still a little to early.  I found a beautiful burned forest stand.  I want to say it was well managed but it sounds so . . .  "managed."

There are still lots of oak trees along the way.  It's hard to see them as out of place but periodic fire is the natural way.  The forest service has made a real effort to control burn this place.  It looks great.

The pictures don't show how hilly it is in the backgound or how far you can see through the trees. 

But you can actually see the waves of sunlight.

A beautiful Florida Trail day hike in the not yet spring.  I sang "In the garden"  as I walked.

Otter With Attitude

Another Encounter with one of my favorite of God's animal creations and , . . .
  a quiet hike in the woods.

A hot late January afternoon here at Indian Lake . .  a small lake.

I approached slowly as I watched a flock of turkeys and was lucky to see an otter before he saw me.

Then he saw me and didn't seem concerned.  Cautiously and curious he checked me out.

I watched him for a long while but lost interest and went about my wanderlust  exploring the
 bent oaks and wild orchids of this place.

I went back to the lake and caught my new friend napping. So I slowly crept up to capture a few moments. I rarely see otters out of the water and this is pretty special . . .

  to me anyway.

He was just taking a cat nap . . . chillin' .    After a while he saw me sitting across the lake.

I'm setup with my tripod in the bushes. I don't move.

  He calms down but now sleeps with his ears up.

I don't move. My new friend is not happy with me. He seems a bit irritated about the loss of nap time.

He checks me out.   After a half hour or so he gets restless and moves.  What is he doing?

He gets up; ambles over to the water and appears to be taking a dump! Never seen that before.

 He turns back to smell it, ugh!

 and does it again! 

  Is this for my benefit?   I'm laughing at the show.

 He looks at me to make sure I have been watching

 

and calmly goes about preening his coat.

Otters are above the mere labors of survival. They have attitude.

 Otters are totally cool and can back it up.  What a day.

the temple cypress

A natural but uncommon condition of the bald cypress is a hollow  trunk during old age.  Based on my ongoing fascination with big trees and their character,  a big hollow cypress takes on a spiritual nature.  I am drawn to it.

This is a cypress tree on Juniper Creek that I have visited several times a year for many years.
You can climb inside it but is more of an adventure than a relaxing or reflective experience.

Another tree I know well is on the Ocklawaha River at the entry passage to dead river and cedar creek (if you know where I mean).  This tree is like several I knew as a kid,  the knees all around make for a magical hobbit-like setting of a grandmother cypress.  It makes me feel like a large gnome.

A few days ago I took a hike to visit the biggest temple cypress just before the new year.  Just to visit.  It's so big  4  people could fit in this room.   I would like to take some people to see it.

Funny thing happened on my hike for the new year -  I found another hollowed-out cypress nearby.  I can't help but take the discovery of  new tree as a sign for the new year.

These special parts of the natural  have become the theme of this blog that I wondered  about when I started it.  I suspected that I might write about any number of topics.   The wonders of our nearby everyday natural world have ended up as the theme of the blog in a semi-unintentional way.     How can you not respect and revere the beauty that is created solely by the creator.   It holds my intention.   If you ask me I will gladly bring you to this place.

OK so I bought an RV

I still feel a little guilty about it even after enjoying it for almost a year now.  We bought it from a nice couple in Homossasa Springs.   It's a 2007 Eco 718FD  by Skamper but actually built by Dutchmen Mfg. who makes many brands.

Basically, its a 16 X 7 ft box on wheels packed with utility systems.  We like the funky paint job.  Someday it will look good as an old retro camper.  As you may suspect (or know) there is not much that is ecological about  it.  The Eco is one of the earlier models that reduced (I won't say eliminated) the use of  formaldehyde.  Best to buy a used RV that has aired out.  

 Here is our setup in March at Suwannee Springfest 2011.  Our first trip in the bungalow.  We've named it the bungalow.  Before this we had tent camped at Springfest for three years and in 2009 we got rained on pretty good.  (my girls did not like it!).  In 2010 we decided to try renting an RV which resulted in maximum good hair days, good sleep and exceptional hygiene.  We liked it.  Below is our Springfest setup with auxilliary tent for kids and outdoor shower.

   Another of our practical plans for the bungalow is to be able to spend time with our family in Ormond Beach.  We've stayed at Tomoka State Park twice now with bungalow working much better than a motel room or a fold out couch. 

This is campsite 38 in beautiful Tomoka Satate Park.  It has water access so I can wake up, catch the sunrise from my kayak while Jean is sleeping.  Perfect.  the pic below is from the lagoon looking through the woods to campsite 38  (37 is good too.)

One chilly morning at campsite 19  Janet, Janine and Chocolate stopped in for blueberry pancakes by the fire.

For me,  the best part of camping in the bungalow is that Jean is relaxed, at ease and comfortable while I, at the same time, can venture outside and and stalk the mystic light of the morning.  And . . .   We  can share blueberry pancakes with hot coffee when I get back.  We can bring the bikes.   We can sit by the fire at night. We are going to try to bring the dogs next time.    But most importantly,  Jean can sleep like this  . . . . 

There's no place like the right time

Being there is and being ready for anything is my method for photography.  Lacking the technical skills of photographers I admire -  I rely heavily on an artistic concept known as the "happy accident."  Another of my inclinations for capturing moments in photo comes from my friend John Moran, who says, "Focus yourself then focus the camera."  Recounting these inner precepts takes me back to one foggy, foggy day on the gulf coast.  I was alone, as usual, the visibility was very low as I hiked out into the estuary to meet the coming sunset.   I was hoping for the best as I set up and the fog soon began to clear.

The air is damp and thick.   I am setting up quickly and getting a little excited because I am fortunate to capture this spooky beauty. The sun is dim and cool.

The air clears a little and I can see the sky.  I am again lucky in my patience to capture a flock of birds.

The light warms as the sun sinks; I am staying focused and being still.  It feels good to be chasing after something (the light) and catching it.

The sun lets off a last spark of brilliance and the colors begin to cool.  I remain still focused, standing on top of my ladder in the cold.  It's beautiful. The effort is great.  My attention is fixed.

An all engrossing event such as this is a blessing to one with a wandering mind like myself.  Immersion  in pursuit of beauty seems to me to be the best of a meditation for me.  Being there is fully its own reward.  Special thanks to Donna the Buffalo for the title of this blog entry.