Nesting Herons at our next stop which is St Andrews State Park.

I definitely recommend this park as well. They are still remodeling the park since one of the last hurricanes. But they are doing a great job of it. The campsites are level and full hook ups. With all the amenities. Trails to walk on, lots of birds, deer and beaches.

We happened to be there when some Blue Herons were starting to make nest on this little island in the middle of a small lake.

You might want to book a spot ahead of time, it is a very busy park. People coming and going everyday.

Have a great weekend.

Nesting Herons

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St Andrews state park. Beautiful Sunsets. Right by Panama City Fl.

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Real Christianity the Great Awakening

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All From Here – on the road again. We had a wonderful time here, a beautiful lake and lots of wildlife. We are headed west from here.

All From Here

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Alligator Place – There are some really old alligators here, the tour guide was telling us.

The alligator in the back is a female who is at the top of the seniority list in this area. They said her front leg is jacked up from battling with other gators protecting her young.

I hope to be back to this park again one day. Maybe during migration. They said the bird count is double to what I saw today.

Alligator Place

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Birds and Alligators – so many birds. This by far is one of the best nature parks I have been to. The birds are everywhere. They are so used to the tour boats going up and down the river that they don’t fly away when you go by in the boats.

But the Alligators, the most I have ever seen in one spot. The tour guide says the birds eat the baby alligators and the alligators eat the birds. Some balance there, because there are plenty of both around.

Birds and Alligators

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Next Stop – Wakulla Springs

I have had this spot marked on my maps for a couple of years to visit. We finally made it this past year. It is south of Tallahassee.

I highly recommend this area to visit.

Wakulla Springs is a place where history stretches back thousands of years, from early Native Americans who lived in shoreline villages to filmmakers who recognized the primeval quality of the park’s swamps and wildlife when they decided to film Tarzan’s Secret Treasure (1941) and Creature from the Black Lagoon (1954) here

• Depth: The spring’s vent is 185 feet below the water’s surface. 
• Size: The spring pool is 315 feet in diameter. 
• Cave system: The spring connects to an underwater cave system with over 26 miles of passageways. 
• Temperature: The water is near-constant 69 degrees

One of America’s largest springs is protected within Silver Springs State Park. We took a boat ride down river to see all the birds and manatees enjoying the tranquility of this area.

There are plenty of manatees enjoying the warm water.

Plus beautiful views all along the river.

Next Stop

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Treasures from the Sea – A walk on the beach can lead to all sorts of sea treasures. A variety of colors and textures.

Treasures from the Sea

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Seascapes – Have a great weekend. 🙂

Seascapes

Sandra J’s Into the Light Adventures

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As the Fog Lifted – leaving off from yesterdays post. I chose to wait to see what this lone tree would like like in the calm waters.

An hour and a half later, I discovered something more beautiful than I could have imagined—clear skies, the shimmer of the lake, and the tree still standing in its quiet solitude. In the end, the wait was worth it. But perhaps the true beauty lies not in the moment of revelation, but in the patience it took to see it.

As we step into the New Year, may we carry with us the reminder that life is precious and fleeting. Let us not take it for granted, but live each moment with love, gratitude, and joy.

In the stillness of nature, we find our true teacher—guiding us to inner peace, away from the noise and chaos of the world.

Remember, we are created by the One who loves us more than we can ever imagine. Embrace the beauty of the present, smile often, and let your heart overflow with love. A new beginning awaits, filled with hope and endless possibilities.

Happy New Year’s Eve to you all. 🙂

As the Fog Lifted

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The Morning Air

The morning air was thick with fog as I took my usual walk down to the lake. The world felt muted, everything wrapped in a soft haze, as if nature itself was holding its breath. The water was invisible, lost in the mist, and the stillness made it feel like time itself had slowed.

I stood there for a few moments, watching as the fog rolled in waves, not knowing if I should wait or move on. Above, a small patch of blue sky began to appear, hinting at the promise of something beautiful. The anticipation of the fog lifting held me captive, but doubt crept in. Should I wait to see what the lake would reveal, or was I simply wasting time?

Life moves fast, and sometimes, patience feels like a luxury we can’t afford. I debated with myself—would it really be worth staying? Should I wait for the moment when the fog would reveal the full view of the lake, or just leave and go about my day?

As I stood there lost in thought, I caught sight of a lone tree, standing tall amidst the fog. Its silhouette was sharp against the misty backdrop, and I snapped a photo, capturing the solitary figure. The fog was still heavy, but there was something quiet and beautiful about that tree, standing firm despite the obscured world around it.

It was at that moment I realized something: perhaps this was a lesson in patience. Not everything needs to be rushed. Sometimes, the world’s beauty reveals itself when we give it time. I could choose to leave, but there was something powerful about waiting, allowing the scene to unfold on its own terms.

The Morning Air

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December in the South – Things you find on a beach. 🙂

December in the South

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Merry Christmas

As we embrace the Christmas season, whether we celebrate with faith or simply with the spirit of kindness and connection, may this time bring hope, love, and joy to all.

It’s a moment to appreciate the small blessings, cherish time with loved ones, and find peace in the togetherness we share.

Have a wonderful day, and hopefully a long weekend filled with family and the joy of being together.

Merry Christmas

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Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve signifies a time of anticipation and reflection. It’s the evening before Christmas, filled with moments of togetherness, quiet joy, and often a sense of peace as people prepare to celebrate the holiday.

For many, it symbolizes hope, love, and the spirit of giving, as families gather, traditions are observed, and the excitement for Christmas Day grows. It’s a time to pause, appreciate the moment, and share warmth with loved ones.

Christmas Eve

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Earlier Lighthouses

Eagle Harbor Light House Lake Superior

Saint Simmons Island Georgia

Ontonagon Light House Lake Superior

Copper Harbor Light House. This one you can not get to up close, but you can see it with a long lens from across the bay here.

And Tybee Island Georgia

Plus the one I posted yesterday in Florida

Have a Great Weekend.

Earlier Lighthouses

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Light House Number Six, we went for a drive down to the St Marks National Wildlife Refuge area. Where we found Light House number 6, to add to my list.

This one was right on the water’s edge. So the best shot would be out in the water looking back. But, that wasn’t going to happen, unless it was low tide.

Tomorrow I will show the other 5 that I have photograph. There has actually been a couple more, but some of them one just can’t get to. They are in some pretty remote places or you could only see them by boat.

Light House Number Six

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Sights From the Dock – Every morning I would walk down to the docks at this lake to check things out.

One morning this air boat was going back and forth way across the lake. From the photos he was spraying something from a hose it looks like. Not sure what he was doing. That air boat was sure loud.

There actually was not a lot of birds around here besides all those turkey vultures I mentioned earlier.

This little guy was fluttering around the low branches over the water.

One Egret was always spotted doing some fishing every morning. Just the one.

Sights From the Dock

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As day fades into night and night melts into day, the clouds tell a story of transformation. Golden sunsets paint the sky in rich hues, while soft blue sunrises bring a fresh promise of hope.

These serene, photogenic moments are reminders of the beauty that surrounds us—beauty only found when we step outside and immerse ourselves in the world’s natural wonders, right before our eyes.

As Day Fades into Night

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Standing on the Edge

Imagine standing at the edge of a long, weathered dock, stretching out toward a still, calm lake. The water is smooth as glass. It reflects the pale, ethereal fog rolling across its surface. The fog obscures the view of the far shore. It feels as though the dock leads directly into the unknown.

It seems to extend into a misty abyss where the world disappears into the distance. Each step forward seems uncertain, as though the wooden planks beneath your feet might vanish into the haze.

But then, as you walk toward the end of the dock, the faint glow of sunrise begins to emerge through the fog. Soft, golden light breaks through the mist, casting a warm, steady glow across the scene. The dock ahead, covered in a delicate carpet of autumn leaves, feels inviting, grounded, offering a sense of safety amidst the uncertainty.

In that moment, the fog no longer seems frightening. Instead, it becomes a gentle reminder of the journey ahead, with each step feeling like a step closer to peace, to hope, and to the embrace of something greater.

The light at the end of the dock feels like the presence of the Lord, guiding you forward, giving you the strength to take that first step into the unknown, assured that you are walking into His comforting, unwavering safety.

Standing on the Edge

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Mirror Image – Amazing views this past week here at this lake just south of Tallahassee. The fog has been quite something to see on the lake.

I would wander down to the lake before the first light of dawn, standing on the dock in silence, awaiting the moment when the sun would gently pierce the mist.

In those quiet hours, the water lies as still as a forgotten dream, its surface so serene it feels as if it might hold the secrets of another realm.

It is in this ethereal light that the world seems to pause, and the lake becomes a portal—one could almost step onto its surface, walking effortlessly into the horizon, vanishing into a world beyond the edges of time.

Have a great weekend.

Mirror Image

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Interesting Reflections – I had a lovely morning walk to this beautiful little lake, where I was greeted by some fascinating cloud reflections on the water. As the sun began to rise, it slowly illuminated the sky, adding to the magic of the moment.

The cloud reflections were just the beginning of some truly beautiful mornings at the lake.

As the temperatures finally started to cool, foggy mornings became a regular sight. It turns out that fog rising from a calm autumn lake creates even more stunning reflections.

The image below captures this beauty— as the fog drifts across the water, it creates the illusion of another world unfolding on the horizon, with shapes and patterns reminiscent of a kaleidoscope.

The trees have mostly turned brown, but the lush grasses and lily pads are still clinging to their deep green hues, adding a touch of elegance to the otherwise gloomy lake view.

Interesting Reflections

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Florida Panhandle – there are lots of great campgrounds along the panhandle of Florida. I found this little campground next to a nice lake just south of Tallahassee.

It only had about a dozen spots, this photo below shows our quiet little nook in the campground.

A great lake for fishing as the boats came and went most every day. The fisherman said they catch mostly bass here and speckled perch.

The first morning walk down to the lake, I saw the largest group of turkey vultures I have ever seen.

They were all in the trees in the distance and as the sun was rising they all took off at once and headed north.

One morning this colorful boat was cruising across the lake and the sun was shinning on it just perfect. We started to leave and these folks pulled up to the dock, so we went up to the gentleman as he got out of the boat and showed him the photo.

Asked him if he would like a copy so we text it to right on the spot. He really liked the shot.

Florida Panhandle

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Tybee Island Lighthouse – I have photographed this light house before. There are just so many different ways to photograph it. It is in such a pretty location with lots of beach grass and sand piles.

I like this angle with the old building in front of it.

Now this is a different kind of shot. We were walking back to the parking lot and noticed two Grackles perched on this truck right in front of the light house. Well, they are such a colorful bird in the sunlight, it made for a fun photo.

Then I had to replace the truck with a branch, that was a lot of red. They were sitting all over this persons truck. 🙂

Tybee Island Lighthouse

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Atlantic – We had a photo shoot to do at Tybee Island this year while we were in the neighborhood. Off the North Atlantic Ocean.

Wonderful beaches and container ships coming and going along the coast line.

I took this one while in the Jeep as we were moving. The rainbow popped up right by it. I don’t think that is really the pot of gold though. 🙂

Atlantic

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Looking Up – Yes, even our pets can look like they have a double chin when taking their photos looking up at them. She is all fluff on this one.

Cats

Looking Up

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Our Last Stop we walked down a short path that opened up to a beautiful waterway. With one egret standing in the water. I love the blues and greens surrounding the bird.

The moon was visible during the day on this trip so I had to take a photo of it as well. This is straight out of the camera using a 6oo mm lens.

This is all for this nature preserve.

We crossed the bridge back over to Georgia.

The shipping yard looked empty when we looked down river. No container ships at all in the water.

I will leave you with a couple of photos of Ships I have photographed in different places. Have a great weekend.

Our Last Stop

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Road Through the Preserve – At every turn there is something to see. From the beautiful moss covered trees to birds perched on logs drying their feathers.

Take the time to find out if there are any nature preserves in your area. Makes for a fun drive if nothing else.

Road Through the Preserve

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Next to the Nature Park, it is next to the Savannah river, right off from the North Atlantic Ocean. So as one looks towards the left anywhere from within in the park. You will see the Georgia Ports Authority Shipping Container Yards.

Literally yards and yards of shipping containers. But, one will see places like this all along the coast. I forgot about them as we drove deeper into the preserve and started seeing birds.

I saw this very interesting lone tree along one of the waterways. I had to edit it a bit, by cutting out the shipping containers in the background.

Original photo below this one.

Next to the Nature Park

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