Posted in One-Word Wednesday

One Word Wednesday 5/27/26

“Gators!”

Robert and I spent last week house- and dog-sitting for daughter Amy at their place on Savannah’s Skidaway Island.

Perhaps the Greatest Joy of visiting Skidaway (other than grandchildren, of course) is the wide variety of wildlife that abounds at nearly every turn.

White-tailed deer run around as if they own the island (which of course, they actually do, or used to).

On a walk, sharing the early morning

Raccoons, marsh rabbits, gray foxes, and opossums are common.

Dolphins and river otters.

A variety of native turtles, frogs, and non-venomous snakes are also present.

Coastal and I saying hello to a sandy turtle.

Black racer slinking across the back yard

But by far, the true Attention Grabber on the island in many of the lagoons and waterways is the omnipresent American Alligator.

You can’t see him well, but he’s there.

Robert and I saw four others (!) in this same pond on this day.

You simply learn to give alligators their space.

They are not inherently aggressive, naturally fearing humans and usually prefer to retreat or swim away when approached. The problem comes when humans illegally feed alligators. They learn to associate people with food and may aggressively approach them.

Posted in Five Friday Happy Bringers

Five Friday Happy Bringers 5/22/26

My weekly gratitude journal, of sorts.

1. This incredible pizza Robert and I devoured at Ricciardi’s Pizzeria in Richmond Hill GA.

2. This sheet of flowery wrapping paper …

… which wrapped a bundle of supplies I need for a summer memoir writing course coming up in June.

More about that adventure later. 

3. The ability to get out of bed each morning.

4. Completing 2222 meditation sessions on my 10% Happier app.

Wouldn’t you think I’d be a tad more guru-ish by now?!

5. The beautiful spring lights outside daughter Amy‘s next-door neighbor‘s house.

May something light up beautifully for you this weekend.

Posted in Cellpic Sunday

Cellpic Sunday: “Bigleaf” 5/17/26

Photos taken with my always-there and trusty cell phone.

On a recent trip up to Atlanta, Robert and I ventured over to the city’s Westside Park — Atlanta’s largest green space, built on the site of the former Bellwood Quarry, featuring a massive reservoir that serves as an emergency water supply

As we were hiking toward the reservoir, we came upon this tree and its blooms …

What drew my rapt attention were the big leaves and the flowers that looked so much like our Southern Magnolia.

So I asked my friend iNaturalist for help:

Largest simple leaf and single flower of any native plant in North America!

What a fitting name for the lovely tree!

JohnBo’s Cellpic Sunday: https://photobyjohnbo.com/2026/03/15/cellpic-sunday-the-artist/