First off, I arrived only to find I couldn't even get up the driveway for the overgrowth of weeds. With the car fully laden, that was an obstacle requiring immediate resolution. So, off I went to meet some new neighbors and check in with one I'd known for a few years. An hour and a backhoe later, I was unpacking. Four hours later, it started to rain. The Spirits were with me every step of the way!
The "wild life" I get to see down south is quite different. Neighbors on two sides of me have horses, and there are lots more in the neighborhood. My nephew and his family have horses in Christmas, Florida; I also got to see the "Arabian Nights" show while in Orlando. 
Then, a gathering of Lily the Black Bear fans and family at Highlands Hammock State Park provided great fun, and opportunities to observe some of Florida's signature wildlife...gators, turtles and tourists!
Heading back home towards Pennsylvania, my last stop was to catch up with my brother and his family, and spend the day with my nephew enjoying wildlife Halloween style, at the Pumpkin Patch.Back home now, I've downloaded over 1700 photos taken by the trail cam while I was away. Of course, I took more than that myself in the four weeks I spent traveling all over. So I've got a lot of work to do, to review, edit, compile and share memories of the escapades with all of my family and friends. In the meantime, life goes on and I'm thrilled to see critters frequenting the Hard Rock Diner. The trail cam has observed deer including a massive 10 point buck and a few smaller ones, our "usual" does and their babies, the raccoon family, tons of turkey and other birds, but today was the first day since my return, that I actually SAW a bear outside. Our hunting season doesn't start until November, so I'm hopeful I will have some more sightings before they all go to den for the winter. Of course, it snowed here today, so winter isn't far away regardless of what the calendar may indicate!
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"The love of family and the admiration of friends
