While in Florida for our annual family reunion earlier this month, I was taking a time exposed shot of the moon’s reflection on the Gulf of Mexico. The “bonus” was when a person searching for something on the beach momentarily aimed the flashlight in my direction.
Here are a few more night shots with both moon and city lights shining.
For more examples of this week’s challenge, click HERE.
While the main feature of our vacation spot is a beach on the Gulf of Mexico, we have always enjoyed Alligator Lake and it’s occasional breaking out into the Gulf. But, only in the last few years did I discover its uniqueness to not only in the U.S., but in the world as a coastal dune lake.
Alligator Lake is held back from entering the Gulf by a coastal dune.
According to the Walton County Florida website:
Walton County is home to 15 named coastal dune lakes along 26 miles of coastline. These lakes are a unique geographical feature and are only found in Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, Oregon, and here in Walton County.
The brackish waters serve as a stark contrast with the clear water of the Gulf. The occasional break through due to flooding or storm surge (and the occasional human interaction), usually only last for a day before the dune is rebuilt and holds the water back for weeks. This video captured the “outfall” from Alligator Lake in our visit in 2014.
This post is in response to the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge.
This week’s challenge highlights our family’s annual pilgrimage to Florida, having just returned from that restorative retreat. Our time at the beach always increases our happy quotient, especially as we watch the grand kids enjoy the sand and surf.
In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Happy Place.”
October is technically off-season for tourism on the Florida panhandle, but it is the best time to be there to avoid the crowds and still have warm enough weather to get in the water.
And…solitary walks on the beach can be truly solitary!
In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Off-Season.”
The beach in a place of perpetual motion. From the waves to the wildlife, there is always something moving. These pictures were taken last October on the Florida panhandle.
As much as I like my granddaughter’s wave jumping abilities, her shadow is pretty good, as well. Her expectant mom, with twins who were born in December, is in the background.
Granddaughter #2 gets to ride the waves with dad.
Cousins prepare for a wave that’s about to swamp them.
My wife’s walk down the beach leaves the evidence of her motion.
In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Motion.”
We have found that coming to our vacation spot on this Florida beach during the month of October might inspire the cover art for a book entitled:
Off-Season Vacations – Having the Beach to Yourself
Click HERE for more contributions to this week’s challenge.
Sunsets at the beach are always a family viewing event. Last October, I caught this “last of the day” beach stroll of my sister and her husband, who celebrated fifty years of marriage that year. I love seeing them still go through life hand-in-hand,
Silhouettes at Sunset
Click HERE for more examples of “silhouette.”
Our family time in Florida is always spent combing the beach for treasures. My sister and her granddaughter’s reflected features were captured in this shot with the late day’s sun reflection in the water.
Her search was successful, finding this small sand dollar!
Ben at WordPress asks: This week, in a post created specifically for this challenge, show us an image that says REFLECTION. Click HERE for more examples of “reflections.”
As one of my daughters said, “We live from October to October.” This month is when our family meets in Florida for our annual vacation. Since most of our activities are centered around the beach, the horizon is sort of constant companion. Whether scanning for passing dolphins and taking in the last rays of the day, the line between sea and sky is always there.
The “genesis” of our horizons:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light day, and the darkness He called night. And there was evening and there was morning, one day. (Genesis 1:1-5 NASB)
To find out about this week’s challenge and link to more entries, click HERE
My wife and I have a regular morning practice of rising early to have a spiritual devotional time together. The tools we use are the Bible, a devotional guide or book (my favorite is Daily with the King – W. Glyn Evans) and a cup of coffee. After reading, we spend some time in prayer for our church, family and ourselves. Because we believe Christianity is relational, this is always a special time with the Lord, Jesus Christ and each other as we seek to hear from God and spend time talking to Him through prayer. It is our way of having a “Good Morning!”
Good morning, Son!
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Mark 1:35 (NIV)
Just for fun, here is another “Good Morning” picture to amend a comment I made about Vladimir Brezina’s post Travel Theme: Relaxing. His first photo showed Johna having a cup of coffee on a sandbar. Occasionally, a few brave souls join us for sunrise on the beach during our vacation time. Since the end of October is a little chilly even on the Gulf Coast, daughter #2 has her feet raised off the cold sand. Daughter #1, holding sleeping baby, gives me the “don’t you dare take this picture” glare! Oh, well…there it is.
Good morning, Sun!
For more examples of “Good Morning!”, go to WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge.
Rural Iowa Pastor 