Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park in Florida is a treasure. As the sign states driving into the park, “This is the real Florida.”
It is one of the things I love about northern Florida is that in many aspects it feels like stepping back in time.
One of the highlights was seeing quite a large alligator in the marshy part of the preserves. It was truly a thrill! And actually, we got to see two! This one below we watched as it swam toward land, not far from where the other gator was hanging out.
I just marveled at how ancient they really are. Walking along a boardwalk nearby I saw this sign:
Alligators…
At first I chuckled reading this sign. Then I wondered, do people really think they are lazy? Then the more I thought about it, the more I appreciated this teaching from alligator.
Being that gators are cold-blooded they have to get their energy from the sun and why you see them laying out in the open like this. Though we humans aren’t cold-blooded, we too, get our energy from being outdoors in nature and learning to slow down and just be.
So basking turns out to be a good thing for all of us! And basking, slowing down, and taking in nature and the sunshine has certainly been so good for my spirits these past few weeks.
The other highlight was seeing wild horses out in the prairie that we were able to observe after climbing the tower at the preserve.
This was equally a thrill to see! Watching them for a time I found myself feeling verklempt as emotions stirred within me. To be wild and free. It’s what I think we all wish for, isn’t it?
While the area we are in is known as horse country with horse ranches abundantly scattered about, it was the wild horses that really spoke to me. And how blessed I feel to have been able to see them, to be part of their energy if only for a short time, and experience the stirring of emotions that I did.
XO
Barb
