One of the nice things about living in Tallahassee is the mix of urban and rural. It’s not a big city, but it has enough of the amenities to make it comfortable. There are a ton of great local restaurants, an active art community, and while the roads aren’t great, it’s generally no more than twenty minutes to anywhere in town. 
There is also a lot of greenery here. There is a national forest just south of town, along with a national wildlife refuge. There are also several state parks and archeological sites, county parks, city parks, and the Gulf of Mexico is only a short drive. Needless to say, it’s nice to spend free time walking the nature trails, exploring new parks, and just being outside in the fresh air.
This past weekend, my partner and I loaded the mutts into my car (the “dog car”) to take them for their weekly ride out to the Lake Jackson Mounds State Park. Our older dog doesn’t have the energy to walk the trails, but she still loves wandering around the trees in the manicured picnic area and jumping (more like a lunging stumble) into a small creek to get her belly wet. 
Just a hundred yards or so up the road is Lake Jackson. The lake is an odd body of water. It’s fed by a sinkhole – one of the thousands that pockmark north and central Florida – and occasionally the sinkhole decides it wants the water back. Yep, the water actually recedes back into the sinkhole and approximately six miles of lake becomes six miles of mud and very confused fish. It doesn’t happen often, but it did occur a couple of years ago and the water is still slowly returning to the surface.
Still, on a cold winter morning it can make for some beautiful photographs. After spending time at the park, we loaded the dogs back into the car and drove down to one of the boat landings. There was no one else around but us and what looked like thousands of ducks. It was amazing. The sun was struggling to get up over the horizon and its rays were muted by the mist rising off the water’s surface. The ducks seemed oblivious to everything as they swam, splashed, and generally enjoyed the peaceful morning. 
I took a few photos to share here. I don’t think they do justice to just how many waterfowl were in the water, but I think the pics turned out well. They capture the essence of early winter here in Tallahassee.
RB
Your description of the peaceful morning at Lake Jackson is absolutely captivating. The blend of nature and tranquility shines through in every word, and it’s incredible how vividly you bring the scene to life—from the mist rising off the water to the playful ducks. It’s moments like these that remind us how special it is to slow down and appreciate the simple beauty around us. The photos must be stunning; they clearly reflect the magic of early winter in Tallahassee. Thanks for sharing such a heartwarming glimpse into your weekend! 🌿🐾✨
Thank you so much, Anna. I’m glad to know you enjoyed the photos and description. 🙂
That’s a beautiful lake. Your camera and your eye for photography captured the morning there really well.
I appreciate the kind words, my friend.
Gorgeous photos, Richard. Lucky dogs.
Thank you, Pat. Not bad for an iPhone!
And yes, our dogs are spoiled rotten. 🙂