When Maddy arrived – the next day we took her on one of our walks.

Diane – our neighbor went with us and it had just rained.

We walked our three-plus miles – showing where she could run her four miles

that she runs to keep in shape for soccer.

It was a beautiful day – after the downpour and the sun came out.

We had told her we had a couple gators in our pond –

although we have only ever seen one at a time.

We were standing along the trail and looking for the gator – after the rain, the water level was up.

The gator usually is in the middle on a raise of land and weeds.

We could not see it and all of a sudden in a very quiet voice –

MADDY says “It’s right there” pointing down the bank and to the water!

We had never seen it anyplace other than the middle!

As soon as I took the picture – it flipped over and into the water and started swimming away.

We were all surprised and jumped as it flipped into the water.

Maddy had her first sighting of a gator here in N.C. and a close one at that!

After our walk was over – we went home and on the back patio, I started a fire in the SOLO STOVE!

Maddy and her family always do campfires.

We have been picking up dead branches and pine combs to burn –

while also buying firewood bundles.

There is also a lot of throw-away construction pieces that we have gathered.

I only burn it on special occasions and this was one.

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