You did get some good pictures there! That lake is looking really nice with some melting. It's going to be some time in April before we see any open water on the lakes up here.
As for the camera, I have a Nikon Coolpix L19, and it has always done what you were talking about with the close focus, with the motor moving the focus back and fourth. When you push the shutter button half way down, the focus sets it's self, but not always on what you want to take a picture of. This camera has a macro function, but it won't focus at any closer than about a foot and a half. If you're about 2 feet away from the object, it might focus on it and it might focus on something else close to what you're trying to take a picture of, especially if it's a small object like an insect. This camera is just not that good for closeup photos.