First Stop

 Mary Jane's home was the first stop on our cross country jaunt. Hospitality and abundant greenery are always the order of the day. 

Testing Testing

 We are about to embark on a grand adventure, but I need to figure out how to post (it has been way too long). 

Good news, I added a photo of Doug from this morning. I might just be back in business!

Looking Silly

Our neighborhood swam birds like to dry their plumage after swimming. The Anhinga (below) shows off nicely, but the Great Blue Heron (top) looks silly to me.

 

Poop Roller

People here are pretty good about cleaning up after their dogs, but just in case they forget... I never expected to see dung beetles here in Florida, but the Rainbow Scarab is native to the area.

One of our nesting pair of Bald Eagles has returned to the neighborhood nest. I haven't seen the other, I'm hoping it is sitting on eggs down inside the nest well out of sight.

 

Playful Swimmers

I thoroughly enjoyed another downriver swim this morning. What a great way to beat the heat (the water temperature in the Gulf of Mexico is 91 degrees, the Rainbow River was 72).

There were a lot more swimmers than last month, and some were even willing to explore the wildlife.

 

Around the Bend

The Starkey Wilderness is only a few miles from my house and offers miles of quiet hiking and biking trails. 

Besides a few birds, some ground tortoises and the rare deer sighting, I have not experienced much in the way of wildlife there. But who knows what may lie around the next bend?

 

Weeki Wachee Springs

Weeki Wachee Springs State Park has plenty of kitsch, but fun kitsch. It was a mere thirty minute drive from our house to their parking lot, yet we had never visited before today. 

The enthusiastic audience made the mermaid show a lot of fun, and the excited and precocious children got everyone excited about the creatures we saw on the river cruise.

We didn't even mind braving the chilly spring waters to do our own mermaid show.

 

Rainbow River Swim

This morning I was lucky enough to swim the Rainbow river with an adventurous crowd. I heard conflicting reports regarding the distance: somewhere between 3.4 miles and 4.5 miles, but I was sore and tired at the finish. Of course, it helped that we swam downstream.

 

Jack's Beanstalk

Doug recently planted a packet of sunflower seeds. Most of them grew to chest height, but this one keeps reaching to the sky. 

Disney Overdose

Ken and I, along with Leanne and Doug, visited Disney World for the first time since December of 1971 when it first opened. 

All four parks were great, but I reached my limit with three full days of experiencing the magic. 

Back Out

I, obviously, have not been inspired to take or process any photos recently. In fact, I am so cozily nested into my new home that I don't get out and about much at all.

So, it was quite a treat to head down the street for sunset the other evening. This great blue heron insisted on posing for me right off shore.

 

Our National Bird

Bald Eagles have returned to their nest for the first time in several years. Their massive abode is perched in the top of the tallest dead tree in the entire neighborhood. I hope they stick around to raise some eaglets, but fear they may be driven off by the frequent harassment by other, smaller birds.

There are a lot of birds of prey in our neighborhood. Which makes roadkill cleanup unnecessary, because one kind of vulture or another will quickly descend to remove the problem.

 

Caitlin's Road Clean Up

A great crew showed up this morning to celebrate the life of Caitlin. We miss you, Caitlin. 

Life on the Ranch

We are visiting Doug's brother on his Texas ranch for the holiday weekend. The llamas have been laying low, but the baby goats are adorable. 

Not So Safe

We have been feeling safe and confident spending time on our floating dock because it is a few feet above the water level. Not so much any more...

 

Swimming Buddies

Yesterday, Wally swam up to say, "Hi." He is getting friendlier all the time; soon we'll be swimming buddies.

A couple of Cormorants have been keeping him company in the water. I am amazed at how far they travel underwater, and how quickly. They love standing on our docks to dry their wings.

 

New Years Eve Swim

Some of my masters swim group headed out into the Gulf of Mexico for an open water swim this morning. 

They haven't quite mastered posing for underwater photos, yet. 

 

McBride Christmas

It wouldn't be a holiday with the McBrides (any McBride anywhere) without a bonfire. And that is how we spent Christmas Eve, gathering firewood then savoring a massive conflagration. 

Merry Christmas

Cool and Rainy

We sipped hot chocolate in front of the fire as we wrapped Christmas gifts this cool and rainy morning. Life is good.

 

Holiday Spirit

Foggy mornings burn off for sunny, warm daytimes at our early December Florida home. 

The beaches are festive, but not too crowded. We are loving our new home, although we miss our Maui friends.