March 30, 2014

After visit with our friends in Vero Beach for several days we finally headed North, hoping to arrive at Headed North before the Boston Marathon.

We met our friends Ralph and Sue in Savannah for a two day visit to the wonderful old city rich with heritage.

Flowers are out and just beautiful.

 Savannah used to be the State Capitol of Georgia.

  There are many ways to see the old city, including a hearse.

 The house where Juliet Gordon Lowe once lived.

 

 Two kids in a candy store.

 Anybody remember the bench in the movie Forrest Gump? It was located in Chippewa Square.  This isn't it.  If you’re looking for the bench, it’s at the Savannah History Museum inside the Visitor’s Center.

 Really!

 

 The downtown market area.

 The waving girl, a statue centered around a love story of a girl that waved at passing ship for 40 years hoping her friend would someday return to marry her.

 The riverfront sculpture is a monument to Savannah's role as host of the Yachting events of the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.

 The Georgia Queen

 

We are now on Hilton Head Island and may be here until...we were thinking until the snow flies.

March 21, 2014

Yesterday was a day to relax.  While Alice worked out getting the chair down at the pool at the right angle to the sun, Tom went golfing.  On one of the holes, one of the people Tom was playing with hit a ball into the water.  Tom went over to help retrieve the ball and swimming around at about the spot where the ball went in was a Water Moccasin.  That ball is still there today.

Sunrises are enjoyable because they are so beautiful, and here we can see it happen.  Living in the woods at home, you just don't get to see it that often...unless you are out and about.

Today we took an early walk on the beach.  Later, we had lunch with Don and Ann at Madd Jacks Grillin Shack.  Wish we had known about it earlier, we wouldn't have bothered with groceries and had meals there every day.  Alice ordered a mini salad and only could eat 1/4 of it, and Tom's Buffalo Chicken sandwich would have been just right for any one of our sons-in-law.

Tomorrow we finish packing and hit the road to Vero Beach.  Our first stop might be an antique auto car show.

Recently a friend of ours went over the hill and we haven't seen him since.  Oh wait, that's a snowbank.  That's all right, Tom didn't really want the snow shovel anyway.

March 20, 2014

OK, so we haven't been too faithful to the blog the last few days but we have been busy.
On Tuesday we went to Orlando to the Bay Hill Invitational Golf tournament.  It was a good day to get out into the fresh air and see some of the golfers we only see on TV.  The added bonus was that we really got in our daily walk on grass, rather than sand on the beach.

A couple of shots from the 6th hole at Bay Hill.

Wednesday we went up to Port Orange to see one of Tom's high school classmates who he hadn't seen in quite a few years.  Probably the last time was in the last century.  Social media sure makes it easier to find people and catch up with those that were so much a part of your lives...even though it may have been once upon a time.

 Two pics of Sandhill Cranes.  In the first, mom and one of her offspring.

 This is the other offspring with a male Sandhill Crane

Thanks for a great day Geoff and Georgia.  

Welcome to the First Day of Spring...if you still think there will really be one this year.  At least the kids that don't have school can enjoy it.

For those who would like to see flowers, go to the website below and click and drag your mouse. If it doesn't work, I have included a screenshot.

Spring Flowers 

Make yourself a great day everyone!

March 16, 2014

Hello again everyone.

The last couple of days we got into the routine of daily walks up and down the beach...after we got some sunrise/sunset pics from the room.

 Sunrise about 7:30

Moon out tonight, although the camera made it lighter than it really was.

Some serious volleyball players getting ready for early matches down on the beach.

 Coconuts need to get a little riper, although it is still the middle of March.

 1000 pieces, mostly done by Alice.

This afternoon we took an eco-tour with the Island Boat tours around the Banana River.  The 2 hour tour wove around the many islands between the towns of Cocoa and Cocoa Beach.

The pictures below are among the many taken.

We think this was one of the main characters in "Tin Cup"

 Katie, Kathie and Alice

Wind surfing on the Banana River.

A juvenile Brown Pelican

Adult Brown Pelicans hanging out in the Mangroves.  Many more around.

What are you looking at?

A Dolphin looking for food.

Bananas

The Boat's Captain John, and this young girl were doing dueling shells.  One would play and the other would repeat the sounds.

After supper at the Sunset Bar and Grill we decided on a Florida specialty.

Dessert

Congratulations to Drew who caught this 3 pound 6 ounce beauty on Saturday.

After a relaxing weekend spending time with Tom's sister Kathie and niece Katie we finally settled down to an evening of Golf Channel.  Yea Freddie!

Tomorrow it's on to the quilt and fabric shops.

Good luck to all who have entered the Billion dollar challenge.
Win a billion here.

March 12, 2014

On a clear day, Tom was experimenting with the camera.  This picture of the assembly tower at Cape Canaveral (although cropped to the center of the picture) was at least 7 miles away.  Fun to take pictures with a zoom.

 During the morning walk down the beach we pass under the pier where there is a lot of activity because of college break.  Preparations are being made for the Ron-Jon sponsored surfboarding competition.

 Lessons are being given daily right on the beach.  Time to catch a wave.

Today we helped celebrate the birthday of our good friend Ann.  We won't disclose the actual age, but it is one of the more notable numbers.

On a more somber note, the TV is mentioning something about Vulcan.   Hope our friends back home are staying inside and keeping warm.  If nothing else is possible, at least make preparations for St. Patrick's Day.

March 10, 2014

Today was one of those relaxing days.  Early this morning Tom got  a pic of the sunrise over the water. 

We tried real hard to get in some exercise today.  Tom gave Alice her allowance and made her walk to the Beall's outlet that was over a mile away.  Meanwhile Tom drove to the nearest golf course and rode a cart around for 18 holes.  Who said life was fair.

The beaches are being rebuilt with sand from a government funded Hurricane Sandy fund.  The dredging operation is currently ongoing.  About 1 million cubic yards of sand are expected to be in place on the beached by May 1st.  The pic below is the dredging equipment off shore.

I see that Wyoming was at the top of the list of good retirement states.  However, it didn't take into account the weather, otherwise Florida might have made the list.  Wyoming is a pretty state with plenty of space to stretch your legs.

Tom got a bumper sticker pic shown below.

I think the State Song is "Save a horse, ride a cowboy".

Our grandson Drew got 3rd place in the scouts Pinewood Derby and his car will be in the regionals in April.  Way to go Drew.

March 8, 2013

We finally arrived at Cocoa Beach today after a nights stay in Orlando.  A view from the balcony of our room at Discovery Beach Resort.  The weather has been great today.

We didn't take too many pictures today as we had grocery shopping to do and a lot of unpacking to take care of.  With that out of the way, we took a walk along the beach...with our fleeces on.
Tom did take a picture of some birds along the beach but please...pretend they are Robins.

Happen to see this bumper sticker and couldn't help but putting this on the blog.

Thought I would share a link to something happening that is good.  Recently, Ryan Parker started a blog for the BDN.  It is to be a weekly blog and will feature information about CSA's.  Enjoy.  Eat Real

March 6, 2014

Yesterday morning we left Lakeland after making a couple of visits.  We spent the evening visiting Kathy and Dennis.  While there we saw a painting from a local talent.

 Today we visited the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.  It featured a Dolphin named Winter in the Movie Dolphin's Tale.  Some of the following pictures are at the aquarium while others were part of the set in the film.  Winter is shown here without her artificial tail.

 In the movie there was a Pelican named Rufus.  Rufus was played by Ricky and Lucy.

 Grammie was found taking a short break.  A Loggerhead Turtle.

Below, Winter's friend was rescued 5 years later also near Cocoa Beach. She is named Hope.

 A houseboat that was part of the set in the movie.

 Sawyer's two bikes used in the movie.

By the way, the movie also stars Nathan Gamble, Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson and Morgan Freeman.  This is a favorite movie of our grandchildren.  The sequel, Dolphin Tale 2 will be out this Fall.  It is about Hope and Winter.

The day started out cloudy and had some late morning rain but the day ended well.

March 4, 2014

Time to catch up on the blog.  Yesterday's internet speed was very slow and so the time to make posts would have been frustratingly slow.

Yesterday we visited St Augustine which is the oldest permanent settlement in North America. (1513) or as they claim, the Nations oldest city. However thinking a little more about history, I would add (by other than Native North American Indians) to the previous claim.

The Old Fort (Castillo de San Marcos) was built between 1672 and 1695 by the Spanish.  It has been repaired along the way but is still a remarkable structure.  It shape reminds us of Fort Ticonderoga.

One of the main streets of town (St Georges) was quite active on a warm Summer like day.  Yes, we did find an Ice Cream shop.

 The oldest street (Aviles St) was actually quite empty.  Instead of a lot of tourist staffic, there was next to none.  Probably because this area is mostly private residences.

 The oldest home is in St Augustine.  Any previous homes that may have laid claim to the honor were burned prior to the construction of this home in 1702.

 The oldest wood schoolhouse in the USA

 
 Up the street about 1/2 mile is the location of the famous Fountain of Youth Archeological Park where the Fountain of youth is located.

 Not your typical Bird of Prey...but would they eat an insect?

 One of several jugs that were used to catch rain water for drinking. Some weighed as much as 800 pounds.

You may have heard of the Fountain of Youth located in the area first explored by Juan Ponce de Leon.
We got to drink from the Spring and we might feel a bit younger...but then again, there is no snow around.  A coincidence?  Anyway, here it is.

Today we left Jacksonville on our way to Zephyrhills to visit Herb and Betty.  It is always great to visit friends that you haven't seen in a while.  They really don't look old enough to be great grandparents.