The Old and the Restless

Every Saturday morning, the New Smyrna Beach farmers' market opens at "the crack of dawn". Sandra rode her bicycle to purchase fresh produce and newly baked bread in the near freezing temperature. She took this picture as she left the condo for the 10 km ride to the market. [When she arrived home, she got back into bed to warm up her hands!] On  the way back from the farmers' market, Sandra passed our local fresh fish store where the birds were already lining the roof to get scraps after the freshly landed fish are cleaned. An egret waiting for the fish cleaning to begin at our local fish store. The second ride on Saturday was our usual loop up the beach and back through Smyrna Dunes Park. Would you think that this mob was getting ready to photograph the latest shuttle take off? Nope. Saturday was the start of the annual Florida birders'  week and there were several rare birds at the inlet jetty. [The rarest was a purple sandpiper (which we had never heard of befo...

In Florida, when it is cold, it is always a good idea to visit the manatee. Windy and freezing when we left the beach, it was in the 40's F. when we arrived at Blue Springs. Fortunately, because it was inland, there was no wind... but I wished I had my gloves. Cormorants lined up at the divide between the river and the spring in the early morning. Who will be the first to take the plunge? Beautiful scenery along the spring. Megan and I once dove in the boil in the cave in this spring. It was a long walk from the parking lot in our heavy dive gear. I was younger then.  Maureen taking pictures. To avoid hypothermia during the cold weather the manatee leave the river and come into Blue Springs to sleep, seeking the warmer, constant, 72 degree water. Later in the day they leave to go to back the river since there is little for them to eat in the spring. This manatee has an armored suckermouth catfish, an introduced species on its back.  A few years ago, they were like flies around the ...

When we arrived at the condo in December, we were told we had to move out for a week because of repairs being done to the outside of the building. Our side is done now except for the painting of the walkway. It has not been warm enough for a long enough period to do that. Right now they are working on the street side of the building. Paul and Ramsay observing repairs also being done to the beach front of the building. Maureen and Ramsay came from Marietta, Georgia to stay with us for five days. We did some touring and played Bridge.  We won the card games this year. (It was our turn. They skunked us last year.) We took the water taxi from New Smyrna across to Ponce Inlet. On the front deck. Looking back at the dunes of New Smyrna Beach. Pelicans and other shore birds. A pelican rookery? This pelican was on a stump at the boat dock. Watching me? Same pelican with a vulture flying in the background. There were a lot of vultures that day. We took the water taxi from New Smyrna across Ponc...

Christmas this year was at Daryl and Jane's house in Niagara-on-the Lake. Besides the two children, Joshua and Ella, there were twelve adults. Missing from the photos below are John (Jane's brother), Daryl and Paul. Women and children are more interesting! I think the turkey is ready! Joshua checking the tree. Going downstairs. Ella is looking very suspiciously at the photographer. Michael and Megan having a conversation. The oldest person at the party, Jane and John's mother, Vanda. She looks great! Cousin Michael drove 6 hours to get home for the party. Ella was dressed up in her Christmas clothes... but she did not want to be far from her mother. Eye to eye. Night, night, Ella. (Margot Ella and Susie) Time for supper? They ate it all!