Florida goodbyes

Time just seems to slip by when you're having fun. After a wonderful holiday season with family and friends we're off to other adventures. We couldn't leave however without a trip to the  Ringling Museum.

One of the fun activities that we did was to see the play Showboat. Mandy, Kat's stepdaughter works at the Aslo theater in Sarsota. It was excellent. the acting was Broadway quality.

A Thai dinner kicked off my final evening in Florida. Good food and good company.

I'm going to miss the warmth and beaches but Colorado beckons. Kat meanwhile will have another week of heat before heading back to Alaska to cozy in to home.

Wild Florida

Rivers offer some of the best wild escapes. This winter we expanded our paddling horizons, exploring a number of new creeks in the Venice area.  We found a peaceful retreat from the  urban communities that line the coast. On our paddles we always encountered wildlife including a variety of birds - egrets, blue herons, ibis, wood storks...

We also bumped into a number of Alligators, some pretty good size.

Check out the gator just off Lori's left shoulder. You're seeing only the tip of the iceberg. There's lots of tail under water. Fortunately gators are rarely aggressive and the close encounters are usually uneventful. 

We did a number of fun three to four hour paddles. Each providing a glimpse into Florida's past, slow, peaceful and surprisingly wild.

We also found a couple of new hikes within a 5 to 10 minute drive of my Mom's condo. Here my sister Jody and I walk  the Jelks Preserve.

It's possible to get away from the crowds at some of the Venice area beaches. We spent a few evening watching the sunset  beachside. This afternoon we're off for a beach walk. With a bit of effort it's possible to find both wildlife and solitude even on Florida's coast. 

Mother Mary's 87th Birthday 1/2/14

Just looking at her you wouldn't know. She moves with a grace of a 50 year old and looks 20 years younger then the date on her birth certificate. It's only if you're lucky enough to be privy to her sage advice that you sense the wisdom of an older person.

This morning  Kat, Lori and I got lucky. We were schooled on how the 87 year old birthday girl starts her day. Mom eases into the day with an impressive yoga stretching routine that begins even before she gets up from bed. Here she demonstrates one of the stretches.

Once up its down dog time. You might notice we're still drinking coffee.

A few laps in the pool to really get the day going. Having the condo in Florida is a wonderful thing, enabling an active lifestyle year around.

Moms advice - do yoga,  exercise, eat healthy, love your family,  care, share and contribute, engage life fully…

Page Christmas

Christmas in Florida requires a creative imagination and the willingness to embrace new traditions. For instance not all snowmen are made of snow.

  

Fortunately we have a number of friends willing to share there Florida Christmas rituals. High school friends Richard and Sue like Pink Flamingos and trips to the zoo.

Giraffe aren't part of the ritual but that didn't stop Kat from feeding this hungry fellow. They have really long tongues. 

Other memorable activities included an acre of lit Palm Trees which blinked in rhythm with Mannheim Streamroller's Christmas music.

Of course some traditions never change like making sure to wear your Christmas shirt and socks. 

And what would Christmas be without your stocking? 

 Any holiday is best shared with family and friends. Our buddy Lori joined us for New Years along with downstairs neighbors Marion and Bill. 

Great holiday meals also make the season special. Most of our meals were home cooked and delicious but we did get out for a meal or two. Here we're trying out a new Peruvian restaurant.