Beach & Dunedin



Hi All,

Saturday, Sandy led a Beach Exploration Program

She showed visitors this giant Atlantic Cockle

and we found hundreds along this short stretch of beach.

On Sunday we drove to Dunedin to visit Sandy's brother Alan and family.

Dunedin's delightful shopping area has numerous entertaining signs.

"I know it is one-way but I really need to pee!!!"

We watched this sunset a half mile from Alan & Barbara's house.

Back home, Sanibelle somehow squeezed into this small gift bag.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Bonnet House

Hi All,

Aside from a few State Parks, there is only one patch of green preserved along the Florida coast between Miami and Palm Beach. This 35 acres between the ICW and the ocean is home to the Bonnett House.

Built in 1925 by artist Frederick Bartlett, this Plantation style house is built around a flower filled courtyard. The wrought iron balcony decorations were imported from New Orleans.

The drawing room has eclectic decorations.

and the dining room has lovely china cabinets.

The studio has two story windows for great natural light.

There are seashell decorations throughout the house. In addition, there is this Shell Museum.

Adjacent to the Shell Museum is an orchid garden.

A wonderful day trip with Roberta & Elliot.

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Critters

Hi All,

During the last week we have encountered some interesting critters.

This Mangrove Skipper was close to the trail.

We worked the Refuge booth at the Burrowing Owl Festival where this Barred Owl was on display

along with this leucistic (no feather pigment) Eastern Screech Owl.

Our table was visited by a Magnolia Green Jumping Spider.

At the Shell Museum, we saw this Flamboyant Cuttlefish

and a live Junonia

This squid photo was part of a stunning exhibit of critters encountered during night dives.

And we close with sunset over the Gulf of Mexico 

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Interesting Photos

Hi All,

We are still doing our programs and enjoying winter on Sanibel. 

Osprey breakfast

Gopher Tortoise 

Rosette Spoonbill by Chris Clapp 

Getting rid of the thick undergrowth with a prescribed burn.

Carl was up at 4:30 to capture this moon photo.

Later he "photoshopped" it into a photo of sunset at Sanibel Lighthouse.

This extraordinarily photograph of five whale sharks by Raphael Fernandez Caballero was voted Underwater Photograph of the Year 2022. 

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

More Pot Pourri

Hi All,

The refuge is getting busier and our programs are well attended.

The Wildlife Education Boardwalk is a great place to watch birds and alligators.

If you want to learn more about alligators, attend Carl's "Gators & Crocs" program.

For Sandy's Bird walk, participants are given birds on a stick with info on the back to share with the group(in case the actual birds do not show up).

She does not talk about the little birds, just the big ones😃.

From big to small, Carl found this electron microscope image of the Coronavirus. Each tiny sphere is a protein. Amazing detail!

This painting is on exhibit at the National Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson, WY. The heartbreaking image of emaciated polar bears clinging to the last scrap of sea ice should motivate everyone to reduce their carbon footprint.

Amazingly, this was painted in 1925!

When Sanibelle was a kitten, she fit inside our lunch container. Not so much anymore 😃.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Refuge Wildlife

Hi All,

We found lots of interesting wildlife around the refuge this week.

We spotted this green heron deep in the mangroves.

Pot Pourri 2



Hi All,

On Sandy's first Nature tour she had a family with two young boys. Nathan, the 6 year old, loved to watch nature shows on TV, knew lots of animals and plants and was an absolute sponge. He remembered the plants Sandy described and pointed out other examples as he walked along.

He was a delight.

Another tour participant was a great snake spotter, finding 2 of these black racers.

Next day Carl spotted a "feeding frenzy" where dozens of birds gather to feast on newly hatched minnows or some other abundant food source.

On our weekend we visited Babcock Ranch for a tour around their enormous property. Our guide Ken, was a hoot. At one point he pulled a baby gator out of a box and let us look and touch (but not hold) 

the cute little guy.

This anhinga is also watching an alligator.

We had a beautiful sunrise yesterday.

Sanibelle is enjoying the couch and is not too happy when her humans want to sit there.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 😃😃

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502