Sunday, December 31, 2017

Green Cay

Hi All,

We visited the other great birding spot in Palm Beach County today, Green Cay.

We were greeted by this tricolor heron that flew across the boardwalk

and perch on the railing.

Here's a green heron watching for lunch.

A great egret, same quest.

How about a pair of blue wing teal snuggling up.
We couldn't get a decent photo but there were several beautiful male painted buntings at a feeder near the entrance. 

As usual, a special place and a great way to spend New Years Eve day.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Delray Beach Visit

Hi All,

Friday we drove south to visit Roberta and Elliot for New Years. Of course we visited Wakodahatchee to see the birds, even though it is too early for most nesting activity.

Here a vigilant great blue heron waits for a meal.

This wood stork has begun nest building.

A tri-color heron cruises under the boardwalk.

A common gallinule scampers across the ground.

While a purple gallinule hops across the lily pads.

Many of us struggle to keep control of our email in-boxes. It has even spawned a practice called "inbox zero" where people resolve to empty their inboxes every day.  At the other end of the spectrum, this phone has an incredible 10,281 emails! 
The owner of this phone shall remain nameless🙀.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Saturday, December 23, 2017

Shalom Roamers

Hi All,

It has been a wonderful few days with the Jewish RV group-"Shalom Roamers".

Thursday night we had dinner and an informal meeting.

Friday we shared a Sabbath service and got a neat group photo.

Saturday we gathered at out site for drinks and snacks(Sip 'n Nosh)

and Bob and Geoff led a Havdalah service to mark the end of our Sabbath.
Geoff then sang our tongue in cheek anthem-Jews Don't Camp. It includes lyrics like
-If it doesn't have a lobby, I don't want as a hobby. and
-If your sleeping bag is tilting you can find me at the Hilton.

We enjoyed the company well after dark

Even after we were treated to this beautiful sunset.
We head back to Barberville tomorrow so we can spend Christmas with Scott, Tara and the boys .

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Friday, December 22, 2017

Glass Blowing Demo

Hi All,

Our tickets to the Chihuly exhibit include a glass blowing demonstration in a "Hot Shop" across the street. At first we thought it must be intimidating blowing glass across from Chihuly but this guy was very talented.

Starting with a blob of molted glass.


he added two different colors 

rolled it out

blew it into a globe shape

Opened the top and added a lip

Spun it into a flat disc that then sagged to form the flower shape

and finally showed off the final result.
It took over 35 minutes start to finish.

Really impressive.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Chihuly Exhibit

Hi All,

We are in SW Florida for a few days with the Jewish RV group "Shalom Roamers". Today we drove to St Petersburg to view the exhibit of Chihuly glasswork. Many artists and museums forbid photography fearing copycat artists. Dale Chihuly has no fear in this regard.

This stuff is indescribably magnificent.

This is a small section of a full ceiling piece.

For a sense of scale, this piece is about five feet high.

This one fills a large room

The multiple blended colors in these bowls bring the pieces alive.


Great stuff

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Happy Hanukkah

Hi All,

On the eighth day of Hanukkah, Carl and Sandy finished their assignment as Santa and Mrs Claus.

Back at the motorhome, we lit the eight candles and showed off our presents, an iPhone X for Sandy and a big bottle of great scotch for Carl.
Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year .

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Happy Birthday Wyatt

Hi All,

Wyatt was born on Dec 21. Since it is so close to Christmas, they celebrate a couple of weeks early. This year's theme was Fiesta so Tara got mustaches for everyone.


Even Wyatt's girlfriend Haley got one

Check out this cake for fisherman Wyatt. In the upper right is a fisherman in a boat catching a largemouth bass. Great cake!
A fun party with family and Wyatt's friends.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

A Busy Two Weeks

Hi All,

On November 18, Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge had their Pioneer Days Celebration. We drove up to enjoy the festivities and met up with our first, and one of our best, Volunteer Coordinators, Gracie Gooch

It was hard to believe that we first volunteered there 11 years ago. In the intervening years, several wildfires have effected the Refuge, one destroyed the boardwalk. Here's the new one photographed from the new observation tower.


The following weekend there was a wonderful Arts & Craft Festival in Deland. This costumed stilt walker kept Carl occupied while Sandy shopped.

Our kids and grandkids went on a cruise for thanksgiving so we drove over to Palm Harbor, near Tampa, to enjoy Thanksgiving with Elissa, Phil, Phil's parents and sister and Alan & Barbara. It was a great weekend with much to be thankful for.

While in the area we stumbled upon the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary, a non-profit primate rescue center with about 150 animals. We put some food in the cup and this little monkey found it easily.

Check out the face on this orangutan.

Back in Deland for the local Audubon Society chapter meeting, we enjoyed a presentation with three live raptors including this American Kestrel.

The Christmas Traditions programs have begun at Barberville and once again we get to be Santa and Mrs Claus. Great fun.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Day with the Kids

Hi All,

This afternoon we went to the sporting clay range to watch Wyatt shoot in a competition. It was fun to watch and Wyatt finished second in his class.


What were they thinking, naming a firearms company "PMS".

After the shooting we went back to Scott's. Since the kids will be in Texas over Thanksgiving and Scott's birthday, we had an early birthday party.
BTW: Scott has lost 45 pounds and he looks wonderful.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Friday, November 10, 2017

St Augustine

Hi All,

St Augustine is such a neat place that we don't need an excuse to visit. However, there is a special exhibit of costumes from the Downton Abbey PBS series at the  Lightner Museum so we wanted to see that.

Dozens of the original costumes were displayed on mannequins in settings of antique furniture from the Lightner collection.

For each costume there is an information panel citing which character wore it and in which episode. Amazingly, many were used only once.

All three of these gowns worn by Lady Mary, Lady Edith and Lady Sybil were on display

along with this one worn by Lady Grantham.

After the museum we enjoyed the second best pizza in the country according to TripAdvisor.

Sandy found the perfectly named shop on St George St.

We concluded our visit with a very informative guided tour of the Ximenez-Fatio House. 
Built in 1798 as a tavern and store, it was later  converted to a boarding house for wealthy northerners to spend winters in Florida.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502