Action on the Refuge

Hi All,

There are very few people on the Refuge trails so our daily walks are safe and offer more wildlife. We don our masks whenever we see someone coming.

This gopher tortoise was motoring along in search of plants to eat

while this white ibis prodded the ground for morsels.

Moments before she sat down we got a glimpse of two blue eggs in this Yellow Crowned Night Heron nest.

The male perched across the water in his courtship display.

This green heron nest has a couple of chicks poking out from under mom. Notice how close to the water the nest is. Sadly, a couple of days with heavy rain caused the water to rise and the chicks drowned.

These osprey chicks hatched in late February and are now almost as large as the adults.

The pleated woodpeckers that nested where the resident volunteers RV's are parked have raised a couple of chicks in spite of being regularly harassed by the local red bellied woodpeckers.

Staying home & staying safe.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

One Month and Counting

Hi All,

It's been about a month since we have been hunkered down here. Last night we had a nice FaceTime call with the kids. Garrett and Wyatt had just finished a three hour calculus exam. We also celebrated the end of Passover with a take-out pizza.

We walk the refuge trails nearly every day.  Yesterday we saw six or seven yellow crowned night herons, many building nests close to the nearly abandoned boardwalk.

Similarly, in Kruger National Park in South Africa the animals are adapting to the absence of visitors. This BBC photo shows an entire lion pride sleeping on the roadway.

We realize Americans are very competitive but this is a race we do not want to win. Anti shut-down protests are very troubling though we realize many people are suffering.

And finally, thanks to Sue and Dr Charles for this great advice on dealing with the lack of Personal Protective Equipment:

Stay safe.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Greenbaum Update

Hi All,

We are doing OK though seem to be sleeping later and later each day. We get out for a 1.5 mile walk on the refuge most days but lately the "feels like" temperature has been in the mid to high 90's. No complaints given what the folks in tornado alley have had to endure.

I think we have all seen people ignoring social distancing, putting themselves and others at risk. Here are the principle tenants of epidemiology.

Coming to a bank account near you-We looked at our checking account this morning and found this:

It is important to have a safe place for your mask when not wearing it. Carl uses our stuffed bear Shanty.

Stay safe

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Second Seder

Hi All,

Part of the Seder service is the asking of the "Four Questions " by the youngest participant. The preface to this section is yet another question as shown below:

Here we are at another streaming Seder.

The third wine glass in the foreground is for Elijah the prophet (he does not get a refill😃).

On Sanibel, the beach parking lots are closed but not the beaches. There are a few small open "residents only" lots. We had a nice walk on the beach and saw a northern gannet and a magnificent frigate bird in addition to an assortment of shorebirds. Lots more birds than people; social distancing not a problem.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Passover First Seder

Hi All,

With the cancellation of in-person seders, we decided to celebrate the first Seder with Temple Beth El in Boca Raton, FL. Billed as a " Broadway " Seder, Rabbi Dan Levin and Cantor Lori Brock led an entertaining musical celebration with prayers sung to music from Lion King, Hamilton, Raisin in the Sun and others.

Sandy's iPad displayed the zoom video conference stream and Carl's iPad displayed the Haggadah, the text of the Seder . We lit holiday candles at the beginning, before starting the traditional four glasses of wine (we have been practicing for this part).

After a 40 minute break for the meal? The Seder concluded.

Not the same as an in-person community Seder but it felt good to participate.

Happy Passover to our Jewish friends and family.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Pandemic Humor

Hi All,

A few things to smile about.

My Self-Isolation Quarantine Diary 

Day 1 – I Can Do This!! Got enough food and wine to last a month!

Day 2 – Opening my 8th bottle of Wine. I fear wine supplies might not last!

Day 3 – Strawberries: Some have 210 seeds, some have 235 seeds. Who Knew??

Day 4 – 8:00pm. Removed my Day Pajamas and put on my Night Pajamas.

Day 5 – Today, I tried to make Hand Sanitizer. It came out as Jello Shots!!

Day 6 – I get to take the Garbage out. I'm So excited, I can't decide what to wear.

Day 7 – Laughing way too much at my own jokes!!

Day 8 – Went to a new restaurant called "The Kitchen". You have to gather all the ingredients and make your own  meal. I have No clue how this place is still in business.

Day 9 – I put liquor bottles in every room. Tonight, I'm getting all dressed up and going Bar hopping.

Day 10 – Struck up a conversation with a Spider today. Seems nice. He's a Web Designer.

Day 11 – Isolation is hard. I swear my fridge just said, "What the hell do you want now?"

Day 12 – I realized why dogs get so excited about something moving outside, going for walks or car rides. I think I just barked at a squirrel.

Day 13 – If you keep a glass of wine in each hand, you can't accidently touch your face.

Day 14 – Watched bird fights over a worm. The Cardinals lead the Blue Jays 3–1.

Day 15 – Anybody else feel like they've cooked dinner about 395 times this month?  IS THIS YOU, yet?

This strip club is shut down.

Tonight we will watch a live streamed Passover Seder.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Safe & Secure

Hi All,

Another week of dealing with the Covid 19 shutdowns has made us grateful that we are accustomed to living together in a confined space. 

With all short term rental properties closed, Sanibel is a ghost town. Only five Covid 19 patients so far.

Friday evening we once again watched the Shabbat services from the Jackson Hole Jewish Community. We lit candles and recited prayers along with about 25 community members on Zoom.

We only go out for shopping when we now wear masks. Sandy has this cute puppy mask made by one of the other volunteers. Carl's is just white.

Ginger has not yet noticed that Sandy is wearing a dog mask. Instead she is guarding the matzo we got for Passover.

Pretty much every evening Sandy calls a close friend or family member to check in. 

Stay safe & sanitize

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Tigers in Grand Teton

Hi All,

More fun for the wildlife brigade. Should have sent this yesterday.

https://buckrail.com/tigers-rescued-from-ok-zoo-released-in-gtnp/?mc_cid=902a4347ee&mc_eid=138d6456e0
Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Songbird Symphony

Hi All,

No grim  graphs or grinning grandsons today. Just a songbird symphony-enjoy

http://volkerpannes.de/portfolio/bird-song-opera/

Love,

Sandy & Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502

Graduation Photos

Hi All,

Taking a break from Covid 19, Tara & Scott sent us these pictures of the graduates.

Wyatt on the left; Garrett on right, both graduating from junior college in early May (sadly with no ceremony).

Our bias is obvious but, damn these are handsome young men.

They are also skilled trap/skeet shooters. Here Wyatt draws a bead on his mortarboard.

Here on Sanibel things are getting lonely. One of the resident volunteer couples has left and another will leave tomorrow.

To cheer us up, tonight we went out to a restaurant for dinner- take out of course, brought it home to eat- delicious but they forgot the key lime pie😖.

Graphs still look dreadful, so bad in fact that even the White House is predicting 100-240,000 deaths -BEST CASE! Federal response has been criminally inept and our President who told people it was under control then suggested going back to business as usual at Easter, has personally contributed to the delay in people taking this seriously, perhaps doubling the ultimate death toll.

Stepping down from soap box

Love,

Carl 

Living & Traveling in our Motorhome

Volunteering across America

greenbaum2@gmail.com

www.livingourdream2011.blogspot.com

617-435-8502