A new discovery!

We went on a roadtrip today to Blackwater River State Park. Thought you might like to see some pictures of this beautiful place to camp and visit-




campsite




boardwalk to bathhouse



  Seems that they have alligators!

and turtles,

and lizards!







We discovered the beach along the river. 

These are very tall Long leaf pines.

cypress swamp

Great roadtrip to a neat part of Florida.

Roadtrip with Z to Pensacola

I've been traveling a bit.  Z and I went exploring...to Pensacola.  We hadn't been there since before Hurricane Ivan.  The beach road is open now from Navarre Beach to Pensacola Beach, so off we went.  We stopped at a little beach, where the only ones there were BP workers quitting for the day.  The beach was just gorgeous, even picked up some shells-

I think BP's motto should be, "Have port-a-potty, will clean your beach"

Once we got to Pensacola Beach, hunger had set in.  We found one of our favorite restaurants, Sam's Seafood, still open and serving up some yummy fried shrimp.  We went to Pensacola Bay Brewery so Z could try their beers.  I found some neat little shops and did a little Christmas shopping. 

Next stop, Ft. Pickens, to watch the sunset.  If you go, you get a pass for a week, for $8.00, pretty good deal.  One of the campsites we stayed in was still there, and the boardwalk has been redone.

We watched the sunset and then drove by the fort, before darkness made it impossible to see anything.

Jimmy Buffett opened up a Margaritaville Hotel on Pensacola Beach, so of course, we needed to check it out. 

And next door is Landshark Landing, an open air bar right on the beach.  Our dark ride back took us to Navarre Beach to check out the "Helen Back" bar there, very different from the one on Okaloosa Island...not quite so funky.  And our day ended back in Destin, at McGuire's- best steak ever.

Fun road trip...                

                                                                       

must go back soon!

Landlord's Day Out

Today I was volunteering with the Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge.  We went to the Back to Nature Festival at Grayton Beach State Park.  We brought several of our Animal Ambassadors to share their rescue stories and explain how the refuge rehabilitates and ultimately releases wildlife that will be able to survive independently in the wild.  This is Landlord, an adult male gopher tortoise.  He was brought to the refuge with a previous injury to his shell.  Landlord was living by a very busy road, which could have caused more injuries.  He cannot be relocated due to FWC protocols which regulate the relocation of this species and is nonreleaseable.

Landlord had a great day, demonstrating what a gopher tortoise does best..digs burrows!  He walked around at the park, until he found just the right spot, and then started digging a burrow.  He dug for several hours, using his large, flat forelimbs to dig, dig, dig!

At the end of our visit, I caught this picture of Landlord proudly looking out from his new (but temporary) little burrow-

Since my last post...

In the past week, I have learned how to do more park ranger stuff.  I have cleaned bathrooms & campsites, painted, trimmed weeds, used a drill, hammered down nails, checked for loose boards, got rid of cobwebs, organized stuff, took down strings of lights, talked with the Chamber of Commerce, presented interpretive programs, attached new beach flags to poles, dug up a turtle nest,  helped pressure wash sidewalks and walls, and put skirting on a house.  Lynda, I am sure I have left off some other jobs we did.  Yet, despite all the long hours and getting very, very dirty, l laughed alot and had loads of fun.  Sorry I have no pix or videos of all these things...we were a tad busy.

I do have some pix of just how beautiful it is here in October...

 awesome sunsets

sanderling at sunset

sunrise on the gulf

juvenile Herring gull on its way south for the winter

crystal clear turquoise water to relax and enjoy!

Stay tuned for more posts...they are coming!

There's a little bit of fall in the air

HAPPY FALL

FROM

HOLIDAY ON A STICK!

Down at Destin Harbor

We went down to the harbor to the Destin Seafood Festival.  Thought you might like to see some of the sights!

This is Destin harbor, with a much smaller way in & out thanks to T.S. Lee dumping sand on Norriego Point.

We shopped, I looked at the artwork for sale, and Bob, looked at million dollar boats...

Perhaps for his birthday!?

We also checked out the new weigh station for the Destin Fishing Rodeo.  Its cool, with floats and old motors hanging off it.  It is in the same place, right behind A.J.'s. 

While all the seafood looked and smelled good, it was Dave's Dogs that won for our lunch choice. I think the bun is the best part.



This little guy was enjoying the sights and sounds too!





Who would actually rent this limo?

This limo was parked at a hotel nearby.  I've never seen a zebra-striped limo!

Maybe it belongs to Jack Hanna!

Remembering Tropical Storm Lee- September 2011

Over Labor Day weekend, Tropical Storm Lee hit Destin with rain and wind, causing high surf.  We couldn't resist hitting the beach!

Check out our new slickers, from Bass Pro Shop.  Perfect for storm chasing.

It was definitely red flag conditions!

my honey bunny

We couldn't get out on the beach, the surf was too high, and there were squalls with lightning!

After the storm, the ghost crabs and birds could come out and reclaim their beach.

Those are ghost crabs holes all over the beach.

The birds could actually wade in the water and fly.

And T.S. Lee is just a memory...

Ha, and you thought I wouldn't get another post in before Sept was over!

Today was a play day for me.  I was off so, with the Geo's top open for maximum sunshine, I went exploring and shopping. I can spend more time in Goodwill, just looking.  My "honey bunny" goes in and does a quick pass thru' and is ready to move on.  Me, I go up and down each aisle, just checking things out, wondering "Can I use this?" or "This is perfect for ____".  I found a pair of white pants from Chico's.  And yes, I will be wearing them after Labor Day! So there Fashion Police!!!  
    

Sorry for the delay between posts, but I do have an excuse!

By now most of you are not impressed with my blogging...I tend to procrastinate and do everything else but blog.  I must admit I am also addicted to Spider Solitare.  When I sit down at the computer, the little spider icon just taunts me, until I touch it and then I have to play the new cards I have been dealt!  Once I win, I, of course play again, and my winning streak is on the line.  So...it is a vicious web of Spider solitare that I get caught in.  So today, after only 2 games of solitare, here I am writing.  Yeah, you have a new post to read. Please check back soon, as I am really (yes, really) going to try to post on a much more regular basis than once a month. 

My little marine world

Thought you might like to see my little underwater world.  I have a small (2 gallon) marine tank set up.  In the past, my husband was in charge of our fishtanks, setting them up,etc.  Now I get to try to keep the little tank going without too many mistakes.  So far so good! 
 It has brought me literally hours of enjoyment, watching all the little critters in it.  I have a couple of shrimp, a little fish, some snails and hermit crabs, starfish, and oh yes, some bristle worms.  The worms are the tank maids-they clean up any old food sitting around.  Here are some pictures of my fishtank-

Will post more pictures as I add to my mini reef.

Don't lose that float!

This was seen going down the road-the float was flying in the wind, but still attached to their truck-

Retirement is great!

Well it is the night before the first day of school and I am not getting last minute things ready for a new class of kids.  Instead I am listening to Buffett, knowing retirement was definitely the right choice.  I am still teaching, but on my terms-

and about things I love-fish, jellies, crabs, sea turtles, and even how to make sandcastles!  And who could ask for a more fantastic classroom!?  Isn't it great?

I can't wait for tomorrow...now it feels like I have retired!