Here We Are...

Although our departure from Mom and Chick was sad, the journey from Mom's to the Keys was a happy one because we had a chance to visit our dear friends from Maine - Pat and Jean (now transplanted to the Tampa area) and Joan and Lucille who have started some winter travel in their fifth-wheel

Latona loves the water.

Jean enjoying Latona enjoying the pool.

It worked well for us to all meet at Pat and Jeans and then we followed Joan and Lucille and camped with them at Collier-Seminole State Park just south of Naples. Latona got to swim in the pool while Jean looked on from the patio.  Their home is lovely and the hospitality even nicer!

We took a trip to visit the Manatee Viewing Area at Apollo Beach.  The Tampa Electric power plant is surrounded by warm water and provides important habitat when winter temps. drop below 68 degrees.  This is the critical point of survival for the manatees.

Liked the reflection over the manatees.

Willet was feeding on the shore.

and a Sandpiper

looking into Tampa Bay from a local park

We also really enjoyed our visit with Joan and Lucille that was simply too short.  Collier Seminole is a park we have enjoyed camping in because we have access to many wildlife areas like the Everglades, Big Cypress NWR, Marco Island and Corkscrew Swamp Audubon Center.  Hopefully we will visit these sites on our spring trip north.

January 5 we landed in our site at Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge and set up our van for our two month stay.

We said a quick hello to camp friends who had already arrived, and planned to start our winter exercises the following morning when we joined our water aerobics group.  The afternoon provides low impact exercises with our friend Leon ( his wife Rose is an artist and leads the water color group).  So after one week I have lost 2+ pounds. Yippee!  Hope that works for every week!

Within a day we went to check on the Nature Trail and I captured a picture of a familiar face sitting on a Gumbo Limbo tree.

Two Tree Snails in a cozy spot on a cool day

Yesterday, we enjoyed our first visit of 2014 to Bahia Honda State Park (after a wonderful breakfast at Coco's Cuban Restaurant in Big Pine Key.  Rose and her mother do a wonderful job feeding the crowds that show up for their fresh delicious meals.)

So here we are, back in our lovely winter home and sharing time with many old and new friends.  Again, we wish we could always be physically present with you our family and friends far away, but I am always grateful that we are spiritually connected and therefore together in our hearts.  

PS.  We want to wish our granddaughter Sari a wonderful birthday and happy nine-year old experience.

Till next time, love and hugs...