More Birds!

Have a look at this picture! I took it today with my phone. The pine tree is by our pool. In the tree... THREE couples of the great blue heron are making their homes!!! I don't know if this is unusual - but it is so facinating to watch!!! (on the picture below, I put small red circles around the couples, just in case you did not see them..   And no - this is not photosnupping!

Birds birds birds, and some other critters and stuff....

Every other Saturday they have a Arts and Crafts Market down at Placida (link to Facebook). We decided to go down there today, and to have lunch in the bar. The bar was full, so we drove down to Waterside Grill and Bar at Gasparilla Marina instead. Not a bad choice, they have excellent food and great service and a nice sitting area out by the marina and docks.

This little guy said good bye when we left home...

And you thought Santa lived on the North Pole? He knows better! (and so do we)

They did not want me to take pictures of their art...

one of the really nice small shops down at Placida!

This little cat did not look to happy or well at all...

These is an Ibis in there ....

yes here it is!

one of my favorite places!!

Bougonvilla - gorgeous!

We drove down to Waterside for lunch, a lunch with a view!

Toys for Tots and christmas lights again!

Last year we went to Leverocks Seafood restaurant to enjoy the christmas lights parade in the marina, and donate some toys for the US Marines incredible Toys for Tots. What a great way to make a child happy!

I have said it before, and repeat myself - the people we know here in the US of beautiful A are so good at helping. The community we live in down here, shows every day that they help if they can. Outside Publix and Walmart the bell-ringers, volounteers works to get money for the Salvation Army's important work. A lot of other benefits are arranged around, donations in the stores... people help if they can!

So since we really enjoyed this last year, we surely would attend this year too!!! Have a look at the pictures from this years Marina parade, and see why!

The restaurant was jumping - and we did not have a reservation, but, since we are bar-people we were fine. As last year, we enjoyed the great service from Joann the cute Elf, and her co-sins, and had a great meal in the bar. Per, Sharon and my self had fishy stuff - but Dave is more into the steaks. And what a steak he had!  (no pictures of the food this time - sorry).

Cuter bartender than this - hard to find!

The menu - lots of goodies!

Here we are - out partying again!

Toys for the Tots! More came in later!

Sharon puts ut her toys...

Looks like the theme for this years decorations was Christmas around the world.
See the flag down to the left? Norway!

 

Even Santa has to go sometimes....

oh yeah. -scary pitbul and no trespassing...

here also we saw the norwegian flag...

a really old flag - is it Soviet? Made in Norway though!!  Have a look below!

 

huge snowman - native of S/W Florida!

After Sunset the Marina looked like this:

 

 And when we got home to Fiddler's Green,
the lights around the pool was also beautiful!

 

The visitor of the day...

This little guy just passed our  lanaii, rounded the corner and walked across the road to the little pond! What a beautiful one - look at the patterns on his head and his shell! I think this is a Florida Box Turtle

I followed him, and made sure he came safely to the other side of the road.

Hi, I am in a hurry...

 oh I lost my shoe, just like in the fairytale....

 

if I run really fast ...

... I think I will run around this corner here....

hey - who do you think you are - taking my picture like that?

Safety soon - thank you lady for helping me across!

Guided nature walk in Wildflower preserve

palm trees in need of tlc....

Pine cones

Beware!

our guide Dave

one of the ponds in Wildflower preserve

Canopy trail

Spanish moss hanging

Orchid tree

Orchid tree

Orchid tree

Juvenile blue heron