Fun day!

We went on an adventure today!  We started to go to Indian Rocks Nature Preserve, but just as we were about to turn onto Gulf Blvd from W Bay, we saw some Roseate Spoonbills off to our right.  So I turned right instead of left.  We couldn't get close to them because everywhere around them from that side was private property.  So I got back out on Gulf Blvd and turned back on W Bay.  We parked at the Community Center on the S side of the street and crossed busy W Bay on foot!  We (along with several other people) got to see Roseate Spoonbills, a Reddish Egret (which are not very common), a wood stork, a Great Blue Heron, a cormorant or  two, and a bunch of ibis.  Great photo opportunities!!

When we had taken our pictures (about 250 of them!) we drove on to the Indian Rocks Nature Preserve.  It was a nice walk, surrounded by mangroves, but no birds!  There was a pretty view at the end of the boardwalk!

I took this shot above the mangroves.  I just loved all of the different shades of green!

Next stop was John's Pass where I wanted to pick up some little gifts for our bowling cheerleaders and while we were there, we had a light lunch at Scully's.  After we ordered and were just people watching, a guy walked by who had played football at Iowa State from 1969-1972 (before I got there, but I knew him).  So I hollered at him and he and his wife ended up eating lunch with us!  It was fun seeing them again and chatting!

We came back home after all of that and just puttzed around until 6:00 when the Cyclones played in the Big 12 Tourney Championship game against Kansas.  We had to do another comeback, but we did it and we're Champs two years in a row.  Now I'm exhausted and heading to bed.  What a great adventure!

More later...

Venice

Bob, Ann, Dave and I took off for Venice at 8:15 this morning.  We went down there to see our aunt and cousin.  Sue is a horse trainer and she brought 5 horses down to show.  She had the flu while she was in Kentucky and didn't get in until 3:00 this morning.  Aunt Janie will be 90 in June, but she's pretty spry!  Sue was feeling better this morning, but she had really been sick.

Played cards tonight - there were only 6 of   us, but we still had fun.  Now we're watching the Cyclones play Oklahoma.  I hope they play better  earlier!

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Awesome!

Awesome last second shot to defeat Texas in the Big 12 tournament!  Way to go Cyclones!!

This morning, we left home around 7:30 to go to Largo Nature Preserve to see what birds we could see.  We took lots of pictures and came home absolutely drenched!  It was so humid that my glasses kept steaming over every time I took a picture!  It was like the sky was falling.  We saw parrots and grebes and shovelers and herons and ospreys!!  It was lots of fun, plus good exercise!

 It was beautiful this morning!

 Pair of yellow crowned night herons nesting!

This evening we had our annual taco bar.  It was wonderful again!  I really miss Mexican food!

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HOT DAY!

It was almost 90 degrees today - hot and humid!  We went up to coffee this morning and after our monthly meeting, we played shuffleboard.  I lost my first game and won my second.

This evening we went to Barb & Keith's Le Chambre condo to watch the sunset.  It was pretty, but nothing like the one the other night at Sudi & Howard's!  Fun evening, though!

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B & B

Bowling went pretty well for me.  I had a 147, a 128, and another 147.  I actually got high series for the women!  Donna had a 156 for a high game, but my series was higher.  Dave didn't do as well as he can do.

Tonight at bingo, I was a loser!  I couldn't even come close!

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Another glorious day!

This was another beautiful day - warm and a bit humid!  It was great, though, for our Can-Am Day picnic on 1st Street.  There were about 75 people who came out in their Red, White and Blue for a wonderful cookout.  The Canadians always go all out - they wear their colors so proudly.  The Americans also were decked out in stars and stripes!  Lots of fun!

Tonight we've just been hanging out - Dave is reading on his Kindle and I'm watching Downton Abbey Season 3!

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Ooops!

I was so busy downloading (or uploading, whichever) pictures that I forgot to post last night.  Sorry about that!  We had a great day!  Church was good.  Sermon was about patience...hmmm.  Then in the afternoon, Dave went to the hospital with Bill from here in the park.  He has no family, so Dave went with him.  Dave and I had massages at 3:30 and then off to Sudi and Howard's for dinner!

The evening went by so fast - good conversation and good food.  Thank you both!  We also went to the beach for the sunset - gorgeous!

Now I have to get my red, white, and blue on 'cause it's Can-Am Day at The Ranch!!

More later...