Florida Vacation

Drove down to Davie, Florida on my own and actually enjoyed the ride. Stopped to see my friend Bonnie, Lynn, and Cody who had just relocated from Greensboro, NC. Then picked up Ray and Yolande (Peace Corps volunteer, 40 yr friends from CA) and we headed to the Jupiter Reef Club for a week of warm water and adventure.

Saw this yellow-crowned night heron on the beach.
These white ibis were wandering around the park.

One of the biggest treats was all of the turtle nests on the beach, loggerheads, leatherbacks, and green turtles. Each stake represents a nest.

After a visit to the local turtle hospital we went to see a turtle released back into the ocean. What a thrill!

One night we went out and were able to watch a loggerhead come up on the beach, dig her nest, lay eggs and then disappear back into the ocean.

This cafe was our morning stop after a beach walk each day.

Ray and Yolande at the Lazy Loggerhead Cafe.
Ray, Yolande, and I fell so in love with Jupiter that we surprised ourselves by renting this mobile home for the next year. It is in Suni Sands Park which looks like a place right out of the 60s. This gives us a chance to explore living in Florida and to get to spend more time together. Ray and Yolande are looking forward to bringing their dogs out to run on the beaches. I am looking forward to sharing this retreat with family and friends.
This is the view from our new mobile retreat.
Ray flew back to CA and Yolande and I drove back to NC. On the way home we stopped at this B&B in St. Augustine, FL. I took a leisurely bath in this tub with a view of the ocean.
Then we stopped in Charleston the next night and fell in love with "South of Broad". Yolande went home to CA on Thursday with plans to meet back in Jupiter in the fall.

My mom was in the hospital for a week and just was released to rehab yesterday. I am heading out there next week.

Good to be home... but the memories are priceless!

Least Tern Chicks

I took these pictures of least tern chicks at the southern end of Wrightsville Beach this morning.












And for comic relief these American Oyster-catchers were dancing on the shore.

trip to NJ, back to Airlie Gardens, Wine & Design

Had a much needed trip to NJ to spend time with my girlfriends. I flew into Laguardia planning to figure out how to get to NJ on public transportation. But was rescued by a ride from the airport with Sue & Tim and a ride back with Barbe. It was a perfect 2 days with Joanna & Peter, two days with Joan & Nina, and a perfect day by the pool with Anne and her daughter's family who had adopted me! Spent the last night with Barbe across the street from my old NJ house.

The trip home became an adventure when my flight was cancelled and I ended up spending the night in a hotel across the street from the airport.

I got back to NJ and had a good visit with Lorna and Tom who were driving up from Florida. And then back to Airlie Gardens and my tram tours!
While on the tram this spider called a Spined Micrathena hitched a ride on my tram.
and I saw the dreaded nutria swimming across the lake.....
I never knew they had such long tails (foreground)! In the background are some juvenile wood ducks who I've been watching since they were little ducklings.

And then I saw this family of swans on Bradley Creek. I know the two with the darker bills are the adults but I don't know why 2 of the juveniles are black and the other three are white.
Perhaps it is in honor of the film Black Swan:)

Then last night I attended an advent with my Wilmington Dining Adventurist Meetup group at a place called "Wine & Design". The claim was that at ....

WINE AND DESIGN, all you have to do is sign up, show up, sip up! Your canvas, paints, paintbrushes, and corkscrew will be waiting as a local artist helps you create that night’s featured painting. You go home with new friends, great memories, and a newly-created masterpiece that shows off your “inner artist.”

No experience in painting? No problem, our local artists will guide you step-by-step! Our paintings are suitable for the first-time painter or for more experienced artists.

I am NOT an artist but decided to try..... Here are the results...

Anyone want to buy an original Kathy Hannah painting!

Kaileena's birthday card

It was my "great" niece's 3rd birthday in June and I sent her this card! Think she likes it?

Hobbes

John and Jess got a new Wheaten Terrier puppy! His name is Hobbes and I am in love.

John comes home for lunch each day to let Hobbes out and I was lucky enough to get to puppy sit last week.
I think Hobbes is going to be well taken care of.....

Jess and Hobbes.....
John and Hobbes.....

Hobbes and me!

Back to Carolina Beach State Park

Went back to Carolina Beach State Park several weeks ago and went on their weekly Carnivorous Plant Hike. We saw these "sundews".

and Venus Fly Traps..... this area is one of the only places where these plants are native.

Also was able to photograph the painted buntings again. I cannot believe my fortune in being able to see these gorgeous birds on a regular basis!

This is a female painted bunting.
Was invited to the home of a person I met on one of my hikes to see the painted buntings being banded.