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!