HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2013... who would have ever thought we all have made it! YIPPEEEEEEE....

We finished off the old year with a fantastic day in the weather department... lots of sun and really hot!

All we did today was go out and do a bit of shopping around buying a few last items for our big New Year's Eve Bash here in Port Charlotte!

Hopefully we can all stay up till midnight... it will be a push!

Tom and Cheryl passed away the last day of 2012 out on the kayaks...

 

Great way to end the year, while Patra was going down right crazy over a New Years Eve Catnip Ball that Judy got her today...

There is no way you could get that thing away from her without risk to your limbs!

HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone!

Till next Year!

 

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Sunday...a day of rest!

We had lots of sun going on first thing this morning, but it didn't take me long to find a sweater to pull on, as we stayed in the mid 60's today...Judy says it is the coldest day of the coming week, so all will be good again soon.

The cold air didn't stop the buzzards from showing up this morning though... Judy was heading out for a swim in our pool and found these guys walking around our back yard. They soon headed up to the roof.

It's a little hard to see them, as there is a tree in the background, but you will get the drift.

Everyone was doing their own thing this morning, so I decided to head out on the motorcycle and complete a couple chores we needed to be done, like a bit of shopping for essentials, and getting some cash out of a machine. I rode down to the beech to see what was going on while I was out.

There was not much going on at the beach as you can see...no one swimming as it was a bit cool, but a few people were out walking.

I carried on with the motorcycle, and took in a few of the local neighbourhoods to see what was going on. This is a nice area, and it was nice to get the Honda running again!

Managed to drag the Jeep out of the garage and wash it up... and don't ask me what else I did today... just not a whole lot! Sure had fun though!

Till tomorrow...

 

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Shop till you drop...

Today we hit the Miromar Factory Outlet stores, just for something to do! This is a complex of more than 150 stores, so there is lots of opportunity to melt the nubs off your Visa Card.

 

It rained here last night, and it was overcast this morning so it was a good choice to head out shopping...I think...

This Mall had about 5 or 6 of these monster fountains inside... you could just dip your Visa Card in the fountain if it overheated on you during use...

In the fountain above I found a whole bunch of turtles... you can see them on the ledge...also a whole bunch of fish inside the pond swimming around.

This Mall was about 60 miles south of us, on Hwy. 75, or about an hour long Jeep ride. As you can tell, the weather improved by the picture above in the afternoon, and it became Florida hot and muggy! Love it!

Our Visa Card survived to see another day! Had a blast!

Till tomorrow...

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Day Tripping... Mote Aquarium, Sarasota!

A little on the cooler side this morning, but still lots of sun, so life was good!

We decided to take a day trip, and the winner was the Mote Aquarium and Research Centre up in Sarasota, which is only about a Jeep hour away.

It may not look like it in the picture, but the place was rather busy today, with lots of school kids still on holidays down here in Florida.

 

This is quite the place, located right on the Gulf of Mexico. Lots of Sharks, Dolphins, etc...

 

 

Yes, they have manatees at this aquarium... they were big!

 

Big display of sea turtles as well...

Tom tells me this is a "convict fish", so blame him if it is something else...

My favourite shot of the day was this "cuddle fish"....

....or maybe it was this "lion fish", I can't remember right now!

Judy is checking out the big tank above... lots in it!

....like Sharks, Stingrays, grouper.... you name it! Neat tank!

They had a real good Sea Lion display, and a bit of an educational show to boot!

We ended up with an aerial view of the performance....

I asked all the Sea Lions to stand up on their front flippers, and they DID!

They actually raise "sea horses" here from eggs... you have to see them swim!

Nuff said! It was a great day that we really enjoyed!

Till tomorrow...

 

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Take a hike!

Lots of sun blazing in the sky this morning... love the Florida weather.

We decided to take a hike today, and added in a few other activities along the way... check it out!

Only a 5 mile drive to what is known as the Cedar Point Park... above is the Office and educational area of the Park...

This is a wilderness type of park, and is home to many American Bald Headed Eagles... and we found one today... she was sitting on eggs, so we had to be quiet.

Thanks to Cheryl for taking this picture for me... it is heavy on the zoom and cropped, but you sure get the idea of what we came across in this Park this afternoon.

As a bonus, we also came across an armadillo during the hike, and again, this picture is credited to Cheryl, job well done!

These two dudes were seen walking along the trail... don't know who they are!

This afternoon the girls went out on the kayaks... it was their turn. Cheryl is the guest photographer today, and caught this egret in the canal behind our house today...

Now we are down to a few smart phone pictures as they launch off in the boats...

They made quite a run this afternoon in ideal conditions.... our Sea Eagle Kayaks had a good run!

And Judy took one of my favourite pictures today, of Cheryl making her way down the canal in the kayak... check out the major reflection on the water in this pic! Well done Judy!

While they were out in the boats, Tom and I took the bikes out for a 7 1/2 mile ride! Phew...

Till tomorrow...

 

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Hey...What happened to Boxing Day???

One thing most Canadians look forward each year is a great day of Boxing Day Sales!!!

 

Well, down here in the U.S. they do not really do Boxing Day the way we do... but to keep us in the spirit of the season, we went out shopping this afternoon just to prove we are Canadians! Now, there were not that many people out shopping it seems, but we did get the flavour...

First thing this morning, we all enjoyed coffee, and Cheryl and Judy spend time swimming and doing pool exercises in our salt water pool... nice sunny morning.

Tom and I were a little more into taking the kayaks out for a spin down our canal, which runs right by the back yard of this house we are in...

That is Tom who is blowing up one of our Sea Kayaks by our pool...

Our back yard slopes down to the canal... we were all set to go!

It was a great day to be on the canal, and we ended up going way up stream for an hour and a half tour.

 

We made it back home this afternoon to play a rousing game of Trivial Pursuit... Cheryl had a lead built up, but Judy came on at the end, and might have taken the lead... we are not sure...

Now many thanks to Michael and Dee who properly identified the above turtle... seems it is not a turtle at all, and is called a Gopher Tortoise! These Tortoise can burrow a big hole in the ground and hide, and there is lots of sand around here for them to do it in. Thank you!

Overall, pretty easy day...

Till tomorrow...

 

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Christmas Day at Port Charlotte...

Hope everyone enjoyed a great Christmas Day! We sure did... the weather turned for the better, it was sunny and warm, just the way I like it!

We arrived on Christmas Eve here at the house that Tom and Cheryl rented for 2 weeks... it is a great spot, and we are having a blast!

That is our motorcycle trailer parked in our drive way... the house is about 10 years old or so...

 

 

Lots of Florida landscaping...

Tom was working the BBQ last night for dinner...

Oh ya, and we have a great enclosed salt water swimming pool! Yippee, it is being used!

I was all excited, that Tom and Cheryl got me a Toronto Maple Leaf Key Holder for Christmas... look at them working away in the kitchen behind me!

Pictures are a bit out of order, as this is at coffee time this morning enjoy the sun at the front of the house.

More gifts were shared at breakfast this morning...

Now if you remember, Tom and Cheryl drive that awesome yellow Corvette in the summer, so Judy and I got them a Corvette Calendar for the new year.

 

Tom found some quiet time this morning, and was plugging away on Judy's guitar.

Later in the morning we all went out biking around our neighbourhood.... well, until Tom and I sort of got lost in a big time way in the maze of roads, and I had to break out our LG Smart Phone and use the Maps program to figure out where the heck we were! It worked! Made it back home.

We came across a whole bunch of these big turtles crossing our road... this guy was eating the grass right beside the road... don't ask me what type he is... as far as I know he is a "turtle"...

This afternoon it was time to hit the beach at Englewood Beach. It was nice and warm, and as you can see many people decided to hit the beach on Christmas Day here...

No, we did not make it...

Judy and Cheryl enjoying the beach... only problem was that it was a "Red Tide" day and that kind of makes you cough and choke a bit, but we endured.

Tonight we are going to enjoy a nice turkey dinner soon, hope you are too.

Till tomorrow...

 

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