A New Blog

I have been a Genealogy Nut for over 40 years now. I was interested in my roots way back in high school (and that was many, many, many years ago!). My dad's cousin, Eliza Brooks, got me interested and even gave me a few things belonging to my great grandparents. But it wasn't until 1967 when my dad died that I really got interested. He was the youngest of 8 boys and 2 girls. When he died 4 brothers were still living and all came to his funeral. It was so neat to listen to them talk about family and all the good times they had growing up. My uncle Earl's wife, Geneva, got me interested in tracing my "roots". She took me to the library and set me on my way. And the rest, as they say, is history. Because of this I have started a new blog about my family history. I probably won't be posting everyday but will try to post from time to time. If anyone is interested in how this being called Snowbird came to be, you might want to check out my other blog titled Branches and Roots.

I'm a Winner!!!

Hey, one doesn't get to say that about themselves very often--but I am. I won something on the Bloggy Giveaways. I am the proud owner of a soon to be new header courtesy of Deb at Mom of 3 Girls(maybe she should get together with my daughter who is the Mom of 3 Boys!). Her hubby will be designing it. Hopefully it will show my love of my family, wildlife, and Sanibel. Can't wait to see it. Stay tuned.

We Have a Winner!!

OK, I will admit it. I said that I would pick a winner at 6:00. Well, actually at 6:00 Mr. Snowbird and I were watching last night's Grey's Anatomy. Hey, at least I didn't wait until we watched Lost!!

Anyway, I had 68 entries in my contest. I put 68 folded up numbers in a bowl.

Then I had Mr. Snowbird pick out one number.

Then he opened the number.

Then I counted down to number #21 on my Bloggy Giveaway post.
And the winner is-----------

Way to go Qtipies. Congratulations. I will be emailing you to get your address and will be sending you your goodies very soon.

If you want to see who won other contests go to Bloggy Giveaways Carnival

Sssssssssssss

I LOVE my deck but sometimes I look over the rail and see things that don't turn me on a lot! Yesterday as I sat out there reading my latest Randy Wayne White while sipping on an adult beverage, something caught my eye out in the water. So I got up and looked over the railing. I saw what I assume was a Black Racer swimming around. Ok, so even though I am willing to get in a dumpster with a raccoon and will pick up a juvenile Northern Gannet while he is biting the heck out of my arm (that happened Wednesday and I still have the wounds to prove it!), snakes tend to creep me out. So while I'm watching the one snake, I see another one swimming around and then another!!! They were "snaking" their way from one side of the creek to the other, back and forth, up and down, sometimes crossing each other. One of them even came up on shore in front of the deck. I have to admit that I made a LOT of noise hoping he would return to the water. Thankfully he did. They "played" around out there for about an hour and then disappeared. I can only hope they didn't disappear to under the deck.

One neat thing, though, was we walked out on our deck yesterday evening with our friends who were here and there was a little raccoon getting a drink. He didn't seem to be scared but did wander up the embankment and back into the woods.

Wordless Wednesday--Ah, The Good Life

Mr. Snowbird enjoying a restful moment at the beach.

Also, I know you are all busy checking out everyone's Wordless Wednesday but take the time to bookmark me and drop back to check out my blog. I am a retired Special Ed teacher who now spends most of her time on Sanibel Island, Florida volunteering for a Wildlife hospital rescuing and rehabbing wildlife. I even dumpster dive for injured Raccoons!! I am also the proud grandma of 5 wonderful grandkids and brag about them often!! OK, enough about me. Back to Wordless Wednesday.

Enjoy more Wordless Wednesdays at Wordless Wednesday and 5 Minutes for Mom

How Cool is That?

Since we will be heading north in a couple of weeks, I have been spending as much time as I can on my wonderful deck. This morning I was out there, soaking up the sun (but not too much since I have had skin cancer) and reading my latest favorite author (local author Randy Wayne White)(remember me telling you about the booksigning) when I heard an Osprey screeching. Now, believe me, these birds are LOUD! They can be waaayyy up in the air and you can still hear them loud and clear. I finally spotted the one making all the noise, then I heard another and another. There were three Ospreys flying around in circles. One of the birds was considerably smaller than the other two and instead of soaring on the wind was madly flapping his wings and doing a lot of diving. What I was observing was a mom and dad Osprey teaching their offspring to fly! It was pretty amazing. Finally the little one had had it and with a lot of flapping and diving, headed back to the nest. I love hanging out on my deck!

Oh, and if I ever see him I will try to get a picture of the bullfrog (or whatever kind of frog he is) who keeps me awake half the night croaking! That is the downside to my beautiful deck.

Bloggy Giveaway Carnival

Sorry folks. It's after 6:00 on Friday. My contest is closed. I will be choosing a winner very soon and will let the winner know. I will also announce it here and at Bloggy Giveaways.

Bloggy Giveaways is holding another fantastic Bloggy Giveaway Carnival. I signed up for a bunch of free giveaways last time (and actually won something) but have never, ever, hosted a giveaway. I guess that makes me a Giveaway Virgin!

Anyway, since I live on Sanibel Island, a barrier island on the Gulf Coast of Florida, 8 months out of the year, I decided that I would give away some Sanibel Souvenirs. I am offering a gorgeous little silver bracelet which has dolphins on it. But, before you don that bracelet, you will have the opportunity to bathe with the most sumptuous soap you will ever hope to use. It is called Sunrise Sunset (both of which are fantastic on Sanibel) and is made by Primal Elements. The fragrance is a combination "citrus and a floral finale". And boy does it smell good. I use this soap myself (well not this particular bar! You get a brand new unused one.) and I LOVE it! And while you are bathing, you might just want to put an assortment of shells that I have picked up on the beaches here around your bathtub. Did you know that Sanibel is the third best place in the world to hunt for shells?


OK, now down to the nitty gritty. I am paying for shipping, and I will ship anywhere in the US or Canada. Sorry, you guys overseas, but it's a bit too expensive. Also you do not need to have a blog in order to enter, but you do need to provide an email address. If you are the winner, I will need your name and mailing address so I can mail the prize to you so I need your email so I can contact you. Understand? So, leave me a comment. If you have ever been to Sanibel, let me know that too. If you haven't been to Sanibel that's ok too. And don't forget your email address or URL or some way to contact you. And please, only leave one comment per person. Let's make it fair so that everyone has a chance, okey dokey?

OK, here is how this is going to work. On Friday, April 25th at approximately 6:00 PM, I will put a slip of paper in a hat--or bowl--or bucket--or whatever-- between 1 and however many of you have left me comments. Does that make sense? I will then have Mr. Snowbird draw a number. Then I will count down the posts to that number and that lucky person will be the winner. I will then email you and also post the lucky winner here. But check back at Bloggy Giveaway Carnival too, if you want. I will post it there as well.

And, I know that you are in a hurry right now to get back to Bloggy Giveaways to sign up for more goodies. I can't blame you. I'm probably doing the same. But, do stop back here sometime soon and check out my blog. I am a retired Special Ed teacher who now spends most of her time on Sanibel Island, Florida volunteering for a Wildlife hospital rescuing and rehabbing wildlife. As you read this, if I'm not signing up for Giveaways, I am probably at CROW feeding baby birds. I've even been known to dumpster dive for injured Raccoons!! I am also the proud grandma of 5 wonderful grandkids and brag about them often!! OK, enough about me. Back to Bloggy Giveaways.