Going a Bit Overboard

We have new neighbors next door. They are great people. They are from Wyoming. He has a terminal lung disease so bought the house for her to retire to when he is gone. For someone who is ill, he has been working his backside off. We thought the place was in really good shape but he has been putting in new ceilings, tile, paint etc. They also have a deck which is over the water like ours is. It isn't as big as ours or as wide and I don't think I've ever really seen any of the former two owners even use it. Of course, there wasn't much to see from the deck since the vegetation had pretty much taken over. So Ed decided to do something about that. He hired Renee, the Park caretaker, to do a little trimming. I was thrilled as it gave us a better view of the creek also. They even got on the other side of the creek which is city owned land and cut out some stuff. But, I think they might just have gone a bit overboard.

Before

After--well not quite after. This is a work in progress!

This is a look in the other direction. I have to admit that it is a lot more open in this direction.

This Way Thurs Way--Almost Home

My friend, Tink, took on the chore of hosting a meme called This Way Thurs-Way. This is a meme which appears every Thursday. In Tink's words, "This Way Thurs-Way is all about photos of signs, paths and things pertaining to being "on the road"." When you are done looking at my picture, why don't you hop on over to This Way Thurs-Way and check out some others.

This is the best sign in the whole world. It means we are almost home. Even a pair of Ospreys thought so since they built their home right on the sign.

Good News and Bad News

I realize that Breast Cancer Awareness Month is just about over but perhaps every month should be Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I just found out the other day that a friend of mine has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. I have known Lori since she was in high school and worked as an aide in my classroom. Then some years later, I team taught with her. I had her kids in school. And to hear this was pretty upsetting. The same day another close friend disclosed that she had a suspicious lump in her breast and had to have a diagnostic mammogram and an ultra sound. I totally understood her panic as this is exactly what I went through last spring. I found out yesterday that her outcome was like mine--negative. Thank goodness!! And I totally understood her elation and relief at hearing the news. But it got me thinking that maybe I needed to put my pink bracelet back on again. I wore it for 9 months when my friend, Jan, was going through chemo and recovery. She has been cancer free for 2 years now--thank goodness. We were able to share our trip to Ireland together this past summer. I also have a bracelet which reminds me often of my friend, Tootie's daughter Becky. Becky has been suffering from this horrible disease for several years now.

Ladies--and yes, guys too!! Do those monthly self exams. Get yearly mammograms. Do whatever you can to protect yourself. Wouldn't it be wonderful if for once and for all, they could eradicate this disease? And let's make every month Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Back in the World of the Living

I would like to announce that I THINK I am finally over whatever it was that had me in it's grips for a couple of weeks. When last we met, I was getting over a UTI and was down with the flu. Finally, about 1:00 am Sunday morning, I woke up drenched. My fever had broken and has stayed that way ever since. I began to feel better immediately and am improving everyday. However, on Monday my doctor called and said that the urine test they had taken about 10 days previously showed a bacterial infection and he was putting me on a new antibiotic. OK!! So did I have the flu or was that just the nasty little bacteria bug at work. Anyway, the new antibiotics came with a 2 page warning about the side effects--the major one being the very good possibility of ruptured tendons. So--no playing tennis or golfing (which I don't do anyway) and not a lot of long distance walking. So any little ache or pain has me wondering now. Oh, and not a lot of exposure to the sun. (Oh come on, I live in Florida!) But, the upside is I FEEL GREAT! Finally.

The Flu Bug has Struck!!

As you may or may not have noticed, I haven't posted since last Tuesday. That is because I went to bed at 10:00 Tuesday night and was pretty much in bed for the next 36 hours. 101 temp, aches, pains, no diarrhea, no vomiting, no appetite, just plain out of it!! And all this just as I was getting over my Urinary Tract Infection which had prevented us from going to the Stone Mt. Highland Games! And all this after getting my flu shot last week. Apparently the flu virus takes a couple of weeks to take hold so the flu shot couldn't prevent it. And no, it's not H1N1. Thank goodness. I'm finally starting to feel halfway like a human again. Still no appetite but Sun Harvest Orange Juice is going down really great!! Best orange juice on the planet! Anyway, when I feel totally like a human again, I will be back on here with more pictures and more stories.

Ruby Tuesday-Red and Blue

We spent a few days at Disney World last week. I took this at Epcot near the Mexico Pavilion.
OK, I know you are all busy checking out everyone's Ruby Tuesday but take the time to bookmark me and drop back to check out my blog. I am a retired Special Ed teacher who now lives in paradise on Sanibel Island, Florida which is a Sanctuary Island for wildlife. I volunteer for a wildlife hospital. I am also the proud grandma of 5 wonderful grandkids and brag about them often!! I also have a blog called Branches and Roots where I talk about genealogy and my ancestors. OK, enough about me. So if you really want to see red go to Work of the Poet

Mellow Yellow Monday-Downtown Disney

I love this meme called Mellow Yellow Monday. Lots of yellow pictures to brighten up a Monday. After you look at mine, hop on over and see lots more.

This past week we spent three days at Disney World. The first evening we went to Downtown Disney and I found lots of yellow. Here are a few.

Back Home Way Too Early

Yeah, I know--I said I would be gone for a whole week. We drove up to Disney World on Monday. We had planned on three nights there then on up to Stone Mountain, Georgia for the Scottish Highland Games. Well, my body had other ideas. Wednesday I came down with a Bladder infection which had me in bed all afternoon. So, yesterday morning we headed back south instead of north so I could go to the doctor. So, here I am--back home way too early.

But we did enjoy several days at WDW. And yes, I took pictures. Ready!!

The first place we headed was Epcot where we picked up our Florida Resident Annual Pass (good for 15 months!) Epcot is having it's Food and Wine Festival right now and I had always wanted to go. I had read the menu and knew that Ireland had a Shrimp and Lobster Pie. I couldn't resist so we headed there first. It was very tasty but not near filling enough.We decided that after paying more than $20 for two pies and two adult beverages we wanted bigger portions and some place with AIR CONDITIONING! So we headed to our favorite restaurant in the Mexico Pavilion. The picture is a little blurry--or maybe that's the way things looked after I drank one of these delicious Margaritas.After dinner, we took the ride in Mexico and decided to head back to the hotel and on to Downtown Disney. On the way out, we did take the ride through Spaceship Earth since the line was so short. The ride has changed some since the last time we went through. We stayed at the Port Orleans Riverside which has beautiful grounds and a boat that takes you to Downtown Disney. The ride was relaxing but after dark so we didn't see much. As we neared Downtown Disney, we saw this balloon. It is a tethered balloon which you can go up in. I have no idea how much it costs since we didn't go over the the West Side but I WANT to do this someday. I would have to do it alone as Mr. Snowbird isn't too fond of heights. Of course our real purpose in going to Downtown Disney was to get a Hot Fudge Sundae at Ghirardelli Chocolate. They are so huge we shared one. After walking around a bit, we headed back to the hotel and bed. Tuesday we headed to Hollywood Studios since we hadn't been there in a very long time. Man has it changed.

Lots of stuff to do and we didn't cover it all but we saw Beauty and the Beast--

The Great Movie Ride--

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular---

The Studio Back Lot Ride---

and the Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show.

Wednesday, I woke up not feeling the greatest but we headed to Animal Kingdom--probably my favorite of the parks. We headed straight to the Kilimanjaro Safari ride. I enjoyed the ride and we saw lots of animals but I knew that if I had chills in 92 degree temperatures, my body was trying to tell me something so we headed back to the hotel. Mr. Snowbird read by the pool all afternoon while I slept. I decided when I woke up yesterday morning, we needed to head back home to the doctor instead of going on up to the Highland Games. I was really disappointed as we were to meet up with friends of ours from Michigan as well as seeing our friend, Alex Beaton and friends from Clan Montgomery. Hopefully, we will be able to do it next year.

Anyway, now that we have our Annual Pass, we intend on hitting WDW a few more times in the next 15 months.

I'm Goin' to Disney World

We are leaving tomorrow for 3 days at Disney World. We already had plans to go to Stone Mountain, Georgia on Thursday for the Scottish Highland Games. I kept seeing Disney ads on TV stating that for the price of a 12 month season pass, Florida residents could get 15 months. So we decided, what the heck, let's give it a try. After all we are only 3 1/2 hours away. I then looked through my email from TravelZoo and found cheap rates at the Port Orleans Riverside. So, we decided to go for it. We leave tomorrow morning for WDW. We will check in, pick up our yearly pass, and head to Epcot to partake of their Food and Wine Festival. The menus look yummy! That still leaves Tuesday and Wednesday but since our pass allows us to Park hop, we will probably hit a couple each day--who knows?
Then on Thursday, we will head up to Stone Mt. to meet friends of ours. We will find something to do on Friday then go to the Games on Saturday and Sunday. Then head back home.
Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that I probably won't be on here for awhile. I didn't want you to think I had deserted ya'll. (Gotta get used to Georgia speak here). Anyway, I'll see you later.

This Way Thurs-Way---Dog Fouling

My friend, Tink, took on the chore of hosting a meme called This Way Thurs-Way. This is a meme which appears every Thursday. In Tink's words, "This Way Thurs-Way is all about photos of signs, paths and things pertaining to being "on the road"." When you are done looking at my picture, why don't you hop on over to This Way Thurs-Way and check out some others.

It's always great fun to see some of the signage in foreign countries. I found this one in Ireland this summer.

Ruby Tuesday-Generations

This is a picture of my husband's cousin, Elana, who lives in Tel Aviv. We've never met although we correspond once in awhile. This past year, she and her husband were on a book tour of the US with a book he had written. The tour took them to San Diego where my daughter lives and they stayed with her for three days. Karen got some amazing pictures of Elana and David with my grandkids. I especially love this one of Elana and my grandson, Luka. Such joy in both faces. Thanks, Karen, for letting me steal this picture.

OK, I know you are all busy checking out everyone's Ruby Tuesday but take the time to bookmark me and drop back to check out my blog. I am a retired Special Ed teacher who now lives in paradise on Sanibel Island, Florida which is a Sanctuary Island for wildlife. I volunteer for a wildlife hospital. I am also the proud grandma of 5 wonderful grandkids and brag about them often!! I also have a blog called Branches and Roots where I talk about genealogy and my ancestors. OK, enough about me. So if you really want to see red go to Work of the Poet

Mellow Yellow Monday-Up, Up and Away

I love this meme called Mellow Yellow Monday. Lots of yellow pictures to brighten up a Monday. After you look at mine, hop on over and see lots more.

Every summer, Findlay holds a Balloon Fest. I could always tell when the balloons were going over the house by the sound of the burners. That is one thing I will miss about living in Findlay. Here are a few of the balloons that flew over our house this summer.

Osprey at the Fishing Pier

This evening we went to Pinocchio's for ice cream (yum!!) then drove on down to the Fishing Pier near the Lighthouse. Thanks to the No See Ums, we didn't stay long even though I had sprayed before we left. Anyway--as we approached the pier I saw this Osprey up on top of the pier. I figured he would take off so I took the above picture of him.

And then this one.

We watched a guy netting minnows for awhile then walked further out on the pier. When I turned around, there was my Osprey still sitting there.

I took a couple of pictures and moved farther down the pier. Just then my Osprey flew over onto the roof. One of the fishermen laughed and said that my Osprey saw me taking pictures and decided that he wanted me to take more. So I did! And boy did he pose.

You can see by his orange eyes that he is a Juvenile Osprey. But of all the pictures, this is my favorite.Kind of reminds me of Snoopy as the Vulture.