Two posts in one day??? When I say I gotta catch up I mean it!
Enjoy an assortment of pretty things....
Wekiwa Camp and Sea World
This is 2 months late. We went in June. I gotta do some catching up.
I won tickets to Sea World and Mike had some vacation time coming so off to Orlando for a few days camping.
I searched forever for a good campground. There doesn't seem to be anything with any really private spots unless you hike all your stuff in for a few miles and I'm too old for that. We decided on this one at Wekiwa Springs State Campgrounds, cheap enough, beautiful springs, not too far from Orlando. They boast a lot of wildlife viewing and sure enough there were a group of 3 or 4 deer wandering just off the road. This was very welcome after driving 3 or so hours in the POURING RAIN!
It's been many years since we camped but after the rains let up (not stopped) and the tent site drained we managed to set up a decent camp.
Hobo dinners on the grill!
Off to Sea World the next morning. Let's start with some dopey fun.
We love the Sea Lions.
A lttle one getting some rest.
We caught the dolphin show.
Weeeeeee!
Flamingo
These guys are funny and loud and demand fish!
Mike playing with the penguins. Horrible picture but I like it.
And he insists on petting the sting rays.
I was scared to do it but he finally convinced me there are barbless. So I did. They are slimy.
More sea lions
Life is good....
Not too long after we got this picture the heavens started in again, pouring out kittens and puppies, and cut our day short. SOPPING WET!
Back to the campground.
We did some exploring. The springs are crystal clear and beautiful and freezing cold.
Maybe next time we will do some canoeing.
This wasn't the best trip we have taken. It rained off and on for the rest of the night. Turns out that old tent of ours isn't quite as waterproof as it used to be.
But a nice dinner of skewers on the grill, a few adult beverages and everything comes out alright.
(I'm in the market for a new tent!)
Fun with Fronds and Other Things
It all started more than a year ago when I ran across the idea of making Christmas reindeer from palm fronds. I took it a step further than what tradion called for and painted them instead. I ended up with 7 reindeer and a Minion. Encouraged I made 2 more Minions to complete the trio and from there I added a snake, 3 elephants, and 7 Easter bunnies!
Whew!
The obsession continues...
I tried to replicate the golden palms here.
And then I struck on the idea of birds.
A blue jay...
A cardinal...
An owl and a woodpecker.
I finished off the birds with this pelican and moved on to fish.
Mikey likes them so he made hangers for them and put them on the walls.
Here's all the birds.
A couple of big fish made from the seed pods of a Royal palm.
And an assortment of funny fish!
I'm fully aware that that my painting is amteurish and rather cartoonish but I ain't no artist and I've learned to do with what I can do. Do a google search on painted fronds and you will see some really awesome art!
These have been lots of fun to make and I'm sure there will be more to come.
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On to the animals and creepy crawlies!
Our yearly screech owls came late. I was worried about them. The second one took a looooong time to show up but...
After careful conideration I think they came early insted of late and this is not the mate but the actual fledgling.
Water Snake
Fluffy Hawk
Jeremiah the Bullfrog is back!
A lazy looking Softail turtle.
A pair of Sandhill Cranes took a stroll through the yard and around the pond.
A pair of tiger striped dragonflies.
A pair of Red Shouldered Hawks.
The crane walked carefully around the gator.
The Mockingbird is watching something very carefully.
Hm, this hawk is also watching something very carefully.
And then all hell breaks loose!!
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Back to the crafty side.
Mike made this bamboo mailbox for me.
Good job!
I made some extra hot hot hot sauce from the pepper plant.
I won a Weber Smokey Mountain Smoker.
(Actually I won two! I had one sent to Chris.)
Awesome!
And here at the very end is a Century plant. This guy had been uprooted and shoved halfway into the little pond last Christmas. He's hanging on by his roots but I think he's about to give up the ghost. Why?
Well, oddly, he shot up a mast with his last energies and it will flower in a month or so...
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I know this was a long one but I have more coming soon: A trip tp Orlando.
We're camping and heading to SeaWorld!!
See you then.
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