Tosohatchee State Preserve

Typically Florida's dry season with gorgeous weather is December, January, and February.  But this year, it has been a very wet season!  Today is March 1, and the weather today was like it usually is in the prior 3 months. 

Clif and I decided to take advantage of the glorious day and ventured out to Tosohatchee State WMA in east Orange County for a hike.  We didn't have in mind any particulars other than just enjoy a day outdoors.



We started our hike from parking area 29 which is the northern most parking area.  We thought we'd complete a loop by combining a variety of trails.





It wasn't long before we were on the Florida Trail.  We took a small detour and headed north because the creek was in view from the trail that we were going to be taking south.





It is going through areas like this that you are grateful for a well marked trail.  This is the view directly in front of me...



....and this is the view to my side.



No sooner had I taken my pictures, and Clif calls out for me to turn around. 



His side view area was a denser than where I was standing.



After assessing our map, we began calculating.  We had already hiked 2.5 miles in just over an hour.  We were only half way along the Florida Trail before it intersected with Powerline Road to head back creating the loop.  But in the woods directly to the right of this picture we could see we were paralleling the road.  We decided to ditch the marked trail, cut across the grassy area and start our loop back.  I am glad we did because as you can see 2 1/2 miles in a straight line looks endless!!!  Can you imagine  how long this road would look if we continued another 2 miles through the woods before it officially came onto this road?



After hiking on the road about a mile, we decided to take another trail heading north so we'd be back in the shade.  It would eventually tie into another trail we could take west and catch the road that would then take us back to parking area 29.



I was relieved to be back in the canopy.  It was about 10 degrees cooler in there.



From all the rain we had been getting, the resurrection fern was fully resurrected!

 

Clif found some interesting shots to take.







Once back to the truck, we drove down Powerline Road to the St. John's River.  Along the way, I spied this gator in the canal.



Some views of the St. John's River.







Next stop, Peek a Boo Pond.



Last stop Lake Charlie.



Lake Charlie was created when the 528 was constructed.  Dirt was needed to build the road and this is where they got it from.  The depression left in the ground soon filled with rainwater and became a lake.  The Wildlife Management team stocks the lake with fresh water fish.

We had an enjoyable day.  It was quite exhausting!

Adventures with Grandma and Grandpa

Michael and Valerie flew up to Madison, WI to find housing.  He has been promoted to Sales Manager at CarMax and put in for a transfer to this new location.  This meant they needed us to watch Chloe while they were away.  Of course who wouldn't jump on this opportunity?  I didn't have work scheduled yet, so it was no problem to block myself out and take a few days off.

When Clif got home from work Tuesday, we decided to head out to Lake Eola so Chloe could watch me feed the swans, ducks, geese, and other birds.  She was so excited!



She was just kickin' her feet ninety to nothing!







As we came around the lake, I was able to replenish my supply of swan food.  They know that food from across the lake and here they come!



Chloe was happy to see all the birds. :)



Chloe and Grandma tried for a photo op.



Tonight, Clif just played around with his camera and took random shots of her.





Aunt Diane says this is her "kisses".   I say it's her fish face.  (Diane came up to watch her today because I already had a job on the calendar when this opportunity arose).












She's such a sweet heart and a determined little girl.  It appears to me that she started saying yesterday, "good girl".  That's what I say to her many times throughout the day. :)

29th Anniversay Celebration

Clif and I decided to treat ourselves to a luncheon cruise aboard the Rivership Romance out of Sanford to celebrate our 29th wedding anniversary.  It is operated by the St. John's Rivership Co.  We got there early so we toured the Veterans Park adjacent to marina.  It was a gorgeous day which was needed after 3 days of nonstop rain/overcast skies.  The day started in the low 60's but rose to a balmy 70 degrees.  In the breeze and shade it felt brisk.







It is an old fashion paddle wheel ferry.  You can see the paddles out the back window from where we were seated.  We had a delicious lunch which started out with appetizers of sticky buns, fruit, and vegetables.  Then onto a salad with dinner rolls.  For the main course we chose to have prime rib.  Dessert was carrot cake.  It was a leisurely meal which left plenty of time in between servings to go up deck to catch pictures of the landscape.  The duration of the cruise was 3 hours.



The bald eagle soaring by.



The Veteran's Memorial Park.





We went down to channel marker 112 before turning around and heading back.



One last shot on Lake Monroe on our way back to Sanford Port.

When we got home, Michael, Valerie, and Chloe were over.  I thought that was perfect because it's always nice to spend your day with loved ones.  Besides, it gave me another reason to take a picture.  Chloe will be 9 months on Valentine's Day.  She is now crawling all over the place, and pulling herself up.

Chloe at 8 months

A little late getting the blog updated, but we were able to enjoy a visit with Chloe right before she turned 8 months.  She is hamming it up now.  She scoots backwards, barrel rolls to get to her destination, gets frustrated trying to crawl so she does the downward dog yoga pose.  She just keeps Grandpa and I smiling.

















Valerie calls this Chloe's "Grandpa face".



She is sporting her 2 bottom teeth. :)



Exhausted after a big day at Grandma and Grandpa's house.