A TRIP THROUGH BETHLEHEM

Tonight we took a trip through Bethlehem.  We walked the paths that people walked many years ago. The life of Jesus ~ brought to life ~ by dedicated members of 

Calvary Baptist Church in Winter Haven, FL.

The soldiers were yelling at us to pay our taxes, the tax man laid with comfort, on his silk and furs, screaming and laughing that the Lord we were fascinated with was poor and he/the tax man/was rich and getting richer. 

Minstrels were playing their flutes in the street, women were selling bread.

A well dressed woman informed us that there was no room at her Inn; she insisted that we stop by the stable and see the newborn child that was born that night.  Why didn't she make room for the young couple, knowing they were with child? 

Passing by the lady selling candles; the man hawking his chickens - while his children ran around palying with the chickens not yet butchered.

The fire warmed us, as the "storyteller" lead us past the birth of Jesus into His life, death and resurrection.  

The carpenter was busy in his shop. 

        The babe was born to Mary and Joseph. 

The night and story ended ~ with the beginning of new life awaiting.

FROZEN ORANGE JUICE?

When it's cold down here water is sprinkled on the orange trees.  Essentially the sprayed on water freezes instead of the oranges. This works only for a short-lived cold snap.  
            Hopefully this cold snap is short-lived!  

Yesterday afternoon it was in the 50's but the ice was still hanging on the orange trees.
Canada ~ keep your cold air up there!  

SNOWING IN FLORIDA * KIND OF...

     Snow in Central Florida/they say it has happened.  Today we went to Celebration, FL.  Browsing in the unique shops, a great lunch at the Celebration Town       Tavern, a wonderful concert at Corpus Christi Catholic Church and then a stroll in the snow. 

       A wonderful "wintery" day! A wonderful life!

Segways and electric cars have their own parking spots in Celebration, FL.
(Flat Stanley is flying home this week.  We will miss him, but we know he had a great time here in Florida.)

The concert at Corpus Christi was wonderful!

The "snow" shoots out of birdhouses, strategically placed on Main St. in Celebration, FL.

Skating on Main St. in Celebration, FL.
The ice is actually plastic and the skates are special for plastic ice.

Kids playing in the "snow" ***

We were standing under this street lamp and large bell ornament when it started to "snow" in Celebration.  It felt like winter for a minute, it looked like 'home' and it made me feel homesick.  Then I remembered it there was a real blizzard predicted for WI tonight!

IT'S A LITTLE CHILLY HERE~IN THE MORNINGS

The mornings have been chilly.  High 30's, low 40's, when I get up.  
Flip the "fireplace" on and it gets toasty warm.  Today, off to a health fair and then to the Osceola Flea Market. Usually I like to buy fruits and veggies at the markets, but there is now a couple selling fruits and veggies about a mile down the road from us.  I stocked up yesterday-watermelons were $2!  Bananas, apples, onions, green peppers, potatoes and more. 
I'm making potato soup this weekend and pasta sauce to freeze.  Ready made meals in the freezer/it's a GOOD THING! 

Santa is keeping watch over our "fireplace".
My picks from the "Couple's Market" are gracing the table.
The sun is shinning ~ it will be a great day to look for "treasures" at the Flea Market! 

                        

ANOTHER MC DONALD'S/THIS ONE IS A CLASSIC!

Me, Elwood and Flat Stanley.  

This is why I take all the pictures ~

 Joe cut Elwood out of the picture!  

The stools have the little McDonald's guy on them, with his fifteen cents sign.  

Joe with Jake and Flat Stanley.  

Joe likes coffee from McDonald's,
I like their side salad.  
Today we stopped in Winter Haven 
and each had what we like.

Elvis is everywhere! 

This was a Classic McDonald's, so I had to take pictures! Of course, Flat is still with us so he is in every picture.  A fun place/Mickey D's sure has a "handle" on marketing! 

                                        
                   This little guy is cute!  
             Old McDonald's icon.
               His name is SPEEDEE. 
                  He was replaced in 1967
                  by Ronald McDonald.

Marilyn shows up everywhere too!  

CIRCLE B BAR RESERVE/NATURE CENTER

A day spent at the Circle B is my favorite thing to do down here.  I awe at how the natural environment changes with each visit.  Two days before, we had steady rain and the water levels were an indication that the rain also came down at the Circle B. 
With the lake being high we didn't see any gators on that side ~ but the birds were everywhere!  Screeching, calling, patiently waiting until they could grab the insects or fish near the water. 
A little squirrel entertained us and when I looked down a 5' shiny, black snake was being entertained by us.  Just lying there, taking in the warmth of what sun was peeking out.  Joe thought it was dead/not so/I could see it's eyes, looking at me.  We backed away and the snake started to move too.  I caught a few pictures, only one shows it's length and then not all of it. 

Long and fat, not far from my bare toes!
I need to wear my boots out there!  

White Egret

A great heron.

So cute ~ eating this orange flower. 

We observed an armadillo using his snout to look for bugs. The armadillo was intriguing to watch.  He was digging every few feet, looking for lunch.  He looked like a small tank moving through the dead grasses.

An anhinga perching on this log, drying it's feathers.
The turtles keeping him company are quite large. 

We saw this alligator, hosting a turtle near his tail.
We saw five other gators, on the muddy, shallow side of the path.

This path is well used, coming out of the water right up onto the path we were walking on.  It goes down on the other side of the path.  Alligators climb up this path, from the lake to get to the muddy ditch on the other side.

We chatted with three men coming towards us on the path.  Each carrying a mega spotting scope, attached to their cameras/used for close-ups of nature. They mentioned the scopes/cameras were for their enjoyment and their enjoyment comes when they sell the pictures.
The guys were good sports to hold Flat Stanley for me. 

LAKE LOUISA STATE PARK/FLORIDA

 North of us, on Hwy. 27, is Lake Louisa State Park.  I decided to go there one day when Joe went golfing. I was looking forward to seeing a few migrating birds, maybe an alligator or two.  Well, I drove through twice.  It's a nice park~I encountered some snowbirds that camp there, some for days, some for weeks, some for months.  There are some very nice cottages for rent, with a lake view. I walked out onto a pier/thought I'd see a gator/nope.  In fact, I saw a few vultures and that was it!  
What I did see was a sign, then another, then another...remember this song? 

                    Signs, signs, everywhere there's signs
                 Blockin' up the scenery, breakin' my mind
              Do this, don't do that, can't you read the sign?


Well, I read them and took pictures of them. 
I had Flat Stanley along/he wriggled his way in on the pictures. He's been doing that lately, most every place we go! 

Wildlife crossing?  How wild could the turtles be?

Posters of tracks that could be found in the park.  We didn't find any tracks/only signs.  See the anole on one of the posters? 

Typical Wisconsin sign.

I saw evidence of controlled burning in the park. Probably what this sign was put up for. 

Yup, alligators...didn't see any at this lake.
They are in there, I just didn't see them.

Horses?  There must be horseback riding in this park.

Hmmmm...not sure I want to go back to Wisconsin.
It's 84' at 10:38 a.m. ~ NICE!