AN ICY MORNING

FROST on my windshield!
Barely enough to scrap, but this is "warm" Florida.  I covered my plants to keep them safe until the nights stay warm again.
The weather seems to be changing everywhere. We are still fortunate to be here and it will be in the 70's tomorrow.  A couple of days, here and there, of 'winter' shakes us back into reality and has us being thankful for the sun and warm days.  I'll be back in the pool soon! 

CHIRISTMAS EVE IN FLORIDA

Christmas Eve in Florida ~ so different than up north. Today only a light jacket was needed; the sun was out all day. We started out the day with breakfast, very good home cooking.  Then our road lead to Winter Park. The Morse Museum was our first stop.  The majority of this museum contains the works of Louis Comfort Tiffany, and it was amazing!
Unfortunately photos were not allowed.  
When I thought of Tiffany I thought of lamps and some jewelry.  My eyes were opened viewing the work of this great artist.  He did complete walls, mirrors, lamps, jewelry, windows and various other objects.  
Not all flat glass workings/many were dimensional.   

The most fantastic display was the Tiffany Chapel.  I took a picture of the black and white picture but it does not do it justice.  The colors, the glass and stone work are absolutely breathtaking. 
This is a full size chapel, the columns on the sides are very ornate.  The chandelier is 10' by 8', electrified and 1000 pounds, shaped like a cross and magnificent!  


          *Winter Park*Christmas Eve*

One of my favorite VW vehicles ~ and in great shape too!

A skating rink in Winter Park.  Not too cold, but cold enough under the ice to keep it frozen.  Skate rentals available. 

Fountains, vines, flowers ~ all through the this pretty, little town. 

Never know who'll be flying around the corner, on a motorcycle!

A turtle with packages on his back.  His name was Randall/owned by a woman that rescued him on the side of the road. 

Not a cow ~ this is a dog!
Dalmatian/Great Dane mix? 


Merry Christmas to All


                    

"EXCITEMENT" IN OUR PARK TODAY

WHOO-EEE!  A blimp, or non-rigid airship, floated quietly over the front of our park (La Casa Del Sol) today.  So quiet, if someone didn't see it and call your attention to it, it would've stealthily passed on by ~         unnoticed. 

Coming and going ~ the blue sky makes it even more visible.  It was totally white, no markings whatsoever.
Guess it doesn't take much to get us excited!

SAME ~ YET DIFFERENT

That's the Circle B Ranch Preserve.
Each time we venture out to this preserve, I think - it's the same place we were just at.  Each time I step out of the car and look up or around, I see something different!  
This time it was a rafter of turkeys pecking near the Nature Center. 
Above, I spied a squadron of white pelicans, then another and another!  The blue sky was suddenly speckled with scoops of large, white pelicans.  Pod after pod of pelicans came in and gently landed on the lake.  These spectacular birds, with a 9' wing span, 
are cooperative feeders.  They don't nose (beak) dive into the water, as brown pelicans do.  White pelicans "herd" fish toward shore and then share the school of fish. 


To my amazement there were thousands of turkey vultures - everywhere!  Flying overhead, perched in trees, standing on patches of land ~ alone, in pairs, or an entire  wake will roost in several trees grouped close together. 
Vultures survive mainly on carrion (dead or decaying flesh).  If need be they will eat plants or tear apart sick, weak, or young prey.  

I just stood and tried to think how many dead animals/fish/etc. there must be on this preserve to feed all the vultures we were observing with every turn!  Amazing. 

Seems leafless trees were the perch of choice for the many vultures.

Black-bellied whistling ducks,red-bellied woodpeckers, 

sand hill cranes and the "regulars" (water birds) were also 

plentiful this time at the Circle B.

My brother-in-law wishes these guys would stay down here forever.  They are not "farmer-friendly" where corn is being planted and grown for a living.

 The red-bellied woodpecker is a common back-yard feeder up north. We have some in the our park here also. 

Of course, it wouldn't be the Circle B if alligators weren't spotted.  

Skinny, compared to the girth we had seen on other gators, draped along the log with a smiling face.  Reminds me of a cartoon! 

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!