VW Thing  

FOOD TRUCKS IN TARPON SPRINGS ~ ALONG WITH HIPPIE FEST

We went to Tarpon Springs ~ never there before.  It's a great town, that we will return to sometime.  Our purpose was to participate in Hippie Fest and Food Truck Rally.  
The Food Trucks were downtown, right on the main drag.  We arrived as they were setting up.  Never having been to a food truck rally before we just strolled down the street to see what the offerings would be.  

Bayou Bistro ~ very tasty sliders here!
I need to learn how to make the sauce they put on my sliders ~ YUMMO!
I also went to get a cupcake from the truck that looked very "sweet" on our walk when we first arrived.  It was early and there was only ONE cupcake left!  Now, just who would bring a cupcake truck and not enough cupcakes?!  They did sell me (yes, it should've been free) the last cupcake for 1/2 price.  It was delicious and maybe they learned a lesson about how people love cupcakes!  

Where Joe bought his tasty Italian sandwich. 
Not even a truck, it's a cart - as the ones we 
ate at all over Mexico.  How did it get in line
with all the trucks?  How could they refuse it?   
These carts were the first mobile eateries!  

For some reason I can not move the pictures around as I usually do.  Guess Blogger has changed and I need to learn the new way to move the pics.  Oh well, the food trucks were fun.  The Hippie Fest ~ well, a few VW's were on display and a band was playing the "Oldies."  Surely expected more of something advertised as Hippie Fest.  

Joe, visiting his first truck/not really food/but it was 
very warm and he was thirsty.

Another one of the trucks--there were about a dozen total, each
with their own unique offerings.  

AT THE SPONGEDOCKS IN TARPON SPRINGS THE VW'S WERE FEATURED.  THIS IS A SMALL SAMPLING OF A FEW, TO ME, INTERESTING ONES. 

Nice van ~ the inside actually had hardwood flooring.  

Same color!  I had this VW Rabbit when
I moved to California 31 years ago!
Loved it then - many memories flooded
back when I saw it.  One being - Michelle
had a talking doll when we left WI for CA.
The batteries 'disappeared' 1/2 way there,
the doll mysteriously stopped talking.
It's a long ride to CA!

Several bugs fixed up and lined up. 

Well, Hello Blog!  It's been awhile since I have visited you.  Why haven't I been here?  Hmmm... good question.  
Living life, I guess. 

It has been creeping up in the back of my mind-write on the blog, put pictures on the blog, keep up this cyberspace diary.
So, here I am Blog, starting again.  Life is just one start after another.  Always learning~always starting again~one adventure after another~no matter how small or insignificant they seem.    
Chico, Michelle's outdoor cat, is in this picture.
He learned how to climb trees while I was in MO, for 2 weeks, this summer.  He also learned, while Michelle panicked a little, how to climb down and get out of the trees. 
He also learned how to track down and kill his prey, while we watched, in horror!  Chico is an outdoor "mouser" ~ objective accomplished!  Even though it was a young bird and not a mouse.  
 Hunting is hunting and Chico learned fast!  

Colts - strange name for a bird...

  How cute are they?
The colts (young cranes) are so brown and fluffy.  They walk continually through the park, as colts need at least two miles a day in walking to develop properly. The parents are scratching for bugs unceasingly, teaching the colts what their future encompasses.  We have another pair of cranes on the other side of the park,  which do not have colts this season.  I love to hear them whopping it up in the morning and see them flying low throughout the park. 

BUBBA GUMP
SHRIMP CO.

Located at John's Pass, 
Maderia Beach, FL on the west coast. 

Not many movies do I watch over and over.  
For some reason Forrest Gump is one that I've seen several times.  It's one of those "feel-good" movies that can be seen again and again.  That must've been the thought of whom ever opened the Bubba Shrimp Restaurant.  The place is floor to ceiling with sayings and pictures from the movie.  
Another restaurant, seems like that's the hobby of choice down here- eating out.  

Anna Maria Island, Florida

 Visiting Anna Maria Island, on the west coast, with friends Bill and Andrea.  A very pleasant weekend away from our norm.  
I love the beach, so this was a real treat.  Staying at a beautiful resort, walking the beaches, riding the trolley across the island, a picture perfect sunset after a relaxing day.  Ahhhhh...

                 Melbourne Beach, Florida

I've always liked these signs, maybe it's the fact that there are many destinations on one sign and I'd like to see them all.
Notice it was 15' in Wyoming the day we were there.  It was in the 80's with the water temp being 77 degrees!  Yes, the water was warm. NICE

 I read all of the signs.  I like to be informed about each area we visit. Hangers Beach was especially nice. Patrick Air Force Base is across the road. 

Sun and water ~ my idea of a great day!
Joe is hiding from the sun, but enjoying the warmth. 

 Cherry Pocket ~ not just a restaurant ~ a destination! 

 Most of our friends think this place is a crazy restaurant.  I must be crazy because I think it's great!  An old fishing camp turned into a very profitable tourist attraction.  The food is great, blackened gator bites are tasty, music fills the air and gators in Lake Pierce swim near the deck.
On a fair size lake in Central Florida this place is not just a restaurant, it's a laid back, peaceful place to live.  Old Florida for sure!  
Only pictures of the restaurant here---there are campers, mobile homes, stick homes and concrete homes built next to and down from this little place.  The people, many I have met and talked with, that live near Cherry Pocket feel very blessed that they live there. It's that "down home" feeling, where you know all your neighbors. The lake adds peace to the scene, the campfires in the evenings add serenity. 
Music from the restaurant (usually oldies and country) wafts through the air for background ambiance.  If I had a choice I'd find a place to live at Cherry Pocket...I could go fishing whenever I wanted to...

Spring
    in 
Florida 

 

                       Anoles climbing everywhere, beautiful birds, 

floating flowers. 

Spring is here!

Seems like summer all winter down here.  This winter especially, we had only a few 'cold' days.  It's almost laughable when the meteorologists get excited about a cold front coming in.  That usually meant, this winter, the temps would be 70's during the day and 60's at night.  Comfortable to sleep with the windows open!  From what I understand, this has been the warmest winter in a long time.  Same with up north. 
I wouldn't mind if every winter was like this one!
I'm busy spring cleaning~probably like everyone else.  The windows need to be washed and that will be at least a 2-3 day undertaking.  The geraniums I brought down from up north, in October, that I set in the ground are thriving.  Hope the summer is good to them.  The heat and rain will most likely be their 'friend.' 
We have been visiting with neighbors and friends that are soon to make the trek north.  
Joe is still working 3 days per week/he loves his job! 
I'm in the midst of painting a stool, for the kitchen and then onto painting a tall, 5 drawer chest for the Lanai.  Just a short note on our "doings" here down South.