Never, Neverland

Still on our way home we stopped in Jacksonville and spent a few hours shopping at the huge St. John's Center. This is a retail center that is not outlets. Lots of major stores and restaurants here. Sadly we did not have a meal at the Cheesecake Factory. We did have reservations to take a factory tour at the Sally Corporation. This company makes animatronics for "dark rides." Think a laser shooting gallery where you ride through in a car or another ride in a theme park. They do not do work for Disney, but they do Six Flags and other parks around the world.

Meeting up with a pirate - Aargh!

Lots of fun and finally got back to Bluffton, rescued Sirius from the kennel, and home to sleep in our comfy bed.

Talk to the Animals

Today we drove from Boca Raton to Jacksonville. We stopped at the Merritt National Wildlife Refuge at the Cape Canaveral Seashore to see more birds. This preserve was teeming with Snowy Egrets and Tri-color Herons. We saw only one Roseate Spoonbill, but he was gorgeous.

Mother and Child Reunion

This afternoon I went to the Wakodahatchee Wetlands with Elaine and Rick. This is a preserve run by the Palm Beach County Water Authority and truly wonderful. I had been there before with Jeff and in the spring it is full of nests with baby wood storks, egrets, anahingas, ibisis and herons. Lots and lots of birds and babies. It is about a mile of boardwalks over water and just a lovely place to visit.

Doing What Comes Naturally

Back in Bluffton and our usual routines. I am back working at SteinMart a few days a week and Jeff, The Guru, is fixing computers. I am going to a few political rallies as I cannot sit by idly while our country is at risk. Right now I listen, write postcards and emails to legislators and hope for the best.I helped run the Sisterhood Women's Seder and that is always a fun event.

I celebrated my 67th birthday with my two birthday friends and the husbands. Lynn and Neal and Carol and Ken drove us to Brunswick, GA for a Jewish Food Festival and tour of the local synagogue.

Then we went to Hofwyl-Broadfield Plantation, a state historic site north of Brunswick. We toured the house and grounds and found the last family to live there were descendants of the Gratz family from Philadelphia.

Jeff was pretty sick with a cold and lots of coughing. We found some mold growing on the sides of our house. It has been power washed to remove the mold, luckily in early stages. We are scheduled to have the entire house painted with a mold proof paint which should keep us healthy for the next 8 to 10 years.

Sirius and I have been walking every day. We love the  sidewalk in front of Hidden Cypress and the wooden boardwalk.

Sirius turned five on April 12. He is such a sweet dog and he loves us and we love him.

As I write it is the last night of Passover. We drove to Boca Raton to spend the two seders with Rick and his friend Elaine. The have moved to a beautiful condo in Boca Raton, FL. Elaine cooked the first night and we went to their club the second night and both were lovely.