Busy Week in the Florida Keys

This past week has been too busy.  We had annual medical checkups on three days, two of them in Key West (which means two hours (minimum) on the road).  I was very proud of myself on Monday when we both aced our checkup.  On Wednesday, we had the last board of directors’ meeting of 2017 and the first of 2018 for the Florida Keys Concert Association.  All the while, we were reviewing the choices for the house and then mailed off our next deposit (for the upgrades we chose).  I practiced my song for the yacht club luau as many times a day as I could.  I sang along with YouTube.   Then, we went to the luau on Saturday night.  I think I did a pretty good job singing “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Out of My Hair” judging by the applause and compliments afterward.

Now, on Sunday, we rest. We start up again tomorrow with more medical appointments all week.  That is what it is like getting older. Our social calendar is filled with physician’s names. I am looking forward to my appointments with Arjen Holdinga, Physical Therapist Extraordinaire. He works magic.

We have taken a few walks in the RV park.  I finally got the time to transfer some of the pictures from my camera to the computer today, while Andy is watching the Master’s Tournament on TV.  They are pictures of all the usual characters on the waterfront.

Those barriers and bubblers at the entrance to the canal are ugly, but they usually do a good job.  Here, you can see the sea grass that has collected on the outside of both barriers.

Seagrass Outside Barriers at Entrance to Canal

This past week, though, we had some strong south winds that overpowered the barriers and bubblers.  This shot is from the end of the canal.  You can see a few clear spots above bubblers along the canal.  I think it was about half full of grass. The problem with the grass is that it rots and stinks to high heaven.

Canal Full of Seagrass

Fortunately, the wind shifted the next day and blew all the grass back out again.

This great blue heron was on the pier across the canal from us.  It stayed there almost the whole time we sat at the waterfront but always had its head behind the piling or its butt facing me. So, it was a chance to add to my collection of bird-butt photos. The feather pattern is beautiful.

Backside of Great Blue Heron

The heron took off and I got my best flying-great-blue-heron ever.  Too bad the ramp is in the background.

Great Blue Heron

This might be the same great blue heron across the canal on another day. It was getting dark so the focus is not the best.

Great Blue Heron on Piling

This smaller heron was standing on the barrier with its back to us. I’m pretty sure it is a juvenile little blue heron. Another bird butt for my collection.

Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Horseshoe Crabs

I zoomed in on the shells embedded in the limestone across the canal and did not notice this little crab underneath until I got the photo on the computer.  Better focus would have made a better photo, again.

Crab in Rocks

This crab was on our side of the canal earlier in the day.

Small Crab

A small barracuda was hanging in the canal.  We thought it was eyeing some minnows nearby, but it did not pay attention to them when they swam close.

Barracuda

This tree always produces the most coconuts in the park.

Coconuts

We always have Bougainvillea and hibiscus in bloom, but there are many more flowers in the spring. I did not capture it with the camera, but these hibiscuses are the deepest, brightest red imaginable.

Red Hibiscus

 

 

 

 

 

9 thoughts on “Busy Week in the Florida Keys

  1. relationspdbeverly April 9, 2017 / 7:06 pm

    The Juvenile Little Blue Heron looks sad to me. Great photos.

    I love the colors of the crab and hibiscus.

    Like

    • Dinata Misovec April 9, 2017 / 9:01 pm

      I think the heron was looking down searching for fish. I also like the colors of the crabs. I grew up around the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland, where our crabs were blue/green. These bright red crabs are very exotic to me!

      Like

  2. Jane Wilmer April 9, 2017 / 9:36 pm

    hi…The theater is doing South Pacific next season–you’re a natural!

    jane

    Sent from my iPad > >

    Like

    • Dinata Misovec April 10, 2017 / 4:40 pm

      Nah, I’m too old to be Nellie Forebush. However, I was told by the party organizer that I sound “just like Mitzi Gaymor!!!)

      Like

  3. mycountryepoque April 10, 2017 / 9:35 am

    beautiful Florida, I wish I was there now. Keywest is beautiful with its heron living life so free, who don’t want to have two wings to fly wherever they want to go? haha! Wonderful post with beautiful pictures. Thank you for posting them!

    Like

  4. thejuicenut April 10, 2017 / 1:00 pm

    Love the blue heron and the colour of the crabs, but what are ‘bubblers?’ 😊🌷

    Like

    • Dinata Misovec April 10, 2017 / 4:37 pm

      The bubbler is simply a hose laid underwater. There is a compressor on shore that pumps air through the hose. The three of them at the entrance to the canal do generally keep the seagrass from floating in. It stirs the water surface just enough.

      In colder regions (like the Chesapeake Bay), they use bubblers in the winter to keep the water from freezing around a boat.

      Liked by 1 person

      • thejuicenut April 10, 2017 / 10:04 pm

        I’ve never heard of that, thank you for explaining 😊🌷

        Like

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