Muddy Manatees

Innocently out biking in some neighborhoods this morning I stop under a tree for a drink and what do I spy? Manatees! Four of them swimming around, rolling over each other and snorting in some very shallow, very muddy water at the end of a waterway. I stayed for quite a while watching. The most I saw of them at any one time was either what you see above or the snout and sometimes a whole head. Oh and their tails would swoop out of the water every now and again too. 

I also helped convince a momma duck that she and her babies really did not want to cross the busy road but would rather swim in the ravine. And on my way home as I was climbing the bridge I had to stop pedalling to gawk at the schools of large fish frolicking in the shallows. How so much wildlife manages to coexist with so many people amazes me!

"C" is for Chocolate!

My Grandpop, my brother and his partner all showed up in Florida this May. It's always good to see family and we had a bit of fun touring Florida neighborhoods in the car, sharing a Mother's Day brunch with my daughter, a momma-to-be, and sampling some incredible chocolates at William Dean Chocolates in Largo. I saw the chocolates featured in the online magazine, 83 Degrees, and could NOT resist. After the chocolate we decided to join it with some coffee. Pictured above is the Pop Rocks Candy Bar I purchased. If you let each piece melt slowly in your mouth the pop rocks in the middle start crackling!

Deep Fried Blues

Rich and I attended the Cotee River Seafood and Blues Festival in New Port Richey in early May. One of our favorite musicians, Lee Pons, was playing and it was a gorgeous, sunny day.

But oh my the food was something to smell. There was nary a food item that wasn't fried. And then some. Deep fried pickles were out-done by deep fried snickers and oreos!

Sitting around with nothing but music to listen to the nose does go trying to persuade the stomach it's hungry when there's frying about, but thankfully I reminded my stomach of the uncomfortable consequences and managed to steer clear.

There were plenty of other vendors there too and we snatched up some extraordinary dip mix from Sherry's Gourmet Dips in anticipation of the arrival of some guests from Indianapolis.

Next year we're bringing chairs and a cooler. The park is delightfully appointed with trees lining the perimeter. Lots of good shade for a sunny Florida afternoon.

Florida Fleas

Flea markets are popular in our part of Florida, but last weekend Rich treated me to an old fashioned flea market in Clearwater. The kind where people are trying to get rid of unwanted and used items as well as selling antiques and quasi-antiques. It was a rambling place with the usual indoor jumble and nice rows of outdoor wooden stalls.

You guessed it - there's The Man walking away with an incredible bargain!