Friday - Weather: High 68, low 48. Partly cloudy. Wind NW 10.  Still very dry, -2.15 in. for the year.
We packed everything this morning because tomorrow we move to a large one bedroom unit for the next 4 weeks.  We left mid-morning to go to Largo (near Tampa) to visit my sister, Jean Crosman.  Her husband, Dave, was on an overnight golf trip to Ft.Myers. They have a very nice place with a 2nd bedroom, so we stayed overnight.  It takes 1.5 to 2 hours to get there.  We went out for supper at a cool seafood place near the gulf.  Jean and Linda had coconut shrimp with a side of broccoli, and I had broiled scallops and fried oysters (my favorite things) with a side of dirty rice.  All was very good.  We had a good time visiting. 


Saturday - Weather: High 68, low 35! WOW!  Sunny. Wind W 16, gusts to 24. 
Jean fixed bacon and eggs with toast for breakfast - nice treat for us since we don't have a cooked breakfast very often. Lots of visiting again, with frequent words, "Do you remember ...". We packed up and left for Kissimmee late morning, stopped near Plant City at a strawberry farm which has a place serving all kinds of strawberry treats and other things, and had some terrific strawberry shortcake.  Linda's cousins had stopped there on their way to visit us, and said it was really good. You would not believe the long line waiting for the shortcake!  They are prepared with lots of workers, so we didn't wait long.  Then another line for buying some fresh strawberries - this place has a reputation and is raking in the money!  Got to Kissimmee just in time to go to Celebration for coffee and a treat (that was lunch, after the shortcake!).  Checked in, unpacked, and had a lite supper here.


Sunday - Weather: High 56, low 33!! PRETTY CHILLY! Sunny. Wind NNW 14.  About 50 miles NW of here, it got down to 23! But for Kissimmee, near 70 Mon., back to 80 Tues.   Average high in Kissimmee for Jan. is 72, for Feb. 73, March 77, April 83.  Average low for Jan. is 50, Feb. 51, March 55, April 61.
Went to Celebration mid-morning for coffee, tea, and scone, but ate inside for the first time.  Bright sun is very warm, but the breeze makes it chilly.  Wore a sweater to church for the first time.  Went to lunch at Joe's Crab Shack, which is right at the corner where we turn off the highway to go to Celebration.  Linda had a salad with coconut shrimp on it, and I had (believe it or not) a steak with a baked potato!  Only the second time I had red meat in the 5 weeks we've been here.  Lazy afternoon, reading and watching TV - too chilly to be outside doing anything.  Supposed to warm up tomorrow, so we'll be active again soon!

Monday - Weather: High 68, low 50. Mostly sunny. Wind ENE 5. {NOTE: If you are checking temps for Orlando, and they are different, remember I'm doing Kissimmee.  For example, today Orlando is 3 degrees colder than here, even though they are only about 20 miles apart.}
Easy morning, after lunch we went to the library, then Celebration for a treat, sitting in the sun and reading, and doing some people watching.  A grandpa was helping his 4-year-old grandson catch a bluegill, and we had a good visit with a couple from MN.  They are like us - leave there when it gets cold and leave here when it gets warm.  They also like to fish. Late afternoon, we went for a long walk along lakes 2 & 3.  Home for supper.

AT CELEBRATION

A thief picking fruit from a loquat tree.

We had to ask what this tree was.  It's originally from south Asia, but grows in any tropical-type weather.  Fruit is kind of like a peach or a mango.  It has a large pit.

 Wild iris along the lake edge.

Doesn't the yellow look like it was dabbed there with a paint brush?

Wood stork.  What an ugly head!

Note pinkish feet and a hint of the black feathers that show in flight.

Interesting feeding method - wiggle foot around, hold out wing,

have open beak in the water.

Taking flight.  

Can't tell here, but they do NOT scrunch up neck when flying like the great blue heron.  They point there bill and neck straight out, and they lose that ugly look - actually are very pretty in flight with the black edge on white wings.