Wedesday - Weather: High 81, low 59. Mostly sunny. Wind ESE 8.

Today I am 72 years old! It's hard to think I'm that old – in my mind, I'm the same as I have always been. Physically, I can definitely tell a difference! However, I am thankful to be alive and kicking, so I'm not complaining.

After lunch, we went for a long walk. A street at the east side of the resort goes south for a sort distance and ends at a gated community. There is an RV resort on one side of the street, and on the other side is a small area of small homes and permanent double-wide trailers. Along the street there are lots of large live oaks with lots of Spanish moss – very pretty. For supper, we went to Landry's Seafood restaurant, one of our favorites. It was a little disappointing because they do not have scallops on the menu at this time, and the food we got was not as good as our expectations. It was not bad, just not great. I had fried oysters with a side of rice pilaf, and Linda had grilled shrimp with a side of 'dirty rice' (rice with spicy sausage in it, and Linda only ate a little of it). I guess we'll try Joe’s Crab Shack next to see how it is.

Thursday - Weather: High 83, low 62. Average high is 72 (perfect), record high is 87 (too hot). Partly cloudy. Wind NW 8.  This Jan. was the driest on record for Daytona Beach, and it's very dry all around.  Orlando has had .13 in. of rain to date, normal is 2.43.  Every morning with the traffic, they give the areas where wildfires are affecting visibility.

For lunch we went to Joe's Crab Shack, and the food was good.  I had coconut shrimp and Linda had a salad with coconut shrimp on it.  They have a good children's menu, and I think when the kids and grandkids come, this will be a good place to go.  It's just down the road a little on the way to Celebration.  After lunch, we went to the library, and after a discussion we found we don't have to pay for a library card.  The lady was a little hesitant because we had no bill with our name and address on it, even though we had a confirmation letter from the resort.  Finally she said we were okay.  Next we went to Celebration, and I fished while Linda sat and read.  I caught an 8 in. bluegill using worms and a 15.5 inch bass on a bettle spin with a yellow mister-twister on it.  Late afternoon, we had our coffee, tea, and scone, and then we went for an hour walk.  This time, we went around the end of lake 1 to the boardwalk going to lake 2, and then went along one edge of lake 2 to get to the boardwalk going to lake 3.  Lake 3 is very long and narrow, with a footbridge in the middle going to the street.  All along the steet side are huge beautiful homes.  We walked to the bridge and then came back to the car.  Lite supper here. 

Osprey at the top of a tall pine.



The old geezer on the boardwalk between lakes 1 and 2.

Snowy egret waiting for a minnow to come through the overflow pipe for lake 2.

As dry as it is around here, there must be a spring feeding lake 2 to cause overflow.

Great blue heron on a small island in lake 2. 

Notice the feathering on his chest and back.

Linda's favorite home on lake 2.  Wouldn't it be nice to get up in the morning, go out on your porch, and pick some oranges to have with breakfast.



Lots of Spanish moss on the huge live oaks on the woods side of lake 2.

Large alligator on the opposite side of lake 3 (far enough away!)

"Come on in, the waters fine!"

Anhinga.  Note the very pointed bill and the light brown neck indicating a female.

A large turtle in lake 3.  Note the moss growing on his back.



Wood stork on the left and great white egret on the right.

Don't see them together very often.



Great blue heron on lake 3.  Notice the small long feather on the back of his head.

Also, the feathering again. 

Using your imagination, doesn't this look like a bird?

I think it's called a bird-of-paradise plant.