A Visit with Nancy & Joe

We had the best week! Our very good friends, Nancy and Joe from Colorado Springs, came for a visit. We had a great time showing them our Florida.

This picture was taken at Rainbow Springs State Park.

The gardens and water features are beautiful.

Nancy had never seen a Cardinal before - but by the end of the visit, Bill was calling them trash birds because we saw them everywhere we went.

I think this is a Yellow-rumped Warbler.

One of our favorite places to walk is Paynes Prairie State park - so we were anxious to share this gem with our friends. I was especially happy to point out this American Bittern to Nancy. I think they are really neat birds!

We watched this Great Blue Heron shop for lunch on the river.

Nancy walked on the far side of the path past the many, many alligators. She didn't want them nibbling on her ankles.

My sister took the BEST picture of a Belted Kingfisher while she was in Fort Myers. I've been trying to get decent one for over a year - but I am never close enough. At least this one sat still while I clicked.

The herons and egrets are showing their mating plumage. Do you see the extra feathers on this Snowy Egret?

After our walk we went into Gainesville to the Butterfly Gardens. I don't know what I enjoyed more - the beautiful butterflies or the flowers and plants.

This guy decided that Nancy's hair was a nice soft place to rest.

Another day trip was to Cedar Key - a lovely and quaint fishing village on the Nature Coast. We had lunch at Tony's. They have the best clam chowder I've ever had!

Just outside of town, we watched several fishermen.

Nancy had lots of new clothes that she bought especially for the trip - and apparently they took up all the room in the suitcase as it looks (from these pictures) like Joe wore the same shirt the entire week.

This morning we got up before o'dark thirty and took them to the Orlando Airport for their flight back to Colorado. We hated to see them leave - but they promised to come back again next year.