Zachary

Happy Easter. This has been a great week! My grandson, Zachary, arrived from Philadelphia on Wednesday. It was the first time he had flown alone - but he did great! I met him at the gate - his flight arriving almost a half-hour early. He has grown since I saw him in October and he has a FULL head of long, blond curly hair.

While eating our lunch on the lanai, we watched a couple of Bald Eagles catch some fish for their lunch. Zachary had never seen a Bald Eagle before, so it was quite exciting. While we watched, we also noticed a family of River Otters playing in the pond - but they were too fast for pictures.

After lunch, we headed to the pool - but had to stop and buy him a bathing suit first. (Who comes to Florida without a bathing suit??) Zachary quickly made friends with some of the other kids at the pool while I relaxed with a mediocre book.

The next day, we headed out early to do some power birding in the Everglades. Our first destination was Janes Scenic Drive in the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve. We saw several alligators, lots of turtles and a couple of Red-shouldered Hawks along with Ibis, Herons and Egrets.

After our drive, Zachary took Bill and me to our favorite Cuban Restaurant in Everglades City for Cuban sandwiches and yummy french fries. Thank-you Zachary!! We spotted several curly-tailed lizards, which Zachary tried to catch - but to no avail (thank goodness!) After lunch, Zachary and I went for an air-boat ride through the Mangroves.

Friday was a beach day and Zachary and I headed out early to Sanibel. We walked up and down the beach looking for shells, checking out the birds and getting some sun. Together we worked on a sand castle and Zachary played in the surf. It was glorious but by noon we were getting hungry and decided we had had enough sand and salt. On the way back we stopped at "She Sells Sea Shells" so Zachary could but some presents for his mom, his little sister and some school friends. I was really proud of him! The afternoon was perfect for the pool and before dinner Bill took us over to Cape Coral to see the Burrowing Owls and the Monk Parakeets.

Last time Zachary was here, with his mom and Cheryl, we went to Corkscrew Swamp and Zachary wanted to go back - so early on Saturday, we headed out. We saw the Painted Buntings, a pair of Cardinals, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Black and White Warblers, Swallow-tailed Kites, Red-shouldered Hawks - including an adorable baby still in his nest, a beautiful Little Blue Heron, a couple of alligators, a swarm of bees, lots of Vultures, brown anoles, spiders and too much more to remember.

This was a special treat - a Ghost Orchid. These rare, endangered orchids usually don't bloom until June - and they don't know why this one is blooming now - but we were glad it did. The naturalists at the preserve had a scope set-up on the boardwalk so we got a really good look at it - much better than this picture.

Today, the boys are off to Cape Coral and the R/Seahawks Flying Field. It's the first chance I've had to work with my pictures. Later today, Bill is making a rib roast for Easter dinner. Tomorrow we have to put Zachary back on a plane and Bill and I will close up the Fort Myers condo for the summer.

Zachary doesn't want to leave - so we are planning his next visit - and the ones after that.
yyyyyyyyyyyeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssssssssssssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Zachary is helping me type this last sentence - can you tell??????) haha haha