Proposals Anyone?

Never expected to see a
cherry picker on the beach

Well today (11th) is life-sized me's birthday and she started the day on her new mini ipad using Facetime to speak with her Quirky Quilting Group in south London.  Lots of laughter all round, a 3,000 mile away cake (one way to lose weight) and fun pressies. Many thanks for the cards, e-mails and calls today making my day special!

As sis was here last weekend, we have spread out the celebrations
and mini me has no complaints.  This mobile police "station" (more like a hut) was one of many sights in our visit to Bradenton, situated just south of us between Tampa and Sarasota.  We went to the 'under-advertised' South Florida Museum which in addition to natural history has an aquarium and planetarium.

Loggerhead Turtle Skelton

Our visit included mealtime with Snooty, the oldest living manatee, and other marine sights. I especially enjoyed the turtle skeleton and the starfish.






Looking out to sea over lunch (British cheese and USA ice cream - well it is my birthday and hubby did sneak in apple slices!) we saw a fun new 'toy' on the water. Mini me is keen to have a go on the pedal kayak, although her legs might be a bit short.

"TASHA WILL YOU MARRY ME?"

This was followed by a congregation of seabirds anxiously awaiting the outcome of the bi-plane fly past proposal!

Congregation awaiting the proposal response

Then on to searching through the boxes yet to be unpacked to find some UK tax info
- it's not for lack of desire that they are yet to be unpacked . . .

Our goods in the sea crates

 but for lack of furniture, which of course awaits the carpet and vinyl laying in the spare room!

example 

Completed the day with a beach walk - and having left my camera behind - much to my surprise a beautiful pet deep aquamarine and gold parrot was sitting on a perch at high tide line on the beach whilst his owners fish.  Thought he might proposition us, but no -- he was silent but fidgety.

Never know what you will find on the beach . . .

We missed the recent blood moon (see post of 16 April) because of clouds, but the night before (6 Oct) we had a lovely sight.  Tuesday, our weather presenter thought we had "all four seasons in one day" - most of us don't think Florida has four seasons, but hey . . . Good Night!