Some residents have shared with us items of interest in the surrounding area and, among them, is the Circle B Bar Reserve a couple of miles from here. Midday Sunday we took a drive over there. We can ride our bikes over using the Fort Frazer Trail but it was suggested to us that we drive over for our initial trip.
We found the Nature Center where we grabbed a trail map. There are a number of trails along oak groves covered in Spanish moss and ferns, marshlands and lakes teaming with flora and fauna. We spotted many birds, an armadillo, and several alligators along our 3 mile hike, it’s a popular spot for photographers. We have a lot to learn about the many species of birds here; there are so many birds. Sandhill Cranes, Egrets, Cormorant, Anhinga, Moorhens, and Heron are just a few we were afforded a glimpse. Several alligators we saw ranging in length from 5 feet to over 10 feet just resting. On our way out we saw an armadillo rooting about but evidence there are many more in the park is obvious.
After a couple of errands, we had decided to eat out tonight. We narrowed it down to two spots, Vegetation Cafe and Kitchen or SoFresh. The former won out and it was very enjoyable. The menu featured quite a few items but only two hot meals are prepared each day, the other items can be found in the refrigerator case. I opted for the Loaded Quesadilla and Mag had Grits & Greens. The dishes were just as pictured and very flavorful. An older gentleman followed us into the restaurant and Mag engaged him a bit. She wanted to know what his favorite item was on the menu and he mentioned some of the desserts. Turns out, his daughter is the proprietor! Seems he comes once a week to support her.
Tuesday we went to the movies to see The Shift. It’s an Angel Studios production, the same group that produced Sound of Freedom movie and The Chosen television services. We didn’t know much about it but we decided to check it out anyway. The movie was okay. The acting and production was fine but we had difficulty keeping up with the fast paced action. Afterward, we managed a walk along the nature trails within the park. This time we started at the opposite end of the trail system and worked our way back. We had to walk out beyond the golf courses to get on the trail and as we backtracked, we were walking along side the golf course for the initial third of this section of the trail. We didn’t come across any wildlife that I recall but it was a very nice walk.
Wednesday I headed off to see my sister Cil (Priscilla) in Largo, about a 75 minute drive toward the Gulf, it was great to see her. Mag stayed behind to finish up long overdue Photography Course. Prior to my visit, Cil mentioned that her bath/shower faucet was not working properly and asked if I could take a look at it. I was careful first to take a good look at the situation before turning any wrenches. The hot tap was working fine but the cold was producing only a trickle of water. It made for a very difficult shower in a number of ways. The pipes and faucets are mostly hidden behind the water heater and I didn’t see anyway to swap out the faucets without removing the water heater. I wouldn’t be doing that. I carefully removed the faucet stem for the cold water to see if I can clean any mineral buildup or figure out what is restricting the water flow. The stem is difficult to turn and the washer is slightly worn but in good shape. I took a flashlight and looked into the pipe expecting to see a clump of calcium but, to my surprise, I see a screw in the pipe. Not sure how a screw would have gotten inside the water lines but after removing it, the water flow is returned to normal. Tom and I made a couple of trips to the local Ace Hardware store for parts and guidance, they were very helpful. We replaced the stem and now the faucet works normal. I was very glad I found a solution and know it will make for a more enjoyable and safer shower. Sorry I didn’t think to take pics, just didn’t cross my mind. :”(
We have been looking forward to our visit with Chris, Kelly and Blueberry (Australian Cattle Dog). They flew into the Lakeland airport to refuel, have a quick dinner with us, then off to Ft. Pierce for a couple of overnights. Unfortunately, Blueberry could not eat with us but patiently waited outside the restaurant door as we ate. Sunday they will head to the Bahamas for a vacation with their children Jacqueline and Cody, along with their children. We had a great visit and it was so nice to see them. Both Chris and Kelly are farriers, own and run a Horseshoeing school (Heartland Horseshoeing School), Chris has written several books and they live in Lamar, Missouri. They own a Piper Lance II and enjoy flying around the country for business and pleasure. We tracked them all afternoon on FlightAware which added to the anticipation and excitement of the day. The horseshoeing school will reopen in March and they have a RV pad site ready for us!! We have to see….
Sounds like a great time!! Enjoy your upcoming week and thank you for the updates, sounds so relaxing and fun!!! God bless!!
Thank you Carol! We miss all our friends at OLL.