Our favorite place was Venetian Gardens in Leesburg which we went to twice for the birds and because they have nice paths suitable for a wheelchair for my mom who can no longer walk because she had polio as a young girl. My son took the following pics with his awesome camera.
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| Blue Grey Gnatcatcher |
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| Purple Gallinule |
I forget who the last two birds are but they were all very tame, allowing us to get quite close, unlike the birds here in Maine who fly away if you look at them wrong.
We also went to Leu Gardens in Orlando, which is much prettier in the spring and summer but I did manage to find a few things to take pics of...
I also read The Lying Game by Ruth Ware, and got half way through both The First Salute (history) by Barbara Tuchman and The Grace of Kings (scifi/fantasy) by Ken Liu. If I can finish them by the end of the year I'll have read one more book than last year.
We left Maine right after a snowstorm and some bitter cold so it was super nice to be warm for a week. Especially for me. I'm quite certain I was lizard in my last life.
Lovely photos of birds and flowers!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of birds and flowers!
ReplyDeleteThat second bird is really unusual.
ReplyDeleteGlad you got out before the storm!
I got out after the storm, Just. And yes. The Purple Gallinule is pretty spectacular. My boss, a birder, couldn't believe there were so many in one spot. It was pretty awesome :)
DeleteBeautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteThank you :)
DeleteLovely! How nice you both visited and showed her a nice time. :) Be well!
ReplyDeleteIt was good. My son hadn't seen her much in the last few years and she isn't getting any younger!
DeleteWhat a totally delightful visit. Thank you so much for taking us along (and thanks for both yours and your son's photographs).
ReplyDeleteI have just finished The Salt Path by Raynor Winn. Have you come across it? I suspect I will read it again. And again.
I have not read it or heard of it but I just added it to my amazon wish list. I suspect that if you loved it, I will, too. Thank you :)
DeleteThe Lying Game... The Lying Game... Why does that sound familiar? Was it adapted into a movie or TV show?
ReplyDeleteGreat looking birds. Great pics. Glad you got some warmth.
She also wrote The Woman in Cabin 10. The warmth was unbelievably nice. Living in California ruined me for winter I think.
DeleteSome of them birdies are so colourful! Bet you wasn't glad to go back to the snow!
ReplyDeleteI was not! And it's cold as F*** here right now. But the birds were wonderful, especially the Purple Gallinule, which is one of the prettiest birds I've ever seen. That was a treat.
DeleteWhat lovely photos! It sounds like you and your son had a wonderful visit. I've never been in real snow before but one day, one day I plan to take that road that leads me to it. :)
ReplyDeleteIt's cold. I like it the first few times but that's about it.
DeleteI was thinking those photos aren't from Maine! Glad you had a great trip. I've read a number of Barbara Tuchman's books, but not "The First Salute"
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
I loved A Distant Mirror.
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ReplyDeleteOur temperatures have been up and down in Florida. Today it was 80. On Sunday it was 46 first thing in the morning. Does your mom have post-polio syndrome or did the polio leave her unable to walk right after she had it? When I lived in Illinois all the older farm women I knew had polio as kids. One of them had post-polio syndrome, which caused her a lot of pain. I hope your mom isn't in pain.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Sadly she does have post polio syndrome. She used to be able to get around a lot better.
DeleteAaaah, such sweet torture... to leave that warm paradise and go back to winter. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you had a good visit. Your son sure has a knack for photographing birds!
Yep. He likes the birds, and he gets some great pics. I'm glad to be home, but I do miss my mom and the warm!
DeleteLove the pics! We've got snowbanks so I may be slightly envious :)
ReplyDeletewe're getting snow as I write. Messy driving home but no more than 6 inches I hear.
DeleteI always love the bird photos, especially that one preening.
ReplyDeleteMy son gets some great pics
DeleteSure does.
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ReplyDeleteMy friend, I have nominated you for a Sunshine Blogger Award: https://armchairsquid.blogspot.com/2019/12/sunshine-blogger-award.html. I have made important alterations to the "rules" for the award:
ReplyDelete- You don't have to display anything you don't want to.
- You don't have to pass on the award to others in order to accept it for yourself. You are thoroughly deserving without having to jump through any hoops.
- You also don't have to answer my questions, though I hope you will. I am genuinely interested in your responses.
- Simply know that I am grateful for our blogosphere friendship.
Sounds like a wonderful trip, and what great pictures! The birds are gorgeous. I hear you on the lizard thing. My husband enjoys the cold, but I just want to curl up anywhere warm, like a cat.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun and I sure do miss being warm!
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