Florida Again

A family feeding the peacocks at Magnolia Park. I had heard the peacock's caterwauling as they prepare to roost for the night. But I had never heard the sound like a Volkswagen's horn they make when the children got too close.

A family feeding the peacocks at Magnolia Park. I had heard the peacock’s caterwauling as they prepare to roost for the night. But I had never heard the sound like a Volkswagen’s horn they make when the children got too close.

Our first camping this trip was at Suwannee River State Park due to its close proximity to family.

Our first camping this trip was at Suwannee River State Park due to its close proximity to family.

Mikkey usually prefers to sleep with Mom, but Mom is constantly rolling over or getting up.....

Mikkey usually prefers to sleep with Mom, but Mom is constantly rolling over or getting up…..

I had not intended to blog about Florida again because we are, as usual, spending the winter here.  The biggest treat is having time with family.

Unfortunately, I had to do a factory reset on my phone and haven’t downloaded all the photos yet.  I’m waiting for our next data cycle.  So there will be no photos to share of the lovely 80 degree Christmas celebrated in shorts at Gail’s screened porch.

So when Mom wiggles around too much, Mikkey heads for Daddy's bed.

So when Mom wiggles around too much, Mikkey heads for Daddy’s bed.

So I’ll just share my available photos taken at random, and let the captions tell the story…. which is, it’s CHILLY down here now!

BTW, our water pump went out and our toilet needs replacing.  I have them ordered and Gail and I will do the mods when we get back to her house in a week or so.

Lake Apopka is a big lake bordered by vegetation that provides a perfect habitat for many aquatic and semi-aquatic critters.

Lake Apopka is a big lake bordered by vegetation that provides a perfect habitat for many aquatic and semi-aquatic critters.

Next was O'Leno Park--because it had available sites. Then Otter Springs. The spring is a black water hole in a cypress swamp. But it gave us a place to stay till our next reservations were available.

Next was O’Leno Park–because it had available sites. Then Otter Springs. The spring is a black water hole in a cypress swamp. But it gave us a place to stay till our next reservations were available.

Otter Spring did have one nice feature... an indoor heated swimming pool.

Otter Spring did have one nice feature… an indoor heated swimming pool.

While we were at Suwannee River State Park, I found my first ever Albatrellus mushrooms. I originally identified them as sheep polypores, but discovered they do not grow this far south.  All I know is that they are both Albatrellus polypores.

While we were at Suwannee River State Park, I found my first ever Albatrellus mushrooms. I originally identified them as sheep polypores, but discovered they do not grow this far south. All I know is that they are both Albatrellus polypores.

As much fun as an Easter egg hunt!

As much fun as an Easter egg hunt!

You never know if you will be sensitive or allergic to even good mushrooms. So this was my sample. After 24 hours I knew they were okay to eat. To be honest, they were slightly bitter and not very good. But I relished my discovery anyway!

You never know if you will be sensitive or allergic to even good mushrooms. So this was my sample. After 24 hours I knew they were okay to eat. To be honest, they were slightly bitter and not very good. But I relished my discovery anyway!

So now it's winter in Central Florida, but still heavenly compared to home!

So now it’s winter in Central Florida, but still heavenly compared to home!

This pond was covered with thick, scummy duckweed last year. This year we discovered they had found an elegant solution to the problem.

This pond was covered with thick, scummy duckweed last year. This year we discovered they had found an elegant solution to the problem.

But winter in Central Florida doesn't really mean winter. :)

But winter in Central Florida doesn’t really mean winter. 🙂

Ron trying to find a spot out of the wind. Note the wind blowing the Spanish moss around.

Ron trying to find a spot out of the wind. Note the wind blowing the Spanish moss around.

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18 Comments

  1. So HAPPY to see your blog again, after such a long time. Cold away from home beats cold at home anytime, doesn’t it?

    Mikkey looks like he’s moved himself right into the center of the family where he rightfully belongs.

    Hope you find something that you want to post about, soon. I have so missed your calm voice. Love that you are back outside foraging for dinner.

    Take care, Sharon.

    Like

    • Judy, I am THRILLED to see you again, too!

      The scenery down here is such a beautiful change from the same old thing at home.

      Yes, Mikkey has bonded to both of us. We keep his little kennel in the trailer to give him a time out when he gets too rambunctious. But as weather permits, we take him on long walks and get rid of a lot of that excess puppy energy.

      He loves people…. will approach almost anyone. He’s leery of children though, because they are unpredictable, and they all want to pet his head before they introduce themselves to him. He displays his displeasure. And Chihuahuas are really good at that! 😀

      Also, he is picky about which dogs he wants to play with. I haven’t figured out the formula yet. Size doesn’t seem to be a big deal with him unless they lunge toward him.

      I probably won’t post as often, but when I find cool things that I feel I must share, I’ll slide in a post here and there!

      Again, thanks for being here!

      Like

  2. Jim

     /  January 11, 2016

    Great…have fun.

    Like

    • Thanks, Jim. It’s still chilly, but the sun is out today! Everything is fun when the sun is shining!

      Like

  3. Nice to see your post.
    Your Florida weather sounds good; it was 14 degrees here last night.

    Like

    • Oh, Tim! 14 degrees sounds miserable to me. I wish I could send you a little slightly chilly sunshine instead!

      Like

  4. Cozygirl

     /  January 11, 2016

    We’ve been hiding behind trees too…burrrrrrr! So glad to see you posting…while we both don’t seem to have much going on, it’s always good for my soul to see Tinycamper pop up!! But yacking on the phone sure made my heart happy! Peacocks…what fun!!! Hugs!

    Like

    • Yes, things are slow here, especially that we are staying longer than our usual week at a time at some campsites. So after a few days we’re just back to our normal routine.

      Yacking on the phone is the BEST medicine! And peacocks. I have only seen one display his fan tail last year. I guess it’s because there are no ladies around. Apparently they don’t want to become overrun with peacocks.

      These will seemingly deliberately walk right in front of your car and stay there until they decide to move. knowing no one will hurt them. They did it to us, and I’ve watched them do it to other cars. Maybe they are overly-domesticated!

      Like

  5. Emily

     /  January 11, 2016

    So good to see your blog posting pop up on my blog list. And, that all are doing good. I am doing good; got thru my radiation last week and didn’t have much side affects from it. Am waiting for spring now.

    Like

    • Thanks so much, Emily.

      I read about your radiation treatments. I just couldn’t think of a good comment except best of luck, and that sounded a little lame.

      My sister just finished radiation treatments, too, and came out of them cancer free and looking great! A few decades ago cancer was a very scary thing. Now they have such good treatments that the main thing seems to be putting up with the boredom of having to go to the treatment center so often.

      Anyway, I am counting on a full recovery for you!

      Like

  6. Kathie

     /  January 11, 2016

    I live in Colorado and our traveling has been in the West and Mexico. We also have a Casita. Your photos of the South are so different from what I am used to. It’s like visiting another country. And they are so beautiful. Enjoy your winter and your new family member. He looks like the perfect traveling companion.

    Like

    • Kathie, it’s good to hear from you. I have never been to Colorado, but I am smitten by the scenery I see on blogs. The western deserts look like a foreign planet to me sometimes.

      Years ago a brother in law came to visit us in Florida. He had been living in Bakersfield. He said that from the air, Florida looked too lush, like he would be smothered by the foliage and humidity. So it’s what you are used to, I suppose. 🙂

      Thanks for the good wishes. Mikkey LOVES camping. And anytime we park the trailer, he knows he is home again.

      Like

  7. What s lovely post. Thanks for sharing

    Like

  8. Judy summed it up. So good to see you back! Florida chilly, Arizona chilly although there’s some hope for a bit warmer weather in the next week or two. It’s been great hiking weather, but not so good for sitting around and reading a book. Heading towards Yuma the end of this week, and Q by the middle of next week.

    Like

    • Good to see you again, too! I saw the picture of you, BJ and Turk on one of the blogs — maybe Lynne’s?

      I think we had just better get used to a cold winter this year. But when the sun shines, I put on a jacket and a coat on Mikkey, if needed. Unfortunately, we no longer hike, but we do meander along some beautiful trails. Mikkey stops so often to sniff out new things that we couldn’t go fast even if we wanted to! But sometimes he also thinks he is a sled dog and he really leans into pulling us along. Later in the walk, we appreciate that! 😀

      Yuma and Q. Wow! Enjoy, and I will enjoy it vicariously on your blog!

      BTW, the problem with not being able to post on BlogSpot blogs with my WordPress credentials seems to be fixed.

      Like

  9. Great to see you again! What a cutie is Mikky. Casita-sized.

    Like

    • I chose him for two reasons:

      1. Casita sized
      2. Fluffy coat that does not need expensive grooming.

      So far so good! 🙂

      Like

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