12/7/06 Trying to get computer fixed

Hi....

On Thursday we started off the day by dropping off my computer, to Jim Sliddel (a local brother who has a business fixing computers) Then Sue & I headed to Lido Beach. Sue & Warren had stayed here one time- for their time share. When we first arrived we saw two young raccoons just at the woods edge. When we stopped the car, they just came up to us. We believe they were looking for food. Even though there are signs EVERY where not the feed the wildlife- people still do!! I got out of the car to take their pictures- they were so cute. Another car was coming so they scooted off into the woods. We then went down onto Lido Beach. This is a nice beach (as they all seem to be!! LOL). We collected some shells here too. After we left there we had lunch at "1st Watch"- this was a nice breakfast/lunch place. Basically a soup & sandwich type place. The rest of the day was quiet and I basically just rested up as I was starting to feel a bit under the weather.

Onward to the next set of pictures.....

SEE PICTURES IN ALBUM #47:http://picasaweb.google.com/Pandadmd5880
Tags: FLORIDA

12/6/06 A day looking for shells on Venice & Nokomis Beach

Hi again!!

On Wednesday Sue took me down to Venice, Florida!!

This a small little town south of Sarasota. We went there looking for pigs! LOL Venice had pig statues around town like Sarasota's clowns and Boston's cows, but unfortunately they had already had their auction of the art work, in Venice- so I'm sorry to say no pig pictures. LOL But the day was not a total loss. Sue took me to see Venice Beach we did some shelling there- then headed back to Sue's. We grabbed our swim suits and head to Nokomis Beach which is very close to her home. We found a lot of great shells there and went swimming. The water was a bit chilly but not too bad once you got use to it. We stayed there about 2hrs then had to head back as Sue had to go to work.

I'll be back soon with more pictures....Love Donna

SEE PICTURES IN ALBUM #46:http://picasaweb.google.com/Pandadmd5880

Tuesday 12/5/06 "The afternnoon adventures"

Hi Everyone- I'm back LOL

I wanted everyone to know I made it safely to Texas, yesterday at 12:00am.

I left the New Orleans area around 11:30am on Thursday. Ended up driving straight thru cause there were no rest areas in except for when you 1st cross over the state line at the information center!

I'm staying in Killeen with LeeAnn. I will use her home as a home base for the month- while I see the sights.

But my first order of business is going to be updating this site!!! I've fallen so far behind LOL- between the computer being down and traveling!!

The pictures above were taken on Tuesday 12/5/06 in the afternoon. Sue & I had planned on doing the harbor cruise in the morning, but LeBarge told us they don't go out unless they have 15 or more people!! So Sue & I went and found the clowns in downtown Sarasota (pictures are on previous page), and we went out to lunch at Dutch Heritage- an Armish run restaurant. We were trying to kill some time before we went back to LeBarge to see if there were enough people for the 2pm cruise.

When we arrived back we found out that there was enough people and that we were going out on the harbor. The Sarasota area has a lot of very well to do families living here. Many choose to have homes on the water front. On this cruise we were to view some of these homes and we hoped to see some of the native- year round dolphin population.

As we left the harbor we saw many "house boats" moored out in the harbor. Our guide explained that this was because Sarasota has a law that you can anchor your boats for free year round out there. So some take advantage of this- they don't have to pay rent or taxes, and are not required to have insurance. So basically they live in Florida for free!! Not a bad deal if you don't mind living on the water 24/7-365days/yr!

In the above pictures you'll see some of the high risecondos and office buildings in the harbor area. There are the expensive waterfront homes around there- including some on the key- Bird Key- this key is where some very rich and famous people live- which include the Smothers Brothers, a member of rock band AC/DC and also Areosmith, and a couple of oil executives.....

Sue & I also were able to see some dolphins. Unfortunately dolphins in the wild - do not make a point of being very visible for picture taking like the ones in captivity!!! LOL So taking pictures of them is tricky!! But I did manage to get some finally. If you look closely to pictures # 19 - # 23 (using the view larger option) you too should be able to see the dolphins !!! LOL

This harbor cruise was very fun and informative- I would highly recommend it. It last for 2hrs and you get to see quite a bit.

Well I'm off for now- need to get the next batch of pictures ready. Take care until then-Love Donna

SEE PICTURES IN ALBUM #45:http://picasaweb.google.com/Pandadmd5880

Clowns, Clowns, Clowns !!! 12/5/06

Hi Everyone!

On Tuesday - Dec. 5th- Sue & I went to down town Sarasota, to take pictures of the clowns....

Do you remember the Boston cows on 8/30/06 and the Cape Cod whale on 9/7/06??? Well these clowns are the same deal. They were made and placed around the Sarasota area. After being displayed for a period of time, they will be auctioned off for charity. Some of them were really cute!!

Later this week I hope to visit a town that has carousel horses displayed the same way!!

Enjoy the clowns.....more tidbits to come- Love Donna

SEE PICTURES IN ALBUM #44:http://picasaweb.google.com/Pandadmd5880

Monday 12/04/06 Day at Ringling Estates

Hey Everybody......

On Monday 12/04/06, Sue and I went the Ringling Estate. This is where John & Mabel Ringling made their home. Ringling was famous for putting together (with his brothers) the largest traveling circus. During the winter the circus workers would come back to Sarasota and surrounding towns, to live.

On the Estate is a visitors center, the original circus museum, the new miniature circus museum, the mansion, Mabel's rose gardens, and art museum, and a theatre!

The miniature circus museum is an exact- scaled to size- replica of what a circus looked like. The whole set up takes up about a football field size room. It has the town, trains, animals, tents- just everything you would have seen if you went the the site of a circus! The details were amazing!!! As you walked around this display there was audio with all the sounds you would have heard. An example: as you walked by the animal trailers - you'd hear the roar of the big cats; when you walked by the mess tent - you'd hear people talking and dishes clanging! The only thing missing was the smells! LOL Every so often the lights would dim and it made it so you could see what the area looked like at night with the lights and the performances going on.

The original circus museum had a lot of the original hand carved wagons that use to carry the animals, and many original costumes. There also was an exhibit dedicated to Gunther the animal trainer that died recently. In one section there was a man carving wooden figures like they did in the old days. Just before the end of the tour there was a section dedicated to the movie "The Greatest Show on Earth"- starring Jimmy Stewart and many other famous actors.

We walked from there to the mansion. It sat overlooking the Sarasota Bay. As you can see from the pictures it was quite the home in its day, with gold leaf doors, hand painted ceilings, and many other beautiful things.

Sue & I then went thru Mabel's rose garden. There were so many different kinds of roses in bloom. The smell was so sweet!!

We decided that due to lack of time - not to tour the art museum, but I'm sure it would have been a pleasure to stroll around the great works of art that we were told about.

All of the things we did, plus the art museum all came under the same admission price of $15.00. This is a very good deal!!! And a wonderful way to spend the day.

I hope that you enjoy viewing the pictures as much as I had taking them!

I'm going to go for now. It's getting late and dark.. harder to see what I'm doing. LOL

I just met a very nice young couple who pulled into the site next to mine. They are from France and are touring the US. They had been in Louisiana and then came to Florida. They too will be touring the southern and western states as well as Mexico. I'll be talking with them more tomorrow.

Well have a good night everyone, and I'll be back in touch again soon- With much love- Donna

SEE PICTURES IN ALBUM #43:http://picasaweb.google.com/Pandadmd5880

Back on track!!

Hello Everyone!

I'm back on track- The computer is up and running and I'm on the move again!

Right now I'm at St. Georges Island, Eastpoint Florida.  I'm camping at this state park for 2 days, before I head toward Alabama.  I arrived yesterday at 4:30p.m.

I had spent 2 weeks in the Sarasota area with my friends Sue & Warren.  I had a great time and saw many wonderful things.  Because my computer was down I got behind on the website.....So please bear with me as I try to make up for lost time!!  LOL

Friday 12/01/06 my uncle & aunt took me out to dinner at Sam's on the beach.  After dinner my uncle & I took the back seat out of my car, so that I could have more room for my things- and to clear my back window area, so I could see better! LOL  It worked great.  Everything fits in so good now!

I left the Hudson area around 9am on Saturday 12/02/06 and headed to Sarasota.  It was a bright sunny day.  On the way I had to cross the Skyway Bridge.  This is a huge bridge.  There are rest areas and fishing piers that you can access from the bridge.  I stopped there to take pictures of the bridge and all the sea birds that were on the pier. 

I then finally made it to Sarasota around 1pm.  After unpacking a few things, Sue & Warren took me on a drive around the area.  we went to Sarasota Harbor, Siesta Key, Bird Key, Anna Maria Pier, Armand Circle and other areas.  We stopped at a restaurant called The Beach House.  This is a great place located on Gulf Drive, on Bradenton Beach.  When we arrived we saw a couple getting married on the beach while the sun was setting.  It was very pretty wedding.  On the other side of the restaurant was a huge sand sculpture.  There were several smaller ones in different stages of being built...I guess there was some sort of festival upcoming. We went into The Beach House for dinner.  We sat out on the patio area that overlooked the beach, and watched the sun set as we ate dinner.  At one point I got up and was taking pictures and saw a guy out in the water surfing- he did pretty good! LOL

I had a bunch of pictures of the Skyway Bridge and of the Sarasota area that night- including the sand sculpture....but unfortunately I lost them when my computer crashed!!! :0(  Needless to say I wasn't a happy camper- but what can you do???? Things happen!  But fear not I made up for loosing those pictures! LOL  While the computer was down I took 1555 pictures!!! LOL  I'm going to go get some ready and start to take you through the rest of my time in Sarasota.

So check back and I'll have more posted on the fun I had!!  Take Care- and as always- with much love-Donna

 

WHOOPS!!! computer trouble

Hi Everyone!

I am writing this to keep you up to date.... I'm in Sarasota, FL right now visiting my friends Sue & Warren. 

I've seen a lot of really cool things and have pictures, but have run into a slight problem....  My computer has crashed!!  I am working on getting it fixed.  But until I do I can't put pictures on the web site.  So be patient and I'll try to get things back up & running soon.

So until then- Take care of yourselves....Love Donna

Tags: FLORIDA