Warm, warm and warmer!!

Wednesday was a very quiet and restful day for me as I recuperated from the effects of intestinal issues which kept me awake most of the previous night.

 

We did see our local alligator for the first time this season.

 

 

As always, we enjoy viewing the beautiful sunsets from our lanai.

 

 

After a good night’s sleep, I felt much better on Thursday. So we went geocaching just because we could.

 

 

At one cache, Cordell disturbed a tiny creature while probing a traffic sign. It was apropos that the actual container looked very similar.

 

 

Frequently, I get stuck while searching in the brush. I usually wear wrist bands for protection, but forgot to put them on today.

 

By midafternoon the temperature had reached 85° --our warmest day here so far.

 

 

It is so nice to see flowers blooming during this time of the year.

 

 

 

I saw some interesting seed pods that I thought were pretty.

 

 

 

We visited the site of an eagle's nest that many people have been watching by web cam. Two eggs were laid on November 22 and 25 by Harriet. She and her partner have been patiently awaiting their hatchlings, sharing the task of incubating their eggs while remaining watchful to protect and defend their territory, ever since. One eaglet hatched, but the remaining egg so far shows no sign of hatching.

 

 

There were four other cars parked at the site while we were there and a couple of folks had some serious telephoto lenses on their cameras.

 

 

We stopped by Five Guys for lunch and there certainly were more than just 5 guys and gals working there at that time.

 

 

 

 

Here it is, almost the middle of January, and we were eating lunch outside--just imagine!

 

 

 

On Friday, we met up with our good friends from church, Jim and Ardith Harle. They are spending a week in nearby Bonita Springs. We took them to Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve which is one of our favorite places in Fort Myers.

 

 

This 3,500 acre area was once under threat from logging and the channeling away of its water. In 1976, a group of Lee County students launched a campaign to save it for future generations. Voters responded overwhelmingly by increasing their own taxes to purchase and convert the slough into a preserve.

 

 

It was perfect weather for a leisurely 1.2 mile walk on the boardwalk. 

 

 

 

 

 We enjoyed viewing various birds and ducks, alligators and other creatures that live in this wetland preserve.

 

 

A volunteer, who was leading a guided tour, informed us that the alligator, Big Al, is 32 years old and weighs more than 800 pounds. She also said that gators eat about once a week. It appeared to me that Al must be eating every day!

 

Late afternoon, we returned to our condo and spent some time relaxing on our lanai. However, as he often does, Cordell enlisted Jim’s help in solving a geocache puzzle.