Goodbye March
The last two weeks of March flew by – starting with my birthday. My birthday wish is always a trip to the beach and a good supper. I was blessed with flowers, chocolates, lots of cards and messages and visits from friends.
There is a birthday garden near our house where those of us who paint rocks place special birthday rocks. I delivered 5 rocks there and took this one for myself.
Lin Watson dipped these strawberries in chocolate and then dotted them the way I do the rocks – very clever and so thoughtful.
I did a quick tally and I think that although my birthday falls in March, I have been blessed with spending about a third of them in warm climates. So I was very pleased to be able to go to the beach again this year – my very happy place!
There were a great many pelicans at our beach on my birthday and I was given a front row seat to their antics.
For my birthday supper we went to the Burgundy Cafe. The owner is from Maine and his lobster roll is spectacular. Last year he told us that he sometimes gets Nova Scotia lobster. Just look at all the big chunks of lobster meat that he uses. I haven’t had one that full in Nova Scotia.
On March 21 we headed out on a bus tour from our park that took us to the quaint town of Tarpon Springs. It is famous for its sponge industry and we learned lots about the history of the town and the sponges. It was quite cool and very windy but the diver was able to do a short shallow dive so that we could see him get a sponge.
We got to see the 5 kinds of sponges that are usually picked here in a long and involved process.
This bike is part of a store front decoration – yes it is filled with sponges!
Lin, Marilyn, Carol, Liz and Gerrie
The boat ride was lots of fun although cool and windy. We saw beautiful homes along the shoreline, lots of great boats and lots of pelicans and osprey.
The sponge diver did a shallow dive as the wind was problematic that day. We got the idea of how this is done.
On Saturday, March 24 we headed to Seminole to attend the annual Nova Scotia Picnic. It is always a fun time and we usually get to see other friends who winter in Florida.
Cal and Brenda Collins
Dennis and Gerrie Irwin
Marty Keating, Barb Gaudet, Donna Dow and Len Dow
David and Heather Wiseman and Carol and Dave
Heather was near us at the park and I heard her say that she thought she recognized us – turns out she is Nancy Mills’ sister (we taught together at Southdale) and she has been following this blog for several years. Small world eh!
With the better than usual weather some plants and trees bloomed early. The pollen was brutal and for a couple of weeks all surfaces were coated in yellow. This tree on Nokomis Avenue around the corner from us was in full bloom. 
This week we went to Cracker Barrel for lunch with the Red Hat and Birthday Club. When it is your birthday month, you reverse the colours of hats and clothes – so here I am in a purple hat with red clothes to celebrate.
Mary and Bob arrived for three days and we enjoyed having them close by. Mary thought the weather was spectacular!
I never get tired of the birds at the beach and I really love his fashionable tail feathers.
We have been going to the South Brohard Beach and this is the walkway that takes us to the sand.
With this record breaking weather there have been many kids at the beach.
Dave was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica on Valentines Day and began a 6 day treatment with prednisone. He is such a healthy guy and so unfamiliar with pain it has been quite a challenge dealing with the pain and getting a diagnosis. He is now on a maintenance dose of prednisone that is keeping the pain at bay. This could be a long struggle as the doctor told us it often runs for a couple of years. We will see what the future holds.
This little guy is a new baby and he did not react to Marilyn’s finger being close to him.
On the fence post we spotted this guy/gal and wondered if he/she was the parent of the tiny one on the picnic table.
Liz and I painted rocks for Emerson and Ava then sent them on a treasure hunt to find them. It was so much fun and they were so excited with the whole painted rock thing.
Adventure Logan 