Butterfly release on Easter Sunday at North Naples UMC

We saw the butterfly release before a lovely Easter service at North Naples United Methodist Church.

Baby Alligators and "Skunk Apes"

We got to hold a baby alligator - it was softer than we expected - but had a band around it's mouth - so we were not too afraid! We tried to find the "Skunk Ape" - but not sure what it is?? Trey, Kimberly, and Elaine are pictured.

Celebrating Trey's Birthday

Happy Birthday Trey!!

Opera Naples Gala

We enjoyed dressing up for the Opera Naples Black Tie event! (Or at least I enjoyed dressing up! Darrell wore a tux under protest!) The production was Romeo and Juliet - a wonderful evening!

Sunset at Pelican Bay Beach

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset on Easter Sunday April 4, 2010 at Pelican Bay Beach in Naples, FL!

Alligators and Mangrove Swamp in the Everglades

Our boat captain threw a marshmellow into the water and the alligator headed straight to gobble it up! Mangroves grow out of the shallow water of the Everglades. We were racing through the canals on the airboat - fun!

Airboat Ride in Everglades

So glad Trey and Kimberly are visiting us for the Easter weekend!! We took an airboat ride from Captain Doug's in Everglade City, FL in the Everglades National Park. A pelican hitched a ride on the front of the airboat! The day was beautiful day!

Nina and Pinta visit Naples

We picked up my son Trey and and his lovely girlfriend Kimberly at the Ft. Myers airport and headed downtown Naples to Tin City for lunch! The Nina and Pinta visit Naples, FL. I had no idea how small the ships used by Columbus were!

Quail Creek Golf Championship Match

Elaine won the 3 week match play Championship for her league at Quail Creek Country Club in March, 2010! Yea!! Monica Gagne came in second.

Hanging out at McCabe's Irish Pub, Naples, FL

Every year we love to go to McCabe's Irish Pub on 5th Avenue, Naples, FL after the parade. The Irish food is great - plus the music is wonderful. Elaine is dancing a "jig" with the Irish Leprechaun. Lee County Pipe and Drum Corps bagpipes are awesome! The band "West of Galway" entertains during the afternoon! A wonderful day!

Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Naples, FL

The Parade is great in Naples, FL! About 40,000 people come downtown to 5th Avenue to watch the parade! We had a wonderful vantage point from our friend Jack's office at the west end of 5th Ave at 3rd St. The balcony was a wonderful place to view the parade! Saint Patrick makes his annual appearance! Chris Hatch and Malorie James joined us for the day! The Thistle and Drum Corps band marches!

Saint Patrick's Day in Naples, FL

Enjoyed a beautiful day in downtown Naples, FL for the Saint Patrick Day Parade. We are hanging out at McCabe's with Chris Hatch (my nephew) and Malorie James and Tony the Leprechaun !

Jerry Van's at Sunset

Superbowl Party at Jerry Van's - 2010. Sunset at Doctor's Pass, Naples, FL

Alligators in Pelican Bay

We are always on the lookout for alligators in Pelican Bay. This mother alligator and her babies live under the boardwalk through the Mangrove Estuary at Pelican Bay. The babies are very dark and have stripes across their backs when they are small. They scamper around the bank and climb on the mother's back. Fun to watch - from above - don't get too close!

Manatees, live oak trees and peace

The closest modern relative to the manatee is an elephant. These slow moving sea cows have no natural predators. Their biggest harm comes from man - in the form of boat injuries and habitat loss.

The live oak tree at the Manatee Park in Fort Myers- draped with Spanish moss!

Darrell and I drove up to Fort Myers today to see the manatees! The guide told us this cold weather has brought more manatees to Orange River than ever before.

Manatee Park, Fort Myers, FL

An amazing sight! The extreme cold in southwest Florida has caused record number of manatees to seek warmer waters near the power plant in Fort Myers Florida. These "water cows" are warm blooded mammals living in salt water in southern coastal areas. The numbers of manatees seeking this warm water flow generated by the power plant are approaching historic proportions. The deep cuts and scars on their back are from motor boat propellers.