Margaret & Ian's life together, including Ian's MINIs!
Winter Garden does a different Independence Day parade to places we’ve lived before, with a “kids parade” in the morning featuring decorated kids bikes and golf carts. Much more low key, quicker and so more fun too (important when it’s close to 90f already at 10am!); here’s some pictures from this year:
Time for the Winter Garden car show again – not very busy this time (threat of rain put some cars off, maybe); but trying out my new camera which I think did a great job (check out the rainbow limo!):
When we lived in Independence we frequently saw Sandhill Cranes (and their young) but since moving we’ve never seen them – till today! Still in bed this morning I heard the distinctive / loud call and rushed out with camera in hand; happily they let me get quite close for some photos …
I took some video as well:
We frequently see Ospreys flying nearby, catching fish in nearby Lake Apopka, but recently we’ve watched a pair make a new nest in a tree near Stanton Estates – it took them a few weeks to complete but it looks finished now …
Driving from 429 along Plant St into town, we pass a lone tree with a huge bald eagle nest – and today the youngster appears to be getting ready to fly, with parents nearby:
This might be our last year to see the eagles here; the land is for sale or sold …
We’ve had a LOT of tiny insects in the air the last few days – cooler weather seems to encourage them to fly up from Lake Apopka (I think they are midges / “blind mosquitos”); today flocks of Tree Swallows have arrived, flying every direction and catching all the insects – Hooray!
I tried to capture some photos and video, but it’s really hard with the birds changing direction so often; here’s my best attempts:
Just like last year the Christmas Parade follows last nights tree lighting – but this year I walked from home, and also walked “in reverse” along the parade route which I think gives a better photo-story of downtown! Here’s pictures, and at the end is a video version too …
And here’s the video version:
