All kinds of Blessings.

Blessings, as we all know, come in many forms. Yesterday didn't start out that way, but then isn't that the kind of day when the most blessings happen? I think so. They catch you by surprise.

One of the blessings I like the most is when I take my camera out and find something totally outside anything I might have even thought possible...like watching a Pelican yawning.
So, you say, what is so different about THAT?

Well, get a load of what a Peli looks like when it is yawning!!! Seriously, this blew my mind!!

Can you believe it? That is the inside of the Peli's beak. It looks like his tongue, in the middle there. It is almost obscene!
Did you ever wonder, in your weirdest moment what the inside of it's beak/throat might look like? I didn't ever ...EVER, give that a second thought. Surprising for me !!!....lol.

Where were we to get such a photo???

Here, at Laishley Marina.

We had decided to go somewhere a bit different for a good long walk, and decided to go to the Marina to see if any of the larger Motor Yachts were 'Loopers' like us. We did find one with 'the' flag on the front, but they weren't home. Their guests were sitting outside waiting for them to return:)

At the end of their pier where two Pelicans, sunning themselves and probably getting a few zzz's.

 

When we disturbed them, they started stretching and yawning. I attempted to catch all the acts...did ok with some but not others...you can see both.

Much shaking of the right leg, and a good wing stretch...

I missed the whole bird, but you get the idea:)

We then went along the other docks to investigate all the boats, and found another Peli doing similar. He was very photogenic...

I love the feather arrangements on these birds. They really are amazing birds. When you watch them fly, swim and fish, you can see why they are built this way.

 

My father was an excellent photographer who had a real love of the natural world, and he captured it on film. As kids we were taken to some amazing places to watch the birds and to watch him photographing them. We learned so much about the birds, how to watch silently in their environment, and to appreciate all that we were seeing. Thanks Dad!

 

 

Laishley Marina is a public marina, and this is a photo of the pump-out station...but don't you think it is picturesque?

This area in Punta Gorda is very pretty, and we enjoy walking the trail around Laishley Park.

 

 There is a path around the seawall, which we followed yesterday.

 

 

This is a memorial sculpture to Hurricane Charley. The sundial even works!

 

 

The person (woman?) below was standing in the water...that's how shallow it is!...and catching flounder, no doubt, along the Mangrove line.

 

I have always loved Morning Glory, the flower, but not the vine, which tends to cover EVERYTHING, as you know.

 

One of the gardens in the Veterans Memorial Park had some lovely flowers, including a Bromeliad blossom. They are stunning flowers.
The Ice Plants are lovely in their static form, and the flowers are quite stunning too.

 

Ice Plant flower.

 

Monstera's curly leaves

I forget the name of these little orchids, but they thrive as weeds in Tropical Climes.

 

Before we started our daily walk around the seawall at Laishley, we took a stroll down the pier, where there were many fishermen and women. Nobody was catching much, but the sea breeze was lovely and the serenity was too.

 

I just have to mention that the plants and flowers were not the only colorful things in the area:)

 

 

 

The Pier at Laishley Marina. It isn't the most scenic, being between two bridges and a row of power lines, but still a good place to relax for the day.

 

While out there watching the fishing, Waz turned on the faucet at the fish cleaning station, for some  Boat Tailed Grackle, that had been scooping up the little water that was there, in their beaks. He decided to make it easier for them....

 

This one is 'scooping' at the little puddle.

Their plumage was a marvelous mix of Royal purple, blue and green. The book we have to identify birds describes them as 'BLACK'. Hmm...

This one sat on the rail and 'called' to the others to come...we know this!!:)

 

One of the fishermen  caught this baby Stingray. They are rather beautiful...note the spiny dots down his back! They were careful to avoid the barb, which was now tangled in the net.

 

 

As I said, we went for our walk, after this.

 

 

Another blessing turned up in the form of Kiwi Mark, a Diver. He had been sent by Len to inspect and clean our bottom. The longer we sit in one place, the more 'stuff' collects on the bottom of the boat. He came out of the water covered in the barnacle scrapings.

The other blessings came out of his mouth....

We will not need to replace the propellers, they are fine as they are. We just have one to clean and grind. Phew! Just saved us $1,000.

The bottom will not need painting until this time next year...phew...just saved us another couple of grand!!!

The various orifices underwater were 90% closed with barnacles, but are now clean, so we wont have engine overheating problems! Yay!

The bottom is now clean of algae, barnacles and anything else that set up home there. Phew.

$150, thanks! PHEW!

We find New Zealand business people everywhere we go, and they are always very upfront with us, well priced for the work they do, and very obliging.

Mark preparing to enter the water to do a bottom scrub and investigation.

 

And last but not least....As we left Laishley Park in the car, an Osprey flew overhead carrying a large fish. We followed it to the top of this power pole where it was ripping into the fish. Lunch?

 

 *Just a reminder....If you want to see the photos larger, click on a photo and you will get the whole lot on screen. To get out of the screen, click outside the photo.

 

Dean and Katie didn't leave town yesterday as they were meeting up with another person in the area, but we did pick them up in Punta Gorda and take them food shopping. We had some things to buy also, so it worked out well for all. It was good to have another round of hugs with them and see them on their way.

I believe they were out of the harbor before sun up this morning, on their way south. Smooth sailing, folks!

 

We had a quiet night, though it was warm again. Waz was cold, so he got the extra blanket while I slept outside the covers..sheesh! :)

 

Ciao for now. Tuesday today! Days are going so fast.