A peaceful day at Heritage Cove.  This morning Monique, the aide for Mom and Dad, came into the kitchen to report what she thought was an alligator swimming across the lake.  She was right.  Mom said, “oh my.” 

Anne and I brought their car in for service and picked up some groceries.  In the afternoon she joined a quilting group at the community center and I worked on taxes.  She had more fun.  Mom watched some TV and Dad napped a bit.  Later Anne and I swam and Mom and Dad walked to a bench on the circle around the lake.  They chatted with passers by including we when we finished our laps.  Then we all retreated to the apartment ahead of a brief shower marking the passage of a “cool front.” 

John and Kristy are touring the Everglades today, so we did not go to the beach.  We were there Sunday and again on Tuesday when Kristy prepared a fine spaghetti dinner for the group.  Before supper we celebrated  bloody Mary Tuesday at the pool before showers chased on inside.  The red tide seems to be declining.  On Sunday there was an ugly line of dead fish, mostly channel catfish and weakfish, at the high tide strand, and we coughed from the irritating air above the surf.  Too bad that nature does much more damage than the BP oil spill that caused so much fuss a few years ago.

We’ll see how the beach looks tomorrow.  We’ll bring dinner to the beach for another fine evening at Estero Bay Beach Club.  Anne and I will walk the beach looking for the first whimbrel of the season.  We’re watching the sky for a scissor-tailed kite, but have dipped so far.  Every day there are reports of their arrival about Florida. 

Reports from PA are cold, cold, cold.  We’ll be home in a few weeks, so we’re rooting for an early spring.  Punxsutawney Phil said yes, but we don’t see it so far.  Meanwhile we enjoy a fine end of winter in south Florida.