Above is a view of our pool overlooking the pond, 
where all of this marvelous wildlife entertains us.

Did I tell you that we can watch the shuttle launches from right here?
Kennedy Space Center is about 35 miles to our east, so we get to watch every launch in person. We had no idea about this when we bought this house, but it's a perk we really enjoy.

2/12/07 We took a walk yesterday through the Wildlife Preserve. I think we saw more alligators yesterday then we have on any other visit. The big guy is probably 7-9 feet long. The other two were smaller. The timid ones will bolt into the water as you approach, the bolder ones will just lay there and watch you. 

This is a nice picture of a Hawk sitting there by  the side of the road.

People keep asking me, if after  years, we still like it here or not? Well, we still love it and have never regretted the move. It's not just the weather, but the area where we live, and the people that live here. There  are new things being built all the time.  The Town Center, which is our mall, the big stores like Best Buy, and Home Depot. A new doctors office, dentist, an X-Ray imaging office, so I don't have to go into Orlando to get the yearly testing done. Everything we need is within 3 miles of our home. The streets are safe to walk on, and the crime where we live is about zero. I'm not saying it couldn't happen, I'm just saying it's very rare. SO.....I have found my nitch, and I'll stay here.

  One pair of Cranes have been coming to our house for four years and are such a joy to me. They've actually eaten out of our hands. They make a 'purring' sound, so they 'chat' with us for awhile, then they do a little dance. They'll pick up a stick or weed, throw it into the air, chase it, throw it again, jump around flap their wings.  They are SO funny, and SO neat. And SO BIG! About 4 ft. tall. When they fly in they look like small planes, because their wingspan is 6-7 ft. Now they've brought their babies. They will be here for a season, then go on their way to another place, but this is where Mom and Dad feel comfortable, so they stick around. At one time three sets of Sand Hill Cranes visited us nearly every day. Now, new home  building has encroached on their homes and they've had to move further away from us. Now they visit only occasionally, about once a month. They'll come to the back door, and talk and purr to us, then be on their way. I think they'll continue to visit as long as they're alive.

We have a lot of Bald Eagles that live close to here, that we see very often. They 'fish' in our pond. It's really neat to see one drop down and pluck a big fish from the water, in his talons. They have spent hours across the pond. I recently found out that the next county has the largest population of Bald Eagles outside of Alaska.
 
 There are Osprey,  Ibis...Egrets...Herons, Sea Gulls, and of course the Turkey Vultures. Gallinules that come when we call, and ducks, ducks, and more ducks. Only one pair of Mallards though. Such sweet little faces on them. The list is endless. I never would have believed that birds could give us so much entertainment. Now the ducks and Gallinules are getting so tame they'll come within a foot of us.  

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How would you like to wake up to this every morning?
Well, not EVERY morning!

This is one of my favorite photos of my pond.
Golden Pond! Yes, I really do live on Golden Pond!

A friend painted this from the photo. A huge painting that hangs on my bedroom wall. So thoughtful and I'm very thankful for it.

I'm still baby sitting , but does THAT surprise anyone?

The alumni page is doing very well. and I've managed to find people that I 'lost' 50 years ago. I have renewed old friendships. and made new ones. Classmates from those years so long ago are now emailing me on a regular basis
  

In Feb. 2005, I met up with some of my classmates in Las Vegas, and had a great few days. We laughed, talked and reminisced non stop for three days. Sharon (Murrell) Sorenson, Sharon (Butler) Padula, Mary Uram, Ken Murphy and his wife Jamie, Larry Comeau, and his wife Bev, Wayne Taylor and his wife Rita, and yours truly. What a great time! I didn't want to leave. 

The picture below was taken  in front of Tuttle Grade School, where I started kindergarten and met most of the amazing people I still call my friends. I was lucky enough to just happen to be there on the very last day that school was ever in session, in June of 2007. The school closed forever the next day. I think that the good old days were better, and my memories tell me I'm right. So, here is another chapter in my life that has closed and is just a memory. Tuttle Grade School! Memories!

Email me at:
mplatt1@cfl.rr.com