Happy Holidays to all from Phaedra and Zoe

Phaedra and Zoe here on Sanibel: Greetings from your two furry girlie dog friends!

This is the beginning of our fourth year as Resident Dog Volunteers down here at J.N. Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge  with our folks whom we bring along with us because our legs are too short to reach the accelerator or brake and we have troubles hooking up the Fifth Wheel.  Anyway, we know that they would miss us so much and we would feel guilty if they were at home without us so all four of us are enjoying our home away from home!

Even though we don’t much care for I-95 it wasn’t too bad in the middle of December.  Right before we pulled in to our first campground on Blyth Island, we stopped for gas.  Mama and we were sitting in the truck waiting for Papa to pay and all of a sudden we heard this horrible horn noise.  It almost blew out our back window, but when we saw who it was we didn't care at all.  It was our good friends, Lynda and Charlie, ontheir way to Sanibel, too.  They're from Lewes, DE and live next door to us on the island.

After stopping the first night on Blyth Island, GA where humongous armadillos live (and stalked us from the woods while we walked along), we finally made it to Mt. Dora where our buddies Dusty and Marco live.  It was wonderful running around on their three acres which are fenced to keep the cow and horse neighbors out, and we have free rein of the place.  Cathy and Dave are so wonderful to us, as usual, which should be no surprise when one is as wonderful as we.

Marco wasn’t there this year - he’s at his trainer being prepped for National Dog Trials!  What a celebrity!  We think he’s a shoe-in!  Go Marco

It was really exciting coming over the bridge and seeing Sanibel Island.  We couldn’t wait to get out of the truck and RUN!  Dad was able to get our "ginormous" camper into the spot with Mama directing him, and Mama and Papa never yelled at each other once!  Plus, all our friends are back!

We have been left alone a lot!  You may remember that they think we
believe them when they go out and say, “Guard the house.” Well, we don’t!  They just try to pretend that we need a job so they can leave without guilt.

They’ve been on a sunset cruise, partying on the

causeway, having parties with the interns and residents in our little compound, and, of
course, going to the Sanibel Bean.  All the time, we “guard the house” as if criminals are lurking in the mangroves where the alligators and no-seeums
live!  Right!  We get it, and don’t like it.




You should see Sanibel.  There are such cool decorations - we smile every time we ride down Periwinkle Rd. - that’s one of the two main roads on the island.  We persuaded Papa and Mama to take us out to see the Christmas lights.  We especially loved the Lazy Flamingo’s pink flamingos and big blow-up figures. Then we got to go to the beach with them.  It has been really hot here.  Fur coats aren’t the best thing to wear when it’s 84*.

There are lots of birds back, now.  It’s almost getting time for birds to start building nests. Some of the birds are growing longer feathers and changing colors.  The folks say that’s so they can get a girl friend or boyfriend.  Nature isn’t much different from humans, is it?

It’s hard to believe that a new year is almost here. We loved our treats that our human friends gave us for Christmas.  I don’t know what we’ll be doing on New Year’s Eve - probably “guarding the house” while Papa and Mama flit off somewhere.  At least it won’t be too late; Papa says the New Year’s Eve Ball falls at 9:00 on Sanibel!

Happy New Year to all of you in 2014!

Sanibel Dreaming

Zoe and I have been in Sanibel since the middle of December and can't understand how time can go by so quickly.  I intended to write several times but Zoe always had to make me do something with her.  You know, when the folks leave us alone for days at a time, I have to entertain her.

Well, maybe they don't leave us alone for days at a time.  In fact, they always make sure that we aren't alone too much.  It's just that when they leave, they say, "Guard the house.  Listen to what your sister says.  Don't do anything you shouldn't."  What do they think we are going to do - start the truck and go for a joy ride?  Really! I guess they figure since we are herding dogs we need a job to keep us out of mischief.  Well, it worked, most of the time anyway.

I did figure that since this is out third season on Sanibel, you might be full up of island stories.  That's the truth about why I haven't written.  Plus, I couldn't trust Zoe to not go on and on, so I didn't let her write either.

We decided to show you pictures of things that we have seen or done.  Don't they say (and who is they anyway?) a picture is worth a thousand words? I can't imagine using a thousand words so pictures will have to do.

Highlights of this season:  Coming across the causway bridge onto Sanibel - coming "home" again; family joining us in December; walking the trails with Papa and Parker; going to the beach; renewing friendships; seeing the birds; not being left alone too much - we put up a big enough stink so that Papa and Mama don't stay away too long; having all these people who think we are amazing (they are right, of course); visiting the Bean with the folks; so many friends!

Troubles: Zoe seemed to have difficulties with her tug.  Everyone loved to throw it for her, but Mama had a "slice" when she threw it that landed it on top of Mr. Woody's way high roof over the RV.  Then, Lynda put 2 tugs up there.  Papa only put one in a palm tree, but Mr. Woody got it back down.  I never cause troubles like that Zoe!  I guess those three tugs will either blow down if there is a bad storm or next year Mr. Woody will get the cherry-picker and get them down for her.  Papa won't let mama use the two new ones in the cupboard now because he thinks she'll lose another one.

Zoe and I hope you like our photo journey. To know more, just ask us.

Anne and Parker in COLD water.

Nothing like a kid to bring out the kid in all of us!

"I'm not sure about this, Parker," says Phaedra.

 

"All right, who trampled on my castle?" asks Dov.

Strolling on Sanibel at Bowman's Beach

Pat Shane visits from Chapel Hill via Naples

Rookery island in the middle of Tarpon Bay - how many Brown Pellicans can you see?

Sunset over Tarpon Bay from the boat.

Ranger Becky turns 31and wears the "traditional Sea Grape garb of the islands"!  

Birthday party for Becky, good bye to Ana.

Dinner time at the camper

Biking Bailey Tract

Geocaching with Karen and Herb.  They found the ammo box treasure without us!

Roseates and Willets plus friends.

Bowman's Beach paddle

Eagle at Island Inn

Saralee and Ralph at Island Inn checking out the eagle and osprey

Osprey with fish as long as he is!

Phaedra loves happy hour!

Peace comes in a kayak.

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

What do you think it's going to do?  Is it a snake?

Woodstorks and buddies

Florida Banded Water Snake

Snowys at Blind Pass

What, another Happy Hour?

Lynda and Charlie

Pelican Island at sunset

In search of monofilament off Wildlife Drive on Friday

Wedding Party Trashers:  We won a case of wine for being the "worst dressed" with our costumes made of trash bags!

Peace

Young raccoon dining in palm tree in front of the education center at Ding Darling.

Cormorant fishing

White Pelicans hanging out

Anhinga thermoregulating (warming and drying)

Sunset on the causeway

Susie and Doug, Karen and Gordon, and the four of us.  Cousins from Vermont visiting here.

Hard at work!

Roseate by Indigo Trail

Vicki's Olympic Sunglasses (Australia, 2000).  These aren't your run of the mill sunglasses, either!  

Breakfast at the Bean

Shabbat

Now you see why he's called a "Yellow-Crowned Night Heron"

Beautiful Woodstork with pink feet

Just milling around...

Pellis and friends

Here's that damn thing again.  What are we going to do with it?

Great Egret in breeding plumage.  Check out the green eye lore.  That and the fancy plumes are lures to attract a mate.

Great Egrets courting - see the stick one gives to another?  Close by, see the male Anhinga and the chick.

Great Blue Herons begging for food.  Mom is trying to ignore for one more minute

Young Black-crowned Night Heron.  Notice the very red eye - one of the ways to identify this bird.

Hungry again?

Sweet little Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Anhinga chicks begging from dad.

Tri-color and Snowy.  Notice Snowy's yellow slippers!

Burrowing Owl of Cape Coral

Eggs should soon hatch and these parents are always vigilant for predators.

Nose of a manatee

Manatee in Shell Point lagoon

Mom and baby

Roseates are back!

Love the little Cuban Brown Anole - even if they are invasive!

This Ibis is wearing his fancy dress - ready for breeding!

Walked out the Ed Center door and was greeted by this Great Egret!

Reddish Egret wearing "fancy clothes" along side of the Tri-Color.

Alligator right next to Impoundment 1 on Wildlife Drive.

Gopher Tortoise right outside our gated community

Another Reddish Egret in breeding colors - notice the bright pink and black bill and the blue legs.  First time we ever saw this coloring - lucky us!

Last Roseate of season hiding from us

Taking time to smell the flowers

Up close and personal

Zoe's new ball - after losing 3 tugs this is all that's left!

    

Take care everyone - we'll keep you posted on our next adventures.

Ta Ta,

Phaedra (the phantastic) and Zoe (the wonderful)