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!