The Aquarium and Friends from up north

Our friends from Ohio came to visit so we thought we'd take them to visit Mote Aquarium. It's a great place and they'd never been....so, we picked them up, spent some time at the downtown Saturday Market first (got some nice fruit and veggies), and headed to Mote.
Mote is not only an aquarium, but is also a Rescue/Rehab/Release for sea life.....so it's a cool place to visit.

Found the tank with Nemo and Dorie......

This guy looked like he had fangs.....weird

Just cool looking........

Do you see the sea horse....so cool the way he can "blend" into the grass

Cool Crustation.....

Jellyfish.....Wow.

This lobster was HUGE...could have easily fed 4!!!! LOL!!!!

Hello Mr. Eel........

Can you see the 2 fish in the picture?? They both change their colors to blend into their environment so they can hide from predators.....so neat

Maybe you can see this guy better in this picture....

Denny loves the sharks....

Hammerheads......

Baby turtles.......

Hugh and Buffett.....the 2 resident manatees that can't be released back to the environment, were having lunch...

After Mote, we headed down Longboat Key and onto Anna Maria. We stopped at a fav place for lunch...Gulf Drive Cafe...then headed to the Anna Maria Pier

Before walking down the pier I wandered into a store...these 2 signs were just too funny..

The pier was built in 1911...and has been repaired a few times, but has weathered many a storm...

We got there in time to see a guy fishing catch a stingray....cool. 

He was nice enough to let many of us get pictures....then he cut it loose

We ejoyed some time at the end of the pier and got back to the car just before the rain came. I tried to get a picture of the rainbow....it was brilliant and lasted a really long time. For a short time we even had a double rainbow....the picture didn't do this justice at all...it was gorgeous.

We took a different drive home and took them back to their condo and headed home. It had been a full fun day.

Hope you guys enjoyed your time....we did.

Have fun in our city...it's amazing.

Friends....Family...Work

The trip to ATL was fast and furious as always. I arrived on Thurs eve and had a great Mother/daughter dinner with Mom. The next day I worked and had a girls nite with Kathy and Karen. Was so much fun to see their amazing vacation pictures. The next day was a Mexican Fiesta party and sister Debbie's house. We worked hard during this and as hot as it was, we were whopped at the end of the night. Sunday I got to attend what I consider my "home" church, was so good to be able to worship there. Then I went up to Brooke and Dave's house to visit the big kids and the little kids.
The little girls are walking now,  but they are still so tiny. Had a blast playing...I thought they were so cute climbing the steps...they thought that was just cool.

Go girls go....soon you will be able to keep up with your big brother.

Brad and Cindy came over for dinner, and Brooke came in from the airport and it was nice to all sit down and eat and visit. Thanks guys for going to the effort to make this happen. After dinner I took Dylan to Mom's house. I was keeping him the next day since he was out of school. When we arrived Kelley and family were all there...it was time take Ashley's Senior pictures....oh my...Debbie did a great job.

Since Dylan was there, we had a little fun....

Beautiful!!!! When did you get this old!!!

I remember when...

Dylan got to stay up a little bit later that evening, and bed time was a little challenging, but we did finally settle down and all was well. The next morning we had to start at the Waffle House...we missed Uncle Denny...but we had fun.

Yum...O!!!!

Then we went back to the house and played a while with Muma...then it was nap time.

After a nap and a snack...it was time to go see airplanes....Dylan likes airplanes, and when you have 2 great-aunts that work at the Big D....it can work in your favor.

So, off to the Delta Flight Museum....

First up a picture in front of the museum with the airplane landing gear....too cool

Then the fun Delta mini-Coop

Then into the museum..."Nanny, can I ride in this one?"

Wow...what a prop....don't see these anymore

Going down the jetway...onto the Spirit of Delta....

Wow ....this is cool!!

"Dad, I want a model like this..."

I'm ready to go to Nanny's house.....let's go to the beach....!!!

We had a great time, then it was time to go meet Mommy and head home.

Thanks for coming and staying with me Dylan...I had a great time...next time, maybe we'll just go for a ride on that airplane!!!

Fine Scale Modeling Museum...Unbelievable!!!

The reason FL is so nice and green is because we get plenty of rain(and we have great temps year around)...and right now is our rainy season...so it was time to plan something to do indoors.

Being the Groupon junkie that I am...we'd found  a groupon for a Brazillian Steak house in Tampa...so we wanted to go there, but wanted to do more than just that when we made the drive up. Since we are Clearwater Aquarium Members (thx to a Groupon)...we get discounts or free entrance to other attractions...some in other states....so we'd found this neat scale modeling museum...so, now we had something to do before dinner.....so up the highway we headed.

It was about 1.5hr drive but a fairly straight shot, easy to find. EXCEPT...when we got there they were closed....oh dear, I'd read their site wrong and they weren't open. In just a few minutes 4 guys drove up and explained they are only open the 3rd Saturday in Sept-May....wow, I got that wrong....but since they were there working they'd let us in. 

These guys own this building for their hobby....it was amazing....here's their site and if you are ever close, on the right day...it's really worth it....  Fine Scale Modeling  

It's only $7 to get in and I promise it's well worth the few dollars to see this talent. They even teach a few modeling classes....

Since they were not really open, only one train was running...but just seeing the layouts was amazing...we'll come back when they are really open.

Here's the only one that was running....

The detail in each scene was fatastic....these guys take lots of pride in their hobby.

This guys rocking chair rocked and the dogs tail wagged....

The Ferrier....what detail

This worshop was amazing........

The train year was wonderful, can't wait to come back and see them running...

Look at the detail on this gravel and timber wall...lots of patience

High on a hill was a lonely goatherd.........

The do have a sense of humor too...the only church is next to the Dance Hall !!!  

All trees and shrubs and bushes...they make it all....even the waterfalls look real

Another humorus part was this scene...that was a "play" on more current events....
See the name on the oil barrel...and that's Obama...trying to clean it up....too funny.

And...if you look real close...there's The Duke in the red shirt, and holding a rifle....we do love John Wayne

They also had several military displays....they got authentic pictures and did their best to duplicate them...they did a great job ...

The facial expressions and had gestures....it was amazing...

As the display rotated..the other side of the building was a bombed out inside, again, very real looking

Some of these were done by other guys, but were on display here.

This big display was outside...they use it when they take these displays on the road. Yep, they actually take them apart, travel to somewhere and put them back up....that's dedication...

We really enjoyed walking around and looking, we can't wait until they are really open so we can come back. Perhaps it will be better wether and we'll find a better restaurant. The Brazillian Steak House was not all that great...glad we were using a Groupon.

So...that made for a fun outing. 

The past week and weekend were good weather, so we hung close to the pool and had some guests over for dinner. Very soon I'll be making a trip to ATL then we have a trip to Maine planned. Will be nice to have some cooler wether and eat some lobster!!!

Hope you've had a fun summer.....schools are starting back and before we know it the snowbirds will be back....that truly changes our small city. 

But until then....we'll enjoy not having as much traffic and less crowded restaurants!!