tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83271282505485299122023-11-16T07:47:57.352-08:00Piper Summers in FloridaLittle Visitor Round 19 - Summer 2014. LV Piper is visiting the Tampa Bay Area of Florida from her home in Arizona from May - September 2014.:: miss m ::http://www.blogger.com/profile/02810613938242385356noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327128250548529912.post-27215924616835913092014-07-07T08:15:00.004-07:002014-07-07T08:23:24.279-07:004th of JulyWe tried to hit a local park to watch the fireworks for the 4th but we got there and the skies opened up. It started to pour and there was TERRIBLE lightning. (This part of Florida is known as "Lightning Alley" and has more strikes than anywhere else in the country. It ranks in the top 5 in the world too.)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lightning was so bright it blew out almost every shot I tried to get to total white! (It looks bright like almost daylight here but it was really dark and storming.) This was the best I managed.</td></tr>
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We huddled under a gazebo for over an hour hoping it would pass and we'd still get to see some. But it was not to be.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoZBwXt-fsrSMwzic3Ebp_-fM6L6ecgHYY9QFgW37kJYjwPF7BjhWHyCGmPtbIM8-AimQkc71hzr1Zpd8pACcvRSfQ2UEc_KBFvGcMVKnD5MjYhAXDWOYvElxEgVidH7IOIN7pnw_ZcYK/s1600/lv19-4julyb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoZBwXt-fsrSMwzic3Ebp_-fM6L6ecgHYY9QFgW37kJYjwPF7BjhWHyCGmPtbIM8-AimQkc71hzr1Zpd8pACcvRSfQ2UEc_KBFvGcMVKnD5MjYhAXDWOYvElxEgVidH7IOIN7pnw_ZcYK/s1600/lv19-4julyb.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Since visibility was so crap, Piper was wearing a blue and a red glow stick to make sure we could keep an eye on her.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdItHuHx4ay73Cy0CotE5hQWVB6w39DJ3Gj-oJfCfO32rNpT2uBbBL6FDNqrpC7JX2UjSQIbXgWc6PbfV-Bv_eIcWwwoztLlOl-WjEdUX6GuKI6R9DPlumYXzqsbAWj6IL2wgMB387pnrP/s1600/lv19-4julyc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdItHuHx4ay73Cy0CotE5hQWVB6w39DJ3Gj-oJfCfO32rNpT2uBbBL6FDNqrpC7JX2UjSQIbXgWc6PbfV-Bv_eIcWwwoztLlOl-WjEdUX6GuKI6R9DPlumYXzqsbAWj6IL2wgMB387pnrP/s1600/lv19-4julyc.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The lightning even <a href="http://www.abcactionnews.com/news/oldsmar-home-destroyed-in-fire-neighbor-says-lightning-struck-the-home" target="_blank">caused a house fire</a>. We could see the flames miles away it was so big!</td></tr>
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So 4th of July was a washout. After we left, we hit the store and got some ice cream and headed home.</div>
:: miss m ::http://www.blogger.com/profile/02810613938242385356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327128250548529912.post-34449384074826561192014-06-29T16:19:00.000-07:002014-06-29T16:19:20.344-07:00Banyan Trees of Downtown St. PeteNo visit to downtown St. Pete is complete without seeing the banyan trees!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PChOhHgPxid53ea6GMMdXcGCgNZRkvtTbJftiene7rlU9U8h3O11haMJ5NZFdHv7QBIAZAoAmxI4QzdAIPngPi93Xm6_OgbNA4h626paGtz_1hoTqfHnn7K5aTNUIYa3K8zCJN1Zr1rw/s1600/lv19-banyan1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2PChOhHgPxid53ea6GMMdXcGCgNZRkvtTbJftiene7rlU9U8h3O11haMJ5NZFdHv7QBIAZAoAmxI4QzdAIPngPi93Xm6_OgbNA4h626paGtz_1hoTqfHnn7K5aTNUIYa3K8zCJN1Zr1rw/s1600/lv19-banyan1d.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The yellow building is the Museum of Fine Arts. And this is only ONE of the two large trees. You can see the people for scale of how giant they really are!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH8mZuAqtpmrGzNHzCb9Byc6yrBxLtE0SOvXbwbfHxzwVTCHMzVO15E7icRqdqrVg4ltZ0_UTsez0W8hX5y-2b1S2dej2LBmc4hh4qBm6Z7bEHY7drlSkqF7bXuBPQ49lzSuC4b1T3N_7/s1600/lv19-banyan1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpH8mZuAqtpmrGzNHzCb9Byc6yrBxLtE0SOvXbwbfHxzwVTCHMzVO15E7icRqdqrVg4ltZ0_UTsez0W8hX5y-2b1S2dej2LBmc4hh4qBm6Z7bEHY7drlSkqF7bXuBPQ49lzSuC4b1T3N_7/s1600/lv19-banyan1a.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the other of the banyan trees just past the first one above.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWESe3R-2M_s1a8wXvO5oRwNfHpMOASbdg4CYWv5gBcZQBcdatlkbh_FOinCzMGfp4xUhEd-2qL2nYkV0NNhZD35KYjBkGTP-P16UVk4e0okbLn2HzE1aSikYhlptZuCzqIv_kSnJg2jA/s1600/lv19-banyan1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEWESe3R-2M_s1a8wXvO5oRwNfHpMOASbdg4CYWv5gBcZQBcdatlkbh_FOinCzMGfp4xUhEd-2qL2nYkV0NNhZD35KYjBkGTP-P16UVk4e0okbLn2HzE1aSikYhlptZuCzqIv_kSnJg2jA/s1600/lv19-banyan1b.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another shot of how they grow roots down from the branches to form new trunks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QSJu1owZ04171XKUcL7P8nQNauSvAU7lsfvgLV5ahiY42_rPpUm2T-Iq81uXZYhWiiquxWkab53uZ8V3sAeFHrWE4Vi9k50I45KizvcDnDgUNsJACnw5c0P7HU_TTOP-xB30qPGSM5pt/s1600/lv19-banyan1c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7QSJu1owZ04171XKUcL7P8nQNauSvAU7lsfvgLV5ahiY42_rPpUm2T-Iq81uXZYhWiiquxWkab53uZ8V3sAeFHrWE4Vi9k50I45KizvcDnDgUNsJACnw5c0P7HU_TTOP-xB30qPGSM5pt/s1600/lv19-banyan1c.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see Piper hanging out in the branches!</td></tr>
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<br />:: miss m ::http://www.blogger.com/profile/02810613938242385356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327128250548529912.post-57882231258525349432014-06-29T16:05:00.001-07:002014-06-29T16:05:29.503-07:00Museum of Fine Arts - Downtown St. PetersburgFew weekends ago, we went to the <a href="http://www.fine-arts.org/">Museum of Fine Arts</a> in downtown St. Petersburg. Last year, we had gone for a visit only to arrive and discover 90% of the place was closed for renovations. So they gave us free tickets to come back at a later date and we finally got around to going.<br />
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Home to a wide variety of amazing art - including famous artists like Monet, Cezanne, Renoir, etc. - there's also galleries of ancient artifacts, glass, photography and currently an exhibit of young Chinese artists trying to make statements on the political climate of China.<br />
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Needless to say, there was a lot to look at!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypsLpg_xfHHyQyLNgtRejNZtiyXG4-g3_IQt8KsIYVd-mb45jTVAvtNMc-hnPUfUPLd1Tydb9gKJhiqrCticwhekaeQ8UdnrCBC_NgsSXgNM7hWeJ_2H569_7-FxZPx6hzAXR-VVoSUC1/s1600/lv19-arts1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhypsLpg_xfHHyQyLNgtRejNZtiyXG4-g3_IQt8KsIYVd-mb45jTVAvtNMc-hnPUfUPLd1Tydb9gKJhiqrCticwhekaeQ8UdnrCBC_NgsSXgNM7hWeJ_2H569_7-FxZPx6hzAXR-VVoSUC1/s1600/lv19-arts1a.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's this huge, neat tree that everyone climbs on the side of the MFA. Here I'm holding Piper so you can get an idea of scale!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUxmS5bQMiFxXk4ruJ7jJReufZNRduUYGLDq-LH2iaBL214c6UkOJ1MpqpD_mwb1O0lZCoPuPqSjPmMaXjNMzLskYB6SP7_Td4r5stJzLnBRmjS19dkJ4aT8b9UbWEFGOlYS8Yc3U4AAl/s1600/lv19-arts1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXUxmS5bQMiFxXk4ruJ7jJReufZNRduUYGLDq-LH2iaBL214c6UkOJ1MpqpD_mwb1O0lZCoPuPqSjPmMaXjNMzLskYB6SP7_Td4r5stJzLnBRmjS19dkJ4aT8b9UbWEFGOlYS8Yc3U4AAl/s1600/lv19-arts1b.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside of the museum</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgce1vaguQhA2A8nd4_9-CIvMcZNL4FXrCVrH02nqLar3tNwyIy1Of-sYK3CBo5wzN6v_919DYlkwcAHpo8gx1jvEXh31Xy8VxZgm99-C-OHYKATapHp5x6VWkKaPxZ5crpsGTLmyRlU1Lg/s1600/lv19-arts1c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgce1vaguQhA2A8nd4_9-CIvMcZNL4FXrCVrH02nqLar3tNwyIy1Of-sYK3CBo5wzN6v_919DYlkwcAHpo8gx1jvEXh31Xy8VxZgm99-C-OHYKATapHp5x6VWkKaPxZ5crpsGTLmyRlU1Lg/s1600/lv19-arts1c.jpg" height="640" width="490" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient marble sculpture of Ceasar.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYovdzxyDGhVGGA09-fj7ADMu7sXGY_NBAVKrim85lwJ6cLbVDXPUvpv9VE1QwFPsmZdap47rCKF2Fb_P99lNPiGAgra2QMqheoQuzUZSuHrsFhNxouk0dqQzMySm_MZUL_1XUIGTKFqkG/s1600/lv19-arts1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYovdzxyDGhVGGA09-fj7ADMu7sXGY_NBAVKrim85lwJ6cLbVDXPUvpv9VE1QwFPsmZdap47rCKF2Fb_P99lNPiGAgra2QMqheoQuzUZSuHrsFhNxouk0dqQzMySm_MZUL_1XUIGTKFqkG/s1600/lv19-arts1d.jpg" height="640" width="516" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is a neat piece and always catches my eye.<br /><a href="http://www.tampabay.com/features/visualarts/robert-vickreys-magic-lantern-shines-in-its-realism/1130429" target="_blank"><i>Magic Lantern</i>, Robert Vickrey</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5vWFEpiFgIi0h8Upa-rrKOp7t6HBka5TBd1BtoNV22x_kyAcLwqSc22BgIWG0FnTTGfpsn0sIDyRSYDkbeCqElKgYVNlh6O-ExGPAofAcAjJ4kN0w7e7LR_gQ6ZVwRl2BEcBzOmM2nmo/s1600/lv19-arts1e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE5vWFEpiFgIi0h8Upa-rrKOp7t6HBka5TBd1BtoNV22x_kyAcLwqSc22BgIWG0FnTTGfpsn0sIDyRSYDkbeCqElKgYVNlh6O-ExGPAofAcAjJ4kN0w7e7LR_gQ6ZVwRl2BEcBzOmM2nmo/s1600/lv19-arts1e.jpg" height="514" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is so amazing in person. The subtlety of the piece is lost in photos but it's truly amazing.<br /><a href="http://www.fine-arts.org/collection/houses-of-parliament-effect-of-fog-london/" target="_blank"><i>House of Parliament: Effect of Fog, London</i> Monet 1904</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CqYngqW4Gt19hnD4SXRt3VgbiJYb0N4-Sq5k4DeXeOCU9HhlrEgg6WHhNhOLLLRv8KHlKcnXMNSGQOZdCTpTqR28I6gAzip74sy-5RinWJvyHj85Kj4FNTg_ph9sxDTfGUmUN0IOKYEm/s1600/lv19-arts1g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7CqYngqW4Gt19hnD4SXRt3VgbiJYb0N4-Sq5k4DeXeOCU9HhlrEgg6WHhNhOLLLRv8KHlKcnXMNSGQOZdCTpTqR28I6gAzip74sy-5RinWJvyHj85Kj4FNTg_ph9sxDTfGUmUN0IOKYEm/s1600/lv19-arts1g.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is one of my absolute favorites in the museum.<br />You couldn't see it well in Piper's pic, so I put another shot so you can see it better. <br /><a href="http://www.fine-arts.org/collection/julie-as-flora-roman-goddess-of-flowers/" target="_blank"><i>Julia as Flora, Roman Goddess of Flowers</i>, 1799</a><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOI9RnOuvDhyA0c2lbK3d_3KYSMcz6Bh4V0ONLBc743Ps9iXUgtwbBrrzde9qQLD-SexBnkft6WRFeZA22vxEh1cVAp2rEI4-Ttts6EAULhp64CQW5vZy424Kfdo4-1mdL7yLIrFYAjPJ/s1600/lv19-arts1h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOI9RnOuvDhyA0c2lbK3d_3KYSMcz6Bh4V0ONLBc743Ps9iXUgtwbBrrzde9qQLD-SexBnkft6WRFeZA22vxEh1cVAp2rEI4-Ttts6EAULhp64CQW5vZy424Kfdo4-1mdL7yLIrFYAjPJ/s1600/lv19-arts1h.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't find a page for it but it's <i>Mercury Preparing to Kill Argus, </i>Berthel Thorvaldsen 1818<br />In the background is <i><a href="http://www.fine-arts.org/collection/major-archibald-robertson-of-lawyers/" target="_blank">Major Archibald Robertson of Lawyers </a> </i>and another I can't find a page for.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi8zGcuvqeqojN7y806l9H-Bo8PuNpQRem3Ph5QEtanWF1189epY026qmE__Ap2YPoohtAbw5aKp5mUVCEIQVZMh-lfZyejbdkzfrYEdka3RYAWG9ZJStSy2Kfz1JdvxfZwtGOwoPGGeL/s1600/lv19-arts1f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi8zGcuvqeqojN7y806l9H-Bo8PuNpQRem3Ph5QEtanWF1189epY026qmE__Ap2YPoohtAbw5aKp5mUVCEIQVZMh-lfZyejbdkzfrYEdka3RYAWG9ZJStSy2Kfz1JdvxfZwtGOwoPGGeL/s1600/lv19-arts1f.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the catwalk on the second floor overlooking the main lobby of the museum. The permanent collection items are in the galleries on the right and the visiting collection and gift shop would be on the left.</td></tr>
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<br />:: miss m ::http://www.blogger.com/profile/02810613938242385356noreply@blogger.com0Museum of Fine Arts, 255 Beach Drive Northeast, St. Petersburg, FL 33701, USA27.7747417 -82.63155159999996627.7729857 -82.634073099999966 27.7764977 -82.629030099999966tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327128250548529912.post-75481592184990586692014-06-05T20:21:00.002-07:002014-06-05T20:21:27.008-07:00Busch Gardens TampaLast Sunday we headed over to Busch Gardens Tampa for a few hours to take in the scenery and take some photos with the new camera lens I got for my birthday. We left the house and it was a little cloudy but no big deal. When we got there however, it got VERY dark and almost immediately started to rain.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEU-i5vk3G_qcKDpyDiOY9mL4SqqJnhM7FfiURs_Bb4qnoutojU087LpXmGDDcOgOBS4MzWUjGuo3zb5YzfVORMFFVBH7F3iQ0qDqbVGEymyZjvsgxnMimS8GQPLGeGG6H0u3XD2IHJv_/s1600/lv19-bgmay1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFEU-i5vk3G_qcKDpyDiOY9mL4SqqJnhM7FfiURs_Bb4qnoutojU087LpXmGDDcOgOBS4MzWUjGuo3zb5YzfVORMFFVBH7F3iQ0qDqbVGEymyZjvsgxnMimS8GQPLGeGG6H0u3XD2IHJv_/s1600/lv19-bgmay1a.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made it to the park and walked to the open safari area....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbQ-Anir3E-zDVStNEBZ5Ndm-QH2LnHQyzA3SuipW7i6VttntHUpRDSVP0djyAJz7WNiJ2NHnwtXVUVG3www-XgZ2Fk7a6YjaXiwK3tT74EpUqJtunPQk5M6wUHX7ZwUDHdMsH5fLelVi/s1600/lv19-bgmay1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbQ-Anir3E-zDVStNEBZ5Ndm-QH2LnHQyzA3SuipW7i6VttntHUpRDSVP0djyAJz7WNiJ2NHnwtXVUVG3www-XgZ2Fk7a6YjaXiwK3tT74EpUqJtunPQk5M6wUHX7ZwUDHdMsH5fLelVi/s1600/lv19-bgmay1b.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...only to see the storm clouds roll in very quickly and the skies opened up.<br /></td></tr>
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We ran and took shelter under a covered area. Turns out, we were lucky because one of the lions was also taking shelter - right up against the glass!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFGJs1LR8H9CtpatvlGVGIThUHQ7iYeKHhyWHxiMLcSdnpZ0LHLI06ICAeFtuMxF6ibmHyRcwl4_P9_z-dnLroNOgtU9ihOfdCslGIYr2PmM1C9r2qs8b2cqx_MgRVkZ1FxwCGapuDg6l/s1600/lv19-bgmay1c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFGJs1LR8H9CtpatvlGVGIThUHQ7iYeKHhyWHxiMLcSdnpZ0LHLI06ICAeFtuMxF6ibmHyRcwl4_P9_z-dnLroNOgtU9ihOfdCslGIYr2PmM1C9r2qs8b2cqx_MgRVkZ1FxwCGapuDg6l/s1600/lv19-bgmay1c.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piper gets VERY up close and personal with the lion!</td></tr>
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There was a break in the rain, so we headed out. We'll try again another day. But I doubt we'll ever get so much awesome time face-to-literal-face with the lion like that!:: miss m ::http://www.blogger.com/profile/02810613938242385356noreply@blogger.com0Busch Gardens Tampa, 300 East Busch Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612, USA28.0363515 -82.42245739999998528.022336499999998 -82.442627399999978 28.0503665 -82.402287399999992tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327128250548529912.post-67792657898396843772014-05-29T12:31:00.000-07:002014-05-29T12:31:43.898-07:00Natural FloridaI took Piper for a tour around a local park last week to see some of what natural, unspoiled Florida looks like! I figured it was going to be pretty different from her home in the desert.<br />
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The park is right on the edge of Tampa Bay, and is part of the the Tampa Bay Estuary. There's a lot of waterways around for launching canoes and kayaks plus more typical flat oak scrublands as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4pFTLd9GR-CQcSSiURKU-gcZrx_ubDfAAl-zTddk5J630Ya5KOzOQl4fYGkxO6F4tgd6GnN_qa5i-TERzQHMfk-pAeCiuwONWd18qkRpv6oMmwjyl1ZfdMsL9ZypBWAzg9JISkOl7ZJj/s1600/lv19-utbmay14d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ4pFTLd9GR-CQcSSiURKU-gcZrx_ubDfAAl-zTddk5J630Ya5KOzOQl4fYGkxO6F4tgd6GnN_qa5i-TERzQHMfk-pAeCiuwONWd18qkRpv6oMmwjyl1ZfdMsL9ZypBWAzg9JISkOl7ZJj/s1600/lv19-utbmay14d.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to the park even has a canoe on the sign!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqNdjmorr-7fD9ZxAqY0Uz8gUgqrfuBDoa4UMlq6i3Ck6KivjBmuKNMsTuZsnFbSKBYEwxiJAkeBcYz64e5an40Df1jo4v4taWNP5aJyxcgAORb7hPC985zPOTPtDcBSpj478hl_0zYMz/s1600/lv19-utbmay14c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqNdjmorr-7fD9ZxAqY0Uz8gUgqrfuBDoa4UMlq6i3Ck6KivjBmuKNMsTuZsnFbSKBYEwxiJAkeBcYz64e5an40Df1jo4v4taWNP5aJyxcgAORb7hPC985zPOTPtDcBSpj478hl_0zYMz/s1600/lv19-utbmay14c.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can climb up to the observation deck overlooking the water.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wvgw4KhyphenhyphenXBEOkCcmxPJtGhCc2PbrlsJ6KKVKwsUTlgIK9_mYCJzLEIi6zQIVXl3WEVpjSJ0ejfOoxD1Q9Cy2MhigC30msEMRf4DaS3FZzpNX9whD__TrRGyWX1JJfwyd5l3doKTO8i8B/s1600/lv19-utbmay14a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4wvgw4KhyphenhyphenXBEOkCcmxPJtGhCc2PbrlsJ6KKVKwsUTlgIK9_mYCJzLEIi6zQIVXl3WEVpjSJ0ejfOoxD1Q9Cy2MhigC30msEMRf4DaS3FZzpNX9whD__TrRGyWX1JJfwyd5l3doKTO8i8B/s1600/lv19-utbmay14a.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here's the view! This is part of the estuary that feeds into Tampa Bay itself.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPKyLpkArQKm69Ka7YKGBnRfAmXgmIlWyDRVPB90ZAXbkpFhQTLCQbnOTuyczpVYk9RJVpXj-0NwoGQ2PWIMXVTpX8kV1Wddd_Q7qR593XBIIFfutLFcFAfQRrC3mAG1hZShJKzxl5eDT/s1600/lv19-utbmay14b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirPKyLpkArQKm69Ka7YKGBnRfAmXgmIlWyDRVPB90ZAXbkpFhQTLCQbnOTuyczpVYk9RJVpXj-0NwoGQ2PWIMXVTpX8kV1Wddd_Q7qR593XBIIFfutLFcFAfQRrC3mAG1hZShJKzxl5eDT/s1600/lv19-utbmay14b.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ground level view of the water. You can see all the mangrove "islands." Mangroves grow right out of the water in clusters. There's no actual land beneath the trees. But sea birds nest in them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYU1sY9fhEJX59HwHhf9jV78chH1dy-HG-zGW3wsH8nPjcCUOJszRv0fc56B_hrsXUxUFEBXChdkhmwUU27n4D2uqjW6Lj8z2qNYKwStrAJtJIx_LUK64IJ4f4GkF8AFhchLDfpDEVpv2/s1600/utb-park-may14g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYU1sY9fhEJX59HwHhf9jV78chH1dy-HG-zGW3wsH8nPjcCUOJszRv0fc56B_hrsXUxUFEBXChdkhmwUU27n4D2uqjW6Lj8z2qNYKwStrAJtJIx_LUK64IJ4f4GkF8AFhchLDfpDEVpv2/s1600/utb-park-may14g.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boardwalk over the transition from marsh and waterways to scrublands.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwjrIjbnwsZgmw1cgXi0q1w5DdmkxUIqKzNQOe7zl2_vUCKs1GTmq_Ih_Y5vBx3zj70o5SXxGiOZmj_JNZdDnB_PVDqgPfbyhU8bWHHG1-RlYhLmvDeNwhUHu08c2Rdu87zfMWI7ccRdo/s1600/lv19-utbmay14e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfwjrIjbnwsZgmw1cgXi0q1w5DdmkxUIqKzNQOe7zl2_vUCKs1GTmq_Ih_Y5vBx3zj70o5SXxGiOZmj_JNZdDnB_PVDqgPfbyhU8bWHHG1-RlYhLmvDeNwhUHu08c2Rdu87zfMWI7ccRdo/s1600/lv19-utbmay14e.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the scrubland trails surrounding the waterways.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsJjIoNtlPPlKxqtHf09cmhdv0PNDVOe5xYKjC92iKLGlMC9yHVRedPyS_G0TrXRsiF5mfDKACetf9Rra7I437642T0lcjEW3eEQmHBldn3Tr0oKRegT7uyeNv3DgaoxmlkG1xNhhjdwn/s1600/lv19-utbmay14f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirsJjIoNtlPPlKxqtHf09cmhdv0PNDVOe5xYKjC92iKLGlMC9yHVRedPyS_G0TrXRsiF5mfDKACetf9Rra7I437642T0lcjEW3eEQmHBldn3Tr0oKRegT7uyeNv3DgaoxmlkG1xNhhjdwn/s1600/lv19-utbmay14f.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Because it's RIGHT on the Bay, there are warning signs 13 feet tall telling you a hurricane can cause a storm surge all the way up to the line on the sign! See how tiny Piper looks?</td></tr>
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<br />:: miss m ::http://www.blogger.com/profile/02810613938242385356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327128250548529912.post-78663876681043319942014-05-21T19:41:00.001-07:002014-05-21T19:41:44.827-07:00Epic Birthday At Disney!Piper came with me for an epic day at Walt Disney World to celebrate my birthday on May 16th! We hit both Epcot and Magic Kingdom.<br />
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Most of my Epcot shots are on a different memory card (I took them with my point-and-shoot) so I still have to download and edit them. This entry will only have a few Epcot shots. I'll post the rest later. But all the Magic Kingdom shots were on my DSLR so I have a TON to share!<br /><br />We were there until the park closed at midnight so we got to see a ton.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SbZ2zkK_frn3sAOt_HDVP7C60IDRMv6pXWHpGL0NYdNdiChTRBhKWXYiR5LSj4VyvyHgL3DOSb4yx-L_lmQc-6V6WyzOJ3P4Jf6kbXizfghZcUb_Wx4Yg1dLf-PLzTDKOgnT_S3v57KV/s1600/lv19-epcit1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SbZ2zkK_frn3sAOt_HDVP7C60IDRMv6pXWHpGL0NYdNdiChTRBhKWXYiR5LSj4VyvyHgL3DOSb4yx-L_lmQc-6V6WyzOJ3P4Jf6kbXizfghZcUb_Wx4Yg1dLf-PLzTDKOgnT_S3v57KV/s1600/lv19-epcit1a.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spaceship Earth is in the background across the lagoon between the Japanese arch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_U1BVaWVGZpbz8MTpaaEkZa__Sq8wgaevHyS4kJr4jV68mvNE3DwYtHkSJs-FRa866shl1tzhV3PxJywiAN_HFbEzaey-3QatAOfBhafvvD2xu-5w4ifqFQh70ejYaFMAxKaCW-l220aN/s1600/lv19-epcit1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_U1BVaWVGZpbz8MTpaaEkZa__Sq8wgaevHyS4kJr4jV68mvNE3DwYtHkSJs-FRa866shl1tzhV3PxJywiAN_HFbEzaey-3QatAOfBhafvvD2xu-5w4ifqFQh70ejYaFMAxKaCW-l220aN/s1600/lv19-epcit1b.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flower and Garden Festival was going on so lots of topiaries! This was Lady and the Tramp in Italy.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdmVy7YEzJJShLDGd8f3wrgwlUSWvEVpsNEEFsd_TMSv6PMBbLXnT_2jAGwqf-nH5Z6oJ9JtWalLppiioYl3Vs19Dx9pfI32zni6mkGXuMVCACmmZXSSuN_basY__PP9xoAKyfYpkS89i/s1600/lv19-epcit1c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdmVy7YEzJJShLDGd8f3wrgwlUSWvEVpsNEEFsd_TMSv6PMBbLXnT_2jAGwqf-nH5Z6oJ9JtWalLppiioYl3Vs19Dx9pfI32zni6mkGXuMVCACmmZXSSuN_basY__PP9xoAKyfYpkS89i/s1600/lv19-epcit1c.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Foo Dog (Chinese guardian lions) in China</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopdbvESd-Pen2rQxY6KhByPLf9anrsTo99BSUFqFyti8kwjjCBZYzZPm6FDUlH6CBJMYQUGWnc_WCudPahY-K_IH4bUhyphenhyphenwrcawGmgdNI-jVHJJJHhUzB4479srd1VoUmFl2aNarPwEy0f/s1600/lv19-epcit1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopdbvESd-Pen2rQxY6KhByPLf9anrsTo99BSUFqFyti8kwjjCBZYzZPm6FDUlH6CBJMYQUGWnc_WCudPahY-K_IH4bUhyphenhyphenwrcawGmgdNI-jVHJJJHhUzB4479srd1VoUmFl2aNarPwEy0f/s1600/lv19-epcit1d.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out with the Viking in Norway.</td></tr>
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We got to Magic Kingdom about 5pm and stayed until midnight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2oaMK1n75bBhBvqWW42QZ2DxLTTMlaIoo2qZFcpVVcFJlU_xfeDI8Y1OC4P2f4mAvgg0piK23sVowe3p27gTbmBxMBK3SuB84CljCyLk3KMmW7EFTWLJ_8xOMjig_K-JYOaXjeXm7yh6/s1600/lv19-mk1a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2oaMK1n75bBhBvqWW42QZ2DxLTTMlaIoo2qZFcpVVcFJlU_xfeDI8Y1OC4P2f4mAvgg0piK23sVowe3p27gTbmBxMBK3SuB84CljCyLk3KMmW7EFTWLJ_8xOMjig_K-JYOaXjeXm7yh6/s1600/lv19-mk1a.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View down Main Street towards Cinderella Castle from the Train Station.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqFxpJ-8qwYLfIcO4wuZjAZhSEwLtNUPXA4d2YtuPk1_zEOLB5ewgpiv00PF0v377ja370weGWTdg9J_lVpbpU8QBpE06nwHrqkjtrdOppu0As___Det5SiqLxACQJ2BOSvXuif32D7ti/s1600/lv19-mk1b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqFxpJ-8qwYLfIcO4wuZjAZhSEwLtNUPXA4d2YtuPk1_zEOLB5ewgpiv00PF0v377ja370weGWTdg9J_lVpbpU8QBpE06nwHrqkjtrdOppu0As___Det5SiqLxACQJ2BOSvXuif32D7ti/s1600/lv19-mk1b.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinderella Castle! (With the "Partners" statue of Walt and Mickey as well)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTBOxv5vq36EHaMM5ynF25W6cOcT6tS0YM3IO3dYMWaw9m331SxS8sJ5JZ8D_uKybHZzUqNbXQRhoucrpVjO8ffn6lZD8efGQo7MYCMvvKx6QnFiqt-kiyTyGRzkb3K5iRhjHja2EeKS3/s1600/lv19-mk1c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHTBOxv5vq36EHaMM5ynF25W6cOcT6tS0YM3IO3dYMWaw9m331SxS8sJ5JZ8D_uKybHZzUqNbXQRhoucrpVjO8ffn6lZD8efGQo7MYCMvvKx6QnFiqt-kiyTyGRzkb3K5iRhjHja2EeKS3/s1600/lv19-mk1c.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In line for the Haunted Mansion.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPt_TlcfDKNHqoqRe05CCOoV3CvUDOw2fEZeM1o8-XxYW1NsfbkqxkoYVpd8DhkRIwi51XHMijhzIX-UnorGJQNiq1t_E96aesD-U4pMDSe6s2kEAfVlIyGeAeEJinZsxCTGDhL_UXhHz/s1600/lv19-mk1d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtPt_TlcfDKNHqoqRe05CCOoV3CvUDOw2fEZeM1o8-XxYW1NsfbkqxkoYVpd8DhkRIwi51XHMijhzIX-UnorGJQNiq1t_E96aesD-U4pMDSe6s2kEAfVlIyGeAeEJinZsxCTGDhL_UXhHz/s1600/lv19-mk1d.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another look at the Haunted Mansion.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPhW5NUYMynvf890fzmXGc73ZA2aLwkDU5aEoY3kvT49nh8LCdF_XLObbvHGC1OBYOebhlP-EgrxZkvXCkxPktBECr6nOziJ8n5WujbNwj-PHhL1xqpyem7CiuKWDOozeJGTBAHNL1DrU/s1600/lv19-mk1e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPhW5NUYMynvf890fzmXGc73ZA2aLwkDU5aEoY3kvT49nh8LCdF_XLObbvHGC1OBYOebhlP-EgrxZkvXCkxPktBECr6nOziJ8n5WujbNwj-PHhL1xqpyem7CiuKWDOozeJGTBAHNL1DrU/s1600/lv19-mk1e.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching a log fall down the drop hill of Splash Mountain.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBK-4UTzG0JwQxifiNVBbnU8H-yt3RCWZZbjqybGLWO4uRd0VtMy-NLihkwG49GhmKUOMVYB5b23F5TmwkoD0R2VxNEUCfmkVoXRMVWqhv6L14-jd41lxfqErcAo62iQkE8jx4Eovjnxg/s1600/lv19-mk1f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBK-4UTzG0JwQxifiNVBbnU8H-yt3RCWZZbjqybGLWO4uRd0VtMy-NLihkwG49GhmKUOMVYB5b23F5TmwkoD0R2VxNEUCfmkVoXRMVWqhv6L14-jd41lxfqErcAo62iQkE8jx4Eovjnxg/s1600/lv19-mk1f.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Piper wanted to try on this fun pineapple shirt.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIx6kA91IQfvq0rqAX4UIW262d65N2fZuPdcyauuAq4X-9BWrH2vdKpigIbQdUCqdlwrUmfy4CUrGVPvJmbXctEv4AfD5AQssEP9TRzhbqqLSha5qg7SP0UmbE7ko2cTPx6O8r8MWCW7Q/s1600/lv19-mk1g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIx6kA91IQfvq0rqAX4UIW262d65N2fZuPdcyauuAq4X-9BWrH2vdKpigIbQdUCqdlwrUmfy4CUrGVPvJmbXctEv4AfD5AQssEP9TRzhbqqLSha5qg7SP0UmbE7ko2cTPx6O8r8MWCW7Q/s1600/lv19-mk1g.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aloha Isle. Home of Dole Whips in Magic Kingdom!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFMIf_hbrwE4mBJaS0cjZ0Bky0kSyU3jXXxPdfBFJg_ohxkMO19Ffh9c3TSVLKL_ugwgUBfM6kr3RXd_bcM9hKmyUOFV7traDo-fa5znpYeAIOxtVUpQU7lReRsYsQhJdg-Fjcfgpybij/s1600/lv19-mk1h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirFMIf_hbrwE4mBJaS0cjZ0Bky0kSyU3jXXxPdfBFJg_ohxkMO19Ffh9c3TSVLKL_ugwgUBfM6kr3RXd_bcM9hKmyUOFV7traDo-fa5znpYeAIOxtVUpQU7lReRsYsQhJdg-Fjcfgpybij/s1600/lv19-mk1h.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out in a cart of blinkie toys in front of Cinderella Castle at Dusk.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dvh8ww7_3x_2P-y6OoEfZblN7lkjMwcTEqTMeX5VJC-cFBE8r-eXfFvMrIR-StqOBiKXsNqyGe5Haoc5o-Xir5qYeqFYp5IbKR6rI5J10i_lNvpkMegYAs4LlfvUB_Pbr0A5007zTUmS/s1600/lv19-mk1i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dvh8ww7_3x_2P-y6OoEfZblN7lkjMwcTEqTMeX5VJC-cFBE8r-eXfFvMrIR-StqOBiKXsNqyGe5Haoc5o-Xir5qYeqFYp5IbKR6rI5J10i_lNvpkMegYAs4LlfvUB_Pbr0A5007zTUmS/s1600/lv19-mk1i.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Took some time to stop and smell the roses in the Rose Garden near Cinderella Castle.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb569LwzaGSZHFSIvjDWMPM-ddtmMwmC01KjuuF9u8rIJrITLWRgiXIpd1wE_BL07kHz_BSR7bmGbZsXWNGvPqWkpnyVbP8-wEgJM7ZozMAidQf_6NOKRyAy1bhUYEe0X4PXPkQz8aJQPC/s1600/lv19-mk1j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb569LwzaGSZHFSIvjDWMPM-ddtmMwmC01KjuuF9u8rIJrITLWRgiXIpd1wE_BL07kHz_BSR7bmGbZsXWNGvPqWkpnyVbP8-wEgJM7ZozMAidQf_6NOKRyAy1bhUYEe0X4PXPkQz8aJQPC/s1600/lv19-mk1j.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Riding the WEDWay PeopleMover which circles above Tomorrowland.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBkrzTWXoBtKRzIXB6LNJULSOz0hLnrirVbu9my9PuuBFIa-AlbUoyl-hFyoO6JQOvDACCuAcPn79DVaQcR9GIrABC2HhRjdPaEJpBG9PVu6HGPqLHhFBhlBXLrzL14gCGSUcTJ8LNrko/s1600/lv19-mk1k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVBkrzTWXoBtKRzIXB6LNJULSOz0hLnrirVbu9my9PuuBFIa-AlbUoyl-hFyoO6JQOvDACCuAcPn79DVaQcR9GIrABC2HhRjdPaEJpBG9PVu6HGPqLHhFBhlBXLrzL14gCGSUcTJ8LNrko/s1600/lv19-mk1k.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I took this without even looking while RIDING Big Thunder Mountain. I'm amazed it came out at all!<br />(This is my favorite ride! We rode it twice!)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbxEkyVt66KLXdPR83Yvf9a2WCCK8LF25DDNpzf2i1FwvCw9PG_VRMlpUSh5c43ORuq4dTfjppwhcbv8BJwXC7NPcD1E1CD9STyemOKlFhpu49IghIZQZo4BUADO2vOZBPGw4E7ImQSwA/s1600/lv19-mk1l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizbxEkyVt66KLXdPR83Yvf9a2WCCK8LF25DDNpzf2i1FwvCw9PG_VRMlpUSh5c43ORuq4dTfjppwhcbv8BJwXC7NPcD1E1CD9STyemOKlFhpu49IghIZQZo4BUADO2vOZBPGw4E7ImQSwA/s1600/lv19-mk1l.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some of the neon of Tomorrowland at night.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDjh6joYrp1_biL54IxP7FhxvAfoeUGCi3axpC-yVq2JSKXDS1jHx1YgR2XtU9SOcuxdS0N1Kmy37tyjFDdFOShxWipRoqYu3VUUG0MbouQ5-abvIkQ03Ot0dxh5fyElPBjHhPtJJUhMi/s1600/lv19-mk1m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDjh6joYrp1_biL54IxP7FhxvAfoeUGCi3axpC-yVq2JSKXDS1jHx1YgR2XtU9SOcuxdS0N1Kmy37tyjFDdFOShxWipRoqYu3VUUG0MbouQ5-abvIkQ03Ot0dxh5fyElPBjHhPtJJUhMi/s1600/lv19-mk1m.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Watching "Wishes" fireworks from New Fantasyland. (Handheld shot so I'm again amazed it came out at all!)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2bhl0NqO_4B5_1jJCvixXcbfSmrWWEgZZVhe1WTbPkHS-IYBGfDZ31PKkFLFO6F-YPMLe0yzBdreKHDHPFvENU7xjDVVjdAuipqvWhuGXFd4CSPbQzRAYdFDRJMhT3MFSCNIuOgha1gN/s1600/lv19-mk1n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq2bhl0NqO_4B5_1jJCvixXcbfSmrWWEgZZVhe1WTbPkHS-IYBGfDZ31PKkFLFO6F-YPMLe0yzBdreKHDHPFvENU7xjDVVjdAuipqvWhuGXFd4CSPbQzRAYdFDRJMhT3MFSCNIuOgha1gN/s1600/lv19-mk1n.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back side of Cinderella Castle and the Carousel lit up at night.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1AegrJTzc2eWGM-LGkKmS0D-QM-5anHC04rtiL8KIFGAC1QXBaYqGlN9BRbCUJXT_5YYi_gPGvLEdD3OC5lSQx94PF8_jVsQYv8C8aRU_OpWd9HJ9PIJwFFcb7o6igqL3ePqzriATl7b/s1600/lv19-mk1o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1AegrJTzc2eWGM-LGkKmS0D-QM-5anHC04rtiL8KIFGAC1QXBaYqGlN9BRbCUJXT_5YYi_gPGvLEdD3OC5lSQx94PF8_jVsQYv8C8aRU_OpWd9HJ9PIJwFFcb7o6igqL3ePqzriATl7b/s1600/lv19-mk1o.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minnie was waving to us during the Main Street Electrical Parade!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqKSKzXmm1aT-3q4y1oXCkxpARA3qwhV0sKGZxo4GNsEs7M-6a1l42nfv4AfhYF0ImoFBxROVm8MBBHSiLNH_pul5SpOYxPK3y1eqofPzaevp6t0raRyOBcwyJlV8FhTyUx7bhXT3LFBn/s1600/lv19-mk1p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUqKSKzXmm1aT-3q4y1oXCkxpARA3qwhV0sKGZxo4GNsEs7M-6a1l42nfv4AfhYF0ImoFBxROVm8MBBHSiLNH_pul5SpOYxPK3y1eqofPzaevp6t0raRyOBcwyJlV8FhTyUx7bhXT3LFBn/s1600/lv19-mk1p.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Midnight. One farewell look back down Main Street to say goodnight.</td></tr>
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Such a great day! Piper loved touring around with us and had so much fun.:: miss m ::http://www.blogger.com/profile/02810613938242385356noreply@blogger.com0Walt Disney World Monorail, Bay Lake, FL 32821, USA28.419185 -81.5821189999999772.8971504999999986 -122.89071299999998 53.9412195 -40.273524999999978tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327128250548529912.post-80426179968553625642014-05-09T10:57:00.000-07:002014-05-09T10:57:09.064-07:00Around HomePiper took a walk with me through the apartment complex to get my mail. We stopped along the way to take a couple pics of the neighborhood.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3FbLXAlImWuhJ_BKGuIDEfbb9akkYTcpN1Phjq5gdvBd2Z6cGueYCRiiKuUg0WMCcn_RhhVhFkjcZi1ZpFTbVF1LulRk8uYM7EvkV9WKRcEr4pHvsNSafG_h9_sBh3uTsvOTR7evQ3hu/s1600/lv19-apt1a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG3FbLXAlImWuhJ_BKGuIDEfbb9akkYTcpN1Phjq5gdvBd2Z6cGueYCRiiKuUg0WMCcn_RhhVhFkjcZi1ZpFTbVF1LulRk8uYM7EvkV9WKRcEr4pHvsNSafG_h9_sBh3uTsvOTR7evQ3hu/s1600/lv19-apt1a.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ubiquitous palm trees!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXlex-sJadol9XoHbzfpIUe__Y2DfsvYM-MIt8nTkptRaDjTgPwyBuD3a_AUUFilH4wYLY1uGu-ovCjm7TyQi0ja3YfJ_XpSdDYtD0WG1OuOmvRU5yJPBV3JeeIB-ty8yjed9iqmA8rxl/s1600/lv19-apt1b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwXlex-sJadol9XoHbzfpIUe__Y2DfsvYM-MIt8nTkptRaDjTgPwyBuD3a_AUUFilH4wYLY1uGu-ovCjm7TyQi0ja3YfJ_XpSdDYtD0WG1OuOmvRU5yJPBV3JeeIB-ty8yjed9iqmA8rxl/s1600/lv19-apt1b.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checking out the pool area!</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1947899235"></span><span id="goog_1947899236"></span><br />
Afterwards we came back inside and took some time to meet the three kitty girls!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkA3AyJXDXutP9odO2uSsBCVjTZpXpSq-rw8dKw7MUFmCc0HanRNA8duhzFqItwbJx115avtYd7XOp1LCkq0vb4x6Fw00mzkLSHEl8T2y5XD2vnMBDqBkOUyii_XzOFykyh30bHK8_TG6/s1600/lv19-cats1a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkA3AyJXDXutP9odO2uSsBCVjTZpXpSq-rw8dKw7MUFmCc0HanRNA8duhzFqItwbJx115avtYd7XOp1LCkq0vb4x6Fw00mzkLSHEl8T2y5XD2vnMBDqBkOUyii_XzOFykyh30bHK8_TG6/s1600/lv19-cats1a.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mika is the oldest at approximately 14. She was unfazed by her introduction to Piper.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrdrL8kl1tFtkgCwtdaf0XurHnrWSfocpLv5bX3sK0HtRtWJuR1nTvN1pOyHD3iuHHyiJDp57BKca__x968oEVv6Wj7l7T7sCFt9kp2xWvuDDqwzOuuE33Olux2OLkbKfX47G2ZkFq1hq/s1600/lv19-cats1b.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrdrL8kl1tFtkgCwtdaf0XurHnrWSfocpLv5bX3sK0HtRtWJuR1nTvN1pOyHD3iuHHyiJDp57BKca__x968oEVv6Wj7l7T7sCFt9kp2xWvuDDqwzOuuE33Olux2OLkbKfX47G2ZkFq1hq/s1600/lv19-cats1b.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gracie is the middle kitty at about 10 years old. She was also equally unfazed by Piper.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeU5Ju1AqqwEm-cpmzQlszfdFi37D76m0Crp0_jeLJGH_55ugsRsKGv_teeTPrfRPbG2dW8i1dCBpj8oTDoTiMvuNr8kiqpyOxKBUOc4Cfs3x1cSdlzEhK0NBbdUUeeziUMjcEUn1_tUN/s1600/lv19-cats1c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeU5Ju1AqqwEm-cpmzQlszfdFi37D76m0Crp0_jeLJGH_55ugsRsKGv_teeTPrfRPbG2dW8i1dCBpj8oTDoTiMvuNr8kiqpyOxKBUOc4Cfs3x1cSdlzEhK0NBbdUUeeziUMjcEUn1_tUN/s1600/lv19-cats1c.JPG" height="458" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ginger is the baby. She just turned 1 in April. She was VERY interested in Piper and wanted to try her patented method of "biting" to say hi. I swooped in before any harm was done. (Ginger likes to use her teeth to say hi to everything - me included! - so Piper was in good company! LOL)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />:: miss m ::http://www.blogger.com/profile/02810613938242385356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327128250548529912.post-27721146352655242682014-05-04T20:09:00.002-07:002014-05-04T20:09:27.999-07:00Brooker Creek - Part 2Here are some additional photos of today's outing to Brooker Creek Preserve that I had on my DSLR. (Yes, I am nutty and tend to walk around taking photos simultaneously with both my point and shoot and my DSLR! LOL)<br />
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And here are a few photos I took in general of the Preserve.<br />
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<br />:: miss m ::http://www.blogger.com/profile/02810613938242385356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327128250548529912.post-63098173745510312162014-05-04T16:37:00.003-07:002014-05-04T16:37:44.500-07:00Brooker Creek PreserveIt stopped raining but the temperatures hadn't gone all the way back up, so we decided to take advantage of the clear day and cooler weather and hit a local preserve for a look at Natural Florida. We went to <a href="http://www.brookercreekpreserve.org/">Brooker Creek Preserve</a> which has a neat combination of marshy swamplands and oak forests.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>At approximately 8700 acres, Brooker Creek Preserve is the largest
natural area in Pinellas County. It consists primarily of forested
wetlands and pine flatwoods. Bordered by dense urban development, the
Preserve provides both a unique refuge for native flora and fauna as
well as an opportunity for citizens to explore the natural beauty of
wild Florida.</i><br />
<br />
<i> The Preserve also serves to protect a significant portion
of the Brooker Creek Watershed. A complex of hiking and equestrian
trails provide visitors an opportunity to explore the Preserve’s many
ecosystems. </i></blockquote>
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This is what the area would look like if it were natural and undeveloped. Of course, what it mostly looks like is subdivisions and shopping centers but it's nice to get a look at Florida in the raw!:: miss m ::http://www.blogger.com/profile/02810613938242385356noreply@blogger.com0Brooker Creek Preserve, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, FL 34688, USA28.136639 -82.6564210000000232.6146044999999987 -123.96501500000002 53.6586735 -41.347827000000024tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8327128250548529912.post-25412342894832124102014-05-03T16:31:00.000-07:002014-05-04T16:31:52.755-07:00Rainy Day ArrivalPiper arrived amidst a few days of terrible thunderstorms.<br />
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I don't think this is what she expected when coming to visit "Sunny" Florida! :):: miss m ::http://www.blogger.com/profile/02810613938242385356noreply@blogger.com0