A Snowbird in Paradise

It is June 5 and we are still in Florida.  We have never been here later than early May so this "Rainy Season" is new to us.  Looks like SOME rain everyday for the last week and another week into the future.

This is the first Mother's Day I have ever missed: as a daughter, mother or grandmother.  Carrie and the girls sent me a beautiful bouquet of roses.  We are going out to eat once I get home.  I hear the flowerboxes on the front porch in Michigan are planted (as a surprise but someone blabbed).  The daughter here in Florida came over and made us a nice meal.
Not many birds to photograph but this Anhinga, drying himself off, cooperated.


Not much to take photos of since we are homebound due to the COVID-19 virus.  Luckily we have some nice blooms in our hedge.





These are just a few altered photos using a program called PAINNT.

Gabby has become quite the photographer.  2018 she took photos at the football games and, since her dad was one of the coaches no one stopped her from being on the field.  2019 her dad moved to coaching at another high school but she was still more than welcome on the field.  The cheerleaders and the "mosh pit" demanded to be included in photos.  She also took some for Gabriel Richard high school and the JV teams.  She also took portraits and graduation photos of some friends and families.  To say "Grandma" is proud of her accomplishments is an understatement.  Many of her photos appear in the 2019-2020 high school yearbook.


For Abby's birthday in April, it was a gloomy day UNTIL late PM she was called out of the house as her sister led a parade of her friends and classmates past her house, many with gifts and cards.  They had been successful in keeping it all a secret and she was, indeed, surprised.

This was Abby's "Senior" year at St. Pius school (Grade 8).  She was Captain of Volleyball and Basketball teams as well as Class President.  She and her classmates have looked forward to this year since Kindergarten.  There was to have been the 4-day class trip to Nashville, Confirmation Ceremony, Torch and Ribbon Ceremony, Graduation, and to top it off, a huge all-night party catered and arranged by the parents.  From there the classmates scatter to other schools for 9th grade.  Most will never see each other again.  Well, NONE OF IT HAPPENED.  Thanks to the COVID-19 shutdown all schools were closed in Michigan (and many other states).


This was the official graduation, greeting the teachers from their cars keeping social distancing.