Let the record show: I DO cook sometimes!

This was in the condo our tennis team had for our "spring training" week in Hilton Head, SC. We took turns cooking and grocery shopping and cleaning up the kitchen.

I was making beef teriyaki (with lots of the ingredients pre-prepared and mixed in a freezer package).

In stark contrast (lavish contrast?) to the previous structure, here is the exterior of a huge church we (the Tellico Ladies' Tennis Team) toured when we took a side trip from Hilton Head SC to Savannah GA.

Whew.

This is the lavish interior of the "St. John the Baptist Catholic Church."

Here it is: the self-proclaimed "smallest church in America."

You just never know what you will see if you get off the main highway once in a while.

On my way to Hiton Head, SC, last week I spotted a small sign by the side of Interstate Highway 95, advertising the "Smallest Church in America."

On a whim, I turned off at the next exit and drove into the SC countryside for several miles. Just as I was about to give up and turn back, I saw this sign and turned into the church's sandy parking lot.

The interior of the church was very neat and well kept. There was seating for about 8 people.

This is the mama. She's about six or seven feet long. We are safely on the boardwalk, looking down at her. Almost impossible to see are several little 'uns scattered about.

Can you see the baby alligators spread out along the log in the swamp? They are about a year and a half old.

The young stay near the mama for about three years. She is, meanwhile, having another batch every year, so she is constantly on the lookout for multitudinous youngsters.

The female lays her eggs in a mounded nest, and guards the nest as well as her hatchlings. Such a busy life!

Another favorite activity is a walk on one of several nearby boardwalks. The way is easy even for non-hikers, and our feet are safely above the water, mud, and critters.

Here is yet another 'gator shot. Just so you will know, that is a rubber toy baby gator that the guide is teasing him with. Still, it's creepy, isn't it?

Each time we have out of state guests, they want to take the airboat rides ... and since I love it, too, I always go with them. It is fun every time.

Believe it or not, this is a Florida manatee, swimming in a river near the warm water outflow from the Florida Power and Light generator building near Fort Myers.

The nostrils are on the pointy end.

The light colored spot on his (her?) back is a wound from a boat propeller. Every one seems to have at least one similar cut. They don't seem to be smart enough to duck when they hear the roar of an approaching boat ... may be why they are on the endangered species list!

We ran into this cute couple near the beach. We thought we knew them, for they reminded us of a couple we see often.

Turned out, it was OURSELVES they reminded us of!!!!

There were many street perfomers all around Mallory Square, doing their routines for donations. This tall unicycle was named the "sui-cycle."

One of my favorite quotes (from the contortionist) was: "Don't worry, we are professionals. ... Sure we are, that's why we are out here on the street!"

The ride to Key West took 3-4 hours each way. The way over to the Key was rather rough and blustery, but we loved the ride anyway. Our friend Donna turned out to be prone to seasickness (we had not known beforehand) so she took anit-nausea medicine and stayed inside. We weren't very good hosts but we really liked being outside.

One of the "Fabulous Umbrella Ladies" who pranced around on the outdoor stage at the last free concert we took Gramma to. They had not actually ever practiced their routine, I think, but they certainly were colorful!

This unique sunset photo came from a dock at Mallory Square, in Key West.

Well, I got one photo to upload. I'll keep trying. Our Tennessee friends were here for a week, and we had a wonderful time. We went to Key West on a ferry across the Gulf and stayed overnight at a charming inn; we went into the Everglades and took an airboat ride; we saw alligators and manatees (but no bears or panthers, altho we tried); and we saw several gorgeous sunsets and ate fabulous meals with orchids on the plates. I hope a few photos will make their way to these pages soon.

Lisa brought Karah for a Florida visit in January. Here are John, Karah (in her new pink outfit from a shop in Olde Naples), Lisa, Gramma, Ann and Jim.