The Pelicans are always a fun watch

It was a lovely day to dine out at the Star Fish Restaurant.

The food is amazing.

My fav is the fried scallops.

 

The fishhouse and working boats are a thing of beauty. 

White pelicans.

Who doesn't love a poser.

And he was quite patient with me getting in his face.

Working boats and nets. 

Sigh.

It's a ride to get there tucked in close to Bradenton

and the traffic - but it's worth the ride.

 

Pelicans are soooo cool and love to pose

Love getting cool pelican shots as we hung out at the

north jetty last week.

It was a beatuiful day and pelicans can be 

quite the posers.

 Love the netting that I used to back the photos

and bring texture to the page.

 It brings quite the nautical flair to the page and

I've used quite freely in the past.

 And will no doubt add it to pages in the future

because I have a lot.

Love these iphone shots that I took of

that bird who was being annoyed by my friend Dara,

making kissy noises at him

so I hung in there knowing he was gonna

take off because he was kind of getting antsy.

Got a couple three clusters going on, the third

at a weird angle but I quite like it

anyway because I

got to use all my nautical quickutz dies.

Kept the title small mostly

because I couldn't think of one. LOL.

Studio Calico.

While waiting for dinner

on Marathon Keys fisheries the pelicans

were fishing and just hanging out.

Dinner was absolutely amazing by the way

and so is the weather.

 So while waiting on our dinner I had

a great time amusing myself.

 Got a lucky action shot...

 Okay two action shots.

Well maybe three.........

 A beautiful sunset.

Sunset in the keys......

Getting into the Christmas Spirit

with family and the Venice Boat Parade.

Getting there really early - we staked out our spot with

all the comforts of home.

With lots of food and drink.......

and the most important part - a bathroom.

Tom made cowboy coffee and declicious ahi tuna.

And Kate's veggie pizza and Amy's pizza dip- swoon worthy.

Its December people and see how we're dressed.

Sorry but you can keep your winter wonderland.

This is the life.

 Lots of action in the intercoastal.

 Making friends with the wildlife.

 As they boldly checked us out.

 Getting up close and personal by swooping into our camp.

 Minions opened the parade.

I love minions.

 This train was absolutely adorable.

 Pretty....

 And some Florida fun.

 There was lots of music, clapping and hoopla.

We were in sort of a grotto and the boats were close in the channel.

And it was so much fun because it was quite interactive dancing

and singing the boat peeps.

Trying to catch a moonrise with a channel marker.

I had a learning curve going on here and 

it was tough in the dark - and I

didn't want to shine lights to make adjustments and

ruin all the awesome boat floats.

This is a spot were we will return to again - just to camp and

stick our feet in the water and hang out.

The water is shallow so if any kidlets that tag along want

to play they'll be close to shore

and they can ride the wakes as the boats pass by.

Posers at the South Venice Jetty

It was a beautiful day to visit the jetty.

The sun was out.

The breeze was calm.

The critters were about.

As well as the boat cops - which were also fun to watch.

Ice cream would've made it perfect.

This guy laid right on the pathway

and it didn't matter who sashayed on by.

He didn't move.

He didn't even get nervous with a camera lens in his beak.

Must be a pro.

This guy was sandwiched between 2 fisherman.

And he was totally hypnotized as the bait was swinging

back and forth and back and forth and back and forth

 on the line.

 And then got over it and flew away....

 And there were plenty more where he came from.

Lurking about on the rocks.

And a beautiful anahinga spreading his wings to dry.

 Ever on the alert.

 And my all time favorite poser.

I even got a catch light in his eye.

I love pelicans.

And anahingas.

Oh and there were dolphin heading out.

Wasn't fast enough for them.

This time.

I'll try wordless Wednesday since I have nothing else.....

Boom!