19 May 2026 Sanford: Cooper Graduates

 

Cooper McLane's big day has arrived.  The Lake Mary Commencement ceremony is upon us.  It was fun for the whole family and with a celebratory feast at the local Mexican Restaurant right after the ceremony it was a great time.  Go Cooper! 

Special access for us

The auditorium was located on the FCS campus

The young ones are here with us

Lots of room for spectators

Nice stage

Fancy folks

Valedictorian 

The tallest graduate

Lots of shuffling in

Coopers cap is towards the back

Maddie with the glowing eyes

So many graduates

Excitement is building

A sea of red

Open your eyes to the future, Cooper.  No really open your eyes

Let the ceremony begin

Rapt attention

Our interpreter was working hard to sign for the hearing impaired

Peace out!

George Mason

Lots of chords

As a Lake Mary teacher, Erin was able to stand on the dias and give Cooper his diploma

So cute!

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Headed back to his  seat

Let the  balloons be released

Graduates!

All smiles

Time to head to dinner

Inflatable Fritz

Shaun gets the lava  rock filled with goodies

Chili Relleno

Slap the sour cream on it

 It has been 3 years and 345 days since we began our Migration

16 May 2026 Sanford Florida; We Bid New Jersey Goodbye

 

Dave and Kristine drove us over to the Philadelphia airport for our flight to Florida.  We got settled in and waited for our flight.  It seems like we have been flying more lately than we have flown in quite some time.  The flight was a bit bumpy at the end and it was stormy in Orlando when Laura came to pick us up.  We can warm up again!

Home of the Philadelphia Eagles

An American Football team

Also a World Cup venue....if it actually goes on

Lots of Navy ships 

A very detailed airport decoration

Philadelphia was first in many instances.  First sports stadium, first volunteer fire department, first balloon flight in America, first circus, first botanical gardens, first professional basketball league 

A most interesting display of woven items

Knitty Kitty

Macramé snake skeleton

 It has been 3 years and 342 days since we began our Migration

15 May 2026 Mantua: Indoctrination into the Birding Experience for Kristine

 

Kristine, my sister, seems to have caught the birding bug.  Symptoms were already showing.  She had a bird feeder and has purchased new seed to fill it.   She was already aware of her neighborhood flock.  The catbirds were the beginning with their cat like calls and when there are many in the area it was an easy start.  I showed her the Merlin app and how to use it.  We drove over to Tall Pines park early to do a decent walk through.  I came away with three new birds for my list and she scored with many more!  After we returned to the house Ember and Kara came by to say bon voyage.  We then headed over to Roxane and Mikes to say farewell to them

Eastern bluebirds

Norther House Wren my lifebird #1

Eastern Kingbird

Blue Heron

A nice water area

Tree Swallow

Baltimore Oriel lifebird #2

Indigo Bunting lifebird #3

A mockingbird

Very wooded

Those catbirds!

More Cedar Waxwings also seen on the first picture

Heading back!

It was great getting to see all the family

Jaxon first

Then Alice

Almost missed Bridgit

But we got the whole family together in one shot!

Boooooo!

 It has been 3 years and 341 days since we began our Migration