4 July 2026 Sanford: A Forth of July

 

The fourth of July is a big deal.  So many folks love fireworks and as you can see from these pictures that we love them too.  Of course these pictures are from New Years Eve in Sydney Australia, not of Sanford, Florida, USA..  Frequent visitors to this site may be picking up on a new behavior pattern of mine, that behavior is not taking any pictures!  Our 4th of july included a drive over to Matt and Lindsay's where we delivered Macy the Dog to Laura who met us there.  We had dinner there and spent a few hours watching a match of world cup soccer and the antics of Jaxon and Evan.  As the sun began to set we headed over to the other side of the complex and prepared to see a one man fireworks show.  Some booms started before it was even dark and this got Macy worked up.  We decided to just head back to the house and we took Macy with us.  A few big boomers went off as we drove to the house.

Fantastic colors in Australia two and a half years ago

A very impressive view of Sydney harbor

The bridge is all lit up

My favorite picture of the night

As we drove home we saw two or three big fireworks explode next to the highway as we drove home

We saw a rainbow while we were driving over to the other side of the complex

Across the way the kids played

Swing Evan around

The host never stopped moving, but here he is in all his red white and blue

Darknessis approcaching

Great cloud colors

https://youtube.com/shorts/qYlXVppVYrQ

As the fireworks started all around us we took a scared Macy dog home

https://youtube.com/shorts/9XRpbxVOc0E

 It has been 4 years and 29 days since we began our Migration

1 July 2026 Sanford: More Small Groupings

 

  As part of our plan to have "one on one" time with all the folks in Central Florida, we penciled in a dinner with Abbey and Blake.  The morning started out with a walk with Macy and seeing some birds.  There was a family of Fish Crows in a tree and  the young one was begging for food.  The older crow calmly fed the younger one.  Very fun!  Later we drove to the new apartment for the couple and we were met on the first floor as we could not access the elevators as visitors.  Tis was our first meeting with Blake and  we think he is a fine young man.  The apartment was very nicely decorated and soon we were talking about a thousand things all at once.  As such the pictures are few and far between.  We had a Greek restaurant picked out but they were closed even though the sign on the door said that they are open on Tuesdays.  So we went to an Italian place that Abbey has been going to her entire life.  Tasty, efficient and cozy is how I would describe the restaurant.  Blake drove us back to the apartment where we said our goodbyes.

Feed me!

Nom nom nom

Dancing trees

The Spanish moss is everywhere

I mean everywhere

The deer farm down the road

Red shouldered hawk

Probably a fledgeling  and a bit new to flying

A most beautiful bird

Smooth waters

We talked, we went out to dinner, we talked some more and I did not take any pictures!   Grrrr

 It has been 4 years and 26 days since we began our Migration

25 June 2026 Sanford: Zach and Elena and Abbey and Blake

 

Driving down to H-Mart and back took all of an hour or more but we took Zach and Elana there on our double date.  Neither of them had been to the new H-Mart and so we thought this was a great time to take them there.  We shopped and browsed and even filled Shaun's wish list.  He requested hot-pot mixes, a few sauces and a few spices.  On the way home we stopped at Zach's house to grab some cream cheese and deliver Shaun's goodies.  At the house and started the prep.  First we made some miso soup and then cooked the dumplings in the new bamboo steamer that we bought.  We got the crab legs out of the shells and used  the meat to roll up some fantastic rolls.  

Eight legs, each with it's own brain

Razor clams trying to escape

https://youtube.com/shorts/aTiD5oe9Yog

A $700 investment at $59 per pound, this giant is 10 pounds or more

WTF?  Steak shaped frozen dessert

Pocky time!

Mochi and soup dumplings

First some horseplay

Let the rolling begin

Not the prettiest

But super tasty!

A big damn mess!

Not many pictures as the camera is not impervious to sticky fish eggs

Everyone got a great meal

https://youtube.com/shorts/W75thRrrkLQ

 It has been 4 years and 21 days since we began our Migration

27 June 2026 Sanford: A Visit With Max and Chas

 

We are still waiting for the Spanish visa and decided to have double dates with all the folks here in Florida.  Maxine and Charles are up to bat and we brought Laura with us.  We had some snacks and a bit of bubbly while sitting at their apartment.  Our 6:30 reservation came quickly and since the restaurant was back in the direction of Sanford, we drove both cars.  The restaurant was Seasons 52 and it was a great choice.  All the food was top notch and Charlie's recommendation of the pork chop was spot on.  It was super moist due to the fat that they inject into the chop prior to cooking.  Everyone else also commented about how good their dishes were.

The elevator needs clearance to enter

Please let us up!

Still looking tidy 

Max and Chas!

Lots of bubbles

Red wine for me

Champagne for the rest

We drove 15 minutes to get to the restaurant and were seated in the back room as the restaurant was quite busy

A big port chop for me, recommended by Chas

Charlie had a chicken dish

Leslie had a tasty slab of fish

Scallops for Laura

A thoughtful Charlie

The kitchen was a hive of activity

Thanks for the fun!

A glorious sunset on the drive home

Most enjoyable!

 It has been 4 years and 23 days since we began our Migration