The Fountains and Gardens of Versailles France....

This evening during supper Pat and I watched a program she taped from Home and Garden TV called Gardens of the World. It featured the gardens of Versailles. It was amazing to see the places we visited while in France....with one major difference....on the show....everythijng was in bloom. Since we were there in early March only very early bloomers were out. It was neat to see it in total flower array.

....and then I got to thinking.....I have a sort of Versailles right here on Pleasant Chapel.....blooming flower gardens...fountains, falls, pond and stream.....on a slightly smaller scale!

....so let the spring blooms begin!

....and these are shots taken yesterday around Bill's Botanical Garden ....

....Ok...OK...just kidding!!!

You Know It's Spring At Pleasant Chapel When.....

....the fish emarge from their underwater grotto....

.....the moss greens up and the daffodils bloom....

.....and our frog friends reappear and huddle up to each other......

Small Group At The Weavers

Every two weeks a group of us meet on Sunday evening. We are all in the process of "doing Christian life" together. This evening we sat on the back porch and with Pat who at the moment the picture was taken was in the house preparing for supper (go figure!), and discussed the morning sermon and how we are going to be applying it in our lives in the coming week. We share life experiences together both positive and negative. We pray for each other and look for ways we can reach out to serve people around us. We are from left to right: Bill, Crystal (she and her husband Brian have triplets) Crystal's Mother Candy, Tanya and husband, Kevin, Jennifer and our fearless leader, Tim.

These are just a few of the wonderful friends we have to enjoy life with together!

Last Shot From Florida

Florida's beauty is not just in its climate, sunrises and flowers....IT'S IN ITS PEOPLE. Take the lady on the right for example. Hannie we met on our first day in Florida. She is Betty's next door neighbor. She was raised in Nazi Germany. Her Father was jailed 4 years for being turned in for listening to Radio Free Europe. As a girl she watched as several of her Jewish friends were taken from their houses and taken off to the Death Camp. The day after we met her she fell in her bathtub and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition with water and swelling in her brain. Betty came to her rescue, called 911 and accompanied her to the hospital. Betty put us and Honnie's neighbors to praying for her. The doctors were amazed that she made such a fast recovery. As we visited and had prayer with her she broke into this smile and returned to her home the next day with Betty giving her care. I'm sure Betty will be showing her this blog.....SO....We love you Honnie...wish you good health and look forward to hearing more of your story when we return!

Interesting Scenes....

These skimmers provided real interest as they took flight along the sandy shore....

I just had to stop and take this picture at a little church I saw along the way. It spoke of serenity to me!

We Saved The Best Till Last!

Like a giant fireworks display we saved the most beautiful and enjoyable experience until last. A walk through the Florida Botanical Gardens yielded some beautiful scenes and pictures.

Sunrise....Sunset...Swiftly Go The Days

Daily I would arise early and go off to capture the morning sunrise......such as the picture above and below. We would then enjoy a beautiful day and then.......

.....get to the beach that evening to enjoy a lovely sunset like the one below......and do it all again the next day.

Sunset As We Fly Home

...and so as we take off from the Tampa airport for home.... we are treated to this scene. It's a wonderful thing to rise above the clouds and see things from a "higher" perspective. This is how I feel as I reflect on this trip. ....Pat and I together....enjoying each other and the loveliness and climate of Florida.....EVEN MORE IN LOVE THAN EVER!!

For Megan!

You asked for a picture of Bill and Joyce, Megan, so here they are. Joyce is the one who got our plane tickets and have been fun to be with while here in sunny Florida. This picture is taken out front of Joyce's mother Betty's house. She has been our "hostess with the mostess."

Real Weavers!

Both Jeannie and Susan weave baskets as a hobby. These are recent creations of Jean's.

Greek Village

Tarpon Springs is the largest Greek settlement in America. Great food and interesting people. Pat spent today with jeannie there shopping while I watched birds....and NCAA basketball.

A well used shrimp boat.

We're Loving It!

Dailey we are making trecks to the beaches or Nature Preserves for bird watching or shell finding or just enjoying the tropical environment. A great "get away" to "sharpen our saws."

The Day With Jean and Susan

My cousin Jeanie and her daughter Susan have homes very close to each other in Tarpon Springs Florida. We spent the afternoon reconnecting and eating lunch at this wonderful Greek Restaurant.

Some Shots of My 2nd Cousin Susan's Beautiful Home...

....and Pool..

Birds at Jeannie's

This Bald Eagle was sighted near Jean and Susan's houses.

....and a Snowy Egret at her back door....

Sorry Folks...

I had fully intended to be blogging pictures from our trip here in Florida but have had a computer glitch whch is not allowing me to upload our pictures. I may get it fixed but will more likely have to blog the shots after we get home next Tuesday. Sorry for the interuption in service! We are having a great time though! Saw an alligator rip into a school of fish and gorge himself today....just one of many highlights. B & P

Let The Florida Fun With Friends Begin...

Pat and I will be taking off from Columbus Airport in the morning with our dear friends Bill and Joyce Rader! 85 degree weather, golf, schuffleboard, palm trees, pool, beach, bird watching are calling us SOUTH!
I WILL BE BLOGGING AS WE GO for those looking to enjoy such things vicariously through this blog!