Meanwhile ....

...  in real life and closer to real-time

While  I've been blogging for the past three months about a trip that ended in January, we have actually been living a pretty good life here at the Canal Cottage.  So much to be grateful about!  

 

I'll admit it took us a few days to get used to being home and ... oh, little things like having to make our own breakfast  as the morning sun rose.    

But  it didn't  take long until I realized  I'd missed our canal ... and just being here where we can see the water from our own windows and where the sunrise colors show up inside as well as out.  And really, it was good to eat our own cooking again!   It's great to travel but it's wonderful to be home too.  

This year, Bill not only repaired remaining hurricane damage on the porch, but also improved it by replacing some of the screen area with glass where rain tended to blow in.  It's more than a porch now -- really an indoor-outdoor room.  

 

Our boat "Oh-Zone" 

Our boat stayed in storage last season when we were busy nearly the whole time with  Hurricane repairs on the Cottage.  It finally came home last month.   Here's Bill and the guy from the boat hospital docking it for the first time after it's postponed annual checkup.  We were fortunate to have it stored in a safe place during Hurricane Ian. 

It's nice to look out our windows and see "Oh-Zone"  on the dock -- and even nicer that we have time now to take it out for an occasional excursion.

 

 

Geoff (our youngest son) came to visit us for a few days and we got out on the boat on two of them.   We had such  a good time and it was lovely to see him.    One day we boated up  the river going through the Franklin Locks -- that's Geoff in the center hanging on to the rope as we lock through.  The lower row is on the return trip in a different place on the river.  We'd already passed under the lift bridge at Highway 31 without a problem -- it opened a few minutes later for the boat in the pictures -- that one is a little bit taller than ours (and by little bit, I mean a whole lot.)  We drive over that bridge at least every week we're here, sometimes we have to wait when the bridge is up for a big boat.   We don't hold the traffic up when we boat under it!

We've had time to visit  a few of our favorite walking areas since we've been home .  Here are a few birds we saw:

 

Cardinal, Lakes Park

 

 

Red-Bellied Woodpeckers  at both Lakes Park and Caloosahatchie East Preserve and below back and front views of an Anahinga drying his wings at Lakes Park.

 

It's good to be here!

LINKING this week with  the following sharing opportunities.  Thank you to the hosts:

 MOSAIC MONDAY;  THROUGH MY LENS; TUESDAY TREASURES;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD;   THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  and  SATURDAY CRITTERS

 

Comments

[Little Wandering Wren]

It's lovely to see your canal cottage, it would be a joy to be birding and boating here.
Have a great week.
Wren x

[DeniseinVA]

I love your canal cottage Sallie, such a beautiful place to relax and enjoy your surroundings. Glad you got your boat back and that it was safe during the hurricane. Those birds are what we get here, all except the Anhinga. I remember them from our trip to Florida a few years ago, an extraordinary bird, plus the others I don't get to see up here. Marvelous place for birdlife. Thanks for sharing them and have a great week!

[John's Island]

Sallie,

It sounds like you've beautifully settled back into life at the Canal Cottage after your travels, and it's heartwarming to hear about the joy and comfort you find in being back home. The way you describe the mornings, the canal, and the serene views from your windows really paints a picture of a peaceful and cherished living space. It’s great to hear that Bill has been able to not only repair but also improve the porch to enhance your enjoyment of the indoor-outdoor living, especially after dealing with the hurricane's aftermath.

The return of your boat, "Oh-Zone," seems like a significant moment for you both, marking a return to normalcy and the leisure activities you enjoy. I can imagine how wonderful it must be to finally take it out on the water again, especially with family like Geoff visiting. Those moments on the boat, navigating through the Franklin Locks and under the Highway 31 lift bridge, must have been especially memorable.

Your encounters with local wildlife, like the Red-Bellied Woodpeckers and the Anhinga, add another layer of delight to your experiences since returning home. It’s clear that whether you're out on the water or enjoying the local walking areas, you are deeply connected to and appreciative of your natural surroundings.

Thank you for sharing these snippets of your life at the Canal Cottage.

John

[Michelle Keltner]

I adore your canal cottage. Nothing like some Florida weather. My dad lives in the panhandle and I visit him frequently. I love it in the winter :) Thanks for linking up and have a great week!

[Lillian]

Wowthat was an amazing black bird at the bottom

[Green Comotion]

Canal Cottage - I Love the sound of it and from the photos it looks like a place with very nice views. I enjoyed seeing the Cardinal, Woodpecker and the Anahinga (what a fancy name!).
I always wonder where Sallie is going to post from and that in addition to the wonderful photos and narration makes it a great visit to your blog each time.
Thanks for sharing with all of us. Be well!
We/I are/am glad you are here!!

[Linda P]

It's good to travel to far away countries and I've enjoyed the information and photos you've shared. However, there's no place like home where you can be in familiar surroundings. You can relax, do a few home improvements and spend time with loved ones. The bird photos are special.

[Beatrice]

“There’s no place like home” is a memorable and often quoted line from the Wizard of Oz that we appreciate each time we leave it and then return. Your trip posts were fun to read, Sallie, but your Canal Cottage looks wonderful and I liked the name of your boat too.

[Breathtaking]

Hello Sallie :=)
I enjoyed your holiday posts, but as you say it is nice to be home after a lengthy stay away.Owning a boat and being able to moor it right outside your home is just wonderful. Just seeing it through your window must be so pleasurable,knowing you can sail in it any time you feel like it.It must have been an enjoyable day spent with your son even though you had to wait for the large boat to pass under the bridge.It's all part of boating I guess! Your bird photos are lovely,...love the Red-bellied Woodpecker, male Cardinal and front and back captures of the Anahinga.
All the best Sallie
Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

[Amy]

It's so important to have that one place you can go back to and know that above all else it's home.

[Shiju Sugunan]

Sounds idyllic! Glad you're settling back into life at the Canal Cottage. Love the improvements to the porch - what a great indoor-outdoor space! And lovely bird sightings!

[Lavender Dreams]

Being right on the water really is special and I know you are loving the beautiful Spring weather. I'm glad you've made some repairs and happy that the boat is in good shape. Love the wall in your home with framed nature photos! Hugs, Diane

[mae]

Being at home can get boring — especially in winter (we don’t live on the water or have a boat) but sometimes the pace of a trip is a bit tiring. We have met people who sign up for birding and other trips almost back-to-back all year around, and it’s hard to see how they survive. So it’s nice to see how you love both home and travel.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

[Jennifer A. Jilks]

Wow. It is always great to be home!
Such a lovely home, too.

[Gattina]

I have given up to know where your "home" is ! Wasn't it in Florida and Oregon (?) and where is you canal cottage ! I just thought you both must have gypsy blood in your veins ! Since Rick is gone, I don't have any travel fever any more. Maybe it will come back, but then easy and not too far. I feel good in my new home, I have people to chat with around me, and if I don't want to see anybody I have my studio (without kitchen) The food is very good always 4 courses and white wine, red wine or beer (with or without alcohol) I feel like on holidays ! and then our beautiful park !

[Eileen]

Hello Sallie,
Your trip was wonderful but I would think you are happy to be home.
The Sunrise is lovely. Of course, the birds are favorite with me.
I always loved the Florida birds. Great photos. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your day and happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

[thomas lee]

Beautiful sunrise

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Great sky.

[Photo Cache]

My experience is that the more you travel, the more you get to appreciate your time at home.

[Peter B.]

One thing I appreciate about travel is how much I love getting back home! You live in such a beautiful area. Glad to see Oh-Zone is back on the water!

[Pat]

I agree, that it is always nice to return to the comforts of home after a trip! Glad your home has been repaired and your boat returned and I hope you are able to take many nice boat trips this upcoming summer. I enjoyed seeing the nearby birds!

[Regula]

A place called home. It's the best!

[Traude "Rostrose"]

Dear Sallie, yes, it's nice to be out and about, but it's also nice to be back in familiar places - especially when those places are as beautiful as yours. Luckily, the damage from the hurricane has been repaired and you can go on excursions again. I'm happy with you that your son was there too and that you had a good time together. Your bird photos are wonderful!
All the best after my blog break,
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2024/04/einmal-um-die-ganze-welt-in-54-tagen.html

[Sue Batz]

Oh what a delightful place you live in. So peaceful and lovely. I'm glad you have been able to get through the hurricane repairs. Ian sure was devastating.
I agree that there's no place like home after trips. Love the travel but home works for me.
Sue

[veronica lee]

Your canal cottage looks absolutely serene and picturesque!
I can just imagine the tranquility of waking up to the sight of the water and enjoying breakfast with the morning sun streaming in.
And those bird sightings are a treat!

Loved the gorgeous photos, Sallie.

[Dina Johnston]

Looks like a beautiful place. I'm sure you are glad to be back especially after Ian and Idalia coming through.

[Alycia Quilts]

It looks so beautiful. and I am glad the boat was in a safe spot during the hurricane. Lovely landscapes!

[Heidi]

Oh, that's a great thing. I would life there immediatly. Wonderful! And the sunrise during breakfast is like a birth for the beginning Day. I'm a little bit jealouse about ;) But it's only a joke; the sunrise here is fine too.

Hugs by Heidrun

[Debbie]

it has been so fun reading about your trip BUT i know there is "no place like home"!! your home looks to be beautiful, with a great view...i wonder if the picture wall contains pictures you took?? sometimes i forget about your storm damage and then you write about it and i am reminded. the boat looks good...

it looks like the birds are happy that you are back, posing nicely for pictures!! it is a good life!!

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...I'm a homebody and for me it's good to be home!

[Hels]

Walking and bird watching is fun, but boating up the river through the locks is much more fun :)

[Lorrie Orr]

Travel is fun, but home is best. Lovely to see the views from your canal home. You'll enjoy that indoor outdoor room. Are you not going back to Oregon this summer?

[ellen b.]

Ahh, how wonderful to be at your canal home with such nice improvements since the hurricane. What a great indoor/outdoor room that is now! Love it. Fun times with your son out on your boat. I've never heard of a Anahinga. Thanks for the photos!

[Yogi's Den]

It's always nice to come home after a long trip. I'm glad everything was okay.

I first saw Anahinga's IRL in New Orleans a few years ago. I love them. They look like flying dinosaurs.

[Eileen]

Hello,
Lovely views of your canal home and the boat.
It is good to be home making your own meals.
Love the views from your boat.
Beautiful variety of birds, I love the cardinal and woodpecker.
Take care, enjoy your day and have a happy week ahead.