This week, I watched some Lake Ella fish crows eating the cones from the top of a cypress tree and laughing. They have a distinctive mocking laugh that sounds a lot like this.
It rained almost every day, and this morning our shed was covered with a carpet of fallen crepe myrtle blossom.
I read some library books that were acquired back when FSU was still the Florida State College for Women.
And I drank a lot of blueberry smoothies. 
We've had thunderstorms almost every day since we've been back, and it has been keeping me and the Wakulla River apart. But today the weather wasn't too bad, so I finally got to go kayaking. It is actually raining in this picture, but I decided that the patch of blue in the sky cancelled it out.
The river is different every time I go out. Today, after (and during) all the rain, it was lively and deep. A sleek, sinuous, full-bodied animal.
It was a good day for birds. I saw ducks, cormorants, great egrets, and this juvenile tri-colored heron.
And several little blue herons.
Since the river was so high, it was easier than usual to explore all of the little coves and rivulets.
It was incredibly quiet, just the sound of wind, rain, and cicadas in the trees.
I maneuvered around the cypress knees.
And right about here I saw a mother and baby manatee, although I didn't get pictures. 
And that's not all.
We have a new sidewalk, our mailbox has been moved, and our neighbors' live oak has been trimmed down to half its size.
That's a big deal because the tree used to shade our entire front yard, as you can see in this old picture.
The branch that they trimmed from the oak tree was bigger than some of our existing trees.
