Spring Fling 2011 - Day 16

This was a multi-part day.  The weather continues to be great, but we are all noticing a gradual day-by-day increase in temperatures, so my departure tomorrow seems well-timed.  While Jean prepared breakfast I chivvied Peter into joining me to prepare some coat racks for painting.  After we had eaten, Peter set up to spray paint them in a series of light coats while I took a step ladder and a chainsaw and cut down a number of significantly large branches that all hung downwards and made access to the big shed very annoying and inconvenient, subsequently dragging the debris to the now-enormous brush pile.

The next portion of the day made contrast in the meaning of words, depending on circumstances.  To me, going to picnic in "a nearby park" means somewhere 5 - 15 minutes away.  To P&J the phrase means 45-60 minutes away, but another 45 minutes closer than any other!  As a result we were more than ready to eat when we had found a nice shady spot in Lettuce Lake Park (so named for a water plant that resembles lettuce leaves above water level).  After eating we all relaxed, read, and in my case napped, twice I think, but not for too long at a time.  Eventually we left Pete, whose legs were bothering him a bit, and Jean and I walked both sides of the figure of eight-shaped extensive boardwalk weaving along the lake shore through the swamp and mangrove trees.  The lake is a temporary enlargement of the very sluggish Hillsborough river.

We made our way back, through some heavy Friday afternoon traffic and dropped Peter off for his last long therapy session before heading for the house.  I found myself in the strange position of room furniture arrangement consultant, as their small family room needs serious work and they have a lovely, but largely unused main sitting room.  Later we returned to pick up Peter and then I treated to a soup and salad-or-sandwich supper at the nearby very large Panera Bread store/restaurant.  Back home much of the remaining evening was spent with Jean's and my computers side by side, sharing things and testing out things.

The park was not a particularly photographable subject, but I have posted a few shots on Flickr that may be seen here.