Cocoa FL - Last 2 weeks December

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

We head back to NC to visit friends in Maggie Valley.   Better behave on I-95

A stop at Buckee's for $2.27 gas

We make it and Joey checks out his twin 

Went to the NC Arboretum to check out the Trolls: A Field Study by Thomas Dambo.  Crafted from reclaimed wood and full of personality, twelve larger-than-life troll sculptures explore the Arboretum’s gardens and trails.  We had seen some of his work in Kentucky a few years ago.

They are also set up for a Winter Lights stroll. 

We saw 10 of the 12 trolls

Just a really fun and beautiful place.

Of course it was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture, who proposed an arboretum for the Biltmore Estate.

The boys take a break

A nice visit then the back to FL to spend Christmas Day with friends

Our hosts went all out with Prime Rib and Roasted Turkey Breast 

A great meal with great people.

For my Birthday we went up to the Merritt Island National Wildlife Reserve.  Unfortunately the Visitor Center was closed.  We continue in to the Canaveral National Seashore 

We stopped at the Black point Wildlife  driving loop on our way out.

Roseate Spoonbills

A few Gators 

And an elusive Green Heron

A great day

And the new furniture is in!

Ready for the New Year!