Two years ago I volunteered as a Water Safety Instructor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Alva, Florida (where many of my spectacular sky scenes came from at the time.) After several Kindegartners asked me if dogs should wear life jackets I commented on it to one of the rangers who emphatically said that they definitely should, as dogs often fall into the Caloosahatchie and many drown from exhaustion.

I've been an amateur puppetteer for years, and my Golden Retreiver, Nugget, became my partner during my program.

This year we were invited to the Volunteer Pot Luck and I was asked to bring Nugget and demonstrate his role in the program I gave.

Sharon Merrow took this image of me with Nugget. Jeanne, to my right, has been a Volunteer Manatee Watcher with her husband, Don, for 7 years. They track the movements of the beautiful Sea Cows through the locks. The other two ladies, Pam (to my left) and Julie, took my place this year. One of their cats is shown in the inset, trying to figure Nugget out.

In exchange for 20 hours of volunteer work per week I was given a beautiful camping spot at WP Franklin Campground. Mike worked locally in various seasonal jobs.