BAHAMIAN BLOOM

We're home from our holiday cruise and I'm still unpacking and downloading pictures. We had a lovely time despite the fact that we counted the time we had sun in hours not days. And not very many of them. But our  family was together and that was all that counted. Hopefully, I can find some "sunny" pictures to share.

HOLIDAY AT SEA

It's been a busy year for everyone in our family. Some things have been fun, others stressful. So we've decided to put our feet up, soak up some sun, and toast Christmas at sea. We'll be cruising until after Christmas, so I want to wish all my blogger friends a blessed Christmas and hope that 2010 brings you nothing but good things, especially, health, happiness and love.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

MOSAIC MONDAY #3: TWINKLE

More Christmas lights from a magical place.

To enjoy more Mosaic Monday pictures, click Mary's Little Red House.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS #5: ARC and FRIDAY 180 DEGREE #3

Another reflection at the lake at Bellingrath Gardens.

To see more great Weekend Reflections, click here.

And to join the fun at 180 degree, click here.

SKYWATCH FRIDAY #1: Before Sunset

As the sun begins to set in the west, its light is reflected in the clouds to the east.

For more Skywatch Friday photos, click here.

A "GOLDEN" LINING

Clouds may come, but clouds must go, and they all have a silver lining. For behind each cloud you know, the sun, or moon, is shining.”

~Anonymous

One day last week, clouds were coming in and the day had become progressively grey. But a just before sundown a sliver of sky below the cloud line appeared, allowing the sun to light up the sky and the water as it set.

MUSHROOM- 180 DEGREE #3

A mushroom from the front and the back.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS #4: MIRROR LAKE

During our visit to Bellingrath Gardens (see post below) the lights on the lake were beautifully reflected. But I noticed a tree that had been lit from below also reflected in the water. I wish I had had a better lens with me, it was much more dramatic in person.

To see more Weekend Reflections, click here.

LAST BLOOMS

I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers

And not pick one.

- Edna St. Vincent Millay

There are still hibiscus blooming in the garden, though I doubt for very much longer. It's nice to still see some bright color outside.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS AT BELLINGRATH

"Bellingrath Gardens and Home was the creation of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Bellingrath. The Gardens first opened to the public in 1932 while a national garden club meeting was taking place in Mobile. Mr. Bellingrath placed an ad in the Mobile paper, announcing that anyone who would like to see the spring garden could do so free of charge. After an overwhelming response, the couple decided to keep the gardens open year-round, beginning in 1934.

Throughout the year, this 65 acre Garden Estate is in full bloom with camellias in the winter, azaleas in the spring, roses in the summer, chrysanthemums in autumn and Magic Christmas in Lights during the holiday season. " 

 (Taken from Bellingrath's Home Page.)

Sunday evening, my husband, son and I drove to this wonderful estate to once again enjoy the lights of Christmas. It is the most amazing place--a virtual fantasy land. This is our second visit (my son's first) and it is quickly becoming a holiday tradition. I'm happy to share some of the 134 pictures I took that night. Enjoy.

The stockings were hung by the fire with care...

Through the rose garden to the observatory and the portal to wonderland!

CHRISTMAS ON THE BOARDWALK: MOSAIC MONDAY #2

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.

-- Norman Vincent Peale

The Zoo at Northwest Floridal may be closed, but thanks to the efforts of one of our businessmen, "Zoo Lights" (the traditional Christmas display installed throughout the Christmas season at the Zoo) has found a new home this year. Some of the Zoo Lights' displays of animals are adorning the Portofino Boardwalk on Pensacola Beach. The animals and other lights and decorations throughout the island have added a festive air to our beloved beach.

 

Visit The Little Red House to see more Monday Mosaics.

SITTING ON THE DOCK OF THE BAY: Weekend Reflections #3

If there is magic on the planet, it is contained in the water.

- Loren Eisley

 

To enjoy more Weekend Reflections click here.

THANKSGIVING WISHES

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them. ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy

Image by Norman Rockwell.

The groceries are bought, the pastry is made, the turkey is thawing, the vegetables are picked and the kitchen is a hubbub of activity. I wish all of my friends a very happy Thanksgiving filled with gratititude, family, friends, and, of course, great photos.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

ANNIVERSARY ROSE

Our wedding was many years ago. The celebration continues to this day. ~Gene Perret

A son's lovely contribution to the celebration.

DEEP PURPLE

Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that's for thoughts.

 ~William Shakespeare's Hamlet Prince of Denmark (Ophelia at IV, v)

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS #3: A WHARF REFLECTED

Shops of Bowen's Wharf, Newport, RI

180 degree FRIDAY#2--ARCHWAYS

FORT BARRANCAS

The arched corridors looking south...

and looking north.

HERON ON PATROL

You can observe a lot by just watching. ~Yogi Berra

Looking out over his domain.

Who goes there?

To many people. I'm outta here.

A PAINTED BIRD

A wonderful bird is the pelican,

His bill will hold more than his belican. (or belly can)

He can take in his beak

Food enough for a week,

But I’m damned if I see how the helican. (or hell he can)

~Unknown

Once an endangered bird, the brown pelican has recently been taken off the endangered species list. There really are a lot of them around here. I love to watch them glide gracefully just inches over the water. However, when they spot a tasty treat below, they plunge from on high and hit the water like a dive bomber.

 And you find them in the most surprising places!

Meet Jazzican who makes his home at The Oar Restaurant in Pensacola. He's just one of many of these  

"Pelicans in Paradise" sculptures, painted by local and national artists, found around the city. To see more of these arty birds, click on the link below.

http://www.ci.pensacola.fl.us/live/ART.ASP?PAGEID=6601

MOSAIC MONDAY 1: FLORA

Flowers from many places photographed over the last two years.

SILHOUETTE

Last night was one of those nights that you hope you can lock in your memory for a lifetime. The sunset was beyond spectacular and changed in color and intensity every few minutes. I finally gave up trying to take a good picture, realizing that what I was seeing could not be captured by a mere camera. So, I poured a glass of wine and sat on the dock with my dog and just watched.

A poor representation of last night's light show.

FIRE SKY

Softly the evening came.

The sun from the western horizon

Like a magician extended his golden wand o'er the landscape;

Twinkling vapors arose; and sky and water and forest

Seemed all on fire at the touch, and melted and mingled together.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Escambia Bay lit by the setting sun.

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS 2

PILINGS

Still water; mirror reflections

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

The last sunset before Ida blew into town.

THE AFTERMATH

"The first rule of hurricane coverage is that every broadcast must begin with palm trees bending in the wind." ~Carl Hiaasen

We toiled for nine hours to bring everything on ground level upstairs and discovered that we had way too many plants in pots and too much outdoor furniture and garden art. Boats had to be moved to higher ground and bikes brought indoors. Hurricane shutters had to be put up and closed. By the time we finished, Ida was not as threatening as when we began preparations, but we spent the night at a hotel anyway. Our yard is prone to flooding and our cars are always at risk, so it's easier to leave and come back when the storm has passed. This is what we found.

Yes, those are waves in our yard. The dock is mostly underwater.

The front yard didn't fair much better, though the water is not quite so deep. Fingers are crossed that Ida was truly the last storm of the season. Now begins the clean-up.

NOVEMBER HURRICANE!?!

The preparations are done, the shutters are on and now we're just waiting to see how much punch Hurricane Ida has by the time she reaches Pensacola. Hopefully not much. She's a tropical storm right now and we hope she stays that way as she makes landfall here sometime early tomorrow morning.

This is an AP photo of the surf on Navarre Beach this morning, already kicking up some pretty good sized waves. Should all be over by tomorrow evening without, I hope, very little damage to the area.