TAKE OFF

This Heron had been standing still for several minutes. But just as I was about to snap a picture, it spread its wings and started to fly.

GARDENS OF THE CARIBBEAN

I've spent days putting together a slide show (my first attempt) accompanied by music in my photoshop program. Unfortunately, now that it is done, I'm having trouble uploading it to my blog. I'll need to have a session with my son, my computer guru. Till then I hope you enjoy these pictures of some of the local Caribbean flora we enjoyed on our vacation.

Bouganvillea among the palms

Fronds against a blue sky

A Side-yard Tropical Garden

Garden with Bananas

A Thorny Beauty

MOSAICA MONDAY #5: GULLS

"Each of us is in truth an idea of the Great Gull, an unlimited idea of freedom,... ." 

From Johnathan Livingston Seagull

Seagulls were everywhere as we left port, swooping and soaring. They seemed to be having such a good time. These are just a few I caught with my camera.

For more Mosaic Monday photos, click here.

BRELLIES

Umbrellas at a Key West cafe. The colors of the Caribbean.

Refreshment

A PAINTED SKY

The sun was down, And all the west was paved with sullen fire. I cried, "Behold! the barren beach of hell At ebb of tide." 
~Alexander Smith - Source: A Life Drama 

Tonight's sunset was like watching the canvas of an artist evolve. As the sun sunk lower on the horizon, the clouds caught the last rays of light, swirling them in a vortex of color and shadow, saturating them in deeper and deeper hues of fire. 

MOSAIC MONDAY #4: SCENES FROM THE CARRIBBEAN

Be an explorer. The universe is filled with wonder and magical things. ~ Flavia

Click, Click. Just a few of the 350+ photos I took during our holiday cruise. I'm sure you'll be seeing more in the future. Digital photography makes it so easy to snap and delete, I get greedy. I really have to learn moderation!

For more Mosaic Monday offerings visit here.

AND THE ANSWER IS....

If any of you have wondered if moving, salt water can freeze, wonder no more. The answer is YES. The last two mornings the water near the shore sported a small accumulation of ice. But any accumulation of ice is too much for me. I want to know who stole my warm weather. Just return it, no questions asked!

WEEKEND REFLECTIONS # 6: KEY WEST WINDOW

On our recent visit to Key West, I walked along a side street and came upon this little church with its arched window over its door. The palms, near and far, were reflected in the stained glass, that was sporting its own leaves.

To see other Weekend reflections click here.

SAY IT AIN'T SO!

Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation. ~Kin Hubbar

Today's headline says it all. We and the rest of the south are experiencing subfreezing temperatures and the possibility of snow on Friday. While it sounds shiveringly awful, the silver lining is that this is a temporary aberration. Our frosty temperatures will not hang around for very long, but will probably be a memory by next week...right?

"There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing." ~Alfred Wainwright

We left the outside faucet dripping last night to prevent the pipes from freezing. The wind obviously blew the water onto the azaleas and this morning they were wearing a coat of ice.

1492

"The crew of the caravel "Nina" also saw signs of land, and a small branch covered with berries. Everyone breathed afresh and rejoiced at these signs."  ~Christopher Columbus

Sunday we went to see the replicas of the caravels ther Nina and the Pinta in Pensacola. They were berthed at Palafox Pier on the ends of two finger piers. Unfortunately by the time we arrived, the sun was in ther worse possible position for photo taking. To get the sun to my back, I would have had to be able to walk on water--very cold and very deep water. So while we enjoyed touring the ships and talking with members of the crew, I came away with only a few decent pictures.

THE NINA AND THE PINTA