FROG

Walking the beach on Captiva Island, I came upon this piece of coral at the edge of the sand. It reminded me of a frog nestled in a patch of yellow flowers.

 

MIMIC

For males, which do all the singing during the breeding season, an elaborate repertoire sends a scintillating message to a female. Life is tough in the wild, where predators, disease and starvation are constant threats. The variety in a male's songbook is a signal to females that he is wise to the world, has survived for awhile and established a territory with plenty of food.

~Doug Harbrecht, National Wildlife

 

 



SYMBOLISM

The bird of paradise flower symbolizes freedom and good perspective. When presented from a woman to a man, strelitzia reginea represents faithfulness.

~Thomas Charles, e-how editor

 

ICONIC

“Pink is a beautiful color, because it is one of the colors that the sun makes at twilight and in the dawns.”
― C. JoyBell C.

 

 

PAPARAZZI

"I believe in equality for everyone, excepy reporters and photographers."

~Mahatma Gandhi

 

Came across this flock of white ibis in a parking lot on Gasparilla Isalnd. I put my camera up to my face to take a picture . After the first snap, they all turned as one, showed my their backs and sauntered away. If ibis can give a look of disdain, then these guys are pros.

 

Here we go again. Another photographer.

 

Don't you dare look back and smile.

GASPARILLA ISLAND SUNSET

"Long on the wave reflected lustres play."

~Samuel Rogers, Pleasures of Memory

 

 

 

FISHERMAN

"An osprey flies over the water, hovers above its prey, and then plunges feet first, seizing the fish in its long, curved talons."

~Miriam Webster Dictionary

 

Osprey with Fish

 

ALL IN A ROW

Turned into the wind

 

Taking flight

BFFs

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue. 

~Author Unknown

 

 

We have new neighbors and Dakota now has a new BFF.

 

Meet Nylan, who loves to frolick and romp.

 

Well, sometimes he needs a little persuasion.

 

Hey, look. We're in step.

 

Wait for me.
 

Wheeeee 

 

Race you!

 

I win! I win!

 

Don't worry kid, I got your back.

 

Geez. These young pups have no stamina.

 

A KISS

 “Because there’s nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it’s sent away.”

 -Sarah Kay

 

INTERLUDE

"He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

 Psalm 91:4

 

Spent a lovely afternoon at Ft. Pickens photographing nesting Great Blue Herons. I snapped three nests and while setting up for this nest, the birds started to do what I can only imagine was part of a mating ritual. The Heron with its head raised straight up let loose a hauntingly beautiful wail. They went through their dance and then simply returned to building the nest. It was amazing to watch.

 

Building the nest one twig at a time

 

The dance begins . . .

 

 

 

 

And now, back to the task at hand.

 

THE ILLUMINATION OF CLOUDS

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."

~Rabindranath Tagore

 

 

“hark, now hear the sailors cry,
smell the sea, and feel the sky
let your soul & spirit fly, into the mystic...” 
~Van Morrison

 

Did a little sailing around southwest Florida's barrier islands. We chartered a sailboat for five days and went exploring.

 

First stop--Useppa Island

 

A place of steady breezes...

 

Beautiful orchids...

 

Banyon trees...

Frangipani...

Curved palms....

 

And, of course, beautiful sunsets.

 

“The world turns softly Not to spill its lakes and rivers, The water is held in its arms And the sky is held in the water."

~Hilda Conkling, Water

 

 

“Now she’s lit by the warm orange spreading from the horizon as not-quite-day, becomes not-quite-night.”
― David Levithan,    Every Day

 

A JANUARY SKY

“Never waste any amount of time doing anything important when there is a sunset outside that you should be sitting under!” 
~C JoyBell C

 

 

SABATICAL

I can hardly believe that I haven't posted to this blog since August. I took a little time off so that I could get my life moving at a normal pace again. Had too many irons in the fire and was not doing a great job with any of them. I'm learning to say no. Well, I'm learning to occasionally say no. I've organized and reorganized rooms and closets and workspaces. I've stored and categorized photos and am even contemplating assembling a show at a local gallery. (That's still in the future pile.) Bottom line, I felt a little overwhelmed and out of control and now I don't. I've taken a lot of photos during my time away from blogland. So I'll be posting pictures from August forward. (They are all neatly organized now:) Probably, this will be the most verbose I get. I'll let photos and quotes speak for themselves. Unless, of course, they are unable to communicate. I'm glad to be back checking on blogs that I've missed reading.

So, hello again.