CT on the BAY

CONFUSION

2012-01-23T12:57:00.001-06:00

I know it's January 23rd, because it's right there on the calendar. But the temperature is 73 degrees and the humidity is high. The azaleas are into their second flowering, even the roses are still sending out lovely buds. And they're not the only ones who are confused around here. There are still lemons on my tree and new flowers are beginning to bloom! New fruit will set soon unless we have a cold snap that kills off the blooms. (None predicted this week.) Um, I thought there was no such thing as global warming--oops I mean climate change! No, global warming...It's so confusing.

LEMON TREE, VERY PRETTY,

AND THE LEMON FLOWER IS SWEET, ...

FLORENCE, CITY OF THE LILY

2012-01-16T14:04:00.001-06:00

"[Sunset] overwhelms Florence with tides of color that make all the sharp lines dim and faint and turn the solid city to a city of dreams."

~Mark Twain

Florence is a beautiful city with artistic treasures everywhere you look. It is the home of the Renaissance and one must pace oneself, for trying to take in all that is Florence will leave you with an art hangover. Luckily, I know the cure for such a malady--sitting in a cafe, watching the world go by while sipping a fortifying glass of chianti.

THE ARNO AND THE PONTE VECCHIO

The Ponte Vecchio was built in 1345 to replace an earlier bridge that was sept away by flood. In the XIV century, the shops on the bridge belonged to the Woolmakers' Guild, butchers, green grocers and blacksmiths. However, in XVI century, Grand Duke Ferdinando I ordered that the shops be taken over by gold and silversmiths and jewelers. The bridge has been devoted to these trades ever since.

Views along the Arno

Ponte Vecchio (Old Bridge)

The shops

Ponte Vecchio

View from the Arno

NEXT - FLORENCE PART 2

POMPEII - PART 2

2012-01-07T08:30:00.001-06:00

THE BODY CASTS

The body casts were first made by late 19th century archaeologist Giuseppe Fiorelli. When Vesuvius rained pumice and ash on the town, bodies were trapped. Over time the bodies decomposed, but the cavities that had hardened around them remained intact. Fiorelli poured liquid plaster into the cavities, then when the plaster dried, he broke the pumice stone that surrounded it, leaving the world with over a thousand whole-body death masks of Pompeiian men, women, children and animals.

Body Cast - Man

Young Boy Covering His Face

Woman with child covering her face against the ash.

ARTIFACTS

Some surviving artifacts of every day life.

Trencher, table

EVERYDAY LIFE

The landscape holds many ruins that give a peak into everyday life in Pompeii.

Pompeiian Take Out. Vessels were filled with food offering for people to purchase or eat on the premises.

Storage vessels held and dispensed wine.

Bakery - Ovens

Bread Ovens

Water Spigot and Public Water Well

Women's Bath House

Phallic symbol indicating location of a Brothel. A welcome sight I'm sure for sailors in this seafaring town.

Next - Beautiful Florence

POMPEII

2012-01-06T09:15:00.003-06:00

THE RUINS OF POMPEII

The eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD buried the town of Pompeii in ash and captured a moment in time. Under the ash everything remained as it was at the time of the eruption. Artwork was preserved, buildings remained, artifacts protected. Here are a few glimpses at the place that once was home to 20,000 Pompeian residents.

The Streets of Pompeii

Entry Arch to Forum

Houses and shops

Stepping stone in street to aid crossing when streets flooded from rains or high tides.

A bend in the road.

Vesuvius looming

Frescoes, Mosaics, Sculpture

Apollo - Temple of Vaspian

Fauna - Entry Atrium

Ceilling - Women's Bath House

Wall fresco - Private Villa

Erotica - Walls of Brothel

Beware of Dog - Entry Foyer Floor

3D Mosaic Floor tiles

Courtyard Floor

Next - Pompeii Part 2

ROME - PART 3

2012-01-05T08:42:00.001-06:00

PIAZZA NAVONA

The long oval shape of this square has its origins in history. In 86 AD the emperor Domitian built a stadium known as "Circus Agonalis" (competition arena) and was used mainly for festivals and sporting events. In the fifteenth century the area was paved over to create the Navona square.

The main attraction of the Piazza are the three fountains by Bernini.

I want to live here.

Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers: Nile, Ganges, Danube and Rio della Plata )

Centerpiece of the Piazza, the fountain is carved from a rock at the base of an obelisk and represents the four corners of the world. Built between 1647 and 1651 at the request of Pope Innocent X.

Detail: Fontana dei Quattro Fiumi

Fontana del Moro, circa 17th century by Bernini

Detail: Fontana del Moro

Fontana del Netunno (Neptune Fountain)

1576 by Giacomo della Porta

Detail: Fontana del Netunno

And, of course, no self-respecting Piazza would be complete without a church.

Sant'Agnese in Agone.

Commissioned 1652; Competed 1670

And to keep you entertained, street musicians. We sat for a while and enjoyed their music. They were quite good.

RANDOMNESS

The next pictures are random shots taken during our many walks around Rome.

Monumento Nazionale a Vittoriio Emanuele II (first king of a unified Italy)

Circa 1911 - 1935

Houses Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Fruit Stand

Domes in the sky.

Fell in love with the umbrella pines.

Arco di Constantino

This concludes our time in Rome. Tomorrow--Pompeii

ROME--PART 2

2012-01-04T07:26:00.001-06:00

THE COLOSSEUM--OPENING DAY AD 80!

No visit to Rome would be complete without spending time at the Colosseum. This was one of those places that sent shivers up my spine when I realized that I was actually standing in the place where chariot races were held and gladiators fought to the death, all watched by Julius Cesaer et al. WoW.

Yes, you've seen this image a million times, but it was just not possible not to take this picture.

The underground ruins

What the arena would have looked like in the time of Julius Cesaer. All of those alcoves contained hundreds of statues for decoration.

THE FORUM

Located between the Capitoline and Palatine hills, the Forum was the civic core of Republican Rome. It was the political, commercial and religious center of Roman life. What you see here today are the ruins of not one period, but of amlost 900 years, from circa 500 BC to AD 400.

Like the Colosseum, the Roman Forum was a place of pure magic. George and I walked along the same streets, trod on the same stones as Cesear and company. So much history was made within the confine of these ruins, it boggles the mind that so much is still here to bring that history to life. We spent a better part of an entire day here. I don't think we wanted to leave.

Excavation continues

Tempo di Vespasiano and the Arco Di S.Severo

Detail: Arco Di S. Severo. The detais that remain are amazing.

Tempo di Vesta

It was a dark and stormy [day]...Really!

Overview

WHERE IN THE WORLD ...

2012-01-02T08:19:00.001-06:00

"Everyone soon or late comes round by Rome."

~Robert Browning

During my time away from blogging, my husband and I did some traveling and spent time in Italy exploring the big three--Rome, Florence and Venice. Each city had its own unique beauty, energy, art and history. We quickly fell in love with this country that holds so many secrets of the past. And of course, want to go back to all of those places we didn't get to visit on this trip.

Just to be sure we wouldn't forget this trip, I managed to snap 1,270 photos. Editing was a feat, as I didn't want to eliminate any of them. But edit I did. I'd like to share some of those images with you.

I'll start with Rome. Once we settled into our hotel, we discovered that we were very close to the Trevi Fountain, so with guidebook and map in hand, we headed for this well-known landmark.

TREVI FOUNTAIN

I have to admit, the fountain was not quite what I had expected, but the reality proved even better. It was so much bigger and so much busier than I had imagined. We passed by the fountain several times and each time the place was crowed with sightseers, especially at night. But somehow, this wasn't a negative (I generally don't like crowds when I'm trying to see something for the first time) and the throngs added a certain street energy that I quite enjoyed. We decided to subscribe to the adage "When in Rome..." So we equipped ourselves with gelato, found ourselves a place to sit and just absorbed the convival atmosphere, the beautiful sculptures and the sounds of the falling water. Amazingly, after a while, the noise and the crowds seemed to recede into the background and we found ourselves in a little pocket of isolation where it was just the two of us and the fountain. And yes, we threw our coins into the water. I really hope this ritual has some teeth and we find ourselves back here again one day.

SPANISH STEPS

Scalinata di Spagna

Built in 1723 (with French funds), the Spanish steps got its name from the Spanish Embassy to the Vatican located on the piazza. Another crowded venue, the Steps have always welcomed tourists--18th century dukes and duchesses on their grand tour, 19th century artists and writers in search of inspiraiton--Stendhal, Honore de Balzac, William Thackery and Byron to name a few. Made me less inclined to complain about another crowed venue.

At the bottom of the steps on the piazza is the Fontana della Barcaccia (Fountain of the Unfortuate Boat) by Bernini.

Trinita dei Monti

Cathedral at the top of the Spanish Steps

View from the top of the Spanish Steps. I absolutely fell in love with all of the rooftop gardens and terraces. I could easily imagine myself sitting there of an evening sipping wine with my camera at the ready to snap a beautiful sunset over the city.

At the top of the Spanish Steps to the right of the Cathedral is Via Gregoriana. We were faced with that age old choice of which fork in the road to take and we chose the right. Here was a lovely, quiet and elegant street with beautiful doorways and a most unusual house we later learned was the Palazzetto Zuccari.

Doorway, Via Gregoriana

Palazzetto Zuccari

Shaped to form a monster's face, this house was designed in 1592 in the Mannerist style by the painter Federica Zuccari. The eyes of the monster are the house's windows and the entrance portal is through the monster's mouth. A really amazing structure. A lot of restoration work was being done so I wasn't able to get a really good shot of the "face" but this window gives you a good idea of the uniqueness of the house.

PS - For those who were following my other blog, Picture Perfect Moments, I ran into some problems that caused me to delete the blog and start over. The new address is: http://www.bayside2-pictureperfect.blogspot.com.. I hope to see you there.

TAILGATING

2011-12-31T08:57:00.002-06:00

If you can read this, you are too close.

~(from a Bumper Sticker)

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. I'll let this one speak for itself.

LATE VISITOR

2011-12-30T14:05:00.000-06:00

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson

It's been so warm this fall and winter that many of our butterflies stayed around a little longer than usual. I came across this Gulf Fritillary (Agraulis vanillae) playing in the grass. Several of them have been visiting my garden for quite some time now. They are welcome to stay as long as they like for they give me many moments of real pleasure watching them flit about.

CHRISTMAS PAST

2011-12-29T18:12:00.000-06:00

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.

~Burton Hillis

The stockings are empty, the boxes unwrapped and my son has returned to Annapolis. Another Christmas has passed and all that is left is the memories of a lovely family holiday. But the tree still stands till the New Year arrives and then that too will be packed away till Christmas Future arrives.

HELLO AGAIN and SEASONS GREETINGS

2011-12-28T11:07:00.003-06:00

Hello to all my blog friends. It's been a while since I've posted anything, but my self-imposed hiatus is over and I'm looking forward to posting new pictures, and catching up with all of you. I hope 2012 brings all good things to each of you.

To start the year off, I've created a new blog called Bayside Picture Perfect Moments where I hope to post the best of my 2012 pictures. One of my new year's promises to myself is to clean out my picture files and keep only those really worthy of archiving. My new blog address is bayside2-PicturePerfect.blogspot.com. I hope to see all of you there at some point this year.

The winter sunsets here can be spectacular and make it hard to do them justice in a picture, but I continue to try.

A MUGGY MORN

2011-07-03T16:55:00.001-05:00

Even at 6:00 a.m. the air was heavy with humidity and well, just plain hot. Though the weather was uncomfortable (large understatement!) the shore birds were out and about. Especially the reddish egrets. They pranced and danced and fished and seemed to be having a great time. We didn't venture too far along the sound as many of the birds are nesting right now and as you approach their nesting sites they send up the alarm, warning us to turn around and leave them in peace. I was on the wrong side of the light for most of the morning so these are the best of the bad.

The sea oats are blooming.

Reddish Egret

In flight

Chasing bait fish

Dancing display

Hopping along the shore

These two went at it for awhile vying for territory

In silhouette

IT'S RAINING, IT'S POURING...

2011-06-24T10:39:00.001-05:00

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.

~Langston Hughes

Finally, it rained yesterday. I know, so what, you say. But this was a very big event. We have not had rain since the end of February. I've sat and watched it rain all around me--to the north of us, to the west of us, but never ON us. Well yesterday, the heavens opened right on top of us. Big, drops of liquid sunshine poured down for about 45 minutes followed by a another 30 minutes or so of gentle rain. It was glorious. And yes, I went out into it. It felt wonderful. Then about 5:30 p.m. it happened again. Amazing. The total rainfall was 2"!! I didn't have to water the gardens today. Yay!

REMAINS

2011-06-07T08:20:00.003-05:00

What's left of an old pier sits near the shore at Fort Pickens. Birds love to roost there. The sky was dark with clouds and we were hopeful that finally we would get some rain. Unfortunately, the clouds blew away and not a drop of rain fell.

A NEW SEASON

2011-06-05T14:02:00.002-05:00

“The Sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonder forever.”

--Jacques Cousteau

Saturday morning, the alarm went off way to early, (4:45 a.m.) but I forced myself out of bed, gabbed my binoculars, Sibley's, and camera, stopped for coffee (you can get a small coffee for free at the Tom Thumb before 10:00 a.m. ) and made my way to Navarre Beach Park Sounside.

It's shorebird counting time again. The same group that did this count for the Audubon Society last year is doing it again this year. Last year's count was to establish a baseline, and this year's count is important to see if the BP oil spill has affected the migratory paths and numbers of shorebirds that normally arrive on our shores. The real count begins in July, but this weekend we took part in a Shorebird Stewardship Program. We walked and investigated certain areas of the beach and sound to see if we could spot nesting sites. Then we report them to our Audubon stewardship leader, and hopefully these sites can be roped off and signed so that people will leave them undisturbed.

We found a site that seemed to be a nesting site for Wilson's Plovers. Once the location is reported, the site can then, hopefully, be roped off and signed so that people will leave the area undisturbed during nesting season. Already chicks are all over the Island and drivers have to be alert for these little cuties as they sometimes want to cross the road.

In addition to the new nesting site, we also saw a great many shorebirds, some new, some old friends.

Sunrise over the Sound

Black Skimmer--so named because of the way they skim the water to fish. The lower bill is longer than the upper which helps them scoop up food.

An old friend. This is a Reddish Egret. These birds are fun to watch as they forage for food. Their behavior is almost comical as they run, spin, flap their wings as they literally chase fish through the shallow water.

Semi-palmated Plover

Adult Male Breeding Ruddy Turnstone

Sandling

Adult Wilson's Plover standing guard at nesting site. The adult plovers were sending up quite a racket as we walked along, convincing us that we had indeed found their nesting area. So as not to upset the birds, we left after making note of the location.

RED

2011-06-03T13:25:00.001-05:00

"...It is a blood-red flower, with the color of sin;

but there is always the scent of a god about it."

~Olive Schreiner

Texas Star Hibiscus

Red Canna

Bee Balm

Knockout Rose

MERMAID

2011-06-02T11:10:00.000-05:00

"I must be a mermaid, Rango. I have no fear of depths and a great fear of shallow living."

~Anais Nin

If you walk in a seaside garden just before dawn, you may come upon this bewitching lady enjoying a quiet moment before returning to the sea.

SUN'S FLOWER

2011-05-31T09:40:00.002-05:00

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see the shadow. It's what sunflowers do.

~Helen Keller

A friend brought me sunflowers and yesterday I noticed how lovely they looked back-lit by the sun coming in from the window.

HRH--THE MONARCH

2011-05-22T10:50:00.000-05:00

Here come the butterflies!

TIMING

2011-05-20T07:36:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you just get lucky and are in the right place at the right time. And have your camera at hand!

NESTING SEASON

2011-05-18T15:58:00.002-05:00

The shorebirds are nesting and together with the Audubon Society, I'll be surveying various areas of the beach to identify nest sites so that they can be marked for protection. Santa Rosa Island is the nesting location for several shorebird species.

Snowy Plovers

Snowy Plover

BLOOMING

2011-05-16T10:25:00.004-05:00

"Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?

~Betsy Cañas Garmon

The garden is starting to bloom!!

Blanket Flower

Verbena

Guara

Hibiscus

BEACH SUNSET

2011-05-11T16:56:00.000-05:00

Some things need explanation, others speak for themselves.

SEA ROSES

2011-05-09T15:59:00.000-05:00

Love's Garden

Love Planted a rose,

And the world turned sweet,
Where the wheatfield blows
Love planted a rose.
Up the mill-wheel's prose
Ran a music beat.
Love planted a rose,
And the world turned sweet.

~Katharine Lee Bates

The Rosa rugosa are blooming and perfuming the air with their lovely scent. This year they are blooming profusely and you want to just stick your nose in and breathe their fragrance in deeply. However, be warned, these roses are full of tiny, but lethal thorns. To be appreciated from afar.

I see a cucumber beetle on my rose. Must have taken a wrong turn somewhere. My cucumbers are in the side garden!

FOR PAULA

2011-05-07T07:58:00.000-05:00

The red-wing blackbirds have been around in great numbers this spring. But this is the first I've seen them at the bird feeder! The house sparrows are surprisingly receptive to their presence. Though they are a little too big for the feeder and most of the seed ends up on the ground when they are done.

P.S. Sadly I had to remove the feeders. There is a nasty !@$%# cat next door that viewed my feeders as his personal hunting ground. After finding a pile of feathers one day and a dead bird the next, I decided I needed to take the feeder down before any more birds were harmed. The cat's owner wanted to know if they were my own personal birds, otherwise, don't bother him.

Gotta love (NOT) people.

CATTLE EGRETS

2011-05-06T09:36:00.001-05:00

"We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love ... and then we return home."

~Australian Aboriginal Proverb

I've seen Cattle Egrets before, but none have ever visited my yard before. Their stay was short, but I loved watching them until they left for their next destination.

Coming in for a landing.

Strutting around the yard. Such pretty coloring.

Checking out the landscape.

On to the next place. Sometimes I wish I had the freedom to flit from one place to another without the worry of travel plans, without packing a bag, just taking wing when the urge came upon me.

FOG

2011-04-20T10:11:00.002-05:00

Fog, settling in the air all around.

Fog, covering the earth like a blanket on the ground.

Where did you come from?

Why are you here?
You feel so misty.
The air's unclear.

~EDWINA REIZER

The afternoon of the bird banding we stopped at a nature trail in NAS Pensacola. The weather had been iffy all day, but as we walked along the boardwalk, the fog rolled in. Misty at first, it came in off the water thicker and wetter while we were there. It was a little eerie to hear the surf and boat traffic and not be able to see anything. The trees became shrouded in a ghostly covering, lending a beauty not seen in the sunshine.

FRIDAY'S SUNSET

2011-04-17T14:51:00.000-05:00

Friday evening, I was sitting on my porch, absorbed in my Kindle and oblivious to what was happening over the railing. It must have been a change in the light that made me finally raise my eyes from what I was reading and I actually gasped. I ran into the house, grabbed my camera, raced down the stairs and started shooting. I know how fast the sun sets once it gets to a certain level on the horizon. The colors were amazing-pinks, purples, oranges, reds. It was a very windy evening and unfortunately, I didn't have time to set up a tripod. Thus the pics are a little on the blurry side, but I think you'll still be able to enjoy another spectacular sunset over Escambia Bay.

BIRD BANDING

2011-04-14T09:59:00.005-05:00

"I never for a day gave up listening to the songs of our birds, or watching their peculiar habits, or delineating them in the best way I could."

~John James Audubon

I spent a recent Saturday with two good friends at Ft. Morgan, Alabama at the bird banding station. Each year for two weeks, thousands of Neo-tropical migrant birds are captured at Ft. Morgan. These birds represent thousands of species, including large numbers of Ruby-throated hummingbirds. Ft. Morgan is the first landfall and the last departure point for thousands of migrating birds. The birds are measured, weighed, banded and released. This is an excellent opportunity to monitor population levels and the general condition of migrant birds, as well as gaining important insights into the effects of weather on bird migration. We had a great time at the banding station and lot's of fun walking unchartered trails at the Fort.

The highlight of the day for me was seeing a male, adult Painted Bunting up close and personal. It is an incredibly beautiful bird.

Adult male Painted Bunting.

I don't think my photo does justice to the colors of this small beauty.

This little Barn Swallow was so calm while ...

... the gentle volunteer explained some of the identifying markers of the bird. Actually, all of the birds were amazingly calm. It was almost as if they new they were in good hands.

OK, so maybe his feathers got a little ruffled.

Another favorite of mine. I've never seen a Ruby-throated Hummingbird in person before.

I was so amazed at the perfectly scalloped feathers that made up its throat.

And if these feathers weren't beautiful enough, they were also irridescent!

MISCELLANEOUS

2011-04-12T09:41:00.001-05:00

I seem to be having one health issue after another. Nothing serious or life threatening, just annoying enough to keep me laying low. Even today, I am battling a nasty Spring cold, complete with migraine. In between ailments I have been photographing. Unfortunately, the photos have been residing in my camera, but today I have finally downloaded them. Here are a few snaps of what I've been up to.

I've spent a fair amount of time in the garden, planting veggies and tending to beds and perennials. A couple of my favorite early bloomers are the Clematis and ...

...the profuse blooms of the Formosa Azalea. They just suddenly pop and for a brief week or so fill the garden with vibrant color. I wish there was a way to keep them blooming all summer.

On a Saturday morning in March, I volunteered at the Seagrass Awareness Festival at Shoreline Park. It was an opportunity for children and their families to learn about our shorelines and the seagrasses that provide habitat to so many small sea creatures. I worked at a touch tank that we had filled with all manner of marine life that had been seined from the seagrasses that morning. It was great to see the excited looks of the kids as they got to hold pipefish, snails, tiny blue crabs, baby croakers and many more. A great educational opportunity for everyone, especially me! I learned a lot.

One of the exhibitors at the Festival was the Northwes Floridat Wild Animal Shelter. They take in, care for and give homes to wild animals that have been injured and brought to them for care. It is an incredible organization. They treat and release those that can return to the wild and provide homes for those that cannot be returned to nature.

Like this beautiful kestral that is one of the permanent residents of the refuge. It was hit by a car and one of its wings is permanently damaged. He's been at the shelter for many years and has earned his keep by teaching children and adults about kestrals and other birds.

As has this blind barn owl. Isn't this tiny creature beautiflul?

Tomorrow I'll post about my exciting bird banding adventure with the Audubon Society.

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

2011-03-21T17:06:00.001-05:00

Been away for awhile. Suffered through a bad case of vertigo, something I've never experienced before and hope to never experience again. While sitting, keeping my head as still as possible, I noticed the interplay between the house finch and the mourning dove at the bird feeders. Since the doves were too big for the hanging tube feeders, I had put out a bowl full of seed and nuts for them. However, madam finch was having none of the intrusion.

What's this? A new blend of food? I'll have to sample it...

This is wonderful! I just love the combined flavors of the seeds and the peanuts.

Hark! Who is this intruder looking hungrily at my new feeding bowl?

I'm waaatching you

Ok, Ok. I'm leaving. But I'll be back!

Think she'll see me in here?

TWO FOR THE ROAD

2011-02-23T14:27:00.001-06:00

Oh, we ain't got a barrel of money,
Maybe we're ragged and funny
But we'll travel along
Singing a song
Side by side.

~Patsy Cline

FISH IN TANKS

2011-02-22T10:38:00.000-06:00

"God created fish, man created aquariums."

~Me

(I took liberties with the Jacques Deval quote: "God loved the birds and invented trees. Man loved the birds and invented cages.)

Normally, I'm not a fan of containing animals of any kind. However, two weeks ago we went to Atlanta and spent a Saturday at the Georgia Aquarium, purported to be the world's largest aquarium. The GA features more animals than any other aquarium in more than 8 million gallons of water in more than 60 exhibits. Each exhibit is "designed to inspire, entertain and educate." The GA is striving to be the leading facility for aquatic animal conservation and research. There is a state-of-the-art animal health facility--the Correll Center for Aquatic Animal Health--designed by veterinarian professionals and conservation organizations. It is the only integration of an aquarium and a veterinarian teaching hospital. I have to admit, George and I had the most wonderful time. It really is an impressive facility and we came away having seen fish and mammals we otherwise would never have had the opportunity to see. The Aquarium docents were able to give us an enormous amount of information and were able to answer all of our questions. Despite my misgivings, it was an amazing day.

Here are just a few pictures. I hate to admit it, but my camera ran out of juice pretty early in our visit. I had to resort to my phone camera and I haven't downloaded them yet. I don't have a lot of hope that they will be good pictures (I have a rather basic phone.) But if they I, I'll share the with you.

Spider Crabs

Beluga Whale

Whale Shark (largest animal in the water--approx. 40+ feet long)

Surrounded by fish

Whale Shark

Dum, dum, dum, dum,...

Whale Shark (can you tell I was fascinated by this fish)

Albino Alligator

Loggerhead Sea Turtle

Whale Shark reflected

Seahorses

BIRD DOG???

2011-02-21T16:23:00.000-06:00

I've been watching this pair of birds for about a week now and they never stay still long enough to either identify them or photograph them. Finally, the other day, they perched for a minute or two allowing me to snap a few pictures before they went swooping around the yard again. Armed with my Audubon and Selby field guides, I finally ID'd them as a pair of loggerhead shrikes. A first for me, so I was pretty excited.

While all of this frenetic swooping and flying and playing was going on, my faithful Dakota watched with an expression of pure boredom. After I took her picture, she looked at me with pity, sighed and flopped over on her side for a nap in the sun, perhaps to dream of a less pathetic caretaker.

A GIFT

2011-02-01T07:37:00.001-06:00

Did some downloading from my camera and found this lovely December sunset. I love finding reminders of moments I have forgotten. I remember this evening now and recall how I shared it's beauty with my soul mate. It was a silent exchange of the gift of a magical moment.

FEATHERED FRIENDS

2011-01-27T15:07:00.002-06:00

My favorite weather is bird-chirping weather.

~Loire Hartwould

Why are all the good seeds in the back?

Do you have the feeling we're being watched?

No, really. I think we're being watched.

A NEW YEAR'S SUNSET

2011-01-16T14:12:00.000-06:00

2011 has arrived and the January sunsets have been amazing. This is from two days ago.

WWII MEMORIAL Part 2

2011-01-04T03:14:00.001-06:00

I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, "Mother, what was war?"

~Eve Merriam

From the Atlantic to the Pacific, this Memorial pays homage to the men and women who fought bravely and sacrificed all in each theater. I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

WORLD WAR II MEMORIAL, Part 1

2010-12-30T14:14:00.001-06:00

On our trip to visit our son in Annapolis in October, we took a trip into Washington DC to visit the World War II Memorial. My husband and I had not seen it since it's completion. For me, it had a very personal significance as I am acquainted with the architect who designed the memorial. It was a beautiful day to stroll the Mall. Unfortunately, when we arrived we found ourselves in the midsts of a political rally and the Mall area was swarmed with thousands and thousands of people from different unions parading around the grounds. Still we made our way to the Memorial and despite the crowds, the loudspeakers and the placards, it was a moving experience.

In the next posts, I'd like to share some of the images of this beautiful tribute to the very brave men and women who gave their lives for their country so all of us can live in freedom.

The right to assemble, the right to protest; the right to speak

The lovely pathways to the Memorial

A crowded day at the Memorial

Next: From the Atlantic to the Pacific

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-12-29T11:03:00.001-06:00

"Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better [person.]

~Benjamin Franklin

We are back in the land of sunshine and looking forward to ushering in 2011. I hope all your steps in the New Year lead you to happiness, joy, prosperity, laughter, love, peace and above all good health. See you next year!

STORMY WEATHER

2010-12-17T09:30:00.000-06:00

It's been cold here on and off for about two weeks, but today was mild, though breezy. Because the temps were so pleasant, our little group of birders decided to take a break from all of the holiday mayhem and gathered to walk our favorite path at Fort Pickens. The sky was amazing today sliding from sunny, to cloudy, to rain, back to dark clouds with sun peaking through patches of blue. After we spent a great morning walking, we stopped at my favorite beach at that end of the Gulf and took in some amazing sights. The sky was inky and the surf was roiling. Spray was everywhere. But it was so beautiful, noone minded their glasses becoming encrusted in salt.

The Path

Keeping eyes and ears alert for those birds

Almost better than a sunny day

The surf was amazing

The clouds were moving and the sun kept peeking out, throwing diamond-like light on the water

Driftwood (or drift-tree)

A patch of blue

ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

2010-12-14T20:43:00.002-06:00

"The smallest bookstore still contains more ideas of worth than have been presented in the entire history of television."

~Andrew Ross

I took a morning stroll around my son's neighborhood and came across one of my favorite things--The Annapolis Bookstore. I adore small bookstores tucked into old buildings in residential neighborhoods. I just loved this window with the carousel horse and the clear reflection of the brick townhouse across the street. Later I noticed the woman reaching for a book displayed in the window. Unfortunately, that morning, I hadn't the time to walk through the doors. Had I done so, I know I wouldn't have exited for hours. Next trip, I plan to buy a coffee and settle in to this neighborhood bookshop.

BRRRRRR

2010-12-13T21:43:00.001-06:00

Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.

~Edith Sitwell

The Deep South is in a Deep Freeze. Temps tonight will be in the teens. Definitely plugging in the electric blanket tonight. The wind has been howling out of the North and the temps have been dropping all day. Even the beach looked cold.

Even the jellyfish came ashore to lay in the sun!

HOLIDAYS ON THE BAY

2010-12-12T12:32:00.000-06:00

"Celebrate the happiness that friends are always giving, make every day a holiday and celebrate just living!"

~Amanda Bradley

Family and wonderful friends gathered round our Thanksgiving table this year and it was so nice to celebrate the holiday with those that are dear to us all year long.

Dishes are done, leftovers packed in to-go packages and freezer bags and desserts are still tempting me from the sideboard. Usually, Thanksgiving puts me in the holiday spirit and I look forward to Christmas. This year, however, I'm having a hard time getting in the spirit. Did this whole holiday season just creep up on us too fast? Anyway, Santa to the rescue. Our friend Warren was playing Santa Claus in Fort Walton a week ago and husband and I drove over to see him arrive on a vintage fire truck. He was quite a hit with the children, some excited, some shy, but all with wishes only Santa can make come true.

Look Mom, he's real!

I hope he got all that.

Happy, jolly Santa

Santa confers with elves.

Think we can peek?

Waiting for Santa

The old Schoolhouse, site of the festivities

Santa lit the Fort Walton Christmas Tree to end a charming evening

Filled with Christmas cheer and spirit, I went home, and in the best Christmas tradition, snapped on my computer and started my on-line shopping!

MIGRATION

2010-12-11T11:36:00.001-06:00

Autumn wind rises; white clouds fly. Grass and trees wither; and geese go south.

-Wu-ti

c.127 BC 'The Autumn Wind' (translated byArthurWaley).The poem is a lament on leaving his mistress behind while he travalled on official business.

A few days after Thanksgiving, we drove to Arkansas to visit my sister and her family. I woke up early that first morning and looked out the window to the lake. There must have been 50 geese paddling around in the mist-shrouded waters. A pale pink was beginning to color the sky as the sun rose. Just as I was setting my camera, they all rose as one, almost as if someone had sent a secret signal. Needless to say, I was unprepared, but, even though the images aren't very sharp or clear, I like the moodiness of the pictures.

HELLO AGAIN

2010-12-10T13:07:00.001-06:00

Been away from my computer for a while, but I've still been taking pictures. Now I have so many to choose from I can hardly decide what to post. So I'll start with the most recent and work my way back to where I left off.

The sunsets in winter here are just spectacular. Let me share a few with you.

BUZZZZZZ

2010-11-08T12:42:00.001-06:00

How doth the little busy bee

Improve each shining hour,

And gather honey all the day

From every opening flower!

~Isaac Watts, "Divine Songs"

The bees and the butterflies have been abundant in the garden this Fall. These bumble bees were feasting on my Pentas and buzzing up a storm.

825 MILES

2010-11-06T18:44:00.002-05:00

The Sunshine State has 825 miles of sandy beaches. Today residents and visitors walked all of those 825 miles one mile at a time and took pictures of their favorite mile of beach. Resulting in what may be the biggest beach walk in the world. The photos are all posted on line at http://www.visitfloridabeachwalk.com/miles.php Check out all of the beautiful photos of Florida's coastline.

I walked with four friends along mile 44, Navarre Beach. Here is some of what we saw along the way.

Sunrise over the Dunes.

My group arrived early--7 a.m.--and it was a very cold morning. The temps were in the low 40s and the wind was out of the North. Brrrr. The only saving grace was that the sunrise was spectacular.

Sunrise--Gulfside

Never have I seen such a low tide on the Gulf as we saw this morning. It gave the beach an unfamiliar, but lovely look.

A river runs through it.

Because the tide was so low, the newly exposed sand was littered with Jellyfish.

As the tide came back in the jellyfish began to 'awaken' and move back out to sea.

The beach was also littered with seashells.

This great blue heron decided to stop wading and take to the air.

And flew right past me.

Our happy group at Mile Marker 44. You can see from our attire it was a cold morning. I'm the one in the funny hat and sunglasses.

DON'T GET YOUR HEAD WET

2010-11-03T15:05:00.001-05:00

A characteristic of the normal child is he doesn't act that way very often.

~Author Unknown

There was a young couple walking on the beach with their little girl who looked to be about 3 or 4 years old. The mother kept telling her not to get her shoes wet, but, of course, little by little the young girl inched ever closer to the water. Mom kept warning and the tot kept inching. The outcome was inevitable. The child got too close to the water and an aggressive wave not only covered her shoes, but knocked her down onto her fanny. Her shoes were wet, her little shorts were wet and her t-shirt was wet. I waited for her to start crying but instead she sat there for a moment stunned and then she turned to look at her mom, who was hurrying to reach her, and said "oops" and then dissolved in giggles. It made me smile and want to sit down right next to her. Her mom and dad shook their heads and got her back on her now very wet feet. They had a hard time hiding their smiles and looking appropriately stern. Then the Dad said something we often said to my son, that made me smile even more. "You always have to learn the hard way." Oh, I think life is going to be interesting for this little family.

Are you listening to me? Don't get your head wet!

Do you hear me?

Don't test me.

Oh ...

That i'd be a no.

DETERMINATION

2010-11-02T13:03:00.000-05:00

It's not that I'm so smart, it's just that I stay with problems longer.

~Albert Einstein

Out in back of one of our favorite beach eateries in RI, they dispose of opened and supposedly empty clam shells, much to the delight of the indigenous sea gulls. No morsel is wasted. As I munched on clam cakes and clam chowder, I watched a very determined gull excavate the shells and come up a winner. It took him a while, but his determination paid off.

I know its in there. Just a little further.

Okay, here it comes.

That's what I'm talking about. Good thing I like a challenge.

SAND, STAIRS AND SIGNS

2010-10-28T12:55:00.001-05:00

The times they are a 'changin.' As a kid, I remember walking along the beach with my friends. We played along the shore for hours, building sandcastles, throwing balls and running back and forth from sand to sea. It was our little world and we loved the freedom of the place. When we got hungry, we raced up to the road with our nickels and dimes in search of ice cream or sno cones. We cut through paths made from thousands of feet between beach cottages and waving to the occupants as we went. And they waved back.

Now as I walked along the same expanse of beach, I saw very few "beach cottages." Instead super-sized houses with angles and gables and large expanses of glass now stand watch over the sea. Their shingles are weathered and they seem a natural part of the landscape--until you notice the signs protecting gated stairs and pathways. The high tide mark now a boundary between them and us.

I understand property rights and I'm not advocating their demise. It was just sad to see.

ST. MICHAELS, MD

2010-10-24T08:13:00.000-05:00

"Follow the river and you will find the sea."

~French Proverb

St. Michaels is a charming, historic town about an hour from Annapolis. It derived its name from the Episcopal Parish established here in 1877. Situated along the Miles River, early settlers engaged in tobacco growing and shipbuilding. There is a great maritime museum, interesting shops, lovingly restored historic homes and plenty of restaurants to keep a visitor entertained. Dark clouds and sprinkles didn't diminish our enjoyment of this charming town.

SCENES FROM ST. MICHAELS

Seems like I just got home and I'm off again for four days to the Statewide Master Gardener Conference. Have a good week.

MONARCH MADNESS

2010-10-22T12:16:00.006-05:00

"Just living is not enough," said the butterfly, "one must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower." ~Hans Christian Anderson

Yesterday my yard was filled with Monarch butterflies sipping nectar from our salt bushes down by the water, energizing themselves for the remainder of their migration to Mexico. I've never seen so many of them here before. Usually one or two at a time in the garden. But this was real Monarch Madness!

I made a movie with music, but I can't seem to download it. I'll work on it.

We have several of these salt bushes down by the water, and the Monarchs loved them.

Wings open, wings closed, upright and sideways.

A very pretty sight.

A Monarch ladder.

First you crawl, then you fly. I don't know what kind of caterpillar this is to the left, except that it is not a Monarch caterpillar. I'll have to watch and see what kind of butterfly it turns into.

Sipping Nectar.

Incoming!

AUTUMN IN RI

2010-10-17T12:35:00.001-05:00

Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn. ~Elizabeth Lawrence

Unfortunately, we did not have the time to sit and watch the leaves turn. Because of the unusually warm weather RI has been experiencing, the leaves were hanging on to their green for a little longer, though here and there swamp maples were displaying their coats of red. I admit to being disappointed. I was really looking forward to the blazing color of autumn, walking along leaf strewn sidewalks and inhaling the scent of burning leaves wafting from someone's back yard.

We arrived on a cold, wet, gray day and it remained that way for almost 5 days. Just chilly and damp enough to remind us of why we fled south. However, once the sun made an appearance, we were instantly reminded of the magnificence of a fall day in New England. The sky seems bluer, the air crisp and dry and the sun still warm with just a slight chill to the breeze. There is a quality to the light in fall like no other season. Clean. It just seems so clean.

Before we left, I had a slight cough and some congestion. During our 12 days away, it bloomed into a full blown--I don't know what. But it lingers still. Tomorrow to the Drs. for a diagnosis and some antibiotics, I hope. With luck I'll soon feel well enough to go through my photos and share some of our time away with y'all.

LAST SATURDAY-Part Three

2010-09-29T09:26:00.001-05:00

(Leaving for New England tomorrow to visit family and friends and to enjoy crisp Autumn air and, I hope, colorful foliage.)

More.

Sunrise reflection in storm clouds.

Incoming Tide

Soundside Grasses

Shore Grasses

Flight

LAST SATURDAY - Part Two

2010-09-28T07:42:00.000-05:00

More images from that magical Saturday morning at Navarre Beach - Soundside.

The Gathering

Sanderlings

Short-billed Dowitchers

Wilson's Plover

Semipalmated Plover

Sanderling

LAST SATURDAY-Part One

2010-09-27T09:31:00.003-05:00

Saturday was my last opportunity to take pictures with the Audubon birders who have been counting shorebirds these past many weeks. On Thursday, I head to the Northeast to see family and friends and will miss the next several Sat. meetings. But the experience has been wonderful and this Saturday was just gorgeous. A storm was coming in off the Gulf, but on the Sound side of Navarre Beach, the clouds where still wispy enough to put on a sunrise show. The light was amazing, alternating between golden and gray as clouds ran across the sun.

We had a very special visitor who stopped by on its migratory trip to Guatemala. A small group of American Avocets were resting in the shallow waters of the Sound. They were so beautiful. I got as close to them as possible, but I wish I could have gotten even closer to see more details of this pretty bird. The morning was full of shorebirds and it kept me happily snapping away. A splendid last Saturday. Hope you enjoy.

Sunrise over the Sound

Sunrise reflections through storm clouds and Great Blue Heron.

American Avocets and Willets

Their mostly white plumage, black stripes and curving bills made them easily identifiable to my birding friends. They were all very excited, as this is not a usual occurrence in these parts.

AUTUMN GARDEN

2010-09-24T06:57:00.002-05:00

Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower.

Albert Camus

Purple Fountain Grass

Compact Fountain Grass

New Growth on Sago Palm. Notice the spent seed pod.

New Growth, Sago Palm

Lacy Tree Philodendron

LAST SUNSET OF SUMMER

2010-09-22T21:55:00.000-05:00

When summer gathers up her robes of glory,

And, like a dream, glides away.

~ Sarah Helen Whitman

BEACH FLORA

2010-09-19T10:07:00.000-05:00

I'm always amazed at the beautiful flowers that bloom in the sterile white sand at the beach, surviving lack of rain, brutal sun and ocean winds. But survive they do and add delicate beauty to an already lovely landscape.

Beach purslane

FLIGHT OF THE TERN

2010-09-18T09:32:00.002-05:00

The Forster's Tern is a quick flyer and I was lucky to get a few pictures of it as if searched for fish. Yeah for that continuous shoot button.

Spotting...

Swooping...

Drat! Maybe next time.

MORE MORNING

2010-09-15T19:51:00.002-05:00

"Take only pictures, leave only footprints."

A few more pictures from my morning in Navarre.

When I arrived that morning, my friend, Great Blue Heron (GB to those of us who know him well) was deep into his morning meditation.

Then he set out for his slow, morning stroll, patrolling the shore.

GB decided to give the dame with the camera a challenge and turned into the sunrise. But, unwittingly, he provided me with a lovely silhouette.

Tired of having wet feet, GB flew to his favorite perch on the roof of the pavilion.

And being a good coastal denizen, GB left the picture taking to me and left only footprints.

Don't want GB to get the impression that he's the only shorebird I photograph. (His ego is beginning to be a problem.) So here is a lovely mourning dove.

MORNING

2010-09-14T08:37:00.001-05:00

Made another of those pre-dawn visits to the beach. Here are some photos of what I got to enjoy. I may be in danger of becoming a morning person!-----Tempting, but nah.

I wasn't sure as I drove to the beach that there would be much of a sunrise. The sky was filled with dark bands of clouds. But in the end, it was the clouds that were the stars of the morning.

Sunrise over the Sound

There was an eerie yellow-orange glow to the sky as the sun made an appearance.

The clouds lit up as the sun rose higher in the sky.

Looking west, the light was lovely.

Sand Dunes to the west.

As I drove home, the Gulf waters were deeply colored against the bright blue of the sky and the clouds. A lovely morning.

MORNING VISITORS

2010-09-07T10:30:00.000-05:00

I used to love night best but the older I get the more treasures and hope and joy I find in mornings. ~Terri Guillemets

It was a beautiful morning. First, I saw it at a reasonable hour. Second, the light was amazing. Third, I discovered two morning visitors as I took my morning coffee and camera out to enjoy a little quiet before the day shifted into high gear.

Snowy Egret

Praying Mantis

RANDOMNESS

2010-09-06T08:13:00.000-05:00

Just some random photos of my morning on Navarre Beach.

Walkover to the Gulf

Sign of the end of summer--abandoned Life Guard Station

I guess this sign was just a suggestion!

At anchor in the Intracoastal Waterway

'Gone Fishin' with a twist

BEFORE THE DAWN

2010-09-05T09:02:00.002-05:00

"The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere . . . "

~John Muir

Not being a morning person, I've very few sunrise pictures. But yesterday I joined some friends at the beach for sunrise picture taking, bird counting and breakfast. (They count shorebirds for the Audubon Society from about 5:30 to 7:30 a.m.) Um, its DARK at 5 a.m. Really dark. But, I got my sorry body out of bed and joined them. I arrived just in time to see the sun, still below the horizon light up the clouds.

Unfortunately, that was as good as it got. There was a thick cloud cover along the horizon and the lovely colors soon disappeared.

The morning was cool with lovely soft breezes. So welcomed, so enjoyed. And gradually, the morning got underway.

I was actually surprised to see how many people were at the beach at this hour of the day. Sunrise worshipers and fishermen and people just enjoying the peace and tranquility before the arrival of beach umbrellas, coolers and sand pails.

GHOST DIGGER

2010-09-04T05:14:00.000-05:00

I had to sit very still, with my finger on the button and my camera set for speed, and still I was unable to capture all of the antics of this ghost crab. It was industriously digging its hole and displaying a great deal of caution, its movements orchestrated by instinct.

First it came out of its hidey hole and looked around. Any movement and it scurried back into its hole so fast it didn't even leave a blur. If the coast was clear, it went back down inside and did some excavating.

The next time it appeared it was carrying a load of sand in its claw and after the smallest of pauses, it flung the sand away. Notice the small pile to the right of the picture.

Then it returned to the hole to continue this very precise ballet--recon, excavation, disposal. Repeat as needed.

I watched this dance go on for quite a while, marveling at this little creature's diligence. In the midst of this observation, a little action (emphasis on little) caught the corner of my eye. And lo and behold there was the tiniest of ghost crabs doing the exact same ballet about 18" away from its larger cousin. It was so small I had to stare at it for a while to be sure I was seeing what I thought I was seeing.

I wish I could have put a dime or something down to show you the scale of this little guy. But notice the grain of sand on its right eye and you might have some idea of how small this ghost crab was.

DENIZENS OF THE SHORE

2010-09-02T23:51:00.001-05:00

We spent a lovely day at Navarre Beach today, and shared the sand and water with some lovely feathered friends.

Willet

Black Bellied Plover

Laughing Gull

Sanderling

Laughing Gull (Laughing!)

Laughing Gull

GOODBYE TO AUGUST

2010-09-01T10:36:00.000-05:00

Last night's sunset was gorgeous and sent the month of August on its way in brilliant style. The sky just lit up and the clouds glowed.

FALSE ALARM

2010-08-27T04:42:00.001-05:00

While out birding last Saturday, our group got quite a scare as we crossed over to the Sound side at Opel Beach. There were large mats of what we thought were tar balls washing ashore with the sea weed. We contacted a ranger and reported what we had found and someone came to investigate. Turns out they were not tar balls at all (Whew!) but some sort of vegetation. Once home, the research began and turns out what we were looking at were either sea squirt casings (http://collierseagrant.blogspot.com/) or Black colonial tunicates of the genus Eudistoma or filamentous blue-green algae broken off from underwater algal mats. (http://www.sccf.org/content/184/Clumps-on-Island-Beaches.aspx) Whatever they were, we were all very happy to know they were NOT tar balls.

I CAN FLY!

2010-08-25T12:40:00.000-05:00

"If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes."

Charles Lindbergh, interview, 1974

I can ride the currents

I can turn on a dime ...

And go the other way

When I've had my fill of flight, I can put down the landing gear and chose earth.

BIRDING

2010-08-22T09:57:00.001-05:00

"I never for a day gave up listening to the songs of our birds, or watching their peculiar habits, or delineating them in the best way I could."

~John James Audubon

Saturday I joined a group of friends for a birding walk along the shore looking for and identifying shore birds. Our group was led by a wonderful man who is an expert birder from the Audubon Society. He was so knowledgeable and had this wonderful scope on a tripod, that I did more listening and looking and very nearly forgot to take any pictures, so the photos of birds are few. And the ones I did, well, not my finest hour behind the camera. The day was hot and humid and we lasted until about 10:30 a.m. or so, but the comraderie of the group and the birds themselves made for a lovely morning. I also had the pleasure of meeting a fellow blogger, Sue, aka "Florida Farm Girl". What a treat to meet the person behind the camera.

Before our walk even began, this GREAT BLUE HERON flew up onto the roof of the pavilion we were meeting under. A good omen for the day.

A GREAT EGRET walking in the grasses on the Sound side of the State Park in Navarre.

GREAT EGRET in flight.

My first look at a TRI-COLORED HERON. Beautiful.

GREAT BLUE HERON

In all we spotted about 23 species of shore birds.There were sandlings, brown pelicans, Osprey, Black Bellied Plover, Killdeer, Willets, Ruddy Turnstones and a whole lot more that I didn't photograph or that if I did, I shot badly.

Just before the heat totally did me in, I took a few non-bird photos of Gulf scenes in Navarre.

Gulf of Mexico and the Navarre Fishing Pier

Navarre Fishing Pier

Under Navarre Fishing Pier

In the afternoon, several storms came through the area. It was a wet, dark and dismal afternoon, heavy with clouds. So you can imagine what a treat it was to see such a magnificent sunset in a still cloudy sky. (I was told by one of my birding friends that the sunrise over the Gulf was breathtaking too. I, of course, missed sunrise seeing as it happens so early in the morning!) This was one of those perfect days.

No words needed.

HOVERING

2010-08-20T20:07:00.001-05:00

I've been away from my blog for awhile and really haven't been taking too many pictures of late. This is one from my archives. Hopefully, I'm back on track. Tomorrow I go on a walk along the coast with some birders and I hope I come away with some good photos of our shorebirds.

BARNACLES

2010-08-09T18:47:00.000-05:00

Pulled up a loose board from one of our groins that was about to tear away. Once it was out of the water, I discovered a cluster of barnacles that had attached themselves firmly to the wood. I was taken with the circular symmetry of these crusty shell-like crustateans that eat plankton. Once I discovered what they were and what they ate, I had an AAAHAA moment. I've been involved in a NOAA study collecting water samples from around my dock and then analyzing the water under a microscope trying to identify Phytoplankton. The study is looking for Phytoplankton that can be harmful to the waters, causing toxic alga blooms that can be harmful to humans and/or degrade ecosystems by forming large blooms. I've been pretty discouraged, since most of my samples have turned up not one Phytoplankton of any type--good or bad. There are other little creatures in the water, but I've found nothing that the study would be interested in.

So, I inspected all the groins (we have three) and all of our pilings and found that barnacles were growing on all of them. Maybe its not the fact that I'm doing something wrong or am missing these little creatures under the microscope. Maybe, the barnacles have eaten them before I can find them! I'm feeling a little less like a failure.

Barnacle encrusted board

Groins are projections that usually run perpendicular to the shore into the water. They act as breaks to the water and their main purpose is to collect sand, helping to replenish in winter what the summer tides have washed away.

Isn't nature amazing!

TROPICAL

2010-08-07T09:57:00.000-05:00

My hibiscus are blooming and are lovely this summer. It's been so hot and humid many other garden favorites are not doing so well, but the hibiscus is proving itself a true tropical flower.

OSPREY

2010-08-05T12:08:00.001-05:00

This nest seemed empty, but I hung around for awhile anyway to see if an osprey would return to it. I could hear one nearby and so I waited patiently. Just as I was about to give up and move on, I heard a whoosh and hurried to raise my camera and focus. Out of 5 shots this is the only one with the osprey in the picture.

The bird never actually landed on the nest, but kept circling over it and then went to a nearby tree staring at me and chirping shrilly. It seemed my presence was causing it distress, so I turned my camera off and left.

MEMORY LANE

2010-08-03T12:35:00.001-05:00

"Footfalls echo in the memory

Down the passage which we did not take

Towards the door we never opened."

~T.S.Eliot

I read something recently that took me on a journey to the past. It was bittersweet and made me remember a very special place. This place holds the blueprints for who I am and the road map that directed me to the place I'm at today. It's been quite the journey.

PICNIC

2010-07-31T10:38:00.002-05:00

"I'm into all that sappy stuff--a surprise picnic, nice dinner or traveling. I'm kind of an old romantic."

~Will Estes

Roasted chicken sandwiches, with basil and bacon and mayo, a bottle of wine, grapes and my better half were the perfect ingredients for an impromptu picnic at the beach. The evening was warm, but the breeze off the water cooled us. Why is it that food always tastes so much better on a picnic? We didn't have ants to worry about, instead some very interested sea gulls had us keeping a close eye on our repast. I don't remember a lot of conversation, but a shared silence made the evening intimate. And then the sun set, putting a golden glow to the water and a perfect ending to our dinner at the beach.

The news here lately has been encouraging re our beaches and no one is more grateful and hopeful than I. Maybe the end of this horror is near, and all of us here can let out our collective breaths and start to "get OUR lives back." It still isn't perfect, and we don't know what troubles we may face in the future from this tragedy, but for now we seemed to have escaped the worst of it.

TIME OUT

2010-07-27T18:40:00.001-05:00

"Birds are a miracle because they prove to us there is a finer, simpler state of being which we may strive to attain." ~Doug Coupland

These two little prettys were sitting on the very thin fronds of my pampas grass. They were swaying with the breeze and I wondered how they managed to keep themselves on this small, undulating perch.

GARDEN STAR

2010-07-21T21:48:00.019-05:00

"Should I pluck it,

My hand would defile the flower;

I offer it, as it stands, ..."

Empress Komyo, Japan

SCARLET HIBISCUS, "hibiscus coccineus"

Sometimes called the Texas Star Hibiscus, this is one of my favorites in the garden and one of our native plants here in Northwest Florida. The white variety is fairly new. Last summer I planted it close to the red and this season it is blooming in all its glory. The mix of red and white intermingling is wonderful. But the best thing is that they withstand flooding and salt water. The perfect flower for a seaside garden.

FOGGY SUNSET

2010-07-21T21:25:00.001-05:00

Monday, I looked up from the kitchen where I was peeling onions and saw this glorious sunset. I grabbed my point and shoot, ran outside and starting taking pictures. Only problem was that as soon as I left the AC and encountered the heat and humidity, my lens fogged up. I took a couple of photos before I realized it, since I was busy looking at the LCD screen. When I downloaded, I rather liked the effect of my foggy lens.

Once the lens defogged, I took clearer pictures. Not sure which ones I like best.

RED VELVET

2010-07-16T09:02:00.000-05:00

"Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity."

~John Ruskin

GLADIOLA

A PLACE FOR CONTEMPLATION

2010-07-15T10:51:00.001-05:00

"That pleasure which is at once the most pure, the most elevating and the most intense, is derived, I maintain, from the contemplation of the beautiful.:"

~Edgar Allan Poe

A favorite spot to just think...or not.

BIRTH OF BEAUTY

2010-07-13T10:54:00.005-05:00

There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.
~Anais Nin

White Spider Lily (Crinum asiaticum)

This beautiful flower was growing in the sand at Ana Marie Island. It obviously loves the beach environment. The plants were numerous and thriving in this hot, humid and salty landscape.

While we were there, tight buds exploded...

into beautiful, tropical blooms.

THE GETAWAY

2010-07-12T08:33:00.004-05:00

"A vacation is what you take when you can no longer take what you've been taking."

~Earl Wilson

We decided we'd had enough of the oil spill and the emotional roller coaster we've been on since April. So we escaped for a while and visited with friends in Ana Marie Island in Bradenton Beach. Still on the Gulf, but far enough east to not have been affected by the spill...yet. It was a good decision to go, not only to see good friends, but to soothe the soul.

Two steps out the door and you're on the path to the beach.

This blue heron was not fazed by us humans and strutted the beach daily.

Which way are ya going?

He was often joined by other shore birds as they made their way along the shore. It was nice to see them out of harms way.

Best seat in the house. It was pretty hot and this fellow found the perfect solution to keeping cool.

After a day playing in the water and lazing on the beach, the sunset brought a beautiful end to a perfect day.

FLYING

2010-06-26T09:58:00.002-05:00

" 'Will you walk a little faster' said a whiting to a snail

'There's a porpoise close behind us,

And he's treading on my tail.' "

~Lewis Carroll

I'm not normally a fan of wildlife in captivity, but the dolphins at the Gulfarium can no longer be returned to wild. My niece and nephew were excited to see the dolphins up close and were charmed by the antics of these lovely mammals, as was I.

SKY COTTON

2010-06-25T08:42:00.000-05:00

"There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds."

~G.K. Chesterton

As the temperatures soar, and the summer heat rises from the earth, the most wonderful clouds appear in the sky. I never tire of looking at them or trying to interpret them.