Rich and I cruised to the Florida Botanical Gardens, found it and indulged ourselves in the fabulous light show. It is a funny way to experience a garden for the first time. I am now more interested than ever to go back.
I couldn't get over the huge palms all decorated with lovely lights. Rich noticed that the lighted bulbs were not hot to the touch. Things are always improving and yet these little things don't get heralded from the headlines.
I've visited St. Petersburg a few times for meetings, but today under the bright sunshine and with 80 degree temps I ventured around downtown on foot. It is a colorful city with unique shops that have not been drowned by chain stores. There was a Saturday market in the park with a live band and lots of hustle and bustle in the shopping district.
There is a trolley that loops around the city for weary legged tourists, but the trolley appears a little weary itself!
And of course there is a large municipal marina. On such a beautiful day and with gas prices low there was a lot of activity here.
The sun was falling in the late afternoon sky and it being a holiday I was walking along the beach aimlessly when I discovered these abandoned toys. Even on my return they remained unclaimed. I believe I know what happened!
I passed all sorts of "beach debris". The kind of stuff that loses the battle of life in the gulf and the tide deposits on the sand. Just look at that crab claw! It almost looks alive...but not.
We were fortunate to receive free tickets to the Nutcracker at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. The building was very new and modern and while pleasant, a bit unremarkable.
The house was full and the costumes extravagant. Can you believe that there was no live orchestra? Quite a disappointment. The dancers put on their best show and while mostly beginners and intermediate dancers, it was tried and true Nutcracker.
Luckily, my camera is no night light. The screen was as dark as the theatre. Not so for the family in front of us. Twice the usher came over to scold them!
My friend, Wanda Water, was feeling a bit watered down in the sunset, but otherwise we had a delightful time singing along with the band. I keep trying to feel homesick for snow and ice and the freezing temperatures that go along with it...but I'm not.
Rich and I are beginning to explore our neighborhood's culture. We hopped off to the Botanical Gardens and found ourselves in Heritage Village instead so we traipsed around. It was a beautiful sunny day and we learned much about early Florida. Rich loved the garage/store/barbershop/post office, but it was the log cabin that thrilled me. It was so different from up north - the ceiling was relatively high, it had plenty of cracks to let the light in and the hearth was small, because of course they cooked outside. Rich and I keep forgetting that it does not get freezing cold!
So many meetings has meant so much driving! But it is Florida and that means spectacular sunrises and brilliant sunshine. Coming down from the Skyway bridge headed toward Sarasota early in the morning I was pleasured with this incredible sight. The clean and calm half light was softly punctured by rays of sunshine. An auspicious sign for my fledgling business as I attempt to find an entry into the Florida market? Indeed!
For years and years I have kept a hammock balled up and unused. Here in Redington Beach I have opened it up, stretched it out and tied it to two trees. Funny though, as it turns out I'm not so good at relaxing in it. Then again, maybe I just need a little practice...
I had the great pleasure of being given a tour of the Ringling Museum by the Senior Development Director. These are wonderful times for them! I will be returning to the museum again soon because I might be in love. At first it seemed eclectic, and it might be a bit with the Tibballs Learning Center and the Historic Asolo Theater questioning the orginality of the art museum itself, but the charm and personality of the place infects one and causes a new perspective to emerge. The family story enlarges and expands just as the museum has. And that includes the Dwarf Garden!
Finally I'm getting out of the "office" and meeting people. This picture was taken from the University of Tampa campus where I was meeting with the school's prospect researcher. I also got my hair cut from Jakki's friend and had lunch with Jakki in between her classes. How fun is that? Lots!
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