The Nose Knows

Rich and I (well, truthfully it's mostly been Rich) have been looking for a new home for the 6 weeks before we leave for Prague. Our lease is up April 10th and we delayed our flight to Prague until May 31st. So we hopped in the car to Indian Shores to check out a condo for rent. We walked around the building and checked out the pool right on the beach. "What is that smell?" I asked Rich. And he could smell it too, which is to say it was quite an odor. Whaddaya know, there next door was the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary! That many birds in one place is bound to create a scent. So we wandered around. It was really fun to get to see the birds up close. Rich's brother visited us last month and wanted to spot a white pelican. Ahem. If we had only known there were this many of them just up the street!

Pirates are everywhere!

Rich was ignoring me and as I was wandering around John's Pass with friends, this miscreant pirate made a pass at me!

Gone to the dogs

Our local Rotary District was having a day at the dog races. Derby Lane is close by and, as it turns out, a bit of fun. The sudden and powerful unleashing of energy as they spring from the cages is exciting even when you don't have any bets on!

When they brought some dogs out to say hello, Ariela and I had to give up some love...

Tour bus surprise

So we're driving along and we're assaulted by a tour bus. No tourists. This is a traveling tour bus with a group of people who perform some kind of act. Only we have no idea what type of act. The side of the bus wasn't any more helpful. I've looked up the website and still have no idea what it's all about. But it sure is colorful and it got my attention.

Weekend Warriors

It was the weekend. It was warm mid-afternoon. The beach called to us. But which beach was calling? We live within walking distance of a beach, but the beach call sounded distant so we decided to see for ourselves what Fort DeSoto was all about. Umm, well, there's a lot of beach there. And a lot of tourists. We saw plenty of Canadian license plates. Some people showed evidence of even going into the water. They had to have been Canadians! We sat close to the trees and out of the wind. We soaked up a healthy dose of vitamin D and decided our beach was just as pleasant and a whole lot closer.

Winter blossoms

I was taking a sunshine break this week, wandering in front of our house and discovered these delightful blossoms. And it's February.

Gasparilla Parade

What you have to know about the Gasparilla Pirate Fest is that it is ALL ABOUT THE BEADS! The people around us had staked out their site since early in the morning. They had posters at the ready for their favorite radio station, which float duly stopped and made a fuss over them.

But it's ALL ABOUT THE BEADS! And isn't it nice if there are pleasant looking people to throw them at you? There were lots of fun floats from all the usual upscale clubs all trying to outdo each other. So I thought it only appropriate to put the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino float with its skinny baby girls in my blog.

And then I got nabbed by some real pirates! Good thing Rich was there to rescue me from the slobbery beer kisses!! Did I mention beer? The whole parade reeked of beer. It was inescapable. And yet, people were pleasant and tolerant. We hear that's not quite how it gets in Ybor city that very same night, but we had no plans to experience the dark side of the pirate fest...

Shocking Pink Flamingoes

We go out for a walk in the morning and what do we spy? A flock of pink flamingos on our neighbor's lawn! But what was most delightful was that someone is in the business of delivering pink flamingos to unsuspecting people's lawns...wow. Is this a recession?

Flagler College

Orlando wasn't far enough. I traveled all the way to Flagler College in St. Augustine for my most recent meeting. When they offered a tour of the campus afterward I couldn't refuse. The main building was once a hotel and it was magnificent! We ate our lunch there and every table was surrounded by chairs that looked like mini thrones. It didn't seem silly though because we were surrounded by amazing murals and Tiffany stained glass.

It was the most beautiful weather to be touring an historically restored college campus!

Tired Tourist

Our last houseguests had the most wonderful weather. And when they wanted to buy souvenirs for friends at home we took them to John's Pass. The place sings of summer vacation. Rich was enjoying the sun whilst others shopped. It was quiet and peaceful and sure beat any mall I've ever been to!

Modeling is tough work

I promise I'm done posting pictures of the grandson! But I was amused at the youth's expression as he posed with Pops and and Great-Uncle Al. Already he recognizes the camera and is duly mesmerized. There was something about our faces with a camera in front that he puzzled upon. And even when the camera wasn't directly in front of the face he still wondered on it.


When Great-Uncle Al arrived he immediately introduced himself (for the first time!) to the child. But just look at the expression! Almost as if he is bored with being the center of attention, gift-giving and picture-taking.