Boca Ciega Millenium Park

A recent trip to Boca Ciega Millenium Park, a quick bike ride from my house, shows Florida in its own muted, powdery colors. I grew up in the tri-state area of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware where greens are lush, flowers a dizzy flash of bright colors and seasons in stark contrast. Florida is not like that. Think soft pine needle beds, bright flowers mingling all year round and lots of softly muted colors born of drought resistant characteristics. Seasons seem to fade in and out of each other without fanfare. One month the birds are in a wild fish feeding frenzy at the beach and the next month a morning walk begs the question, "Where are the birds?"

I like the calm pace of the weather, the bright sunlight and the wickedly wild diversity of plants. I took the grandson out for a walk in the stroller around an apartment complex and stopped and stood gaping at the beautiful complexity of a flowering plant growing idly in the landscaping. Florida does a good job of keeping me amused...and out of trouble!

Killing me with Kayaks



Down in the mangroves at Weedon Island Preserve, Rich and I went wandering about in our neon green double kayak from Sweetwater Kayaks. For the first two hours it was sweet indeed. But the tide was on its way out making paddling a whole heck of a lotta work. After our four hours we were TIRED.

We wandered the kayak trail deep into the tunnels of the mangrove roots. We took our paddle apart and each took half when it became too narrow for anything else. Later we had to get out and walk because the water was too shallow. At first we were delighted with the jumping fish. Big fish! Boing! boing! boing! leaping out of the water over and over again. Then deep in the mangroves we saw a family of raccoons playing at the water's edge and climbing the mangroves across the water above us. We noticed the very small crabs hanging out on the broken roots just above the water too. But coolest for me were the birds.

We have yet to identify the bird in the picture. Do yo know what it is?

The birds we know about were:

• brown pelican
• great blue heron
• little blue heron
• tricolored heron
• more white ibis than I care to count
• American red oyster catcher
• double breasted cormorant
• anhinga

My arms will be sore for a week, but I'd go back in a heartbeat - at HIGH tide!

Music makes magic

I bought this little boom box from the flea market to play music while I hula hooped with friends on the beach. Six "D" batteries later it plays the CD but stops in the middle of the second song and won't start again. It turns out that the only music stations that tune in on the beach are the Latin dance ones. AM comes in the strongest. Okay. Great beat.

It's not really all about me...is it?



As much as I was moved by the National Philanthropy Day awardees as they expressed their passion for this world in which we are all connected...I did get bored. There is only so long I can sit still and be attentive without mutual interaction or intellectual engagement. So I found a reflection. I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the table centerpieces were and how artfully they reflected the room's lighting and, well, me and my table companions. It's so difficult to find a muse and I seem perpetually willing so...here I am again. Do you think Lisa, sitting next to me, noticed?

People. Music. Food.

I met this handsome young fellow at a new place in town - Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe. We were there to check out the music, but we had some fabulous food along the way. I had the most delicious veggie burger and okra succotash. Really. Okra succotash. I LOVED it!

And there was the music. Do you see those acoustic panels behind Lee Pons? This place was designed for music! The sound was clear - without being too loud. We had the best time. Good food. Great music. And the BEST company.

Tea for two...or three or more!

Since she was itty-bitty, my daughter has always been able to listen to suggestions and then craft a very personalized solution for herself. When her first serious boyfriend was horrible to her I was petrified. I knew it was always possible she would struggle with the same kinds of problems that I had worked so hard, so many years to overcome, but what now? How could I help her? Thankfully, I was able to just be there so she could help herself. And wow has she ever! Now she is a fabulous new mom, parenting together with a kind and impressive young dad.

So when a bunch of invitations arrived for various charitable events, I decided to invite my daughter to join a Cup of Hope tea party designed to benefit the Bay Areal Legal Services in their efforts to help domestic abuse survivors help themselves. Relationships among family members can be some of the most complex and mysterious. Violence in the home is a salt in the emotional wounds of family members - something you can't always see but that turns up the volume on the pain for everyone.

So on the grounds of a quiet and serene, private Tampa residence, we talked about love, life and happiness over tea. We let the glorious Florida sunshine fill us with hope...for ourselves and for the sea of people we share the world with.

Gulfport Views

Gulfport is a delightful Florida throwback. It sits at the water's edge on Boca Ciega Bay and has its own little beach. The big trees, brick-paved roads and old Florida homes give it a distinctive feel. Sometimes it looks a bit worn but then you come across a treasure like this lovely flower-adorned building. We went to visit a photo-friend, Robert Scrivener, at his booth there at the Art Walk on Friday night. His photos were all the more amazing when printed! Apparently Gulfport is a hive of artisans and we enjoyed cruising among the various booths.

It was a very chilly night - the first smack of fall weather down here, but still a sitdown at the water was lovely. The strong breeze made good sailing and this boat was running at a decent clip. There's not much of a skyline here, but somehow that feels old-world-like too. It fits right in with Gulfport!

Can you find this smile in your car?

Some days it seems like there are smiling faces everywhere! Rich and I were on our way to the Suncoast Blues Society Challenge when I noticed this cute smile.

Look! I've got hands!

My grandson is finally discovering his hands. They amaze and entertain him. It makes me wonder if he will have a flash of insight when he recognizes that he can will his hands to move or if he will have a slower path to discovery built on multiple sensory experiences, like grabbing people and things of interest to him. Possibly it will be some combination. However it happens, it is a joy to watch.

Who's that family in the real estate window?

Walking along one fine and sunny day after cruising the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg, Florida, three family members stop to stare in the real estate window. So casual, so cool. Yup. We are palm trees and paradise.

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet...

I was out wandering the roads in Delaware County, Pennsylvania and decided to stop at one of my favorite haunts - Ridley Creek State Park. There was a wedding happening at the old mansion so my comfortable wanderings were punctuated with lovely music. Ahhh.

That's a horse of course!

The Desmond Hotel is quite the old world kind of place. Rich and I had dinner one night in the Hunt Room and met friends for drinks at the Fox and Hound. Really. We did. There were even two weddings there over the weekend. Pictures of horses are everywhere and the staff has been there for years. They must be doing something right.

Xander was surprised when a horse came up behind him. Is he the cutest grandson from Brooklyn ever?! He didn't get excited about dressage, but the horse show grounds were a delight for his senses.

Some THING is eating my receipts

So there I was at a corner cafe in West Philadelphia waiting for my meeting when I witnessed first-hand what was eating the receipts I have been so carefully collecting for the IRS. Gotcha!

Rain, traffic and time

 

Do I ever miss the Philadelphia area? Apparently. But not for too long. I was driving to the hotel from center city on the Schuylkill Expressway at rush hour. Ahh the memories! But I had time. No rush for me. No child to pick up at daycare, no dog to let out of the house or drycleaning to pick up. And then I remembered my camera in my bag. And you've got the result. Cars and trucks from ahead and behind. They're everywhere!

I had taken Girard Street earlier in the day when school was letting out. Would you believe that twice no-one slowed down for the flashing-yellow school zone? I did. And they were hating on me I can tell you. The double-yellow lines didn't even slow them down from entering the trolley tracks to skip ahead of traffic. It was harrowing! Yeah, I miss that too.

Sunset watchers

After a long day we decided to enjoy the view from our balcony. Okay, it faces northwest so we weren't technically watching the sunset. It's more like we're sunset tail watchers...

The Summer of Our Discontent

Why doesn't anyone tow the cat away? The neighbor cat is clearly loitering outside Mahuffer's but she doesn't seem to care about that towing sign she's parked under. It was a beautiful late summer afternoon and I dragged Rich out of the house to go picture-hunting at the beach. We only made it to Mahuffer's where he went in for a scotch and I kept going until I made it to the front of the building. Then it occurred to me that I might find some pictures right there. And I did find one or two.

Mahuffer's has been around a while and it shows. Out in the back in the summer it's kinda-like a very old man who hasn't bathed in years. Or maybe even one dug up from the grave...!

Look who came for dinner!

Mason joined us for dinner tonight. He fussed over being left alone on the couch so I laid him on the table with us while we ate. He found it quite amusing and so did we :-D

Bromeliads, mosquitoes and grasshoppers OH MY!

Visiting the Florida Botanical Gardens is like being a child with a kaleidoscope - every day is a different experience of beauty and wonder. My trip this morning was no exception. There were bromeliads in bloom the likes of which I had never seen before. The intricacy of the bloom pictured below just knocked my socks off!

Even the bugs were dazzling today. Below is a picture of a Lubber grasshopper. At first I found two of them mating, but I discovered that a swarm of mosquitoes had found me and I went bounding out of there. This grasshopper was on the window far from mosquito friendly territory.

Adventures at Home Depot

Yup. I chose the pricey one. Just taking a little potty break while Rich wanders a bit. I'm finally looking at colors for the walls. So many choices, so few seating options.

Military Month

Rich had a birthday and I couldn't come up with anything to give him... until I found out about the Armed Forces Military Museum in Largo. Right in our own backyard! And this was no mom-and-pop museum. It was HUGE and professionally done. They just opened in 2008. We had a good time and they even had an exhibit on Vietnam.

Do beach bars create beach bums?

There's something about the Florida sun, the beach and the tourist attractions that cultivate an atmosphere of vacationism behavior. You know what I'm talking about. When you say to yourself, "I'm on vacation so why not order dessert?" or "We're on an adventure, let's let loose and act wild?" Just check out this fun-lovin' sign from an outdoor bar across the street from from the beach. But I'm suggesting that this vacationism behavior doesn't affect natives, who are far and few between, just transplants. Like me.

Except that I've gotten it backwards. For those of you that know me this will come as no surprise. But for those who might not - surprise! I moved down here in 2008 and was, at best, conservative. Not too many drinks at the bar, bouncing my head to the music. Calm. Quick trips to the beach to avoid sun overexposure. Cool. Now? Occasionally on a Friday night I have - gasp! - gotten up to dance on the dance floor. FINALLY I've realized how close I live to the beach and have actually gone and - OMG - gotten sand in my hair doing yoga and then jumped into the water. I have a beach umbrella ... with a sand anchor so I can hang on the beach.

Yes, Florida is infectious. Some people get a little...okay...a lot...out of hand. I can't see myself getting out of hand, but it sure feels good to enjoy the joys of the warm Florida sun, the beautiful beaches, the hot-tub-like summer pools and, yes, those ridiculous bars with outrageous tourist entertainment!

Iced, Icy and Cubed

There is something beautiful about a sparkling glass and my glass of iced tea at a recent luncheon was no different. I am infatuated with the distortions that are created and the crispness of the colors. What I don't usually like are ice cubes. It's a longstanding preference that has eased a bit since soaking up summer in Florida, but lingers like odors on a heavy, humid days.

It's one thing to come back from a bike ride hot and sweaty and sit down to savor a glass of highly iced water. It's an entirely different story to have a glass of iced anything in most establishments in Florida in the summer. Whilst people are frying their eggs on the pavement, the typical temperature inside is kept to the 60's. Which might feel refreshing for about 10 seconds (or an hour if you ask my husband). But as the luncheon speaker talked on, a chill began to sink into me. Sipping iced tea was no help and I was shivering a bit before the end of the presentation. At least my closed-up car felt deliciously hot when I got in to drive home!

Hopping faces

 

Hospitals are funny places and you can find many faces there. I was taking a dinner break while my daughter was laboring in labor and I noticed this eye. It's an extra eye to help prevent people from colliding in the hallways. Never blinking, but pretty.

 

Then I went to visit the newborn little peanut a few days later at his home and guess whose face was peering up at me from the railing? This grasshopper! It's not too often that I come across such a large and beautiful specimen.

Faces in Places

It's not terribly often that I'm sitting in the back seat of a car, but there I was the other day and I couldn't help but wonder at the seriousness of this face watching me. Really? I guess she just didn't realize we were on a fun trip out for lunch with friends.

It may not be often that I'm in the back seat of a car, but I find myself in public bathroom stalls far too often! And then I got a little giggle at the ridiculous face my pocketbook was making. Maybe she's tired of hanging about in places that make the nose wiggle a little?

It's fun when faces find you everywhere. Where have you seen a funny face?

Welcome Mason Christopher!

We welcomed Mason Christopher into the world on August 3, 2010 at 10:43pm. This is him the next day at the hospital. He was wide awake and curious. Being a new grandma is like standing under a big waterfall - I'm overwhelmed and soaked with excitement, love, happiness and joy!

Part of what makes his arrival particularly thrilling is that his parents are so ready for him. They have been waiting and working and now that he is here, they are both so in love with him. You wouldn't believe how kind they were during the labor and delivery. Jon stepped right in and provided just the right amount of comfort and encouragement and Jakki remained unbelievably calm and pleasant. She was still saying "please" and "thank you" in the midst of pushing for two hours!

If I get any more proud I might burst! Mostly I'm just in  awe.

All Keyed Up

Rich had a conference in Key West and I got to run around and play! WOO HOO! So I rented a bike with a big cushioned seat and saw the sights. This is a picture of a tourist shop packed with reminders. It was a glorious day - hot and sunny.

On the second day I had to return the bike so I wandered in and out of the art galleries on Duval Street. Inspired and air conditioned.

But before my time ended I roamed Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. I've always enjoyed climbing on the rocks but wasn't feeling to inspired to take pictures. Until I found the perfect muse to photograph. Tee hee! Timers are ever so tempting.

Coffee Conferences

June isn't just for weddings. Conferences abound during the month too. Rich and I drove south to Boca Raton for my fundraising conference and stopped to visit a friend he first met while teaching in Prague. Would you believe she lives a mile from where my conference was held? I was even more lucky to be invited to stay with her while Rich continued driving down for his conference in Key West.

You can see my reflection in the window as I sat outside one morning preparing for the day with a cup of coffee and my laptop. My hostess was delightful and fascinating and her house came complete with a cat and a dog, Pepper, who likes to play fetch in the pool.

The most inspiring part of my trip in Boca was the lounging lady at the end of the pool. The kitchen looked out over the pool and there she was, every day just as relaxed and loving life as she was the day before. Me too! I want that to be me too!

Pretty in Pink

Yesterday my restless feet took me walking to the end of the boardwalk near my condo. As I was enjoying the breeze a Roseate Spoonbill flew into the mangroves that the boardwalk winds its way through. As I walked back towards home I spotted the spoonbill fishing in a pool of water, which I had noticed on my way in because the little fish were acting a bit frantic. The low tide hadn't left them much water to swim in.

Now most wading birds I've seen in Florida have pointed bills and with a swift motion the bird snatches fish from the water. The spoonbill was swishing her bill in the water as she walked. It was like a beautiful head dance. She wasn't too happy to have me watching her and flew up into the mangrove trees where I shamelessly took photos.

And now as I am typing this I look out my window over the mangroves and see a little girl racing along the boardwalk followed by a lovely pink bird flying over the treetops. My second spotting of a Roseate Spoonbill in the wild, all dressed up and pretty in pink!

Garden Giggles

Rich and I went exploring at the Museum of Fine Arts in St. Petersburg again. There is a new photography exhibit and the woman who made a significant donation of photographs to it was giving a lecture. Afterward I found the courtyard I had missed the last time and tickled myself with perverse perspective.

Philodendrons are taking over Florida!

Walking to the swimming pool I noticed this unusual flower sprouting from the bosom of a very common plant here in West-Central Florida. Of course I was fascinated! Just think how many sci-fi and other twistings of creative souls have been influenced by plants such as this!


I poked around the plant from different angles and can only wonder at the entertainment I provided my neighbors as I squatted, leaned and clicked my camera. But I was being entertained as well. Don't you just want to say how cute this plant is? As in the Geico gecko cute?

So I came home and had to discover what this plant was called. As a child my Grandmother or maybe it was my brother brought a very similar plant from Florida to grow in our house in New Jersey. Did it ever grow! I named it Lurch after the Adams Family butler because in the summer my mother would put it on the porch near the front door. It turns out it is commonly known as a tree or cut-leaf Philodendron. Pretty much, if a plant has thick, green glossy leaves and you say it's a Philodendron you're probably right. It's a big family of plants.