Gonna Getchoo!

Maybe it's the "itch" from constantly growing muscles. Maybe it's because the weather is so warm. Whatever it is, my grandson doesn't slow down. That means that one of my favorite things to do with him is play at the playground! We stay just long enough to get really thirsty, a little bit hungry, and sometimes even a bit wobbly from being so tuckered out.

My Inheritance

When my cousin visits from Alaska, we try to find interesting things to do. This year I decided to take him and his wife to Heritage Village, a valuable inheritance for the residents of this part of Florida. Every time I go I see something different.

My cousin didn't want to duck under the rope and leave through the old garage door, so he walked back through the general store. It looks kind of like a sunset, but that's actually the electric orb inside the store. The smell of pines is rich in the village!

Time is up always too soon and we were under the countdown to catch the last tour of one of the historical houses. We caught the tour and even squeezed into the gift shop just before it closed to get some candy sticks. Yum!

Hide and Seek in Key Largo

So I've been hiding a bit from creative pursuits, but apparently I found myself again today. It was my thrill to serve as matron of honor at a friend's wedding in Key Largo and WOW! it was good to just get away. We ate at Doc's Diner and met the family. We hung around the pool with the wedding party. And of course, I managed to find a few spare moments to wander about the resort. With a camera, of course.

 

The lines and color just drove me dreamy. I fumbled around for some pictures that might play with texture, but, um, they didn't work out so well. So all you get is this picture-perfect poster of paradise. Every time I see this picture I'm back there floating in the salt water, chasing down iguanas, getting eaten alive by mosquitoes.... and walking in weddings!

Up for sake anyone?

We had the distinct pleasure of checking out Sushi Shoya, a restaurant in Madeira Beach. Guess what I drank with my sushi dinner? Sake. Not the traditional kind, but the popular kind. The kind that populates the windowsill so very cleverly and colorfully. Yum! Yum! I truly believe we will find ourselves there again. The food was delicious and the service ever so helpful and polite. So right.

Palm Tree Perceptions

As if it wasn't already fun enough to view cartoon-like building reflections, Florida goes on and throws in colorful facades and perky palms!

Historic Rain

Florida rain is dramatic and unapologetic. It comes down so hard, it's practically like driving through a car wash, which is convenient during love bug season. But when you have visitors from out of town, rain becomes a thankless inconvenience. Yet, with a little planning and a bit of luck, it can become a beautiful diversion - especially if you encourage your guests to indulge in some Tampa Bay history and traipse through the Tampa Bay History Center during the downpour.

I love, love, love the way they create exhibits at museums these days. Things to do, fun ways of looking at things and life-size replicas all make it so entertaining that one forgets there is learning happening. Having been through the museum before, we sat at the cafe and watched the rain over coffee and cappuccino. As the sun began peeking, the colors began singing and we put our feet to work once more.

Flight Risk

I enjoy stairs. And stairwells. Our condo building was having the elevator repaired. It took days. Some in our building are less able than others to climb up and down stairs. So they put chairs on each landing. The chairs lingered. I lingered. Now you can linger.

Beach Handling

Yup. I'm on the beach again. Only this time there is a wicked, orange, hand-like apparition creeping towards a group of unsuspecting seagulls and royal terns. How could I resist?! It reminds me of some old, B-rated horror movie I watched as a kid. It was aptly named "The Hand" because a disembodied hand went creeping about in the night killing people.

A Flower Blooms - On the Beach

 

So many beautiful things wash up on the beach. This one has been dusted with sand from a chilly, northerly wind. The silly part is that it looks a lot like snow. But maybe that's not so silly, given that if all things follow a circle, two opposites would be so close to one another.

No Hooey at Chihuly

 

My brother was visiting for the weekend so I finally had the perfect excuse to feast my eyes on the Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. No pictures allowed, but as it turned out, there was a lovely chandelier by Chihuly hanging in the Vinoy Resort and Gulf Club in St. Petersburg, Florida.

If you haven't seen the artist's work before, this is a decent example. Except that so many of his works are all sorts of brilliant colors, as opposed to all white. Not only did we discover the chandelier, but the Vinoy was a joy to explore. Talk about colors! Very fun. We even returned to have dinner at their restaurant. It was a Wow! for a $19.95 early bird special.

When the Sanctuary is Home

In the morning darkness there were toothbrushes silouhetted against the white sand outside. Rich and I took a road trip up to Ponte Vedra Beach for a conference this past week and on the way we stopped at my friend Annette's home in Melrose. She and her beau Ed have been busy making the house a home and what a sanctuary it is!

Just off the kitchen is a screened-in walkway to the next building that looks out on a deck that frames a koi pond, complete with waterfall. The hot tub and hammock felt perfectly at home there - can you say resort? From the tiki bar in the sand to a path through the Florida wilderness where a decently worn bench welcomes you at the end, everything here is calm and ready.

And the cooking was all comfort too. As usual I found myself goofing off in the kitchen rather than helping, but that's perfectly fine at Annette's because she is an incredible cook! She makes everything look so easy, so simple. She is grace in the kitchen. Biscuits and gravy with eggs couldn't have been more delicious than with the company of good friends and great people.

We had a wonderful time lounging on the couch at night watching movies and laughing loudly and an equally good time talking in the morning's soft light, finding respite before traveling on to a crowded conference and busy beach. Thanks Annette and Ed!

Voracious Vacationing

I have had so much fun on vacation this week that I'm going to need another vacation just to recover!! My grandson's daycare was on vacation this week so I took vacation from work to watch him full-time while his parents were working.

He is a little busy body! He has discovered every door and drawer in my condo. We went to the beach on Tuesday where he screeched at the waves and ate a mouthful of sand. On Wednesday we got rained out so we went to the library for some book reading and frivolity with like-minded friends.

My friend, Debbie T., introduced us to the dolphins at The Clearwater Aquarium on Thursday. Mason had a great time standing up against one of the aquariums where big fish, stingrays and sharks passed right next to him.

Each day our activities were punctuated by food and naps. I've discovered the attachments to my blender and made the most delicious yogurt - yes yogurt - blended with LOTS of blueberries and peaches. Yum! And who knew that peas and mashed potatoes all whipped up together could taste so good? Mason of course.

Today, Friday, we walked a mile or so in the hot, hot sun to the playground with a stop along the way at the Suncoast Bird Sanctuary. Mason got a bit testy when I took him out of the swing, but his disposition ensured a swiftly returning smile.

He had a chance to test out his new shoes at the playground too. The Florida sun makes most walking surfaces unbearable without shoes. He's not walking on his own yet, but helping him still beats carrying him!

I'm pretty sure I must be the luckiest grandmother ever to get to spend so much time with my grandson. Watching every tiny stage in his growth has been wickedly fun and it doesn't pass my notice that I missed so much of my own child's growth.

Being a parent means working and worrying. There's so much responsibility for ensuring *everything* is just right for the growing baby. That means less time watching in wonderment. Grandparents don't have that going on. I get to observe, participate and sleep soundly at night.

All those good things people say about being a grandparent? Completely true!

The Freedom of Mobility

Now that Mason can move his way around a room he is giddy! Everything is funny to him. This new freedom has shaken loose his irritation and all of the joy is pouring out.

Before I can blink my eyes, I'll bet that little Mason will be asking for the car keys. I can see him putting the top down on our convertible, playing the radio too loud and driving down Gulf Boulevard giddy with the joy of his found-again freedom of mobility.

Some walk in the rain, others just get wet

These girls *run* in the rain. One dashing into it and the other out. We spent the day at Busch Gardens with my cousin and his wife. They were visiting us from Alaska and my cousin told me that they really wanted to visit Busch Gardens. After riding a few roller coasters with him I finally heard him say that he had never ridden on a roller coaster before that day. Sheesh! He was fearless! I was duly impressed.

There was one roller coaster that had a foolishly steep drop that terrified me (I saw my face in the candid camera pictures and they accurately depicted my terror). It was mesmerizing to watch (as long as I wasn't on it) and then I realized how fun it was to watch the kids wait and wail when the car dipped into the water and sprayed everyone in the walkway.

There's something so satisfying about watching the glee and hearing the happy shrieks of kids playing in the middle of a sunny day.

Working the Wagon Wheel

Any family visit should really include a trip to the flea market. When the Brooklyn family was visiting with a 2-year-old in tow it was practically required! The Wagon Wheel and Mustang flea markets are adjacent and flooded with the old and new, trash and treasure that you would expect, but there are also a few aisles transformed into and open air Asian food market. Luscious and amazing!

The problem is that Rich and I are clueless on what most of it is or how to cook and consume it. Any ideas on how to get educated?

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!

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.

Kickin' Karaoke

Karaoke took on a whole new meaning at the Talent Quest Sunshine State when Marie took the stage! It's always fun to know someone so talented and even better when it's someone like Marie who is such a great person to be around.

Sitting in front of us in the audience was a well-dressed couple. She stayed in the audience while her husband got up on stage for his turn. They were both very well preserved!

Yellow Crested Night Heron

Today we were witness to the nesting habits of the yellow-crested night heron! It was late afternoon and we had just been talking with Tom the sax-man in the coffee shop after visiting the beach for some sun. He made a fabulous cuppa joe for Rich and I had some fresh-squeezed orange juice. Turns out his wife, Tammy, is a watercolor artist and she was exhibiting at an outdoor fair just one town up on the beach. She is really quite the amazing artist! She combines ink with watercolor to create lovely paintings - we saw mostly birds. The ink gives it a sharpness and texture that is very attractive. And who should be making their nest in a tree in middle of this fair? A pair of yellow-crested night herons!! The male would bring her some twigs and she would take them and work them into the nest. Then he would leave to find some more. Quite the sight on such a fine and sunny afternoon. We were tickled!