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.

Switchplates and Outlets to go

Just look what came off of the walls! Now you have an idea of some of the color derangement that was going on. Unfortunately some of it still exists - that nasty green is what previous owners painted the medicine cabinet door. But little by little we have been changing the details and making our new condo a home.

Muddy Manatees

Innocently out biking in some neighborhoods this morning I stop under a tree for a drink and what do I spy? Manatees! Four of them swimming around, rolling over each other and snorting in some very shallow, very muddy water at the end of a waterway. I stayed for quite a while watching. The most I saw of them at any one time was either what you see above or the snout and sometimes a whole head. Oh and their tails would swoop out of the water every now and again too. 

I also helped convince a momma duck that she and her babies really did not want to cross the busy road but would rather swim in the ravine. And on my way home as I was climbing the bridge I had to stop pedalling to gawk at the schools of large fish frolicking in the shallows. How so much wildlife manages to coexist with so many people amazes me!