A Pleasant Interruption

Easily recognizable is the loud knocking noise of the Florida's Pileated Woodpecker. It has a very distinguishable sound, made by the bird's beak when pounding on wood, while searching for food. Today, it was our pleasure to have seen this magnificent warm-blooded vertebrate high on a pole, very near our garden. An incredibly large creature, some are l8 inches tall, we were impressed by the red feathered spike on top of it's head. In flight, this beautiful creature had a wing span that was quite impressive. We watched it fly upward, moving swiftly through the air, until it was completely out of sight. We were indeed, most thankful for the sighting, and thought it a pleasant interruption.

Woodpecker

His bill an auger is,

His head, a cap and frill,

He laboreth at every tree,

A worm his utmost goal.

~Emily Dickinson

Be Blessed This Lord's Day

Serenity And Tranquility

For a short while today, I lay out by the pool just taking it all in and trying to get some good ole vitamin D. What an awesome place to be, a place of serenity and tranquility, a little piece of paradise. Lots of things in the garden are far exceeding my expectations, due to all the rain. It was quiet, except for the birds and they were busy about their usual thing of showing off whistles, songs and warnings. I thought about that for a moment or two, how I hardly notice the noises they're making, unless I make an effort to listen. The Mockingbird must really like the sound of it's own voice, for they are constant in their twittering and singing. I noticed the bees on my white roses, the pink Hibiscus and the "Plumeria." What a beautiful thing the Plumeria with it's cluster of white blooms. I wanted photos of them and the sun was in perfect position, bright and directly overhead. What you see are all the right elements coming together. I'm wishing you a serene and tranquil weekend.......click on photos

The Ocean Water's Edge

Walking along the ocean water's edge is to experience exploration and discovery. The best time for this is the period of calm, after a storm. The churning up of the ocean floor, along with the thrust of the waves, has left deposits of all sorts of unusual and interesting objects, lying in the sand. They are all unique and fascinating. click on photos...

Past, Present, Future

Tell me, tell me, smiling child,

What the past is like to thee?

'An Autumn evening soft and mild

With a wind that sighs mournfully.'

Tell me, what is the present hour?

'A green and flowery spray

Where a young bird sits gathering its power

To mount and fly away.'

And what is the future, happy one?

'A sea beneath a cloudless sun;

A mighty, glorious, dazzling sea

Stretching into infinity.'

~Emily Bronte

Coleus

I begin looking in the nurseries each spring for Coleus. The Coleus, an annual, is somewhat over-looked, but I love their presence on my porch and in my garden. I believe it's variegated colorful leaves to be quite lovely. They will grow tall and leggy if not pinched back, and in doing so, the plant spreads out beautifully. I've planted a few in the ground, in a shaded area beneath a small palm. They seem to have made themselves right at home. They do like filtered light. Each year I place them in clay pots, and these are placed on a walkway in the garden. l have to keep an eye on them, our weather is hot and humid and they will need plenty of water. In preparation, my pots have gravel on the bottom, a layer of peat moss and then filled with potting soil. I've seen Coleus planted along side English Ivy, a pretty presentation. Another suggestion is to plant Coleus with that wonderful lime-green potato vine....they are just gorgeous in window boxes. I do find these pretty leafy plants so much to my liking, and hope you do as well. Be blessed today!

Breakfast

As a child, I was told breakfast was the most important meal of the day, and I believed it and.....quite enjoyed it. Not a lot to grumble about when your mother prepares homemade hot biscuits, bacon and bacon gravy and eggs. My husband, being from the south had breakfast consisting of yellow grits, toast and eggs. This would be a tradition I would embrace and serve my family for many years. These days, however, our breakfast can consist of a variety of things. Bagels, oatmeal, cereals could be on the morning menu for breakfast, or an occasional southern grits might be served. A favorite, now and then....Croissants. Those pictured are from Williams Sonoma, looking amazingly appetizing. Pastry chef Jean-Yves Charon makes these French style, light and flaky. Without further ado....please excuse me, I'm about to have "Breakfast".......my favorite meal.

A New Bird Feeder

Spring had arrived and few birds found our garden desirable. The birdbath was replenished with fresh water each day, the flowers were pretty and the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful. A family of Mockingbirds had come and gone and that had been our only sightings of fine feathered friends. We were determined to change things, and so we did. A new bird feeder and fresh wild bird seed was the attraction we needed. A family of Cardinals were the first to come. We saw the mother and father for a while and now, we see the little ones. Of course we have Blue Jays, Mockingbirds and Black Birds. Now and then we have unusual birds we've not seen before, and they are most welcomed. One year we had two green parrots visit our garden. Their squawk was loud and noisy, but they stayed for just a few short moments. The bird feeder hangs right outside a window perfect for our viewing, and we have so much pleasure in watching. Although annoying, the Squirrels have found the bird seed irresistible. Watching them is somewhat entertaining.. What contortionist they are as they do everything in their power to reach and balance on the tiny feeder shelves....and they do manage some how. Now our garden seems somewhat complete and more alive with all the bird activity. You might say, we've become "bird watchers." click on photos.....

Yellow In The Garden

Yellow flowers are blooming in the garden. It has rained each day for more than a week....they seem to have outgrown their designated spot. Not a worry, but a blessing. click on photos...

Missing The "Money Shot"

I am no longer satisfied with my old cameras........I would like a ...Nikon 12.3 mp Digital Camera! I thought about that camera today while taking a walk down by the marina park, overlooking Tampa Bay. As luck would have it, we were visited by a very curious and most friendly family of Manatees. These massive gentle creatures, seven we counted, swam and played in the shallow waters below the pier. A calf and her baby surfaced just below where I was standing, with sweet noses touching. My camera did not have enough zoom. It's a sad sad feeling when you miss the "money shot."

Worship

WEATHER

Weather
Whether the weather be
fine
or whether the weather be
not,
Whether the weather be
cold
or whether the weather be
hot,
We'll whether the weather
whatever the weather,
Whether we like it or not.
~anonymous

Finding The Unusual

If the rain lets up today, I'm off to find the unusual. I haven't taken the time lately, but I find it entertaining to do a bit of exploring down alley ways, quaint little courtyards or hidden gated gardens. We seem to have plenty of them around here and I can hardly wait. I never know what to expect on one of these outings, but find I'm never disappointed. Once I found an unusual fountain in a hidden courtyard garden.

How often it is that a garden, beautiful though it be, will seem sad and dreary and lacking in one of its most gracious features, if it has no water.

~Pierre Husson

Oleander

The Oleander makes a fantastic presentation all along the causeways leading out to the Gulf beaches. I need not say more about this lovely plant, it speaks loudly without uttering a word......click on photos

What I'm Reading

Any day is a good day to stop by the library. Yesterday it was raining and a rainy day is a perfect day to stop by the library, and so I did. Libraries haven't changed a whole lot over the years. When I first walk inside, I usually see a little white headed lady at the desk and I expect that acknowledgement of I see you, and you better speak in a whisper. Sure they have added computers to help you locate books and now have a section with well-used and out-dated movie's you can take home with you. I say, do so at your own risk, and be ready for disappointment, for most of them have been damaged. You'll find movies like Shadow of the Thin Man, Forbidden Planet, or the Asphalt Jungle with Marilyn Monroe. Maybe they're worth taking a chance on. At our library they have a small room full of used books for sale. "Friend's Of The Library" donate books to help support library projects, such as reading programs for young children, or "Film Night At the Library." This has become a favorite part of the library for me. I like bargain children's books and on occasion I can find, in like new condition, a book by a New York Times bestselling author. Yesterday, I found "The Last Promise, by Richard Paul Evans. The book looks brand spanking new and even has a few words of sentiment written inside....Evelyn....Merry Christmas...Lots of Love, Mom and Dad. I'm glad Evelyn decided to pass this book on to the "Friends of the Library." So, I'll be reading Mr. Evan's book for the next day or two. In The Last Promise Richard Paul Evans spins a passionate, bittersweet tale about the fantastic joy and great sorrow life can throw our way. In the end, an uplifting, all-too human tale about the magnificent power of true love.

Bovines On The Loose

Most mornings I'm seated at my computer, reading news online with television news in hearing range. The world of information is bombarding my brain at all angles. "Bovines On The Loose!" This announcement, televised, got my attention. I've heard bovine before and knew it had something to do with cows, or at least I thought so. Then I began thinking, if a bovine wondered into my neighborhood, would I recognize it? I needed to know, so I did a little research. Let's see...Google....hmmm...

I found that the biological bovinae is included in a diverse family of Ungulates "hoofed animals," most of which use the tips of their toes, usually hoofed to sustain their whole body weight. This family includes domestic cattle, the bison, the water buffalo, the yak and ...the four horned and spiral-horned antelope. Anyone of these creatures would be interesting to see walking down the street, but I concluded the bovine mentioned in the news alert, must be the one used for food. I've been on the lookout for bovines all day, but thus far, the only one spotted has long been packaged, frozen and placed in my freezer. I wish for you lots of smiles today....and, watch out for "bovines."

"The Cow" by Ogden Nash

The cow is of the bovine ilk

One end is moo, the other milk.

Rain Water

After weeks and even months of drought like conditions here on the Gulf coast, we are highly pleased, most joyful and even a bit euphoric about the rain. We have been blessed with an abundance of glorious water falling in droplets from the clouds since early morning. No matter where I go, or who I speak to, the conversation is likely at some point, directed toward the weather. I spoke to an acquaintance early this morning about the rain, and he was amazed at how, in just a short time, the grass and the plants respond to whatever nutrients the rain contains. "We should bottle the rain, or gather it in large barrels for future use," he said. No doubt, we've all noticed our watering systems, or even the use of a water hose used directly, has very little if any effect on the plant's growth. I am thankful today, for nature's process of lovely condensed vapor, no longer suspended in the atmosphere, but now in glorious droplet form. I am listening to the rain and smelling the sweet fragrances of wet grasses, plants and earth. Be blessed today....click on photos....

Blooming Lace

My tropical garden is full of surprises and unusual floral blooms. Thus is the case for the Robelini, a Florida Palm. On these lovely small trees, clusters of pods can be seen for several days and then as if by magic they begin breaking open. Shown in the photos are spectacular lace like blooms with hundreds of gorgeous tiny little cream colored florettes. I'm finding it difficult when describing how nature in reproducing, can be so magnificent.click on photos...

The Best Time Of Our Lives

Disney World's Carousel Of Progress....

I've been doing some serious thinking lately, mostly about the progress we've made in America, just during my lifetime. Some folks seem intent on changing our way of life by reversing our forward movement. I'm not liking what I'm hearing. Some suggestions for conservation, with sacrifice by the population, sound all so familiar to me, and not in a good kind of way. I remember when we had no choice in the matter and we just quite naturally used some of these methods, back in the "good ole days." I suppose doing without air conditioning, one could save energy, but do I want to turn the clock back to days of window fans on hot sultry days? Washing clothes in cold water not such a bad thing, but hanging clothes out to dry to avoid using the dryer, I'm just not so sure. Seems like yesterday,my standing at an ironing board with a mountain of sprinkled clothes. Walk instead of riding they say, and use mass transit....they are unlikely choices. This is a good one.....take cold showers. Turn the hot water heater off!!! I looked up the word "progress" in the dictionary. It means, a forward movement, advance. I like this one...a gradual betterment. Oh yes, I've seen it all come and now, they want me to see it go. I find it interesting and enlightening when reading about ingenious Americans like Edison, Bell, and Ford. They made a difference and made life easier and better for all of us. Just seems like the folks in charge don't quite have it right. The vision for America was to go forward, improve life for all it's citizens, with all sorts of new and innovative ideas. Seems to me we have a handful of questionable talkers making the decisions for us all. Disney World's "Carousel Of Progress" has a good story line. Living in a free society is how to make it happen. God has blessed this nation with an abundance of natural resources and we need to use them. It would be really nice if some of these narcissistic folks would just give it a rest on this global warming thing. As long as man dreams, works and builds together we will continue going forward. These are, the best times of our lives!

Dulce de Leche

We often see Dulce de Leche (milk-based sauce) served in restaurants here on the Gulf coast. With a large Cuban influence, long been in the Tampa Bay area, we've been fortunate in our exposure to so many delicious foods. Now and then I pop over to Martha Stewart's Living and browse for a bit. Almost always I find something wonderful in home decor or, as in today's case a new recipe. I like simple and healthy when it comes to deserts. Keeping within the springtime theme, I found "Roasted Apricots with Dulce de Leche" a good choice for the Mister and myself or a lovely desert for guest. I like that not only can you use apricots, peaches, plums or nectarines, I'm quite sure a favorite...plantains would be delicious.

The Dulce de Leche is so simple....

Ingredients:l/2 Cup nonfat Sweetened Condensed Milk

2 tablespoons sugar

Directions...In small saucepan, combine the milk and sugar and cook over med heat until reduced in half ...about 10 mins. The mixture will turn color of peanut shells.

Fruit roasting directions....450 degree oven

Toss fruit in sugar, cinnamon and vanilla extract

Roast in shallow roasting pan about 15 or 20 minutes....stir once or twice.

Serve

While fruit is warm, serve in a small glass dish. Be especially liberal when it comes to the Dulce de Leche....Yum!

Laughter and Happiness

Odd that most folks walked right on by, everyone but me. I had noticed them from inside the store, and as you can see, I had to have a photo of these ladies. Seated in front of the department store, they seemed to be laughing from the top of their heads to the tip of their toes. Isn't this the way it is between good friends? I have girlfriends that laugh with me. My beloved and I laugh often. Laughter is the best, and it makes you feel good all over. When my youngest child was in elementary school, now and then she would say, "Mom, let's laugh....say something funny." We would begin laughing and the more we laughed the funnier things seemed to be. Often we just made funny faces at one another and that would start our laughter. I like movies with comedy. I miss Bob Hope and George Burns. I could watch old Carol Burnett shows over and over. Don't you think if we had old fashioned, clean comedy on television, people would feel much better? There's just too much negativity out there. I want to laugh, and laugh a lot. As Woody Allen once said, "I am thankful for laughter, except when milk comes out of my nose." What is "Happiness?"

"Well, said Pooh, "What I like best," and then he had to stop and think. Because although "eating honey" was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn't know what it was called. So, today, I wish you lots and lots of laughter and, happiness too.....

At Home In The Tidepool

I quite enjoy solitude now and then, in particular, I enjoy a quiet beach. We're fortunate to have such a place a short drive from our home. We are very close to Honeymoon Island State Park, and much of the designated land, including the beaches, have been left in their natural state. This is a lovely natural reserve protecting wildlife and plant species. Seaweed and driftwood lie about, allowing for some very nice photo taking. With few people around, one can listen to the ocean sounds, observe nesting sea birds and watch for little creatures that make their homes in tide pools along the beach. The Fiddler Crab can be part of one's afternoon entertainment, should you lie quite still on the sand. They are fun to watch and seem to pop up by the hundreds during low tide. I wonder, have you ever come eye-to-eye with a Fiddler Crab?

Spring In The Catskills

Awake, thou wintry earth-
Fling off thy sadness!
Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth
Your ancient gladness!
~Thomas Blackburn

My daughter's garden...

No matter what part of the world you live in, spring is most likely your favorite time of year. The dictionary tells us that spring means to come from by birth, to decent. Spring marks the transition from winter into summer.

Here on the Gulf Coast of Florida, seems like spring just rushed in one day and out the next. Before we knew it, summer had arrived. For the past couple of weeks we have enjoyed temps in the high nineties. Not such a bad thing however, the ocean waters are warmer and our pool feels mighty refreshing. Last evening, I received photos from family members, taken in up-state New York. Spring comes much later to folks living in the Catskill mountains, but when it does, it is well worth the wait. Hmmmm.....God does such good work.

Sweet Memory Lingering

Pink Tulips....sweet lingering memories. A gift from our dinner guest, Friday evening, these pink Tulips just pop out and say "notice me" and we do. A black and white room and a splash of pink...pretty!

Happy Mother's Day

White Peonies

Don't you just love it when a plan comes together? From the moment my eyes opened this morning, I was feeling good, and I felt excited and happy about the busy day I had before me. We were having guest for dinner, a good old fashioned cookout with steak and chicken on the grill and all the good stuff to go with it. We like entertaining and were looking forward to spending the evening with long time friends from Barbados, who are now concerned American citizens. You know, it's a beautiful thing to have unhurried conversation with folks that seem to be on the "same sheet of music." These friends are bright, articulate, understanding, practical and sensible. Friendly talk, laughter and good food lasted a while and then the dinner dishes were cleared away. I served a lovely peach torte along with coffee and we got down to some serious business. Wonderfully stimulating conversation lasted well into the evening. I suppose we covered it all, or at least we tried. We had no solutions, I'm afraid, but we had plenty of ideas on how to solve the problems facing our nation. First and foremost, return back to being a nation that worships the Christian God and, obeys His laws. So, you ask, what do the White Peonies have to do with a dinner party? Answer.....Only that they were beautifully placed in the center of the table and I wanted to share them.