Wintering in Sunshine

In the past, I would have been sharing winter scenes this time of year.  But not any more. Aside from a ski trip or two out west with The Professor, I will happily be spending my winters in glorious Florida sunshine. 

The cool thing about living part of the year in here is that there is a local photo club which I have joined.  It is a very active group of several hundred individuals. Some with little experience and others who earn a living at their craft. They host monthly meetings, focus group outings, feedback sessions, and too many other activities to mention.  Needless to say, I am in hog heaven.  Sunshine, beaches, amazing critters and all to be enjoyed through my camera!  (Which has been greatly neglected over the past year.)

In January, the photo club had a fun excursion in Ybor City, a historic neighborhood of Tampa. Although I had been there before, it was fun to see it through my lens.

“ Ybor City was founded as an independent town in 1885 by a group of cigar manufacturers led by Vicente Martinez and was annexed by Tampa in 1887. The original population was mostly composed of Cuban and Spanish immigrants who worked in cigar factories.' 

Ybor City was unique in the fact that it was entirely populated and owned by immigrants. Nowadays, its a mixture of an entertainment and night club district amidst offices and residences.  

A cool place to photograph with its Spanish, Cuban and Italian architecture. The lady below, as you can see, was none so please as I quickly snapped a shot.

We had lunch at the Columbia Restaurant, which is the oldest restaurant in Florida, owned and operated by five generations since 1905.  It was delightful as well as meeting new folks and talking camera talk at lunch.

This past month, we enjoyed the Herrmann's Royal Lipizzan Stallions.  I'll share next time.  Until then, my friends!

Little bit of Florida sunshine

June is now upon us and I have no idea what happened to May!  Oh, that's right.  I became the mama of two puppies!  I am surrounded by chaos.

Not so long ago, there was much order in my life.  Like in April.  Like when we took time to visit our home in Anna Maria.  Actually, that week ended up not being so relaxing.  There were a number of repairs and yard work to get done.  I didn't take as many photos as I often do but did have a chance here and there while biking around.

Nowadays, just being able to sit and do nothing would be the most rewarding treat ever!  

(I now speak in dog language.)

I never tire of trying to capture some of my favorite birds.

The Great Blue Heron.

And my most favorite, those pelicans.

I can watch them endlessly dive and cruise above the waters.

I think they are magnificent.

But always, the best time is the evenings.

As the day begins to disappear into night.

It reminds me how extraordinary the universe is 

in all of its grandeur.

And I am thankful.

(And I will be more thankful once my puppies are house broken!)

Gonna be a hot one...

Well, it seems that summer will finally arrive. 

We're anticipating temps in the 90's this week!

Too hot, too soon for this part of the country!  

We might as well be in Anna Maria.

 At least there I could enjoy 

warm sea breezes on the pier

 afternoon walks with sand 

between my toes

photographing some feather friends

like the Anhinga above

and the green heron below

or the blue-eyed 

Cormorant.

There in Florida, 

I could enjoy the azure seas

and sunsets 

that take my breath away.

Oh yeh, 

tolerating 90 degree temps on the beach 

would be a whole lot easier there!

Maybe with a margarita or two.

Wouldn't you agree?!

At Peace with the World

When The Professor and I visit Anna Maria, one of our favorite things to do is to walk to the beach for sunset, plop our chairs down and take in the beauty of the day's end.  Sometimes, we may be the only ones there.  And that's ok with us.

Of course, we aren't totally alone.  

 The terns and skimmers keep us company as well as entertained

as they dip and dive for food

while sandpipers skirt along the water.

But I think it is the skimmers that I enjoy the most.

So stoic and uncomplaining.

At peace with the world.

And that's not a bad way to be.

Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay

 One of my favorite things to do is to sit on a fishing dock and watch birds.  

They totally fascinate me with their behavior. 

Some folks like to people watch.  

Well, I like to 'bird' watch.

 Besides, I find their company oftentimes better then 'people' company.

Even with their bad behavior when guarding their turf.

 This Snowy Egret was waiting for food bits from a guy cleaning his fish

when we were in St. Pete last weekend.

Sharing was not an option.

The pelicans were not far from the free meal.

Waiting.

Scrapping with each other over the fish's tossed entrails.

For some reason, 

the pelicans are my favorite beach bird.

Graceful in flight as they fly low.

Yet awkwardly climb and dive bomb for food. 

Later, when exhausted from their feeding, 

folding their bodies so compactly

to rest.

Yep, sitting on a pier 

observing our feathered friends

was great medicine last weekend.

Right there with gentle waves lapping at my feet.

So, I'm curious, my friends.

What's your medicine? 

Some Florida Sunshine

The Professor had some meetings to attend in St. Pete, Florida, for a couple of days and of course somebody needed to carry his luggage, so here we are!  I was able to steal him away yesterday afternoon to take me photo hunting.

Although we go to Florida frequently, we had never explored Fort De Soto which consists of 5 interconnected islands.  Its North Beach has been named to America's Top 10 Beaches several times.  And once there, one understands why.  There is an abundance of raw beauty as far as the eye can see!

When we drove down to the East Beach, we were treated to 30-40 kiteboarders having fun in the bay.  I was amazed at the number in the water and how they were skilled enough to avoid each other.  That's the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in the background sitting high above Tampa Bay.  It's a beautiful bridge!

Of course, my day would not be complete until I found some wildlife to shoot, which is never difficult near beaches.

Food is always being hunted 

and hopefully 

 you are the hunter 

and not the hunted! 

I'll enjoy these ocean breezes and seagull calls for another day

before packing up and heading north to chillier temps.

~sigh~

Hope you have an awesome weekend, my friends!

~

A trend setter, perhaps

A beak is a beak is a beak .....

 

U N T I L ...

... you happen upon 

this beauty!

: : :

The Professor and I were having lunch one day on the pier down in Anna Maria
when this lovely one

came flying in ever so graceful.  

Do you suppose she is starting a new Egret trend ... like those folks who 
do the big circles in their earlobes?

 

~ sharing at ~

This or That Thursday