It’s Friday, this morning there was a fog over the lake But that did not stop the cranes and Carbs the duck from looking for birdseed. The other birds were busy too, lots and lots of cardinals today. I bet there were about 7 at one time!
When it was time to go fishing, the cranes were still here rooting around the yard. The sky was very dramatic. across the lake there was this wonderful rainbow patch just above the treeline. The sky was full of storms to the east.
Most of the day I had been working on my garden. I think I am going to let more than half of it go back to being grass. The weeding is Hell.
That overgrown patch beyond the crane in the first photo is the garden and I have not weeded in a few months. I am really losing interest in keeping it up. The weeds grow the best, so essentially I have a garden of weeds. and maybe I should just let the whole lawn go to weeds and just mow one three foot area going down to the lake?
Anyway, it was time to fish so I chose a lightning rod, and ran to the lake because there was a great full moon last night. How can I ignore this magnetic call from the lake. I did catch two fish, bream, they are really very pretty fish with rainbow colors on parts of them. The sky continued to turn blues and I could see the rain coming down a few miles away. The cranes finally gathered on the hill and I grabbed my camera. Excuse how messy the image is as I had messy sticky, gooky fish hands and was trying to touch the camera without holding my hands on it too much. But when I saw the cranes all standing straight in a row waiting to take the cue from the father to leave, I wanted to try and get
a video of them flying practically over my head.
I did give up fishing as the turtles were once again making it impossible to throw the bait out without having a turtle charge right for it.
As I looked up, I noticed how beautiful the sky was, it had melded into pinks and blues, and orange my favorite look. It’s one of those moments you wish you had someone out there besides a duck and cat. The colors were spectacular. So, that’s about it. I came in and Frankie was hogging my desk and had knocked over all kinds of paperwork as she sprawled out. And that’s it for today – where does a day go? Where does the month go? Where does a year go? Can it all just slow down for a while, life is just passing by way too fast…. Tomorrow I will report on the garden
Today I walked out to feed the birds and Carbs was gone. I wondered if the BOBs had chased him away. The yard was busy, especially down by the lake where many many dragonflies and bees flew all over the yellow blooms down by the stump of my fallen oak. In fact so many bees were there pollinating, the air was humming.
The fungi growing in the wet grass even looked happily like a cute couple.
The cranes flew over and the baby was quite intimidated by the step-father crane who kept bullying him. The baby would fluff all up and crouch with it’s head down when it was near the male. It knows to try and stay away from that dominant beak.
A titmouse was continually banging itself against my window. I will go into that in a day or two. The butterflies were all over the place, and the roses were young and tender.
The brown thrasher was the bossy bird this morning. The bird was happily having fun splashing and cooling off. and then a dove decided it was it’s turn to get wet . The thrasher was wildly twisting and jumping and I suppose the dove thought it looked like such fun, it decided to join the thrasher. Except the thrasher wanted no part of sharing the bird bath and screamed at the dove and sent the dove flying off. The thrasher fly up on top of the feeder.
Finally it ate enough seed and flew off.
I ran out to my Free lunch at Don Pablos. I won the free lunch for 4 by putting my business card in a bowl about two weeks ago. I took my good artist friends who have been so helpful and nice to me, Pam, Judy and Leslie. The service was great and the conversation too. Judy, Pam, and Leslie are always inspiring to listen too, always have irons in the fire. Leslie is a published writer who should have another book out sometime soon. She writes about film, (movies) and does a very detailed and thorough job of research, she also writes poetry and reads it at local venues. Pam has been juried into many shows, I think she said 8 or 9 this year alone, her infrared photography is a standout. Judy has a super group, she started the Womens Caucus for Art branch here in Orlando and really took pains in getting it to a non profit status. So I am the slacker of the group, well, actually I have one piece, a photo I did of Jimmy Hendrix, to be put on display for a month as part of an interior design show downtown. Tomorrow I have to go pick up the work at RT Art. Just one email and Roger said he’d have it for me so I could get it framed this weekend, that’s service! sales@RT-Art.com
On the 8th of September, I will have 3 pieces at the Gateway in Debary for a month. So things are not that bad for s struggling artist getting her feet wet just like that brown thrasher, enjoying the exposure, lost in her abandon of the arts and the wonderful natural view in front of her window…
P/S, carbs came back and is still here…
The clouds are schizophrenic today, dark, light, puffy, happy and sad. I went up to the marina to see if anything was going on. Only saw limited birds and ducks. Took pictures of whatever looked interesting.
Went back home and it stormed hard with driving wind.
It settled down and have had lots of jays, cardinals, and doves by the feeder right out my window. I watched one titmouse take a sunflower seed and put it between it’s feet, then crack the seed and carefully eat it. These birds work so hard for their treats. Carbs of course is down at the lake. Adam and I went off to lunch at Imperial Dynasty on 434, we love the sesame tofu. They are even offering sushi classes over there if anyone in Longwood area is interested. Afterwards we took the long way home up Markham Woods road to look at some of the mansions they have built – I can’t even fathom what it costs to live in those massive homes. Did notice several homes that are in foreclosure, lawns uncared for, the abandoned look of emptiness.
We drove up through International Parkway and handed Adam the camera when we saw a woodstork. He did a good job!
After coming home and sitting here at the computer. I am just so spoiled by an eyeful all the time! Beautiful female red wing black birds are on the feeder this afternoon. they are brown, unlike the sleek males, but still very nicely marked birds. And that’s how it’s been today so far, dark, dreary, bright and light and so enjoying the birds in the tree outside my window.
Looking at the time, wondering where did the afternoon go? I have been lost in the world of wings, amused by blurring colors and captivated by flight… here’s photos for your enjoyment.
I was happy to hear that both Andrea and I have art in the newest book out from a group of Ovation tv artists. It’s called, Meditations On The Modern Nude. The link is http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/813696
Otherwise, I am happy to say that Carbs has been here all day sitting down by the lake. He is a bit on edge watching for the band of brother mallards. The cranes flew over, but didn’t seem to bother Carbs. I guess he just sort of shows up.
Tonight I went to let Ringo out and I heard cranes still trumpeting at 11:45pm – that is really late for them to be up, usually they go back to the nest by 8pm. It is getting dark now around 8:30pm. Didn’t fish tonight, I mowed the front lawn instead. Right now I’m watching the Woodstock documentary – what a happy place to visit before going to bed…
40 year anniversary to peace and love and the best music of our baby boomer generation! That was the greatest time of sound ever! Sorry to say, I didn’t go to Woodstock, but in my mind, as I watch this, I sure feel like I am right in the groove! I was 18 when Woodstock happened – those were the greatest years those 60’s and 70’s – Whew! Blast from the tell-tale past, guess I will say no more – now go to bed…
I was at the computer when I looked out and watched cardinal grabbing berries off a branch of a bush.
So I decided to wander the yard and see if any photo-ops presented themselves. The ducks were waddling around,
the dragonflies were stopping close by,
and even a skink came out to sun on the stump of the pine behind the hibiscus- – I noticed my meyer lemon bush is getting filled with green lemons slowly ripening,
bird of paradise had emerged but the best of it was when I looked over and thought I saw a hummingbird and it was! A little beauty that was going way too fast, but did get a couple lousy photos , But it was a real exciting nature encounter! I was so excited that I ran to grab my old hummingbord feeder, got some hummingbird food in it and ran out the door and tripped, the feeder flew out of my hand and fell and broke a seam on the side and all the juice leaked out. I grabbed the keys and ran to Walmart, I needed a few thingsanyway. I bought a glass feeder and filled that and now I have a hummingbird corner. So now I keep looking over waiting and waiting to see one show up – jeeze, I hope it won’t take 4 more years!!! And a big shout out to Richard and Christine for supplying that firebush that brought the hummer over the fence – A BIG BIG thanks!!!
Ummum, today at ‘the desk’ — move over Jared – does it get better than Subway’s chocolate chip cookies? (Yes, it gets better if they are warmed ever so slightly.) While my friend Beda in her 70’s, and looks 49 goes to her first pilates class after being so disciplined on her diet, I salute her steadfast efforts! Today I saw a T-shirt that said, That’s a great motto – I agonized with her as she denied herself carbs in order to lose weight and stay healthy and now she goes the extra mile to exercise – Yikes the E word scares me! I will exercise later by getting up from the computer to put the cookies back in the kitchen fifteen feet away, maybe I will walk back and forth five times just to lose a couple calories. Right now I am on the ‘feed the fever’ trend, because I have a slight cold, (and boring enough I think it’s starve the cold – or is it reversed?) Whatever, I admire these efforts by people to trim up and fly right, “I reject your reality and substitute my own“. Here’s one, eat colorful foods, so how about if the food comes in a the colorful bag? Look at that colorful title on the Subway cookies – hows that for rationale?
I was invited to go to pilates class, but no thanks, I remember those years of being chosen last for every team in gym class. I remember taking a Jazzercize class with my then, ten year old daughter who after seeing that I could not figure how hands and feet moved at the same time, requested I sit down or not stand next to her, I remember those days and respect that I am not an exerciser or anything near athletic except for wearing tennis shoes for comfort! The only thing that might make me behave is the sin tax, if they tax sugar, I will become a hoarder and blackmarket sugar runner…I ACCEPT MY LIMITATIONS – Don’t worry be happy, that’s the other credo…
Back to nature – I love ibis, they have those beady eyes and long beaks and make the whackiest noises. I had some vistors, (requiring me to get up and walk outside) and watched as three lovely ibis came to play in my yard.
Another tidbit I found on Wikipedia, “The ibis is the last sign of wildlife to take shelter before a hurricane hits and the first to reappear once the storm has passed.” They are noted for their bravery. I guess they aren’t that brave, they didn’t let me get too close before flying off. Here is the photos of a descendant of birds long ago. One of my favorite favorite, top two favorite short stories is The Scarlet Ibis by James Hurst – go online and read it, and get a kleenex!
Here’s some photos for you to enjoy and see how regal they are.
Baby crane was here this morning with his family. They ate bird seed, groomed, wandered around yard poking the ground and then lined up and took off like paragliders sailing over the lake
Yesterday it was storming off and on when they came. At around 11 am. it got really dark. the sky blackened and let loose with a nice rain and lots of thunder. The cranes don’t like the noise, they were quite suspicious and kept looking around to see where the thunder was originating from. It was raining hard for a while and I noticed even a softshell turtle came out of the lake and rested under my lemon tree. The water was just dripping off the cranes.
I enlarged to see the rain coming down. Even my waterbarrel was gushing from the excess.
Last week we had no real rain, it would cloud up and threaten and the lightning is getting to be way too lethal around here. A guy was gardening the other day and a bolt came from nowhere that hit near him and he said he passed out, and one of his legs didn’t work and he had to crawl back to his house and was hospitalized. That’s why I am paying more respect to the lightning gods lately as they get closer and seem to be picking out a lot of people to play their games with. I look at the sky and turn on local news before I fish to see what is moving where. But the sky is so amazing around Florida, that’s one of the assets is the constant movement of wind and clouds and rain. Sometimes it comes from the Atlantic, sometimes from the Gulf and when they collide – whammo, fireworks. Like I have said before, it will be sunshining in the front, and raining across the lake. Usually by the time it is almost dark, the sky makes peace and all is pink and quiet.
Today so far it is one of those voids where the sun is hiding, but the sky is gray/white! I need to go out and weed whack while the sun can’t fry me and the lightning is still asleep… reflection of sun on water
This is the desk in early afternoon after coming back from downtown Sanford. Today I was wearing my Winnie the Pooh mantle and Winnie, (Abbe) was on a quest for honey. I remembered that Sanford was having a ribbon cutting for the “posts” the city built and the new brick road they made at 17/92 and First Street. I take a lot of windshield pics while driving, it makes driving more interesting- ha ha -
The festivities were in full swing besides the regular Saturday Farmers Market. They had a band playing outside The Tuned Up Music Center and lots of booths set up along the way. I really came to get my honey since my last bottle is running low from last week. I knew Bill Frederickson of Frederickson Apiaries would be there in his booth with his samples and decided to go to Sanford instead of going to the Lake Mary booth. Sanford was having a ‘party vibe’ going on.
I started out my quest at Fringe, Kim Johnston the owner was there, she loves vintage clothing and jewelry, hats, shoes, anything from “time removed”. I love her pink shop and looking at the pins and artwork. Next door to her is an antique shop with furniture, knock knacks and even old Beauty salon chairs and the old bones of a canoe hanging from the ceiling.
email Kim: fringefx@gmail.com phone 407-320-8016 for info on both shops.
Then on to Divine Mother Earth, a very cool, India inspired clothing and accessory store. http://DivineMotherEarth.com The shop was so colorful and had some sexy clothes too, I need to learn belly dancing.
Passed by Big Fish Little Pond which was closed and then headed toward “The Clock” where the market is. That meant passing the local newspaper, The Sanford Herald who had all their photographers out among the crowd taking pictures for a story or two, (that might have been why everyone was so nice, they probably thought I was with the Herald, umm, they might be really disappointed that this is just another local blog, I’ll let you know if I get any complaints.)
Next I visited Hot Pots – the ‘paint your own pottery’ studio that was highly organized and full of inventory. (I need to ask her to come over and take a look at my desk,) http://wwwHotPotsSanford.com 407-688-POTS – Hey, give a call and have a paint your pottery party!
Over at Jeanine Taylor Art Gallery, it is never a disappointment, The artwork is world class literally, she sells to people and collectors from all over the world. http://www.jtfolkart.com – the working artists who have booths inside could not be friendlier, and the talent in that building is immense. I was able to get photos at the shared booth of Cindy Sturla who had her sweet camera shy dog Molly and Stewart Jones, if you like the feel of a good water color, if they don’t have it, they will paint it.
I found artist Aurore Brunet around the corner with her vivid paintings. http://wwwaurorebrunet.com She was on the floor working on a large piece.
Her work was fun with wild color, it made me smile from the vivid intensity – Please go visit over there and “Support the arts” – And say hello to Mary at the front desk – she runs a tight ship!
Back to the street and I came across too booths where people are trying to educate us to the environment. I don’t know what makes me take the angled shots, but this was the booth of Keep Seminole Beautiful,
http://KeepSeminoleBeautiful.org
according to their non-profit website: KSB provides a variety of services to Seminole County including the coordination of a number of activities and events. These include Anti-Litter Projects, River, Retention Pond & Lake Clean-Ups, Educational Gardens, Water Conservation Programs, Community Block Grants and other projects… They would gladly address any questions regarding gardening problems, water projects, etc.
Next to their booth was Friends of The Weikva, a local group who are also a non-profit org who monitor anything that impacts the Wekva and Little Wekva river. http://www.friendsfowekiva.org Both groups are made up of wonderful, caring people who want to help keep our Florida environment as pristine as possible for the future protection of our beautiful nature. You are welcome to join them and volunteer for river clean ups and other projects. Jim Robison, “Historian For Hire”, is a seasoned writer of books dealing with Florida history. His latest book is a joint exercise with the help of non-fiction writer and videographer, Bill Bellville of Equinox Documentaries is titled: Image of America, Along The Wekiva River will be out in November. This book is all about the events that have shaped the waterway. Both have impressive credentials and a vast supply of knowledge for their subjects. Jim Robison is available to speak to groups, his number is 407-677-4004 – his email: jimrobison@cfl.rr.com. Bill Belleville’s Equinox Documentaries website : http://equinoxdocumentaries.org
I went into Maya Books & Music 407-321-6504 where they have plenty of books for sale and Kenneth Dittman, a numismatist also has an area where he has jewelry and coins and art for sale. http:wwwkenscoins.net
Finally I was at the heart of the Farmers Market. There was some wonderful singing going on and a flurry of activity that goes along with having booths full of spices, art, fresh fruit and veggies, candles and all the Farmers market stuff. But I just wanted honey.
Bill and his wife Marion have the Happy Bee Honey Farm, also called Frederickson Apiaries., they have been beekeeping for 30 years. This time I got Summer Wildflower, though my all time favorite is still Orange Blossom. They have all kinds of flavors, I’m loyal to what I like. I even got a bigger bottle – I swear I drink this stuff!
By then I was ready to go home, it was sooo hot! I made my way through the crowd, took a few more pics: On my way home I took a few more windshield pics:
and that was that, all that for a ‘fix’ of honey – well, I learned a lot along the way and now you did too.
2:37am, no rest here.
Earlier tonight I caught a softshell turtle and had to unhook it, they have quite interesting undersides, but it looked more like some kind of weird alien than a turtle from that angle. The markings are quite unique really, could this be a girl and maybe the boys have blue rectangles? Don’t worry she or he was fine after they got de-hooked. They scurried back to the water. I HATE catching turtles!
It was actually quite hot and stagnant and I was hoping to get a shot of the rocket launch, but they scrubbed it again.
In the morning I took a few flower pics, The crepe myrtles are gorgeous. And forgot what this plant is, but loved the red flowers on it also.
The moon was even still out at 8am:
The crow was in the tree singing a morning song
And I had a nice lunch with friends. Came home and worked on more photos. Oh the days go so fast, summer half over – maybe El Nino will save us from the big storms this year! I don’t know, anymore around Florida all we hear about is people getting struck by lightning. I do have to watch more carefully when I am at the lake as the storms roll in,
The clouds roll in so fast and the lightning is really getting way too familiar with humans. But the storms are actually so wonderful to listen to, especially to hear the rain on the roof at night. But not tonight, it is just a quiet one, so quiet, I might have to sneak off and go to bed, good…morning again…
We have always enjoyed going to see art exhibits at the Casselberry Art House. Though I have not been there in over a year since I exhibited with Womens Caucus for Art. So we were surprised to pull up and see massive construction all around. The land around the house was completely torn up.
We walked past the Police dept. and saw the old building with the Administrative offices was demolished. But there beyond the dirt and mess was the cute house with the red door and tiles by the lake.
I don’t know the history of the Art House, it was a private residence at one time and now is home to a wonderful gallery where there are not only exhibits, but they have all kinds of art classes as well. Call (407) 262-7774) they will give you the information.
The work on display was from The Sanford Seminole Art Association, an art group turning fifty years old this year and I understand they still have some original members among the seventy or so of them. This exhibit highlights 19 of the members.
Inside there is a variety of media from paper sculpture to small Mexican boxes with adorable figures inside called nicchos. The watercolors, oils, mixed media and photography mingled well on the textured walls within the gallery. The art was well highlighted by the diminishing sun filtering through the windows making it feel cozy. The room and artwork melded together in a wonderfully symbiotic vanilla feel. All the colors and textures placed on the walls complimented the space.
As we left, 3 Pekin ducks came waddling up the path toward the front door as if they were ready to tour the room and give opinions on the works of art. When we trudged back through the construction on our way back to the truck, we noticed what a great area it will be when all is done. there will be a very long and winding pier and it also looked like they would have a playground. The trees and fountain give it such a picturesque setting. They will hold their jazz festival out there in October. It will be a wonderful place for their venues. We are lucky that Casselberry and Seminole County keep up their interest in Art despite the economy. The Sanford/Seminole exhibit will be there till June 26th.
I will be anxious to come back this Fall when all the work is finished.
On the way home, Adam pointed out a used book store in the Albertsons shopping center on 17/92 and 434. We thought we would go have a look. It is called Best Used Books. The light was on, but we saw on the door it was to close at 7pm and it was about ten after. The owner waved us in and told us to look around. We recognized him from many years ago, he has had 3 separate locations. It had so many books and places to look we knew we just had to come back, though Adam quickly found a couple things to take home. I have bought many books from his shops before, he has a wonderful selection. I asked if he was selling through the internet and he said no. I would guess that would be quite an inventory you’d have to update and quite a consumption of time having to constantly list and pack books for selling. If you like used book stores, he has a quality shop, I could spend hours at these kinds of stores. My dream always was to have a wonderful huge library room at home with a ladder to the second story stacks, with shelves and shelves of wonderful books to get lost inside of. Unfortunately, the dream has not quite materialized yet and my library room is only a couple book shelves that doubles as the dining room. When I get that winning lottery ticket, I will get a house on a big lake with a big library and have poetry readings and meetings of some type, even if the cats are the only ones in attendence…
I’d call it a day of nostalgia. I had connected with a long lost friend on Facebook two days ago and it got me looking at old photos today which spiraled into ‘mind-reversal’ thinking about the past.
Earlier I had to go into my Safe Deposit box at the bank looking for a Title and came across my great-grandmother’s wedding ring dated 1879 inside. So I took it home and put it on my Papa’s gold watch chain that I always wear around my neck. I get a lot of memory ‘tread’ thinking about my Nana and Papa, Louie and Rose who were the most fantastic grandparents in the whole universe! They don’t make them like that anymore. AND suddenly I got hungry thinking about my Nana’s cooking, that woman made gourmet food all the time. Oh, if only I had paid attention and watched her cook, oh never mind, I would weigh 400 lbs…
Later while fishing, my mind was directed away from the mooching turtles and onto the lone Pekin duck who sat on the bank looking for her long, lost twin sister. It seems the other twin female duck has become a groupie for the Band of Brother mallards. Poor single girl left behind, she is so missing her sister who was last seen following the mallards to places unknown. But all is okay as the missing Pekin twin and the BOB entourage will be back in the morning, they always seem to come back for breakfast.
Looking at the duck sitting there watching the lake for a sign of her sister, I thought about how I miss my only sister too, it’s not really fair when someone close to you commits suicide. I am still angry more than sad. Yep, I still want to kick her ass for being so selfish and yet I know she was just desperate. I am sorry for what what she will miss though.
As for me, I am very content right here on earth, I’m not anxious to follow in my sister and mother’s path, plus I don’t have their addictions. I am so lucky to have about everything I want, the best kids, supportive family, terrific friends and neighbors and a camera that screams for me to take photos. Now if I could only win a big lotto and not be such an insomniac I’d almost have it all!
I have a better appreciation for what can be taken away by the many losses I have experienced over the years, and there have been a lot. But that’s enough of the crappy nostalgia, lets focus on better things.
WAIT — let me back up again to around 6pm tonight when there was a knock on the door. A man about my age stood there and asked if I was me. yes, I said, so he handed me a phone number and told me to call my best friend from High school back in Ohio as she could not get a hold of me, (I recently changed phone numbers). I asked who he was and he was someone she dated years ago and had remained friends and happened to now live in Sanford. So I took the number and called but she was not home. So of course I do what I normally do at that time, go fishing.
I stood there thinking back to high school and beyond. Fond memories flooded over me! I just smiled at all the different things I thought of. But I grew bored of fishing–not a thing was biting except mosquitos and white flies — oh, yes, and of course the turtles, they are such pests. But as I was about to go inside, I saw the sun getting lower and thought I’d do a sundown chase. So put my stuff away, grabbed the dslr and hurried over to Kohls where my vantage point is. I drove through the back of the parking lot and parked. Tonight I saw a funny sight, someone was grilling food right outside the back door of Kohls. People would pop in and out the door and fiddle with food on the grill. I must admit, it smelled divine. The grill fumes and the feel of about 90 degrees made for more long lost summer memories.
I took some shots of the sun as it began to leave. And it was quite dramatic as this wall of clouds looked like a curtain half open on nature’s stage. It was really breathtaking. Then I looked up to see the clouds and noticed one in particular that kind of scared the crap out of me. Whoa, that looked like a mushroom cloud! It made me think about life in the early 1960’s. I can remember watching some show during that time showing a little girl looking out her window and a nuclear blast occurs complete with actual stock footage. The father grabs her and they venture out. It showed the grocery stores being ransacked and there was no food, so I suppose there was no good ending. As kids of that era, we would have ‘drills’ in school in case of war. We were told to sit under our desks covering our head with our hands because this was how we would survive a nuclear bomb. Today we simply use duck tape to survive, (ha ha). REMEMBER FOLKS DON”T LOOK TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR HELP! That was a scary time with Kruschev beating his shoe on the desk of the UN and the Cuban missile crisis.
After leaving the parking lot. I went out on the road neat the Bentley Elementary school and saw Derby Park. The sign pretty much said it all. They actually hold weekend soapbox derbies. Now growing up in Akron Ohio, that was the big event each summer, though I am embarassed to say I never saw a Soapbox Derby race except on television, but I did see the Goodyear blimp– ah, more memories. As I made my way home I smiled a lot thinking of various stages of my life so far as I approach 59 – WHOA where does time go? I really can’t complain about much except I lost some people too fast and some not fast enough. All the crappy things that have happened actually do make one stronger, and being ‘mature’ you can be obnoxious and people forgive you because “you’re old”.
When I got back inside the house again I found some other photo albums and melted away into fun times. I was so focused I forgot to call my friend.
Every now and then, you just have to go back, think hard and analyze all the things that have happened to make you you. (is that too confusing?)
One day I will have to organize all these photos and put them on CD’s, that’s the way to really preserve for posterity.
And look at the time, 3:38am and I am still lost in retropsective thoughts about retrospective thought, wonder what I will dream about tonight, or actually, what will I dream about this morning? Either way, day dreaming or regular, I am enjoying it. I’ll end this with some good Lewis Carroll quotes, because I adore his thought process… If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.
No good fish goes anywhere without a porpoise.Lewis Carroll
But that did not stop the cranes and Carbs the duck from looking for birdseed. The other birds were busy too, lots and lots of cardinals today. 
I bet there were about 7 at one time!
across the lake there was this wonderful rainbow patch just above the treeline. The sky was full of storms to the east.
and ran to the lake because there was a great full moon last night. 
How can I ignore this magnetic call from the lake. I did catch two fish, bream, 
they are really very pretty fish with rainbow colors on parts of them. The sky continued to turn blues and I could see the rain coming down a few miles away. 
The cranes finally gathered on the hill and I grabbed my camera. Excuse how messy the image is as I had messy sticky, gooky fish hands and was trying to touch the camera without holding my hands on it too much. But when I saw the cranes all standing straight in a row waiting to take the cue from the father to leave, I wanted to try and get
It’s one of those moments you wish you had someone out there besides a duck and cat. The colors were spectacular. So, that’s about it. I came in and Frankie was hogging my desk and had knocked over all kinds of paperwork as she sprawled out. 
And that’s it for today – where does a day go? Where does the month go? Where does a year go? Can it all just slow down for a while, life is just passing by way too fast…. Tomorrow I will report on the garden
It knows to try and stay away from that dominant beak.
I will go into that in a day or two. The butterflies were all over the place, 
and the roses were young and tender. 
The bird was happily having fun splashing and cooling off.
and then a dove decided it was it’s turn to get wet . 
The thrasher was wildly twisting and jumping and I suppose the dove thought it looked like such fun, it decided to join the thrasher. Except the thrasher wanted no part of sharing the bird bath and screamed at the dove and sent the dove flying off. The thrasher fly up on top of the feeder.
I took my good artist friends who have been so helpful and nice to me, Pam, Judy and Leslie. The service was great and the conversation too. Judy, Pam, and Leslie are always inspiring to listen too, always have irons in the fire. Leslie is a published writer who should have another book out sometime soon. She writes about film, (movies) and does a very detailed and thorough job of research, she also writes poetry and reads it at local venues. Pam has been juried into many shows, I think she said 8 or 9 this year alone, her infrared photography is a standout. Judy has a super group, she started the Womens Caucus for Art branch here in Orlando and really took pains in getting it to a non profit status. So I am the slacker of the group, well, actually I have one piece, a photo I did of Jimmy Hendrix, to be put on display for a month as part of an interior design show downtown. Tomorrow I have to go pick up the work at RT Art. Just one email and Roger said he’d have it for me so I could get it framed this weekend, that’s service! 
dark, light, puffy, happy and sad. I went up to the marina to see if anything was going on. Only saw limited birds and ducks. Took pictures of whatever looked interesting. 
Went back home and it stormed hard with driving wind. 
These birds work so hard for their treats. Carbs of course is down at the lake. Adam and I went off to lunch at Imperial Dynasty on 434, we love the sesame tofu. They are even offering sushi classes over there if anyone in Longwood area is interested. Afterwards we took the long way home up Markham Woods road to look at some of the mansions they have built – I can’t even fathom what it costs to live in those massive homes. Did notice several homes that are in foreclosure, lawns uncared for, the abandoned look of emptiness.
He did a good job!
And that’s how it’s been today so far, dark, dreary, bright and light and so enjoying the birds in the tree outside my window.
The cranes flew over, but didn’t seem to bother Carbs. 
I guess he just sort of shows up.
– I noticed my meyer lemon bush is getting filled with green lemons slowly ripening, 
but the best of it was when I looked over and thought I saw a hummingbird and it was! A little beauty that was going way too fast, but did get a couple lousy photos ,
But it was a real exciting nature encounter! I was so excited that I ran to grab my old hummingbord feeder, got some hummingbird food in it and ran out the door and tripped, the feeder flew out of my hand and fell and broke a seam on the side and all the juice leaked out. I grabbed the keys and ran to Walmart, I needed a few thingsanyway. I bought a glass feeder and filled that and now I have a hummingbird corner. 
So now I keep looking over waiting and waiting to see one show up – jeeze, I hope it won’t take 4 more years!!! And a big shout out to Richard and Christine for supplying that firebush that brought the hummer over the fence – A BIG BIG thanks!!!
Ummum, today at ‘the desk’ — move over Jared – does it get better than Subway’s chocolate chip cookies? (Yes, it gets better if they are warmed ever so slightly.) While my friend Beda in her 70’s, and looks 49 goes to her first pilates class after being so disciplined on her diet, I salute her steadfast efforts! Today I saw a T-shirt that said, 
That’s a great motto – I agonized with her as she denied herself carbs in order to lose weight and stay healthy and now she goes the extra mile to exercise – Yikes the E word scares me! I will exercise later by getting up from the computer to put the cookies back in the kitchen fifteen feet away, maybe I will walk back and forth five times just to lose a couple calories. Right now I am on the ‘feed the fever’ trend, because I have a slight cold, (and boring enough I think it’s starve the cold – or is it reversed?) Whatever, I admire these efforts by people to trim up and fly right, “
Baby crane was here this morning with his family. They ate bird seed, groomed, wandered around yard poking the ground and then lined up and took off like paragliders sailing over the lake
the sky blackened and let loose with a nice rain and lots of thunder. The cranes don’t like the noise, they were quite suspicious and kept looking around to see where the thunder was originating from. It was raining hard for a while and I noticed even a softshell turtle came out of the lake and rested under my lemon tree.
The water was just dripping off the cranes.
reflection of sun on water
This is the desk in early afternoon after coming back from downtown Sanford. Today I was wearing my Winnie the Pooh mantle and Winnie, (Abbe) was on a quest for honey. I remembered that Sanford was having a ribbon cutting for the “posts” the city built and the new brick road they made at 17/92 and First Street.
I take a lot of windshield pics while driving, it makes driving more interesting- ha ha -
I don’t know what makes me take the angled shots, but this was the booth of Keep Seminole Beautiful,
Jim Robison, “Historian For Hire”, is a seasoned writer of books dealing with Florida history. His latest book is a joint exercise with the help of non-fiction writer and videographer, Bill Bellville of Equinox Documentaries is titled: Image of America, Along The Wekiva River will be out in November. This book is all about the events that have shaped the waterway. Both have impressive credentials and a vast supply of knowledge for their subjects. Jim Robison is available to speak to groups, his number is 407-677-4004 – his email: jimrobison@cfl.rr.com. Bill Belleville’s Equinox Documentaries website :
On my way home I took a few more windshield pics:
2:37am, no rest here.
but it looked more like some kind of weird alien than a turtle from that angle. The markings are quite unique really, could this be a girl and maybe the boys have blue rectangles? Don’t worry she or he was fine after they got de-hooked. They scurried back to the water. I HATE catching turtles!
The crepe myrtles are gorgeous. And forgot what this plant is, but loved the red flowers on it also. 
When we trudged back through the construction on our way back to the truck, we noticed what a great area it will be when all is done. there will be a very long and winding pier 
and it also looked like they would have a playground. The trees and fountain give it such a picturesque setting. 
They will hold their jazz festival out there in October. It will be a wonderful place for their venues. We are lucky that Casselberry and Seminole County keep up their interest in Art despite the economy. The Sanford/Seminole exhibit will be there till June 26th.
It had so many books and places to look we knew we just had to come back, though Adam quickly found a couple things to take home. I have bought many books from his shops before, he has a wonderful selection. I asked if he was selling through the internet and he said no. I would guess that would be quite an inventory you’d have to update and quite a consumption of time having to constantly list and pack books for selling. If you like used book stores, he has a quality shop, I could spend hours at these kinds of stores. My dream always was to have a wonderful huge library room at home with a ladder to the second story stacks, with shelves and shelves of wonderful books to get lost inside of. Unfortunately, the dream has not quite materialized yet and my library room is only a couple book shelves that doubles as the dining room. When I get that winning lottery ticket, I will get a house on a big lake with a big library and have poetry readings and meetings of some type, even if the cats are the only ones in attendence…
I get a lot of memory ‘tread’ thinking about my Nana and Papa, Louie and Rose who were the most fantastic grandparents in the whole universe! They don’t make them like that anymore. AND suddenly I got hungry thinking about my Nana’s cooking, that woman made gourmet food all the time. Oh, if only I had paid attention and watched her cook, oh never mind, I would weigh 400 lbs…
it’s not really fair when someone close to you commits suicide. I am still angry more than sad. Yep, I still want to kick her ass for being so selfish and yet I know she was just desperate. I am sorry for what what she will miss though.
WAIT — let me back up again to around 6pm tonight when there was a knock on the door. A man about my age stood there and asked if I was me. yes, I said, so he handed me a phone number and told me to call my best friend from High school back in Ohio as she could not get a hold of me, (I recently changed phone numbers). I asked who he was and he was someone she dated years ago and had remained friends and happened to now live in Sanford. So I took the number and called but she was not home. So of course I do what I normally do at that time, go fishing.
And it was quite dramatic as this wall of clouds looked like a curtain half open on nature’s stage. It was really breathtaking. Then I looked up to see the clouds and noticed one in particular that kind of scared the crap out of me. 
Whoa, that looked like a mushroom cloud! It made me think about life in the early 1960’s. I can remember watching some show during that time showing a little girl looking out her window and a nuclear blast occurs complete with actual stock footage. The father grabs her and they venture out. It showed the grocery stores being ransacked and there was no food, so I suppose there was no good ending. As kids of that era, we would have ‘drills’ in school in case of war. We were told to sit under our desks covering our head with our hands because this was how we would survive a nuclear bomb. Today we simply use duck tape to survive, (ha ha). REMEMBER FOLKS DON”T LOOK TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR HELP! That was a scary time with Kruschev beating his shoe on the desk of the UN and the Cuban missile crisis.
They actually hold weekend soapbox derbies. Now growing up in Akron Ohio, that was the big event each summer, though I am embarassed to say I never saw a Soapbox Derby race except on television, but I did see the Goodyear blimp– ah, more memories. As I made my way home I smiled a lot thinking of various stages of my life so far as I approach 59 – WHOA where does time go? I really can’t complain about much except I lost some people too fast and some not fast enough. All the crappy things that have happened actually do make one stronger, and being ‘mature’ you can be obnoxious and people forgive you because “you’re old”.
