Island Timer Anecdotes

Shuttle Launch Scheduled for Today at 4:50pm

2011-02-24T10:32:00.000-05:00

Watch live streaming video from spaceflightnow at livestream.com

December in south Florida

2010-12-03T11:48:00.002-05:00

Holiday Greetings from the land of sunshine!

A - always ready to help
L - looking for adventures
E - extraordinary sense of humor
C - can eat an entire watermelon in one sitting!

L - loves to fly
A - awesome attitude
W - will invent something great
R - riding his four-wheeler brings smiles
E - excellent cook
N - nice to be around
C - cares for all
E - everyone loves him

D - delightful
E - excels at writing
L - loves to laugh
A - always dreaming
N - nice to all
E - entertaining
Y - yes, she's awesome!

M - moving slower now

A - always right next to me

R - really loves hugs

L - loves her chow time, too

E - everyone loves you

Y - you bark at imaginary things!

T - terrifically entertaining

O - outside is where you like to be

B - by our sides always

I - in trouble a lot you are

A - a handsome boy

S - silliness is your specialty

2010-06-29T07:40:00.002-04:00

Follow me HERE for the summer. :)

The Atlantic on a Chilly Day, it was cold for us!

2010-01-15T10:45:00.000-05:00

The Atlantic Ocean on the day we had snow in Florida, Saturday, January 9, 2010.

The ocean was steaming thanks to the warm current of the Gulf Stream while the air remained below 50F all day.

More skies from around the world at skyley.blogspot.com. Happy SkyWatch Friday to all!

Here in south Florida we've been under a COLD spell... very rare for temperatures to be so low (many nights inthe 30F range and below!) for so long. There was a stretch of days that the temperature didn't get above 60F... and if you're used to 70 & 80, it feels really cold!

Indian Riverside Park, Jensen Beach, Florida

2009-12-30T15:17:00.002-05:00

Barefoot and climbing trees in December...

we love south Florida!

Shepard's Park, Stuart, Florida

2009-12-08T22:34:00.000-05:00

Launch of Atlantis

2009-11-17T07:24:00.006-05:00

Launch of space shuttle Atlantis!

These photos were taken from 12 miles north of the launch pad along the Indian River Lagoon.

Don't forget to click for a bigger view.

An amazing tower of vapor lasted several minutes after lift off. What a sight!

Check out other skies from around the world at http://www.skyley.blogspot.com/.

If you haven't been to the Cape to check one out for yourself, the 2010 shuttle missions are February 4 at 5:52 a.m., March 18 - 1:34 p.m., May 14 - 2:28 p.m., July 29 - 7:51 a.m., September 16 - 11:57 a.m. .

Signs of Autumn in south Florida... Bird Migration

2009-10-09T21:46:00.003-04:00

A male Scarlet Tanager in non-breeding plumage appeared yesterday, in our own backyard.

(on his way from North America to South America)

So did this male Black-Throated Blue Warbler.

(on his way to the Caribbean)

Here's and unidentified warbler tipping over for beautyberries...

(warbler section of the bird id book is overwhelming for a new birder)

Seems they enjoyed every last berry!

and, yes, I know, the pics aren't as clear as I would like them...

but it was so intriguing to catch these birds passing through,

I couldn't resist.

Hope your signs of autumn are showing, too.

Cat Island Sunset

2009-10-09T07:27:00.007-04:00

Clouds come floating into my life,

no longer to carry rain or usher storm,

but to add color to my sunset sky.

Rabindranath Tagore

Check out other fiery skies and skies of all kinds at SkyWatch Friday!!

September Sunset

2009-09-29T18:18:00.002-04:00

and now...

2009-09-23T22:21:00.008-04:00

Our part to make the world a better place this past weekend was to adopt a Boxer dog in need of rescue.

Seems he likes the idea of hanging out with us.

You have GOT to click on the pic below and

check out the lips on this guy...

We haven't come up with a new name for him yet...

suggestions welcome!

After a trip to the beach the dogs were ready to chill in our own yard.

Our "old lady" Marley (on the left and blind in that left eye of hers) has really done a swell job of accepting her adopted brother.

And yes, I worked really hard to get them to pose together. ;)

Columbus Point, Long Island, Bahamas

2009-09-18T13:34:00.001-04:00

Blue skies of Long Island, Bahamas...

This spot is known as Columbus Point.

Christopher Columbus recorded passing through this area in 1492.

Of course, there are so many theories as to exactly which route Columbus too that first voyage.

Here's a neat place on the web where you can read and then decide for yourself!

And be absolutely sure you vist SKYWATCH FRIDAY for other sky views.

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse

2009-09-16T07:20:00.005-04:00

Last Spring we took a trip "up north"

to Daytona Beach and enjoyed the Ponce Inlet lighthouse.

The lighthouse was completed in 1887.

It is the second tallest masonry lighthouse in the Nation.

203 steps to 175 feet, I knew I wasn't going up there...
and the kids & Papa didn't bring the camera to the top.

So you'll have to go and check out the view for yourself someday! ;)

Rumor has it's breathtaking...

Parasailing in Key West, Florida

2009-08-23T18:00:00.004-04:00

Up, up and away...

Getting wet!!

Delaney & Alec's perspective:

Island Sunrise

2009-08-21T22:09:00.005-04:00

A red sunrise greeted us each morning in July 2009 on the island of Grand Cay, Bahamas.

Where is Grand Cay??

N27.13.22.89
W 78.19.12.41
Here's a link to Google Maps.

And here's a link to take you to other awesome SKYWATCH FRIDAY posts around the world.

Three Days where life is Grand... Grand Cay, Bahamas

2009-08-06T14:59:00.008-04:00

Our little visit to Grand Cay went like this:

1. unload the boat at Jollee's Motel

2. call home and let everyone know we're safe after crossing the Gulf Stream of the Atlantic

(really, Michael and Alec are in between those buildings with

the fellas, making a call from a local's phone. Thanks, Ellis!)

3. walk THE "road", meet some old friends & get ice cream

4. wish we could care for all the stray dogs

5. fill up the tanks at the only fuel dock

6. yes, below, it's SIX dollars a gallon at the pump... but we got a break and paid $4.89...

no one had "gotten around" to changing the pump yet,

something about the whole "ISLAND TIME" thing...

Head out for some lunch with friends!!!

Run from the storms...

Head back out for some dinner...

Enjoy the scenery...

Below, run from more storms then fool around with the cool creatures under the docks.

Ben sent this nurse shark back to keep in check.

(Ben on the right, Alec on the left)

Below, calling home again.... this is Ellis on the right and

Alec on the left (just in case there's any confusion).

hmmm...

notice I forgot what number I was at...

something about the whole "ISLAND TIME" thing...

more to come as we recover...

Cheers!!

P.S. - wondering where Grand Cay is??

Click here and check out the END of this post.

Watery Wednesday

2009-08-05T08:15:00.009-04:00

Evening entertainment provided by several Grand Cay, Bahamas locals:

Where is Grand Cay??

N27.13.22.89

W 78.19.12.41

Here's a link to Google Maps.

Zoom out a bit and you'll catch the east coast of Florida on the left...

(If anyone can show me how to embed a map, I would be grateful!

The embed feature from Google isn't working for me for one reason or another...)

Be sure to check out other amazing Watery Wednesday posts by clicking here!

Sunday, July 26

2009-08-03T13:49:00.012-04:00

Sunday, July 26 leaving Stuart on our boat Ninety Degrees, the Manatee Pocket and out the St. Lucie Inlet for Walkers Cay and Grand Cay, Bahamas.

The seas were calm and we travelled 35-40 mph to the Bahama Bank (the shallows to the west of the islands) within two hours. The ocean went from its deep blue to emerald green.

Within another hour we spotted Walkers Cay on the horizon (you'll have to click the picture to get the view):

As we pulled up to Walkers Cay it was like stepping back in time... 2004 to be exact.
That's the year Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne brought destruction to the island.

I posted about missing this place a while back;

you can read that HERE.

Nope, Alec, the phones are down.

Next, we dodged limestone rocks while traveling to Grand Cay, a mere couple miles south of Walkers.

Below, the island of Grand Cay is struggling to become the renowned place Walkers once was. Docks and seawalls have been greatly improved and the locals were, as always, gracious hosts. Many buildings were recently painted, giving the island a classic fishing village look.

Rosie's Place has deepwater dockage for the bigger sportfishing boats at the docks in this picture. Jollee's Place, where we stayed, is the royal blue building to the left.

After unloading Ninety Degrees we noticed showers beginning to build in the skies and so fishing and spearing would be put on the back burner until the next day.

We did motor over to the next island south known as Double Breasted Cay for some relaxing:

The waters and skies are our favorite colors...

More about our adventures in upcoming posts!!!

Traveling the Gulf Stream

2009-07-31T16:37:00.012-04:00

These are the skies traveling from West End, Bahamas to Stuart, Florida this morning...
July 31, 2009.

Pictures were taken from our boat, Ninety Degrees, while heading home, westward to Florida after a week in the Bahamas.

West End, Bahamas 7 a.m.

If you click on these sunrise photos you can just glimpse the Bahamas in the distance.

This boat is traveling east to the Bahamas from Florida. We passed four power boats and one sailboat headed to the Bahamas.
8 a.m.

Passing rainshowers, 50 miles east of Florida, 8:30 a.m.

Delaney and Alec napped during the 2hr and 2 min ride home.
Click the PLAY arrow (>) to take you there!

And then be sure to visit SKYWATCH FRIDAY for other skies across our blue planet.

Magic!

2009-07-12T18:46:00.003-04:00

MAGIC!!

Just click on the arrow to be a ten-year-old again!

uh-oh...

2009-07-12T18:38:00.003-04:00

We introduced the kids to a new hobby...

and we'll be in the ocean in no time!
This pic was snapped in a friend's pool.

For those of you following, you know my summer job steals time away from my blog...

hang in there and we'll be back soon!!

2009-05-29T07:37:00.005-04:00

Evening thundershowers present quite the display!

Join other SkyWatchers by clicking on these words.

Tower in the Sky

2009-05-22T07:22:00.001-04:00

More fantastic sky-gazing at SKYWATCH FRIDAY!

SkyWatch Friday

2009-05-08T09:23:00.003-04:00

Looking east across the Atlantic from Jupiter Island, Florida

The skies across Florida have been blue-r than blue....

what we could really use is some rain!

More skies from around the world at SKYWATCH FRIDAY.

Successful Saturday

2009-05-05T07:19:00.003-04:00

The south FLorida wind finally gave us a break so we headed offshore for a few hours Saturday.

Turned out to be a good, actually GREAT decision.

May dolphin came to town for action on the surface waters and amberjack were chewing below.

Fish fry delight!

First Mate Alec guided us home on flat seas.

More from JW Corbett Wildlife Management Area

2009-04-25T16:13:00.004-04:00

The skies and flowers, gators and birds provided such a show last Sunday...

More information about J W Corbett WIldlife Management Area here.

JWCorbett Wildlife Management Area

2009-04-23T22:21:00.002-04:00

South Florida Skies

April 2009

Enjoy more views from the world over at SKYWATCH FRIDAY.

Nina & Pinta

2009-04-17T16:15:00.008-04:00

Enjoy the skies of Stuart, Florida as they are a destination for the traveling replicas of Christopher Columbus's Nina and Pinta until April 21, 2009.

For more skies from the world over, visit

SKYWATCH FRIDAY.

For more information on these beautiful ships, visit thenina.com.

Delaney at the windlass.

Alec peers in the hold.

These ships were built just as they would have been in the 1400's.

No electric tools used.

Spring Love and Spring Birthday... Wild Snakes and Tame Snakes

2009-04-08T18:25:00.006-04:00

Spring Break

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Southern Black Racer (Coluber constrictor priapus) is one of the more common subspecies of non-venomous snakes in theSoutheastern United States. These snakes are quite active during the day, which increases the chance of sightings. They will eat almost any animal they can overpower, including, rodents, frogs, toads, and lizards . They have been known to charge at people in an attempt to frighten them, but will usually retreat – if challenged. Members of this species generally do not tolerate handling – even after months in captivity – and will typically strike and flail wildly every time they are handled. These snakes are usually thin with a jet black dorsal side with a grey belly and white chin. They are quite fast, giving rise to the name "racer".

Spring Birthday...

Alec 2009

Yes, that's his ball python "Cuda" around his neck...

Discovery Launch

2009-03-15T22:06:00.012-04:00

It's another round of My World Tuesday! Let the My World site be your guide to fantastic scenes the world over! Click the link to the homepage:

And now for my world:

Here's the view from Stuart, Florida looking north as Discovery enters orbit at 7:43pm, March 15, 2009.

The small dots of light in a row at the bottom of the photo are streetlights illuminating the Stuart Causeway, a set of bridges which crosses the Indian River Lagoon.

This lagoon meanders north 150 miles to the NASA launch pads and Kennedy Space Center.
The shuttle arcs over the Atlantic and an amazing vapor trail is left for skywatchers.

The shuttle doesn't simply take off straight up, it will be circling the Earth in tandem with the International Space Station and you see the trajectory it needs to attain that goal.

Indian River Lagoon Ibis

2009-03-13T17:19:00.004-04:00

Rejoice under the skies all over the world by clicking on the SkyWatch Friday link.

White ibis fly towards the mangroves of the Indian River Lagoon in southeast Florida.

Painted Buntings

2009-03-08T16:22:00.006-04:00

I am thrilled to see and hear migratory birds moving through south Florida. Maybe there will be an end to this winter after all, eh?

This afternoon I was treated to these Painted Buntings at our backyard feeder. These birds spend winter in south Florida. We're right on the edge of southern and central, so they may be just beginning their trip north.

The brighter bird with all the color variations is male, and the green/gray is female.

These beautiful colors have us all thinking spring!

INTERESTING FACTS

The Painted Bunting is one of the most brilliantly colored and visually striking birds in all of the United States. It is the only bird in the U.S. to have a blue head and red underparts.
The USGS recorded a 60% decline in population from coastal Georgia between 1966 and 1995. Decline has been attributed to loss of breeding habitat due to urban development, increased nest parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds and several problems attributed to climate change.

from whatbird.com

SkyWatch Friday... Evening in south Florida

2009-02-06T19:18:00.005-05:00

Paradise tonight at 55degrees Fahrenheit, 13degrees Celsius

Enjoy the skies from the world over . . . by clicking the SkyWatch logo above!!

2009-01-25T14:36:00.005-05:00

Beautiful blue skies were enjoyed by a crowd of nearly 25,000 at this year's Port Salerno Seafood Festival.

Alec enjoys some hot clam strips...

Link to the Seafood Festival website...

http://www.portsalernoseafoodfestival.org/

Short article in the local news...

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/jan/24/crowd-port-salerno-seafood-festival-exceeds-expect/?feedback=1#comments

Hobe Sound Full Moon

2009-01-12T17:40:00.009-05:00

Saturday we enjoyed the full moon rising over the Atlantic at Hobe Sound Beach, Florida.

Pause here to enjoy a slideshow...

View Photo Slideshow
Make a Free Flash Slideshow

Living on a Dead End Street...

2009-01-04T22:50:00.005-05:00

Living on dead end street

does not mean life is dead!!!

Alec and Delaney enjoy chasing the truck, trailer and boat backing down the street after a day out on the water.

These picture were snapped from inside our truck, going in reverse...

Silly, yes... but you've just got to click the picture for a closer view.

January Tomatoes

2009-01-03T21:43:00.003-05:00

Ripening behind our pole barn...

These 'maters are gonna be good!

New Year's Eve Blaze

2009-01-01T10:52:00.005-05:00

Ringing in 2009 at the sandbar!!

Barefoot in Florida!

Sandbar Sunday

2008-12-29T07:53:00.001-05:00

I come from where the rivers meet the sea
That's part of why I'm so wild and fancy free
Floridays, by Jimmy Buffett

For our northern Friends . . .

2008-12-18T07:32:00.003-05:00

Put some yellow in your life when you want:

~clarity for decision-making

~relief from 'burnout', panic, nervousness, exhaustion

~sharper memory and concentration skills

~protection from lethargy and depression during dull weather

WALKERS CAY, BAHAMAS

2008-12-14T15:01:00.006-05:00

Show Off Your World HERE!

This Bahamian Island is 120 miles from our Florida shore.

Sadly it was demolished by

Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004.

We miss the island that was...

Anyone up for remodeling??http://www.damianos.com/listings/ListingDetail.ASPX?LID=14599004#

If we all pitched in our pocket change we could make it happen ...

... right??

Don't let that "contract pending" scare you - it's been there for years now.

Walkers Cay has been part of "my world" for a long time.

If the images are a bit fuzzy, it's just because they were all taken before digital brightened the world of photogra

Christmas Island

2008-12-05T15:41:00.004-05:00

Let's take a holiday trip!!

The days at our place have been busy getting ready for our annual holiday event:

Christmas Island!

This year the invitations are beer bottles slumped by our local glass artist.

After peeling the "Coors Light" labels off, I slapped these custom labels on them and will be delivering them around town tonight.

All cyberspace friends welcome!!

November

2008-11-24T21:46:00.003-05:00

Glorious November in south Florida!

Wednesday's Abstracts

2008-10-22T07:37:00.000-04:00

2008-10-17T20:44:00.008-04:00

Stumbled upon a neat place where folks share photos of their sky every Friday.
Here's ours:

Morning Ribbons

2008-10-14T07:20:00.004-04:00

I'll tell you how the sun rose -
a ribbon at a time.

~Emily Dickinson

I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever

2008-10-10T20:09:00.003-04:00

The place down the block, the one with no clock
Covert rendez-vous with you
at the usual time

I savor the scent
of the fish on the grill
Life's so spicy up on bar-b-q hill

I wish lunch could last forever . . .
Make the whole day one big afternoon . . .

I Wish Lunch Could Last Forever By: Jimmy Buffett, Jay Oliver 1989

Bouganvilla in the Rain

2008-10-07T15:58:00.000-04:00

Amateur Herpetologist

2008-10-05T15:24:00.005-04:00

Alec has found two snakes in our yard this month - both friendly and harmless.

Above is a glass snake Alec discovered after an evening bike ride (gotta love those sweaty pink cheeks). Technically the snake is a legless lizard - see link here and here.

Below is a juvenile ringneck snake - one of our favorite species.

link: Southern Ringneck Snake, Diadophis p. punctatus

Back Yard Visitors

2008-10-03T07:37:00.006-04:00

Downy Woodpecker

Painted Bunting female

This fellow, errr, lady, was feasting on just-ripened beautyberries in our own backyard.
The leaves of the beautyberry bush show that this bird isn't the only creature enjoying it.

Rainy Walk through the Park

2008-09-30T09:25:00.004-04:00

We're fortunate to have a county park of about 40 acres 200 feet from the house. So let's go check it out on a drizzly Tuesday morning.

Marley will lead the way.

I know, pictures of our kids are much cuter - we don't have the most photogenic dog, but she's a terrific trail companion and doesn't want for much.

She doesn't even mind the puddles we trekked through in the flatwoods.

First find is an osprey, perched upon the snags still standing after Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne.

And have you heard that fall migration is on full swing??

Not just snowbirds, but real birds, too.

This is the only snapshot I got of a migrating bird today - makes for a nice silhouette but practically impossible for i.d.

Can you spot it now below??

Ha.

I'll have to try again when the sun is out, which the weatherman says is a couple more days away.

A red-bellied woodpecker was doing his thing on the pines on the way home.

Dreaming of sunny days and better lighting!!

Key West Abstracts

2008-09-29T07:35:00.000-04:00

Alec and his friends of Key West

2008-09-23T17:21:00.008-04:00

What to do when the crowds are light in Key West but be silly with the natives, frozen in time...

Labor Day weekend 2008

September Skies

2008-09-22T07:15:00.002-04:00

Jupiter Island, Florida

Breezes sent showers flying by over the weekend.

2008-09-19T07:19:00.005-04:00

This French hibiscus reminded me of the colors of the Finnish flag waving in the sky.

“When you realize how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.”
Hindu Prince Gautama Siddharta, the founder of Buddhism, 563-483 B.C.

2008-09-13T20:11:00.006-04:00

So last Friday... leaving the 'hood, just another Friday,
like any other,

and then . . .

you just never know what you'll see in Rocky Point...
a 58' Merritt!

Not just any Merritt, this is Alan Jackson's (yes, THAT Alan Jackson's) HULLBILLY featured in the 2003 video "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere".

I guess those NO TRESPASSING signs are for me...
but Alec noticed that the keys to the salon were in the door.

Seems Hullbilly was pulled out of the lagoon just in case Ike made an appearance here in south Florida.

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=ib8nH4kHjxk&feature=related

2008-09-10T17:16:00.003-04:00

S0 - since we haven't posted in a while, you think that we left for Key West and decided to stay!!

Not exactly...

school is back in and it's homework, tennis lessons, flying practice (Alec's remote control airplanes), making lunches and laundry all in days that are too short.

But we were there for four days...

and pictures sustain us until the next vacation:

http://blueheavenbacktalk.blogspot.com/

More to come!

Haven't Seen Blue Water in a While Blues

2008-08-29T07:28:00.004-04:00

Double Breasted Cay, Bahamas

Grand Cay, Bahamas

We haven't escaped to the islands (Bahamas) yet this year...

these pictures are what keep me dreaming!

San Salvador, Bahamas

So this weekend we'll take a trip to Key West and hope we're not blown around by Gustav too much. All camera batteries are charging for the trip, and we hope to recharge our own batteries while we're there.

Fay Fades Away

2008-08-20T11:09:00.006-04:00

Sabal palm fronds at Sandsprit Park were dropped by the winds of tropical storm Fay.

Houses cling to the dune on Hutchinson Island.

Right on cue... an August tropical storm had us running cabin fever all day yesterday. This morning we escaped the house and headed to Chastain Beach in Stuart to check out how many shades of gray Fay was leaving behind.

We spent a few minutes

watching the waves roll in ...

and then crash into the limestone.

Raincicles

2008-08-04T07:49:00.003-04:00

In August, raincicles are common in south Florida.

You've seen them yourself, I'm sure. After a rain, eye the droplets lingering about.

Since we won't be hitting freezing temperatures for icicles,

. . . we enjoy the raincicles.

;)

Reflections

2008-08-03T10:04:00.004-04:00

Some of my favorites from our trip up and down
the Loxahatchee River and Kitching Creek.

predictable July . . .

2008-07-31T07:35:00.002-04:00

Great Blue Herons display themselves in this fashion only a few times a year. It appears that the bird is either warming itself or drying its feathers. Some bioligists believe the behavior, since it typically occurs during the hottest months of the year, is indeed a warming strategy in which the bird is increasing its body temerature to ward off parasites.

This is the typical stance of a blue heron.

Above, the ever-popular afternoon July squall in south Florida.

Loxahatchee River

2008-07-24T16:15:00.008-04:00

A part of My World is rivers running to the sea; in my case to the Atlantic Ocean.

A mere twenty minute truck ride from our place is the Loxahatchee River.

We use Jonathan Dickinson State Park as our access, and a jonboat to explore the nooks and crannies of this nationally designated Wild & Scenic River.

The water at the boat ramp is brackish, a mixture of fresh and saltwater. The mangroves behind this sign didn't exist here years ago... they are moving in becuase of an influx of saltwater.

Pine trees reveal haunting roots as they cling to the river bank. Notice the mangroves neighboring the pines... "Trapper Nelson", his gardens and jungle zoo add a fascinating story and mystery to the area. Read about him and his legacy HERE.

Alec spotted cocoplums and we all agreed they were the sweetest we had ever tried.

Air plants - bromeliads - cling to cypress trees.

Mere steps away from civilization, the Loxahatchee cypress trees (the tallest of the trees in the above photograph) are suffering from saltwater intrusion. Humans have taken so much of the fresh water from the river that salt water from the Jupiter Inlet, 9 miles away, reaches the cypress trees which then suffer a slow death.

Click on that photo to appreciate all the niches that the river provides.

I could spend weeks identifying all the flora...

Another unwelcome invader, besides the saltwater, are green iguanas. We brought this one out of the park, and now he's scampering around our porch. These are the same iguanas that ar sold in pet stores as pets.

Iguanas can reach 5 feet in length and weigh 15 pounds when grown; you can imagine the vegetative destruction they could leave in their path. (They are stout vegetarians.)

It is legal to capture iguanas in south Florida, and also humanely dispose of them.

This little (little not for long!) guy will spend the rest of his days with us... basking in the sunshine and munching on collards, mustard and bananas.

Spider lilies bloom along the bank, adding to the jungle feel. No wonder Trapper Nelson decided this was a fantastic place to live.

Summertime Salary

2008-07-22T07:17:00.009-04:00

Here is MY WORLD from June to July each summer.
I thought many blog visitors may enjoy a cyberspace warm-up in the midst of December!

Be sure to check out http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/ for a fascinating look at the world.

Thumbs up for summer!!

My summertime employment brings me to the Environmental Studies Center in Jensen Beach, Florida for six weeks.

The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program funds a summer institute for 156 fourth and fifth graders who come for two weeks at a time to explore our county's waterways. We complete in-depth investigations of the St. Lucie River, Indian River Lagoon and Loxahatchee River.

And, it's FUN.

School district policy is against posting any student faces on the internet

(the above is our own Delaney)...

but here are a few snapshots of the best summer job in the world:

Indian River Lagoon as seen from Indian RiverSide Park, Jensen Beach

Raphael, the loggerhead sea turtle

bloody tooth snail from Anastasia limestone

limpets and periwinkle snails on Anastasia limestone at the House of Refuge

the House of Refuge as seen from the Indian River Lagoon

checkered puffer

boxfish

olive snail

Joey, American alligator

our own Alec & Joey

climbing Hobe Mountain - an amazing 86 feet above sea level... it's a mountain for my world where the land is typically FLAT!

traveling through pine flatwoods of Jonathan Dickinson State Park by school bus

Dragonboating with Treasure Coast Dragon Boats
at the Stuart Causeway

exploring the dune at Stuart Beach

watching thunder roll at Jonathan Dickinson State Park

Thanks for visiting - maybe I'll see you in My World next summer.

I'm the lady with 50+ happy kids following along!

Let's Go Fishing...

2008-07-14T17:46:00.008-04:00

It had been longer than enough since the SeaVee lost sight of land. We broke the inlet at 5:30am Saturday and quietly slipped across a smooth sea to the fishing grounds. Lines in at sunrise . . .

Several hours trolling produced only a few weak hits, so we hauled in closer to shore. Yea, where the thunderstorms were brewing.

But sure enough that's where the bite was, and it wasn't long until Dale was fighting a sailfish, his first dance with a billfish.

Photographs do no justice to the true electric blue of these beautiful fish of the sea.

Click on these pictures and you'll agree...

Spent a few minutes making sure she had caught her "breath"... a tactic all billfishers practice.

And before we knew it, Dale was going in for the traditional first billfish dunk.

Bird and Bees

2008-07-06T11:58:00.003-04:00

Bees have been busy bumbling around the coconut palm blooms.

Baby dove (an only child) perched for take off... she left a mere 4 days after hatching!

2008-06-29T21:54:00.002-04:00

Just as we were getting worried about our feathered friend on the back porch....

(my goodness she has been there for 18 days!)

this morning we were greeted by a single chick tucked tightly under mom.

Surely a sign of summer below, Alec chats with Mummo and Vaari in Finland (temperature 60degrees, 4pm) while he kicks back here at home (85degrees, 9am).

Juhannus in south Florida

2008-06-21T08:08:00.002-04:00

We didn't have any old boats to burn at midnight (as is the Finnish tradition on Midsummer's Eve) but the evening skies cast fiery colors through the palms for us.

Since Wednesday...

2008-06-15T20:32:00.003-04:00

this mourning dove has sat on her nest.

She's created a somewhat ramshackle of a nest (ramshackle to us, anyway) upon one of our back porch fences. We can't even get a count of how many eggs she might have in there - she's persistently sitting there day, night, morning, dawn, noon, twilight.... since Wednesday.

Summer State of Mind

2008-06-14T08:27:00.000-04:00

Young Lady

2008-06-09T18:29:00.003-04:00

Fifth grade promotion made us realize we now have a young lady in the house.

From 1997...

to 2008...

we're proud of our Boo!

Discovery LIFTOFF!!

2008-06-03T07:31:00.007-04:00

Haulover Canal, Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Saturday, May 31 we took the drive north to view an east coast Florida event...

Here are launch pads 39A & 39B which were built by NASA originally for the Apollo program. They were retrofitted to suit the Space Shuttles. Discovery lifted off 39A, the pad to the right, which is 1.6 miles to the south of 39B.

Boats lined up at Haulover Canal for the show. It's the southernmost viewing area by water; we found a quiet shore just south of that for our own.

It was obvious fire had swept through the area recently.

And after we all explored the area and were thoroughly covered in soot, the grand finale began.

Don't forget that the launch pad to the left is 1.6 miles away, and it's about to be enveloped by smoke and vapor...

The sound was deep and low, although not that loud from ten miles away, but what really amazed us all was that a few moments after liftoff, a wave of HEAT streaked by.

Future launches are set for October, November and December of this year. It was certainly worth the trip and we'll be back again.

Shortly after this photo we could clearly see the solid rocket boosters drop off, I had tree branches in my way and couldn't get a clear shot, but that leaves a challenge for next time.

The shuttle slipped into orbit and we headed back south ourselves.

Green Cay Nature Center, Boynton Beach, Florida

2008-05-28T17:11:00.004-04:00

Spent a hot afternoon at Green Cay in Boynton Beach
Saturday, May 24

Dragonflies were everywhere,
but the eyes on this one had us green with envy...

Enjoying an afternoon preen is this limpkin,
Aramus guarauna .

Related to cranes and rails, the Limpkin is active mainly at night. For food, it depends chiefly on apple snails (Pomacea) but also takes frogs, tadpoles, and aquatic insects. Its loud, strident, eerie call, familiar at night in the Florida marshes, sounds like a human in distress, so the Limpkin is known locally as the "Crying Bird."
description 25-28" (64-71 cm). A long-legged, long-necked, goose-sized marsh bird. Grayish brown with white spots and streaks; long, slender, down-curved bill. In flight, wings have rapid upstroke and slower downstroke.
Information provided by eNature.com

2008-05-18T21:26:00.016-04:00

willet (below) Catoptrophorus semipalmatus

Whimbrel (below)
Numenius phaeopus

Friday night we took the SeaVee for another sunset cruise. We had a good time watching the shorebirds at the sanbar and I became interested in the variety of species.
The bird to the left is a red knot. It makes one of the longest mogrations of any shorebird in North America, from South America to Canada.
Cool facts abouth the red knot here:
http://mysite.verizon.net/vzeu3rwf/id5.html

See those bands around the legs?? I did a bit of research online, and discovered that these birds are part of a banding program out of Delaware. Click on the pic to see the letters of the band (although I don't know what they mean yet!).

You can read more about the banding program here: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/ensp/shorebird_banded.htm

Above, black skimmers, Rynchops niger, have the dubious distinction of being the only bird to have a beak with the bottom longer than the top.

Moonrise and sunset...

Smoke from distant fires added a smoky glow.

Ranch Trail Wildflowers

2008-05-13T14:52:00.021-04:00

Leavenworth's tickseed
Coreopsis leavenworthii

Hatpins Syngonanthus flavidulus

Marsilea sandweed or Zornia

Zornia bracteata

Butterfly Pea (albino)
Centrosema virginium
(typical color is light purple.)

tarflower Befaria racemosa
The sticky flowers trap flies and other insects, giving tarflower its common name.

southern fleabane
Erigeron quercifolius

American bluehearts
Buchnera americana

Star rush Rhynchospora colorata

This photograph is beautiful in black and white as well!

Peck Lake on the Atlantic

2008-05-11T14:44:00.004-04:00

Buzzin' the beach

No waves on the Atlantic today, so the Alec & Delaney turned their boogie boards to Yamaha power.

Kitchen Creek Road

2008-05-07T07:29:00.003-04:00

Hobe Sound, Florida

Offshore Hours

2008-05-05T16:45:00.006-04:00

Atlantic Ocean - 12 or so miles from Stuart, Florida.

The winds laid down and the sea glassed over, making for easy traveling.

We scoured 48 miles of sea Sunday, with not much to show for it fish-wise.

A northern waterthrush joined us for several hours in the afternoon. He was surely exhausted, traveling from the south to spend the summer in North America.
He was a friendly fellow and the kids made fast friends.

Above: The northern waterthrush spent some time checking out location, depth, speed and course-over -ground on the Raymarine.
He hitched a ride with us all the way back to shore, where he flew immediately into the Sabal Palms at Sandsprit Park.

Another Friday night at the "bar" ....sandbar

2008-05-03T16:49:00.004-04:00

It's hard not to love Friday nights at the sandbar...

plumeria

2008-04-29T17:21:00.001-04:00

Another spring scent . . .

Friday Sandbar Sunset

2008-04-29T07:36:00.003-04:00

Delaney and friend Ashley search the sandbars for shells, crabs and sand dollars.

Hibiscus

2008-04-29T07:28:00.002-04:00

Hibiscus flowers bloom year 'round . . .

Pinwheel Jasmine

2008-04-28T16:34:00.001-04:00

The scent is heavenly!

Prickly Pear Cactus, ripening Coconuts

2008-04-18T07:52:00.003-04:00

These beautiful flowers live in a harsh ecosystem, the Florida scrub. The environment is notably dry and sandy. This prickly pear cactus bloom lasts only a few days and then turns into a fruit which is a favorite food of the gopher tortoise.

August 2007 San Salvador, Bahamas

2008-04-15T07:25:00.001-04:00

2008-04-12T16:07:00.002-04:00

Backyard Fern

Shephard Park Sunset

Happy 9th Birthday, Alec

Papaya Skies

2008-04-10T07:27:00.000-04:00

Time for Papaya Salsa . . .

Friday at the Sandbar

2008-04-05T09:13:00.006-04:00

Osprey with Catch du Jour

Royal Terns

Laughing Gulls

TAKE OFF

2008-04-01T19:39:00.002-04:00

Morning Under the Palms

2008-04-01T09:17:00.000-04:00

Another Day at the Beach

2008-03-31T07:44:00.000-04:00

"Retro Beach"

Green Turtle, Bahamas

2008-03-28T22:50:00.000-04:00

Spent a thundery week in Green Turtle, 2006...

Hobe Sound Surfers and Royal Terns

2008-03-22T14:41:00.000-04:00

Thalasseus maximus

Birds and Blue Skies

2008-03-21T08:13:00.000-04:00

SPRING

2008-03-16T13:05:00.001-04:00

Ginger begin their blooms as night time temperatures rise.

This squirrel eats more of my birdseed than the birds do! SCAT!

Peck Lake Beach

I played around with it digitally...

San Salvador, Bahamas

2008-03-06T17:26:00.000-05:00

IBIS AT THE SANDBAR

2008-03-04T07:16:00.000-05:00

Who says we don't have beautiful sunsets on the east coast?

Peck Lake Beach

2008-03-03T14:32:00.000-05:00

last days of February...in Florida

2008-02-27T07:35:00.001-05:00

Nine pineapple pups greeted me in the garden and the amaryllis continue their show.

the world of "which island"?

2008-02-26T07:14:00.001-05:00

My love affair with the Bahamas started fourteen years ago, but it wasn’t in the Bahamas .

Michael and I had traveled the Caribbean quite a bit for several years. Our favorite island was St. Bartholemy in the French West Indies . We found the Caribbean to be upbeat, but secluded enough to enjoy quiet beaches, so we explored many of the islands in the northern Caribbean, south of Puerto Rico . There is something to be said for mountains rising up from the sea in such fashion as they do there.

Long Island, Bahamas

Soon enough, we began to notice the “Americanization” if the Caribbean. Places we had come to love were being overrun by people with Boston and New York accents. Americans having their own love for the places we did, were in fact ruining precisely what we went there for in the first place. (Funny how we never put ourselves in that same group, however.)

(We also had made dozens upon dozens of trips to the Keys – but they were spoiled far ahead of the Caribbean and we haven’t been back there since 1997.)

By this time we had made trips to the Bahamas in our own center console several times. Walkers Cay, Moraine Cay, Green Turtle and Little Harbor made us realize that from then on we would spend a majority of our lives planning how to come back time after time. At the same time, my curiosity began to pique about islands in the distance, ones farther than we dared our vessel to go.

Our first flight was to Eleuthera. Fantastic beachcombing. Unspoiled vistas. Genuinely happy natives that wanted nothing more than to tell you about their special island. We went back again that same year.

Since then we have visited Cat Island , Long Island and San Salvador as well as made several trip back to the Abacos. I’ve scoured history books and researched traditions of the islands we’ve visited as well as the ones that are in our future. The islands are so close, yet worlds away from everything.

The Bahamas call to me; every day I dream of the next destination. It is what gives me the gumption to get up and go to work in the morning! I am always torn whether to return to where we have been or discover a new “treasure island”.

I believe there are still flawless places in the Caribbean and the Keys, yes. But I also believe you have to search them out. In the islands of the Bahamas , they are there – without the searching – and when you do decide to search, the surprises are even more spectacular.

Dean's Blue Hole
Long Island, Bahams