The Essential Beachcomber

Now, I don't like to point fingers. I've got my share of unfinished projects. There is a box full of shell pieces that are destined for a wall art mosaic as soon as I find the right frame.  I've been looking for that frame for 6 months. I have several storage tubs in my closet that if I would just unpack I could actually walk into my walk-in closet. But, I'm sorry if the procrastination kingdom has a king - I have found him. (Overhead at a small home in Englewood) "Look Honey! I bought a sailboat!" "But Darling, you don't sail" "I know, but I'm going to learn" (Overheard at same Englewood home 1 year later) "Sweetheart, I'm going to take the sailing lessons as soon as I fix the hole in the boat" ( Overheard yet another year later) "My Love, I made you a new planter in the front yard!" I drove around the block to get a second look. 

Ranger Betty of Stump Pass State Park I have exciting news!!  There was another spectacular junonia find. No.... Not on Sanibel Island.  Not on Captiva Island.  Not even close. I told you about   Ranger Bob from Stump Pass State Park  a few months back.  He's the one who found a huge megalodon shark's tooth on the beach at Stump Pass.  Bob had the shark's tooth wrapped by a jeweler and proudly wears his necklace to work every day. Ranger Bob has recently added another large sharks tooth to his hat  Recently Ranger Bob went garage sale-ing and bought a box of shells for $2.00.  Not a bad deal right.  Guess what was in the bottom of the box....that's right a huge perfect junonia.  Ranger Bob had given the junonia to his fellow co-worker Ranger Betty. I finally got a picture of his find.   Ranger Betty told me a cute story.  Since Stump Pass is a state park they close at sundown.  The rangers cannot go ...

Come On!! You gotta love a doctor with a sense of humor. My Gyno has come up with a solution for those delicate moments that you are flat on your back being poked & prodded.  This is the  ceiling directly above the exam table. She has covered it with jokes & cartoons to lighten up an awkward moment (No I didn't take this picture during the exam - that would be tacky....I snuck & took the picture after it was over) Looking at the ceiling from the exam table

Hoya carnosa I know that the love of gardening is not exclusive to those of us GRITS (Girls Raised In The South). Women from all 50 states have a love for all things green & growing.  It just seems that it is expected of us who are from the south to have a garden or at least grow a tomato or two. Like any good southern woman I appreciate a pretty garden. My grandmother  was a florist who loved to garden. She had a huge glass greenhouse back in the 50's. She had a compost pile & raised earthworms before anyone had to encourage her to go green. I did not inherit that skill. I garden vicariously through Southern Living magazine or HGTV. While my mother, sisters, & nieces  putter outside in their gardens  I can be found in the lazy boy watching Curb Appeal spruce up some ugly yard.  I do have plants but I only grow the species that thrive on neglect. (We will not entertain the psychological ramifications of that at this time)  If the plant ne...

Well the planets  lined up again.   My friend Lil Shorty (pronounced Shawty) & I finally had a day off on the same day. Lil Shorty is my partner in sharks tooth crime.  After a few texts back & forth it was decided that we would walk the second leg of our unfinished beach hike. We had walked from Englewood Beach north to Blind Pass Beach back in  February . That was a spectacular day.  The weather was crisp & the water was crystal blue. Once you get past the public beach & onto the beach less travelled the shoreline is teeming with sharks teeth.  Looking south towards Blind Pass Beach in Englewood, FL The beach was packed.  Snowbirds, spring breakers, & beach umbrellas as far as the eye could see. We started walking north and left the crowds behind us. The people of Englewood are just crazy about picking up sharks teeth. I had a lady stop me and ask what all the fuss was about.  I tried to muster up an answer with some si...

My Miracle Man & Me. My beach combing exploits have been temporarily  interrupted by my Hubby who decided to have a heart attack on Saturday night. I was watching some tv in the living room when I heard him call my name from the bedroom.  "Oh for goodness sake, what does he want now" I thought to myself & continued to watch tv.  After a minute or so my conscience elbowed me hard & I walked back to see what he needed.  I found him gripping the sink & in extreme pain from his jaw to his chest. We live 3 minutes from a hospital so I hustled him outside to the car & off we bolted off to the ER.  That was Saturday night & he came home Tuesday afternoon with a stint in his LAD.  The doctor assured me someone was looking out for Hubby because blockage in that artery is usually non-negotiable. I asked the doctor "Isn't that artery called the Widow Maker?".  "Yes" he grinned "But I don't as a rule use that term...