tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88857197612742759902024-03-05T00:47:36.212-05:00The Essential BeachcomberLiving an intentional life interspersed with a little shellingKaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.comBlogger261125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-55957036242736479922013-06-11T23:54:00.001-04:002013-06-12T09:53:43.043-04:00“A ship in harbor is safe, but that is not what ships are built for.” - Pastor William G.T. Shedd <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">"Spontaneous" is a scary word to some people. The very thought of flying by the seat of their pants or working without a net breaks them into a cold sweat. Of course on the spontaneous meter of life there are two extremes. The low end would be forgetting your shopping list and grocery shopping without one. Going a little higher up the meter would be the middle-aged woman that goes to the hairdresser for her regular highlights but impulsively decides to go wild & get aqua blue streaks instead (you know who you are). Impetuous tattoos and impromptu skinny dipping would be on the wilder end of the spontaneity meter. <i>(Note - Adding alcohol of any kind especially tequila can definitely affect your spontaneity. My sobriety has definitely put the kibosh on my impulsive outbreaks of karaoke. But I can still sing a mean Bonnie Raitt in the shower.)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> When life gets too daily you just have to do something unexpected & fun to shake things up! I fall in about the middle of the spontaneity meter. My friends would probably describe me as reasonably sensible but I have been known to do some crazy shelling. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Monday was one of those days.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I had a small window of free time, made a phone call & was on the road 20 minutes later with my wild spontaneous partners-in-shelling-crime driving 100 miles south to catch the late afternoon low tide on Little Hickory. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Go with the flow and ride with the tide.</span></i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">Little Hickory is the north end of Bonita Beach on the SWFL coast. At low tide the entire cove empties and leaves shells as far as the eye can see.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">Almost the entire cove will uncovered as the tide lowers.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">100's of starfish were stranded on the sandbar. Momma Gee takes a closer look at this huge 9-armed sea star. If they sense a predator the starfish will drop an arm hoping the predator will take it & run. They then start growing a replacement arm.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/pZz_FqbX_CCdBGSeKMl0s5vPpII6A1z5EeNESLJ7pBRn=w299-h223-p-no" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/pZz_FqbX_CCdBGSeKMl0s5vPpII6A1z5EeNESLJ7pBRn=w299-h223-p-no" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Wade-ster exploring the tidal pools with his net.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/n6lmuYi9n61QuD7z-9WjWiy5hj_X5_8kEqCZnkfHw2U4=w299-h223-p-no" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/n6lmuYi9n61QuD7z-9WjWiy5hj_X5_8kEqCZnkfHw2U4=w299-h223-p-no" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The colors of the dimming of the day looking towards Ft. Myers Beach with the lights of the dredge in the distance. Beach renourishment has begun at Lover's Key State Park.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Things are looking good.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">A pile of pen shells washed in by last week's Tropical Storm Andrea is an indicator of treasure below.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;">After a little excavating with my shell shovel we uncovered a shell pile left from the storm. At high tide the pile would have been under 2-3 feet of water.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/MPFbXix_dXeMWyh5PNwJwVbvjPuk2RcyvGS3wJZRL3FE=w289-h226-p-no" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="499" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/MPFbXix_dXeMWyh5PNwJwVbvjPuk2RcyvGS3wJZRL3FE=w289-h226-p-no" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Taking a break to watch the glorious sunset.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Gee-man perusing the tidal pools.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Found this 16" Horse Conch on the sand bar about 50 yards off the beach.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Intact jewel boxes with some spines not tumbled off by the rolling waves</span>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My prize - an albino fighting conch.</span></td></tr>
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Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-78088173177548406402013-05-28T14:54:00.000-04:002013-05-28T14:54:31.181-04:00 "If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give." George MacDonald<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I so get that these days. With Manasota Key only 2 miles away it's not unusual for me to pop over for an early morning beach walk for sunrise, come home and do the domestic thing, then head back for some late afternoon sharks toof hunting. My mom's recent stroke has pretty much put the brakes on my beach combing flexibility. Even the time to blog is a challenge. On my daily priority list the beach and blogging have sunk to the low end of important things to do. I hope I don't sound like I'm whining. We all want to make a difference in the world and sometimes that difference is not on a faraway continent - it is in our own neighborhood or home. So mom is improving every day and hubby is maintaining. I'll be vicariously walking the beach with the rest of the cyber-shellers for now.</span>Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-79579585069629771622013-05-21T21:28:00.001-04:002013-05-21T21:28:32.770-04:00Manasota Key Starter Kit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Tennessee Sister & Mom doing a little pool therapy.<br /><br />Today marks 2 weeks since my mom had her stroke. Every day gets a little better for her. Her movement & balance are improving. The main challenge was swallowing. The feeling was gone on the left side of her throat so I had to keep a close eye on her while she ate or drank. Talking and eating at the same time is a habit we had to quickly break. Tonight she managed a piece of homemade Strawberry Pie so I am certain she is over the hump. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and emails full of comfort and encouragement. I see a beach day on the near horizon for me very soon.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Originally posted 5/18/2012)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>I don't really try to predict what can and will happen with things. Sometimes you think something's gonna be a huge success, and it isn't. And sometimes you pay no attention to something whatsoever, and God just makes it into everything. - Donna Summer</b></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">It's Raining Shells! Hallelujah!! The rain that rolled over Englewood on Wednesday night rattled some pretty shells loose that washed up Thursday afternoon.</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-syHNX3ilpb4/T7aQ6fIzPNI/AAAAAAAAMkQ/mZaYxTg_Br4/w395-h378-n-k/photo+%252824%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="612" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-syHNX3ilpb4/T7aQ6fIzPNI/AAAAAAAAMkQ/mZaYxTg_Br4/w395-h378-n-k/photo+%252824%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">The turtles have started arriving. The yellow stakes are placed on fresh turtle nests each morning as the <a href="http://coastalwildlifeclub.org/Sea_Turtle_Patrol/sea_turtle_patrol.htm">local turtle patrol</a> make their way up the beach looking for recent turtle tracks. This seemed like a popular spot. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">I had a newbie sheller with me. Green Pea hollered that she had found a "pretty Shell". She scored a perfect lion's paw.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pNBLyyyCxm0/T7aQuAuMHFI/AAAAAAAAMjc/lVBIs08PYKQ/w532-h402-n-k/photo+%252815%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="301" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pNBLyyyCxm0/T7aQuAuMHFI/AAAAAAAAMjc/lVBIs08PYKQ/w532-h402-n-k/photo+%252815%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">My beach buddy was on the look-out for shark's teeth and had to switch brain grooves to spot shells instead.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Our 2 best finds of the afternoon - a juvenile horse conch & a lion's paw (3 inches from top to bottom)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Manasota Key is the kitchen sink of shelling. You find lots of shark's teeth, fossils, shells, & beach bling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">We chillax'd on a bench to watch the boats sail by.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Thinking of singer Donna Summer who passed away from cancer Thursday morning. She has a beach house just a mile up the road. Donna had been a local on Manasota Key for several years. RIP Donna.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">All the fotos were taken with my iPhone 4S.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">My finds of the afternoon. I call this a Manasota Key starter kit - Shells, shark's teeth, fossils, drift shell fragments, & flotsam.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.dwellable.com/a/2100/Florida/Gulf-Coast-South/Manasota-Key/Vacation-Rentals" style="border: none;"><img src="http://www.dwellable.com/dwellback/2100.jpg" style="border: none; height: 20px; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 102px;" /><br />Manasota Key on Dwellable</a><br />
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Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-58143300668234028882013-05-16T00:29:00.000-04:002013-05-16T00:29:13.123-04:00May the flop be with you.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(Credit: <a href="http://www.oceanstyles.com/">http://www.oceanstyles.com</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Well, I guess everything has a shelf life. Yesterday was a doleful day for me. My favorite <a href="http://us.havaianas.com/womens-flip-flops/">Havaianas</a> flip flops finally bit the dust. As I was shopping in the grocery store I felt my flip go flop. The thong snapped clean off - not fixable - no way - no how. <i><b>Not my favorite hot pink, glow-in-the -dark Havianas, Wah! </b></i> I got them in a Beall's clearance rack at 70% off and I loved them from the first time I wore them. Just squishy enough, comfy between the toes & glow-in-the-dark too! Come On! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Dang! Now I'm walking barefooted on the yucky grocery store floor as I finish up my shopping. I had placed my busted flip flops conspicuously in the basket so people would not think I purposely came in barefoot. Kids & teenagers can get away with that tackiness in our little beach town but when you are over 50 - not so much. As I checked out I whined to the cashier about my broken flip flops. Really, I was letting the entire line know that I really did have shoes on when I came in the store (like they really care right). The cashier sympathized "Well Honey, at least you don't have on pajama pants. I can handle barefoot, it's those pajama pants in public that are so uncouth." Thank the Lord I don't even own any. My fashion sense is still somewhat intact.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So the search begins for new flip flops. Of course I have back ups and spare pairs but they are not the same. OK, don't make that face at me again or I'll slap you with my flip flop.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You served me well dear flip flops. I couldn't bear to throw them away at the store. They are still in the back of my truck till I figure out a respectful disposal.</span></td></tr>
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Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-19084648610775479832013-05-10T22:30:00.000-04:002013-05-11T00:32:11.742-04:00M-O-T-H-E-R "M" is for the million things she gave me, "O"means only that she's growing old, "T" is for the tears she shed to save me, "H" is for her heart of purest gold; "E" is for her eyes, with love-light shining, "R" means right, and right she'll always be, Put them all together, they spell "MOTHER," A word that means the world to me. --Howard Johnson (c. 1915)<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">A spur of the moment trip found me on Captiva Island this past Tuesday. The pictures on facebook of a huge shell pile were too tempting for me. I hurriedly packed a bag, jumped in the car & drove the 2 hours south to Captiva for the 6pm low tide. I had been digging my way through the monstrous shell pile when my phone rang. It was Hubby. "This better be good" I thought as I stopped excavating my way through the mass of seashells. "The ambulance is here. I think your Mom is having another stroke." He said soberly. So, 10 minutes later I am heading back home to Englewood trying to keep calm & not let the thoughts in my head take over. You know, the "what if's" and the "should have's". "I didn't even hug her good bye", I thought to myself. I just ran out of the house thinking about the stupid junonia that would have my name on it in that big shell pile.<br /><br />Now, 3 days later, she is recovering from her 2nd stroke in 2 years. This time there are swallowing issues & walking challenges. As I watch her struggle to work with her nurses & various therapists I can't help but admire her courage. No one wants to get old. Certainly, no one wants to face illness of any kind. Watching my mother be gracious, brave & trust the Lord in the midst of the storm that has just blown through her cerebellum is extremely humbling. It makes me realize how thankful I am for every day we have together. My Mom has peace in the storm because she knows who is sleeping in the front of the boat. <br /><br />As Mom consumes the jello her nurses bring her to keep her nausea at bay, she reminds me how she taught me that trick some years back. I balked at her offer of jello after my surgery 8 years ago and she insisted I eat it because "It would coat my stomach". Oh. All. Right. As I ate the bowl of jello she forced on me my stomach slowly settled and the nausea went away. "You were right Mom. You were right". You are right about a lot of things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there. It's true - Mom really does know best.</b></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Re-posting from May 7, 2011)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">My 74 yo <a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2010/09/let-me-introduce-you-to-my-mom.html">Mother (GG)</a> has not embraced technology although she is winking at it from a distance. GG had the cassette tape-thing down pat then I threw her a curve ball by gifting her a cd player. After several sessions of me instructing her she got pretty adapt at playing her new cd's except for one incident where she listened to the same song over and over and over all night long because she hit the wrong button.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"> She has a cell phone that she forgets to charge and a tv that has 3 remotes. I set her up a facebook account so she could keep in touch with her grand kids & some old high school friends but she never uses it. Just like the email lesson we had previous to facebook she thinks if she hits the wrong key on the keyboard she will blow up China. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">GG has taken a shine to one perk of using the Internet - Bill pay. GG hates to pay a bill any earlier than she has to. I think she just doesn't like giving up her money any sooner than she has to. On the day of the bill's due date She usually races out the door to drive to the post office trying to get her envelope out on the last pony express to Discover or Allstate hoping it at least gets postmarked on time. This all changed the first time I offered to pay her bill online. Click, click, click tap click - all done! as GG stares in wide-eyed wonder over my shoulder. She now pays most of her bills online vicariously through me. Happy Mother's Day GG. You know how to pick your battles.</span><br />
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<object data="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/godtube/resource/mediaplayer/5.3/player.swf" height="510" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/godtube/resource/mediaplayer/5.3/player.swf"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="wmode" value="opaque"><param name="flashvars" value="file=http://www.godtube.com/resource/mediaplayer/FB2C21NU.file&image=http://www.godtube.com/resource/mediaplayer/FB2C21NU.jpg&screencolor=000000&type=video&autostart=false&playonce=true&skin=http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/godtube/resource/mediaplayer/skin/carbon/carbon.zip&logo.file=http://media.salemwebnetwork.com/godtube/theme/default/media/embed-logo.png&logo.link=http://www.godtube.com/watch/%3Fv%3DFB2C21NU&logo.position=top-left&logo.hide=false&controlbar.position=over"></object>Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-38361722476700613332013-05-06T22:28:00.000-04:002013-05-06T22:28:35.871-04:00The first hour of the morning is the rudder of the day. It is a blessed baptism which gives the first waking thoughts into the bosom of God. - HENRY WARD BEECHER, Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Walking out to the Boca Grande Pass for the morning sunrise show.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seemed like such a good idea at the time. I invited a few of my girlfriends to meet on the beach to watch the sunrise. Now, as I am laying on my bed checking the alarm I set for 4:30 am and the back-up alarm for 4:45 am on my phone for the third time I am wondering if I really thought this all the way through? I love making my way to the beach well before dawn to watch the sunrise - by myself. Inviting and coordinating girl friends is now overwhelming me and starting to feel similar to herding cats. I have already packed a beach bag with lemon-poppy seed muffins, bananas, & coffee essentials. I've checked the weather and the tides. My clothes are laid out. I'm ready to hit the road at 4:25 am and pick each friend up in 15 minute intervals as we make our way out the 11 miles to Boca Grande Island for the sunrise.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">After finally falling asleep I woke to the first Big Ben bells chiming rudely as the alarm went off. I looked over in the dark at my hubby who never moved a muscle in all the racket. I quietly slid out of bed, grabbed my clothes and proceeded to get this show on the road. As I mentally double-checked my gear I was hoping that all my friends were on time. If just one was one person late or a no-show that sunrise was history. Then, just like clockwork, they were each at their appointed pick-up spot just as we had planned. Just like Hannibel of the A-Team says -"I love it when a plan comes together".</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The daybreak sky is a changing watercolor of pastel hues.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The weather was a surprise. With a high surf advisory for Charlotte County, the wind was blowing a strong cool blast from the NW.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UXGbFqDIOzI/UYf_BAQnQdI/AAAAAAAASps/lwRpgI2_dFU/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6477.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UXGbFqDIOzI/UYf_BAQnQdI/AAAAAAAASps/lwRpgI2_dFU/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6477.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Photographs can't do it justice. An island sunrise will take your breath away with it's beauty.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GG1hbzwdXU/UYf_tDoi6FI/AAAAAAAASqo/rIkCAOcTDGM/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2GG1hbzwdXU/UYf_tDoi6FI/AAAAAAAASqo/rIkCAOcTDGM/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6488.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Anglers get a jump on the day in <a href="http://www.charlotteharbortravel.com/cms/index.php?id=429">"The Tarpon Capital of the World".</a></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TR7louvKpdM/UYgAJ48bV5I/AAAAAAAASro/doMsExlCILk/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TR7louvKpdM/UYgAJ48bV5I/AAAAAAAASro/doMsExlCILk/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6509.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The reflection of a hungry sandpiper washes across the wet sand.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WOUg0MFFmN0/UYgB4hzK58I/AAAAAAAASuU/BjDBT_hIlaI/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WOUg0MFFmN0/UYgB4hzK58I/AAAAAAAASuU/BjDBT_hIlaI/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6537.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The Gulf of Mexico is usually a pretty calm place but with the convergence of rising tide, pass currents, & strong winds it does have it's turbulent moments. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e-nnldcLMbc/UYgEsIOdjAI/AAAAAAAAS0U/oI7vCC54a_U/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-e-nnldcLMbc/UYgEsIOdjAI/AAAAAAAAS0U/oI7vCC54a_U/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6587.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The water is actually warm at 77 degrees. Even as stirred up as things are we saw dolphins, a manatee, and A SEA TURTLE!</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VmPePiIvtWc/UYf-8VCxvyI/AAAAAAAASpk/cg27gryZcMY/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6475.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VmPePiIvtWc/UYf-8VCxvyI/AAAAAAAASpk/cg27gryZcMY/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6475.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Tossed ashore by the blustering surf, a tulip egg casing attached to a pen shell came in for a landing.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The chilly gusting wind only added a special ambiance to our coffee and conversation. That's me in the purple shirt holding on to the empty chair so it doesn't blow away.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TmR2F80fOB0/UYgCOLFZquI/AAAAAAAASvI/S3IXKHPVJm0/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6543.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TmR2F80fOB0/UYgCOLFZquI/AAAAAAAASvI/S3IXKHPVJm0/w359-h269-p-o/DSCF6543.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">Up the beach for a little exploring. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tngdk4f9GRk/UYgDpTpjcVI/AAAAAAAASyc/UQxITdMpA8U/w403-h302-p-o/DSCF6571.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Tngdk4f9GRk/UYgDpTpjcVI/AAAAAAAASyc/UQxITdMpA8U/w403-h302-p-o/DSCF6571.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The water was slightly calmer on the south side of Boca Grande Pass. This starfish was rescued and photo-documented before we threw him/her back.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span><br /><span style="font-size: small;">The sugar sea star came ashore wrapped up in the seaweed.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)<br /><br />Thanks to the stormy sea lots of flotsam washing up on the south end of the island. Closer inspection of the seaweed finds shells, star fish, and other sea goodies.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Somethings are so worth the extra effort - getting up at the crack of dawn, good friends, coffee on the beach, sunrise. So worth it!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span id="goog_164087886"></span><span id="goog_164087887"></span><br /></span>Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-71947555769584537772013-04-30T22:29:00.000-04:002013-04-30T23:27:36.810-04:00My soul is full of longing for the secrets of the sea, and the heart of the great ocean sends a thrilling pulse through me... - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo Credit: Meghan McCarthy / Daily News File Photo)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">While most people follow the traditional spring, summer, fall, & winter seasons; Here on Manasota Key we observe two seasons - Lights on and Lights off. May 1 is the official start of Lights off or better known as Sea Turtle Nesting Season. Most beach side Manasota Key Motels, condos, & homeowners have already made the <span style="font-size: large;">annual</span> move to shield all outdoor lights visible from the beac<span style="font-size: large;">h. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sea turtle hatchlings have a natural instinct to move towards the brightest direction. On a natural beach, the brightest direction is most often the expansive view of the night sky over, and reflected by the ocean<span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Environmental lighting on the beach such as street lights, outdoor lighting on buildings, and even a lamp shining from a living room window can confuse the mother coming ashore to lay her eggs and the baby hatchlings some eight weeks later looking for their way to the sea.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sea turtles not only have to get past lights, beach furniture, and predators to survive. The weather has to be dealt with as well. <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://coastalwildlifeclub.org/default.html">Coastal Wildlife Club, Inc.</a> who manages the turtle patrol of Manasota Key had counted 1,988 turtle nests up to week #9 of last year's turtle nesting season when Tropical Storm Debby blew <span style="font-size: large;">across SWFL and sadly most of the nests were lost. The <span style="font-size: large;">2012 se<span style="font-size: large;">ason's final count was 7,030 turtle nests on Manasota Key of which 4,000 of th<span style="font-size: large;">ose were false crawls. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">A false crawl is when a sea turtle comes ashore but for some reason gets
startled or unhappy with the area and returns to the sea without making
a nest or laying her eggs. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few years back I got the surprise of my life. As I was sitting on Blind Pass Beach (located in the middle of Manasota Key not Sanibel) sorting through a big pile of shell crush looking for sharks teeth a lady came running up the beach shouting that tur<span style="font-size: large;">tles were hatching a<span style="font-size: large;">bout a 100 yards up the beach. It's unusual for baby tur<span style="font-size: large;">tle<span style="font-size: large;">s to hatch during the day but it does happen. I <span style="font-size: large;">had been making a video about looking for sharks teeth so my camera was already out. As I scurried up the beach to see what was going on I was met with 100's of baby turtles making their way to the water. I was also met with a flock of seagulls tr<span style="font-size: large;">ying to scoop up the determined marching<span style="font-size: large;"> babies. Turtle patrol experts will tell you to stay back<span style="font-size: large;"> and quietly observe. When the sea gulls started swooping our little gang went into turtle rescue mode. They say only 1 out of a 1,000 turtles makes it to maturity. We wanted the odds to be as good as they could get. I was in awe of seeing the turtles hatch for days. <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">For more information on what you can do to prepare for the 2013 Turtle Nesting season <a href="http://www.mote.org/clientuploads/01SeaTurtleResearch/2012%20STCRP%20Version%20of%20Brochure.pdf">click here.</a></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></i><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/nlQIFP-zU_U?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-82353744643562642342013-04-24T20:49:00.000-04:002013-04-24T20:59:28.151-04:00 Searching is half the fun: life is much more manageable when thought of as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a surprise party. - Jimmy Buffett<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TOlD405U83I/AAAAAAAAFkI/zh5VKijznrU/s640/PA250021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TOlD405U83I/AAAAAAAAFkI/zh5VKijznrU/s640/PA250021.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My shark's tooth jar is always half full.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Englewood is an accidental town of sorts. Situated on the Gulf coast <span style="font-size: large;">somewhat</span> close to I-75 and even closer to the historic Tamiami Trail don't <span style="font-size: large;">text</span> while driving through or you'll miss it. Even most Floridians couldn't tell you where Englewood is located. (Also on that list would be Chiefland, Alva, & Gulf</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hammock & I have kinfolk in them all) Most vacationers end up in Englewood for a quick stop to visit their retired<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>parents on their way to the real vacation destination of Disney World. Other tourists stumble upon the beaches of Manasota Key while <span style="font-size: large;">on their way to more well known beaches like Boca Grande Island or Siesta Key. At any rate it's one of the best ac<span style="font-size: large;">c<span style="font-size: large;">idents you could have.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Although Englewood beaches cannot boast of the sugar white sand of Siesta or the swanky shopping of Boca Grande. Our beaches have their own distinctive treasure to brag about -<b> fossilized sharks teeth</b>. The official past time in Englewood is hunting for sharks teeth. Our beaches are loaded with them. For a town where the pace is a little slower, walking the beaches and looking for sharks teeth is the perfect speed. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Finding sharks teeth is easy if you know <a href="http://www.zeemaps.com/pub?group=475329">where to look</a>, when to look, & what to take with you to make the looking even easier. <span style="font-size: large;">The sharks toofs that wash up on the beaches <span style="font-size: large;">are usually 1 inch or smaller. The huge Megalodon sharks teeth are found occasionally <span style="font-size: large;">on the beaches, usually after a storm but more commonly by scuba diving or snorkeling. Most Englewood residents are happy to simply stroll the beach picking up a handful of the smaller teeth. Those teeth as a rule end u<span style="font-size: large;">p in a</span> container that graces most homes. <span style="font-size: large;">It's <span style="font-size: large;">a time-worn tradition here in Englewood that the decades<span style="font-size: large;"> can</span>not improve.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXGiJw-B_cDSThflsAR3m1F6J979MbJekPljTbrXA_olMju25qL1owSFfck15JkAGqwkDFrpP8nWZUkzUaWFyYscTNct0jo-MVe2DbAKKHsfNPrMexu1SuJvCni6pLotdarfpp9CUTLsL/s1600/DSCF6291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAXGiJw-B_cDSThflsAR3m1F6J979MbJekPljTbrXA_olMju25qL1owSFfck15JkAGqwkDFrpP8nWZUkzUaWFyYscTNct0jo-MVe2DbAKKHsfNPrMexu1SuJvCni6pLotdarfpp9CUTLsL/s640/DSCF6291.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Most shark's tooth hunters walk the shoreline when they are looking for teeth. My method is to look past the shells for patches of crushed shells and tumbled rock. My brain has a hard time focusing on both shells and shark's teeth. For me, it's one or the other. More shoreline is exposed at low tide but you can find patches of the shell crush at any tide.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU05sRkWcKUQVOKqQinNo8trMHk_mjAhmHZ0bxCfqTmCxLJLO80kNAZrwhbEjWtZVRcsAit_bCwN_eazAjUU8iSnxmXn5zjB8fUEvPFOJYb589smZzRvbxLpThSu6MjNcLvBZhr6Rekqj/w497-h372-p-o/IMG_0068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisU05sRkWcKUQVOKqQinNo8trMHk_mjAhmHZ0bxCfqTmCxLJLO80kNAZrwhbEjWtZVRcsAit_bCwN_eazAjUU8iSnxmXn5zjB8fUEvPFOJYb589smZzRvbxLpThSu6MjNcLvBZhr6Rekqj/w497-h372-p-o/IMG_0068.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just a short walk up the beach can produce a handful of shark's toofs.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBI1nrqQtvwD302THrNSv0p1niFvOYEL64JHqh-gCp1OFHEt5_Rt0sRBvMHHkR6T4TZPSXPQjal6lcc2LysjyAtoSQu_OA6TAfAIsR9AxMrw3XMC5cilgqiacyFw5AMwJgT6_6HQNyA6jo/s1600/DSCF6295.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBI1nrqQtvwD302THrNSv0p1niFvOYEL64JHqh-gCp1OFHEt5_Rt0sRBvMHHkR6T4TZPSXPQjal6lcc2LysjyAtoSQu_OA6TAfAIsR9AxMrw3XMC5cilgqiacyFw5AMwJgT6_6HQNyA6jo/s640/DSCF6295.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When you
find patches of what I call "shell crush" take a closer look. Shark's
teeth in abundance are hidden among all the shell fragments and tumbled
rock. The low tide exposes the most shell crush but you can find patches to sort through even at high tide.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNp7GQVLsy-oN82hLhToQm-d-vqmP7rBc9773xKfE93pVhRemUBPpzYz0Xud_Z7RMVv764N0mFucO5DyOPPecTUPKWqMsOwj7J6At7X5yzOlVklfDvEhgB2ORWQ3TXESBPBX5719fW-Wc/s1600/Boca+Grand+with+Karen+4-8-13+110+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNp7GQVLsy-oN82hLhToQm-d-vqmP7rBc9773xKfE93pVhRemUBPpzYz0Xud_Z7RMVv764N0mFucO5DyOPPecTUPKWqMsOwj7J6At7X5yzOlVklfDvEhgB2ORWQ3TXESBPBX5719fW-Wc/s640/Boca+Grand+with+Karen+4-8-13+110+-+Copy.JPG" width="480" /> </a></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td><td style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Some beachcombers can put quite the hurting on their Florida Snow Shovel aka Sharks Toof Shovel. It was beyond fixing so off to Wal-mart for a new one. We have some very creative & ingenious shark's tooth hunters in Englewood. <a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2011/04/to-invent-you-need-good-imagination-and_12.html">Check out some of their contraptions.</a></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHO8G7BWN3TxPHa4IP2fpISMhI6C7dVP427extqqxrZ7cCuQAkm3Y8IUlPYFzPioZFhppZfROtzTrGXaOMM3Tz8Dj8tn-T1xOKDaiDmjOB_t2aY0TS9aozrePMoj8D8F3MRTlVNVCxsz4/s1600/DSCF4735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAHO8G7BWN3TxPHa4IP2fpISMhI6C7dVP427extqqxrZ7cCuQAkm3Y8IUlPYFzPioZFhppZfROtzTrGXaOMM3Tz8Dj8tn-T1xOKDaiDmjOB_t2aY0TS9aozrePMoj8D8F3MRTlVNVCxsz4/s640/DSCF4735.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Find yourself a nice cool spot in a tidal pool and start sifting. An empty water bottle is a good holder for your shark' teeth. You can attach it to your bathing suit with a rubber band or a carbine.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TTSGgSBDP_I/AAAAAAAAGKI/lpF5zWMhsvg/s400/DSCF1206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TTSGgSBDP_I/AAAAAAAAGKI/lpF5zWMhsvg/s640/DSCF1206.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another good shark's tooth hunting position especially if you are my age.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-lLwnRaK8s/TMXGiXy20II/AAAAAAAAFNo/VryonjONA9w/w858-h459-p-o/P9280042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="342" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-k-lLwnRaK8s/TMXGiXy20II/AAAAAAAAFNo/VryonjONA9w/w858-h459-p-o/P9280042.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A collection of shark's teeth from 4 generations of Englewood natives that are the proprieters of <a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2010/10/roses-are-red-violets-are-shell-shop.html">The Shell Shop</a> located at McCall Rd & Beach Rd in Englewood.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYF0EBunFJFCmZYVaV4SZqb3C0yq5b3CVb7sOfe3i3jRMFcRtyTzh_G1l92i0o-HuKNsZ1JYmaUZMyYMA1160_VceOldyfi3dOpjUvUZuo38-8lsv8KYcz0IOPhkwY3iDa_ureGilrMkT/w620-h465-p-o/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizYF0EBunFJFCmZYVaV4SZqb3C0yq5b3CVb7sOfe3i3jRMFcRtyTzh_G1l92i0o-HuKNsZ1JYmaUZMyYMA1160_VceOldyfi3dOpjUvUZuo38-8lsv8KYcz0IOPhkwY3iDa_ureGilrMkT/w620-h465-p-o/IMG_0017.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shark's teeth come in all shapes, colors, & sizes. The color varies due to the type of material they fossilize in.</span></span></td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3abCF9OsujE?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-4978008517647712202013-04-09T15:48:00.000-04:002013-04-09T15:48:14.957-04:00 “Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A <b>honey hole</b> (or <b>honeyhole</b>) is slang for a location that yields a valued commodity or resource. A local landmark or road near a honey hole may have "Honey Hole" in its name<span>. </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b> In fishing</b>, a honey hole could be a particular spot in a body of water (or used as a general term for the entire body of water)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-4"><span></span><span></span></sup> where conditions are ideal for catching fish. <b>In popular culture</b>, </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>American Pickers</i>,
a documentary reality television series where the stars often refer to
some "picks" as honey holes because of the amount of amazing objects
they contain. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love daylight savings time! The long dark early evenings of winter are over (well the Florida winter never really started but the dark is gone here in SWFL) The sun now sets at 7:45pm instead of the earlier 6pm of the "fall back" <span style="font-size: large;">pre-daylight savings time</span>. I am a "spring ahead" girl for sure. Those extra few hours of daylight lend themselves to a significant amount of <span style="font-size: large;">late afternoon</span> beach time. Low tide was at 6pm on Boca Grande Monday evening. Clan Gee & I grabbed our shelling and fishing gear and made the 14 mile drive out to Boca Grande aka beach heaven.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As the boys fished, <a href="http://rachelgalvin44.blogspot.com/">Momma Gee</a> and I strolled down the beach - me shelling - she taking pictures. I was finding a nice shell here and there. Momma is into jingles right now so I was keeping an eye out for those. We saw Ospreys nesting, manatees bobbing up for air in the channel next to the shore & 1<span style="font-size: large;">00</span>'s of shore birds of every kind. It was a nice quiet peaceful walk. The kind of walk that calibrates one's self back to the stillness instead of the bus<span style="font-size: large;">yness of the day. Whatever. Where are the shells?</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">As Momma Gee walked on the wet sand I plowed through the shallows of the outgoing tide looking for any shell stragglers caught on the bottom. As we neared <span style="font-size: large;">brothers Geeman & Wade-ster I went out further in the water to <span style="font-size: large;">dodge</span> their</span> fishing line. Holy moley! What am I stepping on? I was on a huge shell pile in about 3 feet of water. I started shoveling and sifting. Buried under the tides were a mass<span style="font-size: large;">ive compacted pile <span style="font-size: large;">of</span></span> shells. As I started sorting through every shovelful, I <span style="font-size: large;">threw</span> the <span style="font-size: large;">nicest ones up on the beach for Momma Gee. I was in pursuit of the elusive cream colored brown spotted shell</span>. I had to work quickly because the sun was now setting and the tide was turning. Did I mention hammerheads feed at dusk? Then the worst possible thing happens! My shell shovel breaks. Yup, I shovelled the end right off. <span style="font-size: large;">Ratz! I'm standing in a huge shell honeyhole with nothing to dig with. As I sink into disappointment and accept the reality of my situation... <span style="font-size: large;">I remember! <span style="font-size: large;">M</span>y bait net is 200 yards up the beach <span style="font-size: large;">where we left our towels</span>. All's well that ends well but I am still out of breath. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=369">Originally built in 1890, the Boca Grande Lighthouse</a> has been restored and a sister building built to house the park ranger.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-9"><span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-5"><span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-9"><span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-5"><span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Sand dunes and sea oats abound on Boca Grande.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-9"><span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-5"><span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Thoughts can wander aimlessly as<span style="font-size: small;"> Momma Gee meanders </span> up the beach.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-9"><span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-5"><span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Good things come to those who bait.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> The pain is in the resistance. <span style="font-size: small;">Accept that i</span>t's broken.</span></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-9"><span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-5"><span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/545908_10200209102202550_1177112939_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/545908_10200209102202550_1177112939_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Happy happy happy again! Always have options.</span></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-9"><span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-5"><span></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-9"><span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-5"><span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">No junonia this time but lots of horse conchs, tulips, and nutmegs.</span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> (Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-9"><span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-5"><span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm a flip flop girl living in a flip flop world! <span style="font-size: x-small;"> (Photo Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-9"><span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-5"><span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WilpmZaamS0/UWN6pCbQkEI/AAAAAAAASZ8/R-fTpNQtl8g/w493-h428-p-o/DSCF6420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="554" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WilpmZaamS0/UWN6pCbQkEI/AAAAAAAASZ8/R-fTpNQtl8g/w493-h428-p-o/DSCF6420.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Honeyhole keepers.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-9"><span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-5"><span></span></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b-FffEoGzXM/UWN6mKZv6XI/AAAAAAAASZo/sSBKQ8p2s1I/w623-h333-p-o/DSCF6417.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This olive measured 3" long. Do<span style="font-size: x-small;">esn</span>'t the marking look Native American?</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-9"><span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey_hole#cite_note-5"><span></span></a></div>
Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-76108462959403824162013-04-03T13:43:00.000-04:002013-05-15T10:32:37.850-04:00Is the glass half empty, half full, or twice as large as it needs to be? ~Author Unknown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What do you see? A skull? A ladle? A river of green?</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you every taken an ink blot test? Take an ambiguous ink blot and show it to 10 different people and you will get 10 different responses. Our <span style="font-size: large;">interpretation</span> <span style="font-size: large;">of</span> the ink blot is supposed to be a peek into our personalities. Well adjusted people give answers like it's an ant, a cloud, or Justin B<span style="font-size: large;">ie</span>ber. People with "issues" say something like "it's an ink blot". </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> I think our responses could bounce either way depending on what kind of day we are having or the amount of stress that we are under. Bottom line, we all see the world through our own particular set of internal glasses. The optimist sees the glass half full. The pessimist sees the glass half empty. The opportunist drank the glass of water while the other two were deciding. I think one of life's biggest challenges is to co-exist with people who see things differently than we do. It might be more comfortable to surround yourself with people who see life just like you do but how boring is that?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">All the photos from today's post were taken by my friend <a href="http://rachelgalvin44.blogspot.com/">Momma Gee.</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have a look at Stump Pass through her eyes.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QGt-1TPgOKI/UVxB2P3VuBI/AAAAAAAAR10/dvaCJfIQn6g/w306-h437-no/2013-04-03" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QGt-1TPgOKI/UVxB2P3VuBI/AAAAAAAAR10/dvaCJfIQn6g/w306-h437-no/2013-04-03" width="448" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Did you see it? <br /> It was a large Heron on Stump Pass.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1cEAlybe3lI/UVxB2MZQ1cI/AAAAAAAAR10/5iTQO0ECGL8/w629-h389-p-o-k/2013-04-03" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="394" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1cEAlybe3lI/UVxB2MZQ1cI/AAAAAAAAR10/5iTQO0ECGL8/w629-h389-p-o-k/2013-04-03" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-keVPpWLeHfE/UVxB2PoqRFI/AAAAAAAAR10/vRr-bTw64Tg/w602-h339-p-o-k/2013-04-03" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-keVPpWLeHfE/UVxB2PoqRFI/AAAAAAAAR10/vRr-bTw64Tg/w602-h339-p-o-k/2013-04-03" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Momma Gee)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Momma Gee under the shade of the shell tree.</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-25804543512994955512013-03-31T12:32:00.000-04:002013-03-31T17:53:14.793-04:00And he departed from our sight that we might return to our heart, and there find Him. For He departed, and behold, He is here. ~St Augustine<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">(Originally posted April 9, 2011)</span></blockquote>
<span style="color: red;"> <span style="font-size: large;">"<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">me
keep the Sabbath going to Church, I keep it staying at Home - With a
bobolink for a Chorister, And an Orchard, for a Dome." ~Emily Dickinson</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The moon & Orion's Belt to the right</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
was talking to a fellow fossil hunter on the beach the other day. The
conversation had turned toward the existence of God. He confessed to me
that he was not religious. I smiled at him and said "Me neither". I
spread my arms out as if to embrace the amazing blue sky we were
standing under - "This is my church" I said. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> Now
I do have a local church that I am a member of. I call them my tribe.
My tribe knows me well enough that if I lead a prayer meeting it won't
be inside the building. It will be outside under a huge oak tree on our
property. I am also prone to prayer walk-abouts. I have a beach
fellowship and our patron saint is St. Sharks Tooth & St.
Arbuck's. There is something about sharing some time on the beach with
friends, listening to the waves, and soaking up some sun that builds
friendships. I'm into relationship not religion. I think most people
like the fossil hunter I was talking to don't have a problem with the
existence of God. They just don't get some of the people that say they
know Him. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I
guess because Easter is upon us I've been thinking alot lately about
Jesus living in a town on the Sea of Galilee. I bet He took tons of
beach walks. I wonder what kind of shells He picked up? Probably calico
scallops. I wonder as He was looking up at the sky at night if He
pointed out constellations to His friends. "Look Guys, there's Orion.
See the 3 stars in the belt. Wait till you find out what that means."</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> It
was on the beach 40 years ago sitting under a star-filled sky that I
had my first God encounter. My heart was just suddenly overwhelmed
with the beauty of creation and somewhere deep inside myself I just
knew that I knew that I knew.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> After
40 years I know enough about Theology to be dangerous. Over the years
I've listened to preachers & teachers. My hobby is studying
early Church history. I've read all the latest books on how to know
God till my head has been swimming in information. I always go back to
that starry night on the beach 40 years ago. My heart always knows God
in a way my head can not. It's pretty simple really. The famous Sermon
on the Mount that Jesus taught in His huge outdoor cathedral on the side
of a mountain overlooking the sea 2,000 years ago can be summed up in 4
words. Love God - Love people. Works for me.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.turtlejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Sand-dollars-001-480.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="616" src="http://www.turtlejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Sand-dollars-001-480.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">(Credit: www.turtlejournal.com) </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A sand dollar shell looks sort of like a round white coin, which is where it gets its name</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://home.kpn.nl/shroud_turin/Crucifix.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://home.kpn.nl/shroud_turin/Crucifix.JPG" width="610" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: navy;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="color: #3f6a8b;"><span style="color: #333333;">The skeleton of a Crucifix Catfish<br />
Sciades proops </span></span><span style="color: #333333;">(Valenciennes, 1840)</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/paris-cluny-museum-photos/slides/xti_9012c.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/paris-cluny-museum-photos/slides/xti_9012c.jpg" width="383" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 18px;">Scallop
shell, stained glass, St Andrew's Church, Chelmondiston, Suffolk. The
scallop shell is the symbol of St James the Great, one of the Twelve
Apostles of Christ. Christian pilgrims in Jerusalem collected scallop
shells as souvenirs.</span></td></tr>
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Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-9565940551935520292013-03-28T00:08:00.000-04:002013-03-28T00:08:14.054-04:00Dear beautiful Spring weather, I miss you. Was it something I said? ~"Skipper" Kim Corbin<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dj8wDKhnOxE/UVN_BolehkI/AAAAAAAARxg/WDyQawdUNKE/w571-h428-p-o-k/DSCF6351.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dj8wDKhnOxE/UVN_BolehkI/AAAAAAAARxg/WDyQawdUNKE/w571-h428-p-o-k/DSCF6351.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">At the southern end of Manasota Key lies Stump Pass State Park. At high tide most of this beach will go under water.</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In celebration of the full moon and the minus low tide, I treated myself to a walk out to the end of Stump Pass. Manasota Key has four public beaches to choose from. Each beach has it's pros & cons. The <a href="http://www.bestbeaches.org/best-beaches/manasota-key-beaches/englewood-beach/">main beach</a> at the roundabout draws the<span style="font-size: large;"> younger crowd</span>. Nothing wrong with that if your thing is dodging Frisbees, volleyballs, & sand kicked up by <span style="font-size: large;">16yo's strutting their stuff. </span> If you are on spring break it is <b>The </b>place to see and be seen. There are several restaurants, tiki bars, and my personal favorite - the Circle K (home of the 69 cent Polar Pop) within walking distance.<span style="font-size: large;"> </span> I usually <span style="font-size: large;">speed</span> right past that <span style="font-size: large;">madness</span> and head for <a href="http://www.bestbeaches.org/best-beaches/manasota-key-beaches/blind-pass-beach/">Blind Pass Beach</a> a few miles north. It'<span style="font-size: large;">s</span> remote location and free parking are more my speed. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When there is a really low tide, I head to the very southern end of Manasota Key where<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2010/09/if-tree-falls-on-stump-pass-and-no-one.html">Stump Pass State Park</a> is located. Most of the locals balk at the $3.00 entrance fee but I look at it as my contribution to the upkeep of this little gem of a beach. The <span style="font-size: large;">one</span> mile walk from the entrance of the park to the pass at the south end is about a 15 minute jaunt depending on how often you <span style="font-size: large;">piddle about</span> picking up the sharks teeth and fossils that <span style="font-size: large;">l</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">itter the beach on the way out.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Now I know when I say it's cold here in Florida - our cold doesn't hold a candle to a northern winter, especially the blizzard that is marching across the Northeast this week - <span style="font-size: large;">BUT</span> it was stinking cold out there<span style="font-size: large;">! (and windy)</span> I had to wear a winter coat over my usual hoodie sweatshirt<span style="font-size: large;">!</span> I know wah wah right?</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <i><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b>GOOD NEWS!</b> <span style="font-size: large;">For the first time in 6 mon<span style="font-size: large;">ths, <span style="font-size: large;">biologists detected <span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>NO</b></span> traces of <a href="http://www.news-press.com/article/20130327/ENT13/130327034/-1/RSS24?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter">Red Tide</a> in SWFL!! YAY!!</span></span></span></span></u></i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></u></i></span> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sukcCJgsZrE/UVOAxJZuRtI/AAAAAAAARx0/M1prn2_k6Eo/s816/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sukcCJgsZrE/UVOAxJZuRtI/AAAAAAAARx0/M1prn2_k6Eo/s400/13+-+1" width="282" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When I see humps like these on my tide chart app I get very excited.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O2l1dbNJiBI/UVN-memoOPI/AAAAAAAARu4/NUALWY2D1so/w483-h363-p-o-k/DSCF6377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O2l1dbNJiBI/UVN-memoOPI/AAAAAAAARu4/NUALWY2D1so/w483-h363-p-o-k/DSCF6377.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Some beachcombers were in shorts but everyone were wearing their sweatshirts.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEize_Pynqwdfn9Ib3ZZ2oXsiYRgVpHqPeDRnjJOTGjxqx9b3AdEknbmCkLOXQW4vcoN1oFKVJrfWqflOtnGUK1mbQqEV3xXJIdNZoItz0wZkLTW3KA9sfndPQ9LPFbA9ya-Kcx6h3VQ0a35/w490-h367-p-o-k/DSCF6361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEize_Pynqwdfn9Ib3ZZ2oXsiYRgVpHqPeDRnjJOTGjxqx9b3AdEknbmCkLOXQW4vcoN1oFKVJrfWqflOtnGUK1mbQqEV3xXJIdNZoItz0wZkLTW3KA9sfndPQ9LPFbA9ya-Kcx6h3VQ0a35/w490-h367-p-o-k/DSCF6361.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">All these trenches were uncovered by the outgoing tide. I like to walk the sides and see if there are any shell stragglers.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Everybody is trying to stay warm.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GkD-jtgLmmM/UVN-hblJnII/AAAAAAAARuY/49Q90BIooyw/w489-h367-p-o-k/DSCF6381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GkD-jtgLmmM/UVN-hblJnII/AAAAAAAARuY/49Q90BIooyw/w489-h367-p-o-k/DSCF6381.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I think this fella lost his flock.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPriUCyery8/UVN-fvAaYLI/AAAAAAAARuQ/qXXHbsO7KM8/w490-h367-p-o-k/DSCF6382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RPriUCyery8/UVN-fvAaYLI/AAAAAAAARuQ/qXXHbsO7KM8/w490-h367-p-o-k/DSCF6382.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If birdwatching is your thing - Stump Pass will deliver. <span style="font-size: small;">Beside the mixed flock of Ro<span style="font-size: small;">yal Terns and assorted gulls t</span></span>here were also nesting Ospreys and a newly hatched family of owls to see on the nature trail that runs up the interior of the park.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxhNVQSb0Mo/UVN-50YxLmI/AAAAAAAARww/HYxYFgEvpH0/w490-h367-p-o-k/DSCF6360.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hxhNVQSb0Mo/UVN-50YxLmI/AAAAAAAARww/HYxYFgEvpH0/w490-h367-p-o-k/DSCF6360.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The rangers at Stump Pass take great care to protect the wildlife.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_0F1tBwX1ms/UVN-vjBIvnI/AAAAAAAARwA/huO7P7OlMIM/w713-h470-p-o-k/DSCF6368.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_0F1tBwX1ms/UVN-vjBIvnI/AAAAAAAARwA/huO7P7OlMIM/w713-h470-p-o-k/DSCF6368.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A hungry<span style="font-size: small;"> H</span>eron looking for lunch.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-caG38l1Flt8/UVN-y60SQjI/AAAAAAAARwQ/nGjgVCaviJE/s1088/DSCF6364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-caG38l1Flt8/UVN-y60SQjI/AAAAAAAARwQ/nGjgVCaviJE/s640/DSCF6364.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The tide is starting to rise.</span></span></td></tr>
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Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-40521099240411496312013-03-25T13:10:00.000-04:002013-04-04T17:32:59.866-04:00A Million Reasons To Wake Up Early<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdYy1E2nsVE/UVBwqJ4DQoI/AAAAAAAARXc/omXCcs3UV5g/s1088/DSCF6344.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KdYy1E2nsVE/UVBwqJ4DQoI/AAAAAAAARXc/omXCcs3UV5g/s640/DSCF6344.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just off the top of my head I can think of some really good reasons to get up early to watch the sunrise...</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IYkWOnlNPr8/UVBwuY6LvlI/AAAAAAAARXs/-Xca9exv8wo/w490-h367-p-o-k/DSCF6346.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IYkWOnlNPr8/UVBwuY6LvlI/AAAAAAAARXs/-Xca9exv8wo/w490-h367-p-o-k/DSCF6346.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1<span style="font-size: large;">)</span> Alone time because the hubby is still sleeping. 2<span style="font-size: large;">)</span> The world is quiet & still. 3<span style="font-size: large;">)</span> An early start gives me more productive time during the day.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UuTQ_MhfxxA/UVBwbfskQkI/AAAAAAAARWQ/kQ43Q07a5tc/w417-h312-p-o-k/DSCF6335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UuTQ_MhfxxA/UVBwbfskQkI/AAAAAAAARWQ/kQ43Q07a5tc/w417-h312-p-o-k/DSCF6335.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Yup, I could give you lots of reasons to crawl out of bed for the sunrise.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5X9qcav_-qY/UVBwcz-27QI/AAAAAAAARWY/uG5CgHINlx8/s1088/DSCF6336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5X9qcav_-qY/UVBwcz-27QI/AAAAAAAARWY/uG5CgHINlx8/s640/DSCF6336.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Maybe even millions of reasons.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8zYJHWl6DhY/UVBwhI5RruI/AAAAAAAARWw/8HOaz51I0e4/s1088/DSCF6339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8zYJHWl6DhY/UVBwhI5RruI/AAAAAAAARWw/8HOaz51I0e4/s640/DSCF6339.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As the thunderstorm rolled across SWFL late last night, I knew I would wake up before dawn to see what had rolled in.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">No need for an alarm clock or wake up app.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Just to sit on the beach and watch it wake up is reason enough.</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-49445059554528693972013-03-18T21:50:00.000-04:002013-03-19T11:25:39.937-04:00“When life sucks and hands you lemons, I say beat the crap out of it and demand some Florida oranges as well.” -unknown<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Excuse me, do you live here?" I was asked as I stood in the Englewood Walmart deli line waiting for the <span style="font-size: large;">discombobulated </span>deli guy to slice my lunch meat for the week. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> It could have been the bright aqua blue t-shirt with sand dollars all over the back that I was wearing or maybe it was <span style="font-size: large;">the</span> <span style="font-size: large;">hot</span> pink<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://us.havaianas.com/">Havaianas</a> flip-flops I was wearing in 55 degree weather - but it was obviously a sure fire bet that I was a local<span style="font-size: large;">.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Next question - "Do you know where I can get some really good Key Lime Pie?" <span style="font-size: large;">Really<span style="font-size: large;">? </span></span> Is a 3 pound seagull fat? This Florida girl knows her<span style="font-size: large;"> way around A key lime pie.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Some things to know:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">~<span style="font-size: large;">Authentic Florida Key Lime pie is yellow <span style="font-size: large;">not green.</span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">~Real Key Lime pie is topped with whipped cream not mer<span style="font-size: large;">ing<span style="font-size: large;">u</span>e</span> but </span><span style="font-size: large;">the topping is really a personal preference.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">~The filling has to be tart enough to make your lips pucker up. </span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/key-lime-pie-shutterstock-625x416-c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/key-lime-pie-shutterstock-625x416-c.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This<span style="font-size: large;"> is</span> what an authentic piece of Key Lime Pie should look like with the exception of the not-key limes in the photo.<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.kryddlandet.se/images/thumbs/0000664_300.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://www.kryddlandet.se/images/thumbs/0000664_300.jpeg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My favorite recipe for Key Lime pie comes from<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.keylimejuice.com/recipes.htm">Nellie & Joe's Famous Lime Juice.</a> It's on the back of every bottle.</span> <span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> (Tip - I substitute Lorna Doone cookie crumbs for the graham cracker.</span>)</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><span class="txt1"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u><span class="txt5" style="font-size: x-large;">Nellie & Joe's Key Lime Pie</span></u>
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<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">9" graham cracker pie crust</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">3 egg yolks (whites not used) </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">½ cup Nellie & Joe's Key West Lime Juice</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Combine milk, egg yolks and lime juice. Blend until smooth. Pour filling
into pie crust and bake at 350º for 15 minutes. Allow to stand 10
minutes before refrigerating. Just before serving, top with freshly
whipped cream, or meringue, and garnish with lime slices.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.publix.com/managed_images/2013/98695-Key-Lime-Whole-Pie-200x200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.publix.com/managed_images/2013/98695-Key-Lime-Whole-Pie-200x200.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The best store-bought Key Lime Pie is made by a Florida company called<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://www.publix.com/featured/FeaturedProduct/PublixBakeryKeyLimePie/Home.do">Publix</a>. The filling is sweet-tart, the topping is whipped cream & they add an almond garnish on the crust which is a nice touch. For $6.99 you can't beat it. </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4734403529409476&pid=15.1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4734403529409476&pid=15.1" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another tasty store-bought Key Lime pie is the Edwards brand found in the frozen section. They make whole pies or "little nippers" aka single slices.</span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For more key lime recipes <a href="http://pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=KEY+LIME+PIE">CLICK HERE.</a></span></span></td></tr>
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Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-13274876238959761012013-03-12T22:05:00.002-04:002013-03-12T22:05:11.576-04:00 If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. ~Raymond Inmon<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So true! Sign for sale by <a href="http://www.countrymarketplaces.com/a-walk-on-the-beach-is-worth-a-thousand-words/">Country Marketplace.</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Walking provides an easy & inexpensive way to get fit. It's good for the body and the soul. Walking gets the heart pumping, detoxes your lymph system and <span style="font-size: large;">gets the ole head back into good space.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I've tried walking every day but my schedule is kinda crazy and it just doesn't work out for me. <span style="font-size: large;">M</span>y rule of thumb is not to go 2 days in a row without walking at least 2 mile<span style="font-size: large;">s. </span>I do tend to get bored walking the same path all the time. A beach walk is the perfect way to mix things up. We had a rainy day here in SWFL so today was perfect to walk the 1.3 miles out to the end of <a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2013/01/nothing-that-is-can-pause-or-stay-moon.html">Stump Pass</a> and back<span style="font-size: large;">. It was a light<span style="font-size: large;">, drizzly </span>rain (for the most part) so I donned my raincoat and got moving.</span></span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The tide was rising on the very southern end of Stump Pass State Park.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EwH4XMJS0kc/UT_YVsntIkI/AAAAAAAARU0/CKSf83otfC0/s1317/IMG_0786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="396" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EwH4XMJS0kc/UT_YVsntIkI/AAAAAAAARU0/CKSf83otfC0/s640/IMG_0786.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">At low tide this sand<span style="font-size: large;">bar is uncovered leaving a nice siesta spot for the birds. <span style="font-size: large;">In another hour it will be submerged as the tide rises.</span></span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span>We humans could take a lesson about co-existence from these birds. Thankfully there was no signs of red tide although the wrack line was littered with fish carcasses.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oJJjtuPBduw/UT_YRQqyaYI/AAAAAAAARUc/YhU4QlB6h5U/s816/IMG_0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oJJjtuPBduw/UT_YRQqyaYI/AAAAAAAARUc/YhU4QlB6h5U/s640/IMG_0791.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This huge shell pile was going under the water fast.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fTqvYKiIfWA/UT_YEvwc2RI/AAAAAAAARTE/ZDZtee-ou10/s1121/IMG_0813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="464" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fTqvYKiIfWA/UT_YEvwc2RI/AAAAAAAARTE/ZDZtee-ou10/s640/IMG_0813.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The shell trees are in bloom again.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NeO7HF255eY/UT_YCoYMO-I/AAAAAAAARS8/tg0Brh2HhQ8/s816/IMG_0814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NeO7HF255eY/UT_YCoYMO-I/AAAAAAAARS8/tg0Brh2HhQ8/s640/IMG_0814.JPG" width="588" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A pelican parade against the grey sky.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Beach walking is never boring.</span></span></td></tr>
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<object height="480" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QAC8zaZHqM8?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0"></param>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The good news - there are shells. The bad news - the red tide makes it impossible to breathe to get to said shells.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It is extremely helpful when one<span style="font-size: large;"> is a beach</span> blogger to be able to go to the beach. Sure, I could blog about a new recipe I made from <a href="http://pinterest.com/tebeachcomber/yummy-looking-stuff-to-eat/">Pinterest</a><span style="font-size: large;">, </span>my latest find at Goodwill or heaven forbid a table scape (mine are the ones with the matching cool whip salad bowls). <span style="font-size: large;">W</span>e all know you are here for the sand, shells & sharks teeth right?</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Well, me too. The Red Tide algae <span style="font-size: large;">b</span>loom that has been traveling up and down the SWFL coastline since October 2012 has put a major damper on <span style="font-size: large;">everyone's </span>beach going. The 120 mile long floating algae bloom </span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">has been causing sneezing, hacking & burning eyes as it meanders back and forth off the Sarasota, Lee & Collier county coastline.</span></span> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Sadly, it is killing a record number of manatees according to a story by the <a href="http://www2.tbo.com/news/breaking-news/2013/mar/09/1/record-number-of-manatees-dying-from-algae-bloom-ar-654086/">Associated Press.</a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My beach blogging has also been curtailed by an injury called SBS or Shell Bucket Shoulder. I learned the hard way that carrying a heavy bucket full of shell goodies is not the best thing for an over-50-something shoulder. It also could have been the digging with my shell shovel into a huge shell pile but then the injury would be called SSS instead of the before mentioned SBS... whatever it hurts like a mammy jammer. I got stuck in the Beall's Department Store changing room with my head stuck in <span style="font-size: large;">the</span> tight shirt I was trying on because I couldn't raise my arm. A traumatized <a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2012/09/i-am-not-stalker-well-maybe-just-little.html">Pookie</a> had to rescue me. I've also had to pass on my kayaking until I am healed up. I don't want to be on the wrong end of a sea tow call because I could only paddle with one arm.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But as <span style="font-size: large;">all of us in Blogdom know - </span> blogger friends are the best friends and recently I rec<span style="font-size: large;">ei</span>ved a package in the mail that contained a special copy of my all-time favorite book<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2010/09/i-mean-to-lead-simple-life-to-choose.html">"Gift From the Sea" by Anne Morrow Lindbergh</a></span></span></span>.<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Last month the author's daughter Reeve was on Sanibel at the <a href="http://www.sanibelbookshop.com/event/book-signing-reeve-lindbergh">Bookshop</a> for a book signing. A blogger friend who was there to get his own copy signed thoughtfully had a copy signed for me as a gift.</span></span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">“...I want first of all - in fact, as an end to these other desires - to
be at peace with myself. I want a singleness of eye, a purity of
intention, a central core to my life that will enable me to carry out
these obligations and activities as well as I can. I want, in fact - to
borrow from the language of the saints -<u>to live 'in grace' as much of
the time as possible.</u> I am not using this term in a strictly
theological sense. By grace I mean an inner harmony, essentially
spiritual, which can be translated into outward harmony.<span style="font-size: large;"> I am seeking perhaps what Socr<span style="font-size: large;">ates asked for in the prayer from the Phaedrus when <span style="font-size: large;">he said, "May the outward and the inward man be at one". <u>I would like to achieve a state o<span style="font-size: large;">f inner spiritual grace from which I could function and give as I was meant to in the eye of God.</span></u></span></span></span></span></span><u>” </u><br /> ― <span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anne Morrow Lindbergh p.17-18 GFTS</span></span></i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XpzkX1aWuVw/UTwLicCTzLI/AAAAAAAARRw/Sd8FOB6twwU/w322-h428-o-k/IMG_0739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XpzkX1aWuVw/UTwLicCTzLI/AAAAAAAARRw/Sd8FOB6twwU/w322-h428-o-k/IMG_0739.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">First published in 1955 GFTS has sold over 3 million copies in 45 different languages.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A gift from the heart from a person who "gets" GFTS.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So regardless of red tide or frozen shoulder - I am happily living in that state of grace. </span>If you have never read "Gift From the Sea" I highly recommend it. My favorite chapter is "Channeled Whelk"<span style="font-size: large;">. </span> Just as the waves,wind and the </span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">tidal rhythms </span></span> at the beach calm us and enable us to take a deeper breath<span style="font-size: large;">,</span> this little timeless book accomplishes the same thing for me every time I read it.</span></span><br />
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<br />Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-9333954148292380712013-02-26T16:15:00.000-05:002013-02-28T13:47:30.347-05:00 “If we don’t manage this resource, we will be left with a diet of jellyfish and plankton stew.” Daniel Pauly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn1.vtourist.com/4/4458218-Red_Tide_Warning_Boca_Grande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://cdn1.vtourist.com/4/4458218-Red_Tide_Warning_Boca_Grande.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Photo Credit: Michael Sullivan) <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Be careful out there. No day at the beach is worth trading your health for.</span></span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/02/06/d-algae-beaches-bl-4_3_r536_c534.jpg?1b79b3da202957124496e3768cfb7b67cdb10c81" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://www.gannett-cdn.com/media/USATODAY/USATODAY/2013/02/06/d-algae-beaches-bl-4_3_r536_c534.jpg?1b79b3da202957124496e3768cfb7b67cdb10c81" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Photo Credit: Stephen Hayford GNS)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Can you believe</span> Red Tide is still with us on the shores of SWFL<span style="font-size: large;">? Yuck!!</span> The <a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2012/10/during-international-coastal-clean-up.html">algae bloom</a> has been meandering up and down the coastline from as far north as Clearwater Beach to as far south as the Keys. The highest concentrations have been on Venice Beach, Manasota Key, and Pine Island Sound (the backside of Sanibel/Captiva). Before you head to the beach on SWFL check <a href="http://www.myfwc.com/research/redtide/events/status/statewide/">The Florida Fish & Wildlife Con<span style="font-size: large;">s</span>er<span style="font-size: large;">vation Commission</span> site for an update on your local beach.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a throwback from</span> happier shelling times from a year ago<span style="font-size: large;">. </span> I'm re-posting my adventure to become a Guinness World Record holder in my favorite sport - the Sanibel Stoop.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Originally posted on February 19, 2012)</span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>On Friday February 17, 2012 - 700 Sanibel Stoopers set a Guinness World Record on Bowman's Beach - Sanibel Island, Florida.</b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whether it's education, athletics, business, or hobbies; everything we pursue in life has it's pinnacle of success. Runners have the Boston Marathon, world leaders have the Nobel Prize, B-level celebrities have Dancing with the Stars. I'm not a very competitive person. The only award I ever won as a kid was 2nd place in a 50 yard dash when I was 10. In high school I kept a pretty low profile. As an adult I have been pretty satisfied to keep my hobbies & interests on a casual level except for beach combing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shells are my passion. Finding them, learning about them, making things with them, & collecting more of them has been a pursuit of mine for many years. There are awards in shelling - that's what shell shows are for. Unfortunately, my <a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2011/11/life-is-art-of-drawing-without-eraser.html">mermaid mosiac</a> was 5 inches too wide to enter into the Sanibel Shell Show. My dream of winning a Sanibel Shell Show award ribbon was dashed. There are other shows but my heart was set on the creme de la creme. What I lack in competative spirit I make up for in flexibility & resilience. The opportunity to be a <a href="http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/">Guinness World Record holder</a> called & I answered "Heck Yeah!". I was to join 700 other passionate shell lovers doing our official stance known as the Sanibel Stoop. But why wait for 10am Friday morning when there is a minus .07 low tide at 3am? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Enter my partner-in-shelling crime <a href="http://www.shellbellestikihut.com/2011/12/here-comes-sun.html">Shellbelle</a>. You would've thought we were a couple of 12 year old kids who couldn't sleep the night before a Disney World trip. Why wait? We left Englewood at 10pm Thursday night & pulled into Blind Pass on Sanibel Island at midnight. After spending an hour or so on the sand bar & shell pile we headed over to Bowman's Beach hoping there wasn't a locked gate closing off the parking area. There wasn't and we took the first parking spot right up front. We wheeled our beach carts the 1,000 yards out to the pitch dark beach crossing 2 small foot bridges & a long sandy path. Setting up our little (not a camp site because that is highly illegal) area with our chairs, lantern, & tarp on the ground we proceeded to drink hot coffee from one of the 3 thermoses we brought and deciding which way to go on the beach- right or left. We wiled away the wee hours of the pre-dawn morning shelling both directions, listening to the birds, watching the moon, stars, & finally the sun rise. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the morning progressed a steady stream of Sanibel Stoopers started filing on to the beach. Shellbelle & I had not pre-registered so we made our way up the beach to stand in a humungous line to register & get our names officially in the record books. It all got a little too hot, claustrophobic, & chaotic in the staging area for our sleep deprived sensibilities. The organizers were trying their best to instruct the Stoopers & keep confusion to a minimum but it was tantamount to herding cats. Shellbelle & I left the line & walked back to our little not-a-campsite. Who needed their name in the Guinnuss World Book of Records anyhow? Well, I do! That's who. I came to play! Leaving Shellbelle to enjoy the beach I scrambled back to get in line. After getting my name offically on the Guinness list I stood in another line with all the other 700 Stoopers because Guinness rules dictated that all participants had to enter the record setting area at one time. It was all over in 30 minutes. We stood up straight from our "<a href="http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/2012/02/17/world-record-sanibel-stoop-scoop/">hiney's hovering</a>" position to wave wildly to the helicopter taking our picures over head. So this is what it feels like to be a World Record Holder.... sweet. I promised Shellbelle my new title wouldn't change things between us. I'd stay the same simple humble beach comber that she had always known & loved.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Champions are willing to pay the price to be at the top of their chosen endeavor. In our case it was dark, dewy, & cold but we enjoyed a wonderful low tide on Bowman's Beach.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHHiMWb0UZw/T0FFE32aTeI/AAAAAAAALGI/58OdufSlIXw/s1600/DSCF4301.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHHiMWb0UZw/T0FFE32aTeI/AAAAAAAALGI/58OdufSlIXw/s640/DSCF4301.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The Wonder Wheeler beach cart makes not camping on the beach so easy.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">As the sky lightens up the early bird beach combers start to arrive.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-evd12q8crpY/T0FFY9jMsRI/AAAAAAAALIQ/qlvQF7HIbG0/s1600/DSCF4335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-evd12q8crpY/T0FFY9jMsRI/AAAAAAAALIQ/qlvQF7HIbG0/s640/DSCF4335.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bowman's Beach at sunrise. Our Sanibel Stoop trip was blessed with nice weather & no rain.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The lines were long but needed. When setting a Guinness Record there are lots of rules that have to be followed . All participants had to sign in & sign out after the event for their presence to count.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Every record setting event needs an official t-shirt.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq91ksW2oY6hOpObsXgudoqH-fxy9MdXMkn0WJTp4se_1yUXo19N_ZIVDiw_RgXscMvXH0pGk_ES5XrVeot9A233QbCIbvj111Zeh6V8zGbFDB3t83bBugF9O2liNoPCeQZX6v7dzc1Bn/s1600/DSCF4346-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWq91ksW2oY6hOpObsXgudoqH-fxy9MdXMkn0WJTp4se_1yUXo19N_ZIVDiw_RgXscMvXH0pGk_ES5XrVeot9A233QbCIbvj111Zeh6V8zGbFDB3t83bBugF9O2liNoPCeQZX6v7dzc1Bn/s640/DSCF4346-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shell sistah <a href="http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/">Pam from iLove Shelling.com</a> patiently waiting in line.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wYgychWV0TU/T0FFmTDk3iI/AAAAAAAALJc/hvIJY8cdxZ0/s1600/DSCF4353.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wYgychWV0TU/T0FFmTDk3iI/AAAAAAAALJc/hvIJY8cdxZ0/s640/DSCF4353.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Heading to the record setting spot</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7FThu8q83y0/T0FFmyEHBbI/AAAAAAAALJk/5AwA7FhsSGU/s1600/DSCF4354.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="450" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7FThu8q83y0/T0FFmyEHBbI/AAAAAAAALJk/5AwA7FhsSGU/s640/DSCF4354.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Bloggers are always taking pictures. That's the back of Capt. Brian Holaway's head & Pam.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Getting ready to assume the position.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cW4GskOcq1Y/T0FFtokyxdI/AAAAAAAALKA/i10pJQWBKqQ/s1600/DSCF4361.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cW4GskOcq1Y/T0FFtokyxdI/AAAAAAAALKA/i10pJQWBKqQ/s640/DSCF4361.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">We get last minute instructions & are told the helicopter is on it's way.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qx1DcFlvU60/T0FFuA4XDGI/AAAAAAAALKE/y6N6izqp5NA/s1600/DSCF4362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qx1DcFlvU60/T0FFuA4XDGI/AAAAAAAALKE/y6N6izqp5NA/s640/DSCF4362.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">One, two, three, STOOP!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7EMGV34lnc/T0FFv3KhtHI/AAAAAAAALKQ/M8y5n7VxDAU/s1600/DSCF4365.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a7EMGV34lnc/T0FFv3KhtHI/AAAAAAAALKQ/M8y5n7VxDAU/s640/DSCF4365.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">And hold that Stoop for 30 seconds to insure we don't get disqualified for any non-stoopers (also know as Stoopid)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCf1qVPpAkMIv8NhYcB2C5AUeGDFhnyuDlqOJmY0ac9U7KaY-j_XQH1MfAFF1Uy_BbmExDgbtjLxLV94SWx53H3y-j4ogje51K-F23WMAnU-d5-uyJrR1-rvhyphenhyphenCdXJdlSUvjt_GUuix7l/s1600/DSCF4366-1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCf1qVPpAkMIv8NhYcB2C5AUeGDFhnyuDlqOJmY0ac9U7KaY-j_XQH1MfAFF1Uy_BbmExDgbtjLxLV94SWx53H3y-j4ogje51K-F23WMAnU-d5-uyJrR1-rvhyphenhyphenCdXJdlSUvjt_GUuix7l/s640/DSCF4366-1.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Blogger Capt. Brian <a href="http://www.captainbrianonthewater.blogspot.com/">of CB's Observation's on the Water</a> snapping some fotos from down under.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Looks like a massage table or an on-site Chiropractor would have been a good idea.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The helicopter takes a victory lap around the jubliant World Record holding Sanibel Stoopers.</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A good blogger has an eye for the photo op & this stooper in a caution vest was irresistible.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Pam is great at chatting it up & getting all the details.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">What a fun day & great blogger friends to share it with. (L-R) Me, Capt. Brian, & Shellbelle</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">A Guinness World Record & a big honkin junonia... my work is done here.</span></td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/im1dwxYWI9k?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-75122245892266561082013-02-16T13:29:00.001-05:002013-02-16T13:29:52.642-05:00Let your love be like the misty rains, coming softly, but flooding the river. ~Malagasy Proverb<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Misty Morning</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Dewy Dayspring</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Soupy Seashore</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bleary Boulders</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Petrified Patterns</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pea-soupy Shells</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Treasure<span style="font-size: x-large;"> T</span>rove Trio</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Shrouded Serenity</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Thank the Lord for <a href="http://thesaurus.com/">http://thesaurus.com/</a>)</span></span>Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-50273606247125111182013-02-11T13:04:00.004-05:002013-02-11T17:22:36.717-05:00"The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls." John Muir <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i_Kl6rEwM-4/URkfTp53fZI/AAAAAAAARIE/q8MTg4h_510/w492-h339-n-k/IMG_0498.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i_Kl6rEwM-4/URkfTp53fZI/AAAAAAAARIE/q8MTg4h_510/w492-h339-n-k/IMG_0498.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Even the shy guys come out of their shell to watch the sunrise.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0m32K9Of3N4/URkeyFm4ulI/AAAAAAAARFI/f1WanVNc0RE/w287-h225-n-k/IMG_0533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="501" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0m32K9Of3N4/URkeyFm4ulI/AAAAAAAARFI/f1WanVNc0RE/w287-h225-n-k/IMG_0533.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sunrise at 7am - Low tide at 7:30. My favorite spot to converge with nature is <a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/resources/doc/individualparks/brochures/gsi-brochure.pdf">Boca Grande<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">.</span> </span></a></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bRtS5acO0ys/URkffsSdfMI/AAAAAAAARJc/YocSGq_u80c/w712-h359-n-k/IMG_0487.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="322" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bRtS5acO0ys/URkffsSdfMI/AAAAAAAARJc/YocSGq_u80c/w712-h359-n-k/IMG_0487.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A 20 minute drive puts me on the beach right as the sky is waking up.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3k-cYtmEfA/URkfegVKmVI/AAAAAAAARJU/wUQcKkAMcR0/s1088/IMG_0488.JPG+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G3k-cYtmEfA/URkfegVKmVI/AAAAAAAARJU/wUQcKkAMcR0/s640/IMG_0488.JPG+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My camera batteries went dead so all my pictures were taken on my iPhone. I caught a huge parade of pelicans crossing the pass heading south to Cayo Costa Island on the other side.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fNnHKZ1gwww/URkfZXize2I/AAAAAAAARIw/LJP_fKhpmuE/s1088/IMG_0493.JPG+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fNnHKZ1gwww/URkfZXize2I/AAAAAAAARIw/LJP_fKhpmuE/s640/IMG_0493.JPG+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Someone must have missed the pre-flight meeting.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A little Egret sashays by. He was making sure I didn't have a bait bucket with some freebies for him.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vF0DW1jyXtc/URkfBBdh39I/AAAAAAAARGY/H1Z75jt1CdE/w450-h364-n-k/IMG_0520.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="516" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vF0DW1jyXtc/URkfBBdh39I/AAAAAAAARGY/H1Z75jt1CdE/w450-h364-n-k/IMG_0520.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My heart le<span style="font-size: large;">a</span>pt in my chest when I spotted this beauty in the shallows.</span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vF0DW1jyXtc/URkfBBdh39I/AAAAAAAARGY/H1Z75jt1CdE/w450-h364-n-k/IMG_0520.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PMD8U0EKj2Y/URke_H7oJ0I/AAAAAAAARGQ/XXNZ71fGdMo/w273-h364-n-k/IMG_0521.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PMD8U0EKj2Y/URke_H7oJ0I/AAAAAAAARGQ/XXNZ71fGdMo/w273-h364-n-k/IMG_0521.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The hermit crab chose a lovely Horse Conch for a home. <span style="font-size: large;">Sadly, t</span>his one went back in the water.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg370GtEMNtPYGUxyCzJ8i2rcORJL8Q8WnI31zeZUZGfT0Y_lIpAqBV4tR5DrhGHFIsHu3nYEOq_MXs2gPHIqzuNksxFWpfrNJ8b-dbvMMI4LVituhp1X3RTTctfUhBetMLuzodIA6cu1m/s1600/Recently+Updated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg370GtEMNtPYGUxyCzJ8i2rcORJL8Q8WnI31zeZUZGfT0Y_lIpAqBV4tR5DrhGHFIsHu3nYEOq_MXs2gPHIqzuNksxFWpfrNJ8b-dbvMMI4LVituhp1X3RTTctfUhBetMLuzodIA6cu1m/s640/Recently+Updated.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Huge Lightning Whelks were everywhere in the shallows of the low tide. It was fun just to have a closer look and then place them back where they were found.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This Orange-ridged Sea Star is comm<span style="font-size: large;">o</span>n to find in the tidal pools around rocks and mangrove roots.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z18AyyXk87I/URkfKF0z7iI/AAAAAAAARHA/pgepZWgyxtk/w393-h294-n-k/IMG_0509.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Z18AyyXk87I/URkfKF0z7iI/AAAAAAAARHA/pgepZWgyxtk/w393-h294-n-k/IMG_0509.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another shell tree in full bloom. There is just something about a barren tree on the beach that begs for a shell to be hung on it's empty branches.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3qNey5Og-SsCL_doTZ9ReZJQ-McoYozWe_UA6hyphenhyphenlrbCuJt2QdS4qJqN0X9AmF-joWgnblm-zf5l2l4q7tcUMK3_79aq8AsCrsVSJGgGTSkctlvL1mkZfMCuaCyTqoklHkef2KeQVaFIy/w807-h398-n-k/IMG_0506.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn3qNey5Og-SsCL_doTZ9ReZJQ-McoYozWe_UA6hyphenhyphenlrbCuJt2QdS4qJqN0X9AmF-joWgnblm-zf5l2l4q7tcUMK3_79aq8AsCrsVSJGgGTSkctlvL1mkZfMCuaCyTqoklHkef2KeQVaFIy/w807-h398-n-k/IMG_0506.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The last vestiges of the old <a href="http://bocagrandechamber.net/our-community/boca-grande-history/">Port Boca Grande</a> used by the phosphate industry back in the early 1900's. The birds are making good use of it now.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vDgK6-k95kg/URke0USi1rI/AAAAAAAARFY/0661Ape2nhI/w385-h219-n-k/IMG_0531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="364" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vDgK6-k95kg/URke0USi1rI/AAAAAAAARFY/0661Ape2nhI/w385-h219-n-k/IMG_0531.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On August 13, 2004 Hurricane Charley took out the pier on the west side of the island. <b>Tip -</b> <i>Park at the public lot on the south side of the South Beach Restaurant > walk to the beach & head south to the pier. The shelling is usually very good in that area especially after a storm.</i></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvUc4W0dFho/URkevLV9qzI/AAAAAAAARE4/9R-m5evThm4/w296-h225-n-k/IMG_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="486" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rvUc4W0dFho/URkevLV9qzI/AAAAAAAARE4/9R-m5evThm4/w296-h225-n-k/IMG_0535.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Beach sunflowers - <a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2010/09/my-honey-do-list.html">Here's another post I did on Boca Grande.</a></span></span></td></tr>
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<br />Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-88357409005246302382013-02-04T09:48:00.000-05:002013-02-04T09:48:41.692-05:00Buffet the Manatee Goes 6 for 6!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">With the Baltimore Ravens beating the San Fransico 49er's 34 to 31 in Super Bowl XLVII<span style="font-size: large;">, </span>Buffet the Manatee's winning streak remains intact although he did not predict the power outage.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
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<param name="flashvars" value="flv_url=http://o1.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/patch/bb696f9fc174102896114a8cde642dc3/video.flv&video_url=http://sarasota.patch.com/articles/manatees-predict-ravens-win-super-bowl-xlvii-video#video-13232540&publication_url=http://sarasota.patch.com&twitter_status=http://patch.com/A-19qx~v-d7fjN&auto_play=true&full_screen=true"><embed src="http://sarasota.patch.com:/swf/external_video_player.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="flv_url=http://o1.aolcdn.com/hss/storage/patch/bb696f9fc174102896114a8cde642dc3/video.flv&video_url=http://sarasota.patch.com/articles/manatees-predict-ravens-win-super-bowl-xlvii-video#video-13232540&publication_url=http://sarasota.patch.com&twitter_status=http://patch.com/A-19qx~v-d7fjN&auto_play=true&full_screen=true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-85899503962756763072013-02-02T13:08:00.000-05:002013-02-02T13:08:02.425-05:00The Super Bowl of Sanibel Shelling<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.cfnews13.com/content/dam/news/images/2013/02/Manatee-pick-super-bowl-020113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://www.cfnews13.com/content/dam/news/images/2013/02/Manatee-pick-super-bowl-020113.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr align="center"><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> (Credit: <span style="font-size: small;">www.</span>cfnews13.com) <span style="font-size: large;"> The resident manatees at <a href="http://www.mysuncoast.com/news/local/mote-manatees-pick-ravens-to-win-super-bowl/article_6ef10600-6cd0-11e2-84d3-001a4bcf6878.html">Mote Marine</a> in Sarasota have made their Super Bowl predictions again this year. Buffet the manatee has a 5 year winning streak going. </span></span></span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: blue;"><i><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I am re-posting (again) my Super Bowl post from Febuary 6, 2011. It's still my favorite s<span style="font-size: x-large;">helling day of all time.)</span></span></b></i></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Usually
Superbowl is a big deal around our house. The Hubbs is a real football
fanatic but mainly for his college team - the Florida Gators. Our first
real date was 31 years ago on Superbowl Sunday. My dad was a football
coach so I know my way around the football field. My date was impressed
or probably relieved that he could watch a football game with a female
and not have to explain everything that was going on. The rest is
history.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I
can't really get too excited abut the Superbowl this year. I have no
vested interest in either team. At least that was my excuse for ditching
the pre-game festivities and heading to Sanibel early this morning.
Actually football and shelling have some similarities.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8g1yQjzLI/AAAAAAAAGho/2U84gzMSOQI/s1600/photo+%252812%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8g1yQjzLI/AAAAAAAAGho/2U84gzMSOQI/s640/photo+%252812%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The horse conch I found was as big as a football</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Standing
on the sandbar at Blind Pass with the tide rushing in; I just happened
to look down and saw this football-sized horse conch and nobody was
home. The dance I did on the sandbar definitely looked as good as any
touchdown dance I've ever seen. So in the words of any good coach "<i>when the going gets tough, the tough go shelling</i>".</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U0Q70lII/AAAAAAAAGfM/uZyPg6Mrb9M/s1600/DSCF1378.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U0Q70lII/AAAAAAAAGfM/uZyPg6Mrb9M/s640/DSCF1378.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">The sand bar is about the size of a football field. There are plenty of shells for everyone</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/iLoveShelling-shellers-300x225.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/iLoveShelling-shellers-300x225.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shelling can be a team sport with matching jerseys. (<a href="http://www.iloveshelling.com/blog/">Team i Love Shelling</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8gx4u-fLI/AAAAAAAAGhk/UPMrph4Fkek/s1600/photo+%252811%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8gx4u-fLI/AAAAAAAAGhk/UPMrph4Fkek/s400/photo+%252811%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Shellers
suit up for the game with our own particular brands of equipment. Judy
is an industrial engineer. She pitched me an idea she has for aqua
shoes that are ankle high so the shells don't get stuck inside the
shoes.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U1iVOLRI/AAAAAAAAGfc/jvT4Q9K6C5M/s1600/DSCF1382.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U1iVOLRI/AAAAAAAAGfc/jvT4Q9K6C5M/s640/DSCF1382.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">My goal line. Facing the Blind Pass Jetty</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U2xteeFI/AAAAAAAAGfo/CN0hQc_vfpg/s1600/DSCF1385.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U2xteeFI/AAAAAAAAGfo/CN0hQc_vfpg/s640/DSCF1385.JPG" width="358" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Facing the Sanibel side</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U3UzvWvI/AAAAAAAAGfs/WD178CtruME/s1600/DSCF1386.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U3UzvWvI/AAAAAAAAGfs/WD178CtruME/s640/DSCF1386.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">That's the home team in the end zone.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U4ESJVQI/AAAAAAAAGf4/n_vR0L8Fsnk/s1600/DSCF1391.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U4ESJVQI/AAAAAAAAGf4/n_vR0L8Fsnk/s640/DSCF1391.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Oh Come On! Laying on a board is not a sport. Shelling is a total spirit-mind-body work out.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U6XhoXeI/AAAAAAAAGgM/yRbU-ZbE4uM/s1600/DSCF1396.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U6XhoXeI/AAAAAAAAGgM/yRbU-ZbE4uM/s640/DSCF1396.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">To the victor go the spoils</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U7BX_6II/AAAAAAAAGgU/UHlWoLo0XcQ/s1600/DSCF1398.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="371" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U7BX_6II/AAAAAAAAGgU/UHlWoLo0XcQ/s400/DSCF1398.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="shelltextem" style="font-style: italic;">Arcinella cornuta</span><br />
<span class="shelltext">Conrad, 1866<br />
Florida spiny jewelbox</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U9eTKo0I/AAAAAAAAGgw/JROodmwi88U/s1600/DSCF1405.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U9eTKo0I/AAAAAAAAGgw/JROodmwi88U/s640/DSCF1405.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">(left to right) alphabet cone, true tulip, banded tulip, nutmeg</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U8bZsTLI/AAAAAAAAGgk/JTS9oSbHe9Q/s1600/DSCF1402.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U8bZsTLI/AAAAAAAAGgk/JTS9oSbHe9Q/s400/DSCF1402.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="shelltextem" style="font-style: italic;">Cancellaria reticulata</span><br />
<span class="shelltext">(Linnaeus, 1767)<br />
Nutmeg </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U8CBHxII/AAAAAAAAGgg/vCh5H9GGtsM/s1600/DSCF1401.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8U8CBHxII/AAAAAAAAGgg/vCh5H9GGtsM/s640/DSCF1401.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="shelltextem" style="font-style: italic;">Eurytellina lineata</span><br />
<span class="shelltext">(Turton, 1819)<br />
Rose petal tellin </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8gsP8yyuI/AAAAAAAAGhQ/N1TG_AOryvQ/s1600/photo+%252810%2529.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_WVosCCatbMU/TU8gsP8yyuI/AAAAAAAAGhQ/N1TG_AOryvQ/s400/photo+%252810%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">You win some - you lose some but any piece of junonia is a winner.</span></td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9ICWmJFNSeo?rel=0" width="640"></iframe>Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-8252210986001525592013-01-29T23:11:00.000-05:002013-01-29T23:11:27.437-05:00Nothing that is can pause or stay; The moon will wax, the moon will wane, The mist and cloud will turn to rain, The rain to mist and cloud again, Tomorrow be today. ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYYI1TUq7s8/UQiNRtHLldI/AAAAAAAARA4/8o02BZB-6JA/w487-h365-n-k/IMG_0366.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yYYI1TUq7s8/UQiNRtHLldI/AAAAAAAARA4/8o02BZB-6JA/w487-h365-n-k/IMG_0366.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Looking across the Stump Pass channel towards Knight Island to the south. The channel was<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2010/12/its-shore-thing.html">dredged in 2010</a> to make the pass deeper. The dredged sand was used to build up the south end of Stump Pass State Park.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA5Xs47Z8Z9_tazs28Pe07jIMaMNHJwD9yvDGHStvLogzqlDcQ-EoW20VSw_VHh3kPHK887Svwm1b4YvAT21-TPQF4zpW-WFBjV1wCWE1RdZ4Tpnlf7Ye6i36HVnvb-YXQxf-SNBqNPrf/s1600/plugin+event+window+1292013+94903+PM.bmp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggA5Xs47Z8Z9_tazs28Pe07jIMaMNHJwD9yvDGHStvLogzqlDcQ-EoW20VSw_VHh3kPHK887Svwm1b4YvAT21-TPQF4zpW-WFBjV1wCWE1RdZ4Tpnlf7Ye6i36HVnvb-YXQxf-SNBqNPrf/s640/plugin+event+window+1292013+94903+PM.bmp.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All it takes is one little<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><a href="http://theessentialbeachcomber.blogspot.com/2012/07/shift-happens.html">tropical storm named Debby</a> and 3.76 million dollars worth of sand gets shifted to the west.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMVaNxJKC7o/UQiNd7IqeAI/AAAAAAAARB4/Y4IIEH-MUUE/s1088/IMG_0355.JPG+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BMVaNxJKC7o/UQiNd7IqeAI/AAAAAAAARB4/Y4IIEH-MUUE/s640/IMG_0355.JPG+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The sandbar has shifted to the west of it's previous location. You can see the little spit of sand just past the stumps.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCHPWdZygLs/UQiNJCapH6I/AAAAAAAARAI/bmlamQZObNw/w561-h349-n-k/IMG_0371.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="398" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wCHPWdZygLs/UQiNJCapH6I/AAAAAAAARAI/bmlamQZObNw/w561-h349-n-k/IMG_0371.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The south end of Stump Pass State Park<span style="font-size: large;"> has easily tripled in width since <span style="font-size: large;">Tropical Storm Debby <span style="font-size: large;">last July.</span></span></span> <span style="font-size: large;">Prior to the storm the trees were on the edge of the water.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YNjqwri-xQo/UQiM-oWaWtI/AAAAAAAAQ_c/gTRR2ebH7jw/s1087/IMG_0379.JPG+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YNjqwri-xQo/UQiM-oWaWtI/AAAAAAAAQ_c/gTRR2ebH7jw/s640/IMG_0379.JPG+(2).JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Only a mile walk down from the main entrance to the park beachcombers reap the rewards of sharks teeth and shells for their efforts.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pc-O4mxxNMk/UQiNC3Y5WUI/AAAAAAAAQ_s/1MZXVCwJ6NY/s816/IMG_0374.JPG+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pc-O4mxxNMk/UQiNC3Y5WUI/AAAAAAAAQ_s/1MZXVCwJ6NY/s640/IMG_0374.JPG+(2).JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Australian Pines stand tall against the sky. (taken with my iPhone)</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QzoU7M2juAY/UQiM8622D0I/AAAAAAAAQ_M/Ldgat2ObmXE/w661-h522-p-k/IMG_0384.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="504" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QzoU7M2juAY/UQiM8622D0I/AAAAAAAAQ_M/Ldgat2ObmXE/w661-h522-p-k/IMG_0384.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Stump Pass is my happy place. I walk out to the end a few times each month. The changes over the last year are really intriguing to watch. Thankfully, the channel is still deep enough for boater's to traverse safely.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3bu4Ffw8wI/UQiNhbr2XeI/AAAAAAAARCI/QbVSSg2SYwU/w486-h365-n-k/IMG_0353.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-O3bu4Ffw8wI/UQiNhbr2XeI/AAAAAAAARCI/QbVSSg2SYwU/w486-h365-n-k/IMG_0353.JPG+%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Red Tide can only keep me off the beach for so long. I'll keep enjoying this sandbar while it's here. Who knows where it will end up after the summer storms kick in.</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-79799677271435637642013-01-26T14:57:00.000-05:002013-01-26T14:57:15.312-05:00The Eagles Have Landed<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOrTQrdR8luViBUQvTMy_VZGZgZOZc01GLNaI72sNus1_-HK7r5fuUmqiWXnN_uOtkM0i1RYy5lSfcCCnWCzjeYV_k4KjAl9wA_cZ0_5PJzJC3RQSiOAD2sjn4ZeieuYxtA-U7YGJt_C6/s1600/13.1.23%25252520060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNOrTQrdR8luViBUQvTMy_VZGZgZOZc01GLNaI72sNus1_-HK7r5fuUmqiWXnN_uOtkM0i1RYy5lSfcCCnWCzjeYV_k4KjAl9wA_cZ0_5PJzJC3RQSiOAD2sjn4ZeieuYxtA-U7YGJt_C6/s640/13.1.23%25252520060.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The eagle's nest is located in North Fort Meyers, Florida. An errand in the area brought me close enough to swing by and see the nest in person.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Jamie & April Brooks from Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Facebook Page) The babies were referred to as E1 and E2 until recently being officially named <span style="font-size: small;">in</span> a <span style="font-size: small;">poll taken</span> on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Facebook Page.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Like the other 8,550 followers of <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/SouthwestFloridaEagleCam">the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam</a>, I find myself checking in on the growing baby eagles several times a day. The Eagle Cam just passed 8 million views so I'm not alone. People from all over the globe are watching and connecting by social media as they chat, tweet, & post comments on <span style="font-size: large;">F</span>acebook concerning the two baby eagles that both hatched around January 1st. Now named Hope & Honor, the baby eagles are growing about a pound in weight each week. Webcam viewers are watching the babies learn to eat, preen, and now are starting to develop what will be the massive 8 foot wingspan of their parents Ozzie and Harriet right in front of our eyes. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Thanks to <a href="http://www.dickpritchettrealestate.com/">Dick Pritchett Real Estate,</a> whose property the eagles nest on, the webcam they installed last fall gives the worldwide web a bird's eye view of the escapades of the eagle family. From Honor & Hope bopping each other on the head and vying for mouthfuls at feeding time there are more than a few comments on <span style="font-size: large;">F</span>acebook voicing concern about the sibling rivalry. Also, about the feeding - when you tune in be prepared for any number of <span style="font-size: large;">animals to be on the menu. I have <span style="font-size: large;">witnessed</span> lots of fish, rabbits, <span style="font-size: large;">small <span style="font-size: large;">rodents, & one seagull head being served up for dinner.</span></span></span> Now that the babies are moving about with their gargantuan eagle feet, the new topic of worry is how close the babies get to the edge of the nest. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A recent trip to the area brought me close enough to swing by and see the nest in person. After watching the webcam for a month it was great to see the entire site and put it all into perspective. Mom and Dad are never too far away - just out of camera range perched above the nest or on a tree close by.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/224403_467856966604897_1140320080_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/224403_467856966604897_1140320080_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Greg Hill from Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Facebook Page) The camera is mounted 6 feet above the nest without screws or nails to avoid damaging the tree in any way. The camera's night vision emits no light or noise to avoid intrusion into the eagle's habitat.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Diane Howard from Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Facebook Page) One of the parents is always close by - something you can't see from the webcam although you can hear the eagles calling back and forth which adds to the viewing<span style="font-size: small;"> experience.</span></span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67imdYH51mxe37ULpnDqQ6reeK0mMBKLmRZhGGT14zPSBY8IoDIgCdffMVPDIu9zMGvXwihixtmmS1p_Q0BUrO5IDa_Gnr5M9KBcz7rPqEMG-PInij52jR19ZvlgCkBhqk8fEkQ_kkss6/s1600/13.1.23+041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg67imdYH51mxe37ULpnDqQ6reeK0mMBKLmRZhGGT14zPSBY8IoDIgCdffMVPDIu9zMGvXwihixtmmS1p_Q0BUrO5IDa_Gnr5M9KBcz7rPqEMG-PInij52jR19ZvlgCkBhqk8fEkQ_kkss6/s640/13.1.23+041.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The eagles chose a lovely pasture.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The fence keeps the Eagles a safe distance from all the looky-lo<span style="font-size: small;">o</span>'s.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There is a pond across the road and it's a short flight to the Caloosahatchee River as well.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm thinking about how I could get my hubby to continue driving to Sanibel since we are so close to there as well.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">(Credit: Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Facebook Page)</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-48333972115050564342013-01-21T23:12:00.001-05:002013-01-21T23:12:52.366-05:00Don't go away mad - just go away!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDDJ5CZybqOlHbNA4Rb3SMRaATAXILq50G2QTHgyqtOkdghEo2tLlJ5NaKH1SQb9ar3tzvm-MGvBkhtM53YlUoJk4BkutYkibgI4wD-8_Prpgky_G1Z5Tv2nGRryevACp5p6neclJHRbB/s1600/AVPageView+1212013+103455+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="588" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDDJ5CZybqOlHbNA4Rb3SMRaATAXILq50G2QTHgyqtOkdghEo2tLlJ5NaKH1SQb9ar3tzvm-MGvBkhtM53YlUoJk4BkutYkibgI4wD-8_Prpgky_G1Z5Tv2nGRryevACp5p6neclJHRbB/s640/AVPageView+1212013+103455+PM.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The <a href="http://myfwc.com/research/redtide/events/status/statewide/">Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission</a> webpage gets updated every Friday. </span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Like a drunken sailor drifting up and down the coast looking for a port to land in - the red tide algae bloom that made it's appearance on Christmas Day is still wandering aimlessly up and down the SWFL coastline. Manasota Key was hit especially hard. For 4 weeks now tourists, snowbirds & local beach goers have been hacking, coughing & sneezing all the while stepping over dead fish to try to get in some quality beach time. I ventured out to Blind Pass Beach on Manasota Key hoping the recent NW winds had blown the nasty stuff back out to sea. The sun was out and the tide was low enough to make it a great day for sharks toof hunting. The beach was clear of dead fish but there was a definite whiff of red tide in the air. We stayed for a bit until the winds blew the bloom our way and as the hacking and coughing <span style="font-size: large;">commenced</span> we quickly exited the beach. I did get a handful of sharks teeth so the day wasn't a total bust.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There were shells and sharks teeth galore but the air was full of red tide so you couldn't breathe without coughing & sneezing.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pookie found the end of a junonia shell.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lots of sharks teeth, calico scallops & green sea glass.</span></span></td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="720" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9D97Dvf5Sa8?rel=0" width="960"></iframe>Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8885719761274275990.post-64254074267414632992013-01-17T21:27:00.000-05:002013-01-17T21:27:59.643-05:00Minus Low Tide (part 2)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The tide was rising at Blind Pass and it was getting a little too
crowded for my shelling sensibilities so Jenonia, Pookie, & myself
moved south to Lighthouse Beach. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lighthouse Beach is on the opposite end of Sanibel Island from Blind Pass. It's about a 15 minute drive.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jenonia was happy to hold her first sea star or starfish. Of course, the sea star went back in the water where we found him.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After taking my advice to look on the wrack line for what looks like coffee grounds - Jenonia got the eye for Wentletraps immediately. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lighthouse Beach is loaded with photo opportunities. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We arrived to Little Hickory beach access #10 to find the shoreline <span style="font-size: large;">littered</span> with fighting conchs left behind by the receding low tide.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-02i_1GS67EU/UPCw9ezBCpI/AAAAAAAAQto/Ka8kWPCX0eY/w253-h337-n-k/DSCF6264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-02i_1GS67EU/UPCw9ezBCpI/AAAAAAAAQto/Ka8kWPCX0eY/w253-h337-n-k/DSCF6264.JPG" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The fighting conchs were all alive. They hunker down until the rising tide washes them back to the water.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This little spit of sand is the very northern end of Little Hickory Island on Bonita Beach. It is a 15 minute walk from the public beach entrance. No concessions, no potties but lots of shells.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Jenonia will leave no sand bar unturned but what <span style="font-size: large;">crystal clear</span> water to walk in.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Winter always brings the migrating sea birds to gather in droves at the end of the <span style="font-size: large;">beach</span>.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This live lightning whelk was the biggest Jenonia had ever seen. If you spend alot of time on the water the waist pack Jenonia is wearing is worth a closer look.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.5009689340872244&pid=15.1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.5009689340872244&pid=15.1" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/OverBoard-Waterproof-Waist-Black-3-Liter/dp/B002IQY2DA/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358306623&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=overboardfanny+pack">The Overboard waist pack is the coolest pack ever! <span style="font-size: large;">The main compartment is a <span style="font-size: large;">roll down dry sack perfect for cameras<span style="font-size: large;">,</span> i<span style="font-size: large;">P</span>hones & other small electronics that need to stay dry on the beach.</span></span></a></span></span></td></tr>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/OverBoard-Waterproof-Waist-Black-3-Liter/dp/B002IQY2DA/ref=sr_1_sc_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1358306623&sr=8-2-spell&keywords=overboardfanny+pack"></a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-56sNSIB1H9o/UPCxjQYdvBI/AAAAAAAAQv4/Xic9BwqHL2Y/w487-h365-n-k/DSCF6283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-56sNSIB1H9o/UPCxjQYdvBI/AAAAAAAAQv4/Xic9BwqHL2Y/w487-h365-n-k/DSCF6283.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There are 2 jetties on the north end of Little Hickory and you can almost bet there will be shells piled up next to the rocks. It's always a good idea to pack a hand ra<span style="font-size: large;">ke</span> to dig with instead of your bare hands.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bjj_B3C1lKA/UPCxqdYDSDI/AAAAAAAAQwQ/TVxMBZI4e2U/w562-h384-n-k/DSCF6286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bjj_B3C1lKA/UPCxqdYDSDI/AAAAAAAAQwQ/TVxMBZI4e2U/w562-h384-n-k/DSCF6286.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Beach access #10 is worth the walk out to the end. The view is a panoramic <span style="font-size: large;">look</span> at the Gulf of Mexico <span style="font-size: large;">surveying</span> Sanibel, Ft. Meyers Beach, & Lover's Key. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JfX8subMaw/UPCaN8iLQNI/AAAAAAAAQwk/GX8NPipVJz4/w619-h371-n-k/IMAGE_D22428E7-2D1F-4106-BC90-66BC4EE1F3B9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1JfX8subMaw/UPCaN8iLQNI/AAAAAAAAQwk/GX8NPipVJz4/w619-h371-n-k/IMAGE_D22428E7-2D1F-4106-BC90-66BC4EE1F3B9.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We started at 2 am and covered 3 beaches traveling about 40 miles to visit each one. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X__rym2IH-c/UPCxChzbnqI/AAAAAAAAQuA/9l-VIHdtKbU/w533-h291-n-k/DSCF6265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="347" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X__rym2IH-c/UPCxChzbnqI/AAAAAAAAQuA/9l-VIHdtKbU/w533-h291-n-k/DSCF6265.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Life is a beach and I'm just playing in the sand.</span></span></td></tr>
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<br />Kaybehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14766292406622889248noreply@blogger.com7