Surveillance

Parking in my community is very safe...thanks to the roving security guards ;-)

Today, I am introducing a new feature entitled "Strange animal facts".

"Strange animal fact" #1:
Turtles can breathe through their butts.

Fall into Florida

"No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace as I have seen in one autumnal face."
~ John Donne

Just to prove to you we've got more than just palm trees...here are some deciduous trees, changing color.

However, the temperatures are still in the 90's F/30's C ;-)

Quiz Tuesday part 36

Remember the George M. Cohan lyrics:

"You're a grand old flag,

You're a high flying flag

And forever in peace may you wave.

You're the emblem of

The land I love.

The home of the free and the brave."

Well, obviously he's referring to "Old Glory" on the left. But what is that flag on the right?

And if that's too easy for you, today's real question is: can you identify all the flags below? They represent five nations that have exerted sovereignty over part of Florida at some time in its history.

Endless summer

Naples beach

Bidding adieu to summer...NOT!

This is Southwest Florida, friends! The reason we wilt in summer and hold our collective breath in autumn (during the hurricane season), is all for this payoff - so we can enjoy beach weather all year round!

So remember: anytime you need some happy rays in your life, visit me here. I'll save you a place in the sun...

Seed for thought

my community

Met a happy squirrel on my walk today. No, he did not come out and say it, but from the way he enjoyed his cone - and totally ignored me - it was plain to see...

Made me stop and think: how much do we need to make us happy?

Hope your day is going well and your pine cone is full of seeds ;-)

Quiz Tuesday part 35

This is a fairly new beach house downtown Naples (and it's for sale, too ;-))

Today's question: what is unusual about its architecture?

Sunday morning

my community

“Who will tell whether one happy moment of love or the joy of breathing or walking on a bright morning and smelling the fresh air, is not worth all the suffering and effort which life implies.”

- Erich Fromm

Hidden

home in my community

I've heard of a "privacy hedge", but this is ridiculous ;-)

Endless blue

Fort Myers Beach

We are leaving here

with a glance at the Pier,

where the sea meets the sky.

The Parachutist loops

as the pelicans swoop

and we all get ready to fly...

Isabella ;-)

How sweet it is!

Fort Myers Beach boardwalk

Next to Life Wave in Fort Myers Beach is a familiar storefront. Familiar to me, because it originated in Michigan 60 years ago!

Kilwin's is a well known maker of hand-dipped chocolates and homemade ice-cream. If you think you can take it - check out their short production videos ;-)

What's my favorite? Truffles, of course! What's yours?

Recognition

Many thanks to Kate, for presenting me with the prestigious Schmooze Award!

The 'Power of Schmooze Award' is The Award for bloggers who “effortlessly weave their way in and out of the blogosphere, leaving friendly trails and smiles, happily making new friends along the way. They don’t limit their visits to only the rich and successful, but spend some time to say hello to new blogs as well. They are the ones who engage others in meaningful conversations, refusing to let it end at a mere hello - all the while fostering a sense of closeness and friendship".

I'd like to reciprocate by bestowing Kate with my own "Animal Lover" award.

The "Animal Lover" award is presented to bloggers who "open their hearts and their homes to creatures in need, and give them an opportunity for a second chance in life! It is also dedicated to those who believe in animal rights (The rights of animals to exist without being exploited by humans) and make the world a better place for them to thrive".

Duh!

Fort Myers Beach boardwalk

Fort Myers Beach is only 30 miles north of Naples but generations apart!

While the yuppies might shop here in Naples, in Fort Myers you catch the Wave, dude. You can pick up some totally gnarly duds, have your hair way rad cornrowed and get a bitchin tattoo of your Betty. All like, in one place!

Tubular!

(This is a rather lame attempt at Valspeak/Surfer Slang of the American teenagers in the 80's and 90's. To translate: You can buy some hip clothing, get your hair nicely braided and a sweet tattoo of your lovely lady. Awesome!)

Heaven on earth

Little Blue Heron

For Rauf, who might or might not get to heaven ;-)

"I hope you love birds too. It is economical. It saves going to heaven."

- Emily Dickinson

Doggone it!

Photo courtesy of Bonnie, taken from the PetFinder website

We are interrupting our regular programming to bring you this special bulletin:

An adorable Havanese named Truffles just became the newest resident of Naples!

If you visit my Michigan blog, you know that I am involved with an animal rescue organization. We "bail out" dogs and cats from the city shelters and foster them in our homes until they are permanently adopted. It usually takes 2-3 weeks, so as you can imagine, it is a bittersweet moment - you are happy that they are finally going to their "forever" home, but your heart is breaking when you say goodbye.

And sometimes, the heart wins out over logic...This innocent bundle of energy and love was sadly neglected, abused and finally abandoned - all before his 1st birthday! One look into those hypnotic black eyes and we both knew that he will suffer no more (except for the occasional off-key singing of his new "forever mom" - hey, you've got to take the good with the bad ;-)

"No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich."
— Louis Sabin

Now, back to our regular programming...

September Theme Day - Street Signs

These are the mean streets of Naples! And some of the alarming signs found there...

Hey, you've got your troubles...I've got mine ;-)

This month 105 City Daily Photo blogs participate in this theme day. Please visit them here: Seattle (WA), USA - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Singapore, Singapore - Boston (MA), USA - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Kajang (Selangor), Malaysia - Mainz, Germany - Evry, France - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Sequim (WA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Nottingham, UK - Toulouse, France - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Manila, Philippines - Mumbai, India - Montpellier, France - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - Moscow, Russia - Paris, France - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Austin (TX), USA - Lyon, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Hyde, UK - Hong Kong, China - Joplin (MO), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Chandler (AZ), USA - St. Louis (MO), USA - Arlington (VA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Villigen, Switzerland - Sydney, Australia - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - San Diego (CA), USA - Bandung (West Java), Indonesia - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Nelson, New Zealand - Quincy (MA), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Bend (OR), USA - Wellington, New Zealand - New Orleans (LA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Detroit (MI), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Selma (AL), USA - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Miami (FL), USA - Arradon, France - Sheki, Azerbaijan - New York City (NY), USA - Inverness (IL), usa - North Bay (ON), Canada - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Tenerife, Spain - Auckland, New Zealand - Forks (WA), USA - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Chateaubriant, France - Madison (WI), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Ajaccio, France - Baltimore (MD), USA - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Budapest, Hungary - Lyon, France - Saarbrücken, Germany - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Le Guilvinec, France - River Falls (WI), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Naples (FL), USA - London, UK - La Antigua, Guatemala - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Paris, France - San Diego (CA), USA - Trujillo, Peru - Haninge, Sweden - Prague, Czech Republic - Oslo, Norway - Grenoble, France - Shanghai, China - Toronto (ON), Canada - Durban, South Africa - Zurich, Switzerland