Quiz Tuesday part 16

Yesterday, as we passed by Hurricane Golf Course, we all noticed this vehicle on the golf trail, didn't we ;-)

Today's question is: What is this peculiar cart doing on the golf course?

Come along! #5

This is the fifth installment in a week-long series, where you can join me on a daily walk through my community. Comfortable shoes - mandatory! Floppy sun hat - optional ;-)

Well, you finally showed up! I've been waiting patiently, tapping my sneakered foot to the beat of Motown. All set? We are curving to the left, passing by the estate homes (this one's about $5M) and the golf course (watch out for errant balls!).

This is a good time to dispel some misconceptions about Southwest Florida. Look at that deep blue sky - do you know what is signifies? Yes, it is dry here today. As a matter of fact, our dry season is from October till May. Low humidity, no bugs, not many days above 85°F/29°C. Why do you think Florida is so popular during winter?

Summer...well, that's a whole different kettle of fish ;-)

Detour

Hope you don't mind this little detour from our walking series, but it was St. Paddy's Day yesterday and who does not love a parade? So after a short drive to downtown Naples, we joined the thousands of old and young for some Irish cheer and warm green beer ;-)



Himself arrived with a bit of a scowl...



...but Molly was all smiles despite walking miles...



...and even Chris O'Columbus could hardly miss the party.

Hope you enjoy your Sunday break, but tomorrow bright and early we are hitting the trails again. See you then...

Come along! #4

This is the fourth installment in a week-long series, where you can join me on a daily walk through my community. Comfortable shoes - mandatory! Floppy sun hat - optional ;-)

We are at the half-way mark - how are you holding up? Another sip of water, perhaps?

We are in luck, the golfers are finished for the day, so we can use their trail to walk around the lake. Although missing today, this is the usual spot for my favorite bird...and the alligator. Like I said, we must have the luck of the Irish* today ;-)

*Happy St. Patrick Day to all the Irish and those who feel Irish today!

Come along! #3

This is the third installment in a week-long series, where you can join me on a daily walk through my community. Comfortable shoes - mandatory! Floppy sun hat - optional ;-)

We are passing now by my favorite lagoon. Let's slow down (don't stop!) and take a peek, just in case there are any gators, herons, golfers or other wildlife I can capture for you (on camera, that is).

This is also the area where I spotted a Florida Panther one evening last year! I never realized how fast I can run...

Come along! #2

This is the second installment in a week-long series, where you can join me on a daily walk through my community. Comfortable shoes - mandatory! Floppy sun hat - optional ;-)

The boardwalk from yesterday's post winds through the swamps...er...marshes...and spills onto this pathway. The lady in the photo is well known in the community for her unorthodox behavior - she walks at a very brisk pace...while reading a book! (see the book in her left hand)

Boy, if that was me, I would trip, fall into the pond and end up as alligator's lunch...

Come along! #1

Cedar (not mahogany!) boardwalk at the canoe park.

This is the first installment in a week-long series, where you can join me on a daily walk through my community. Comfortable shoes - mandatory! Floppy sun hat - optional ;-)

Whenever life throws me a curve, I don't waste the opportunity to learn from it. I step back and ask myself "Am I on the right track?"
This theme song from the movie "Mahogany", sung by Diana Ross, gets to the point, by simply asking:

"Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for?
When you look behind you there's no open door
What are you hoping for?
Do you know?..."

Quiz Tuesday part 15

"What the heck is that?" you are asking yourself as the page loads. Well, that's exactly what I want you to tell me (People, what do you expect of me, I just had dental surgery!).

Today' s quiz question is: what does this picture show?

Update: The answer is - spent Bougainvillea petals floating on water.

Nesting

Guess what I stumbled upon, while beachcombing on Big Hickory Island? A Bald Eagle nest! Again, I must apologize for the lack of zoom on my antiquated Kodak digital, but you keep ignoring my pleas ;-)

He or she (one way to determine the sex of an eagle is to examine its beak - hello! do I look crazy to you?) let me creep up pretty close, but as you can see, was clearly concerned, so I did not overstay my welcome.

What I found fascinating reading up on our national bird is that:

1. They mate for life
2. They use the same nest year after year, ergo...
3. ...Over the years, some nests become enormous, as much as 9 feet in diameter, weighing two tons (2.75 meters and 1800 kg)
4. While on the nest with very young eaglets, parents move about with their talons balled into fists to avoid accidentally skewering their offspring.

Aw, how sweet is that?

Finding inspiration

Seeing those disappearing footprints on the beach of Big Hickory Island reminded me of the famous poem that was always attributed to Anonymous. However, after a lenghtly legal battle, it was established recently that Mary Stevenson wrote it as a teenager in 1936.
There are many versions of it circulating around the world - which one do you know?

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed
that during the low periods of my life,
when I was suffering from
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord,
“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you,
you would walk with me always.
But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life
there have only been one set of footprints in the sand.
Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied,
“The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand,
is when I carried you.”

Mary Stevenson Footprints in the Sand

Masterpiece

...and to finish up my hibiscus series, here's la pièce de résistance! It comes from the same garden as the white one but with such a showy combination of yellow, orange, lilac and burgundy, and so evocative of Georgia O'Keefe's flowers, that people decided (OK, I did) it belongs in a museum. See if you agree here.

Admission's free on week-ends ;-)

“Most people in the city rush around so, they have no
time to look at a flower. I want them to see it whether they want to or not."
Georgia O'Keefe

Update: Due to popular demand (?) I have created a poll. Please cast your vote, if you are so inclined ;-)

Should the lady on the right wear a thong?

Yes
No

Display Poll Results

Eureka!

After yesterday's post, a little bird (OK, a big bird) told me that I can find a white hibiscus right in my neighborhood. So I dropped everything (the things I do for you...) and rushed right over. And voilà! Isn't it stunning? The lizard's included at no extra charge ;-)

"People from a planet without flowers would think we
must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us."
Iris Murdoch

Update: In your comments, some of you questioned the authenticity of the lizard. Let me assure you - the lizard is real (not photo edited-in, not a trained pet (!), not a figment of your imagination). As soon as I whipped out my camera, he scampered out from under the petal and posed for me, smiling ;-)