Indigestion

OK, let me paint the picture for you: it's early morning, I'm sleepwalking walking Truffles on the boardwalk skirting the canoe lake and I see this long stocking draped over the railing. But as I approach, the stocking burps and I am face to fang with a snake! We both freeze - I, from sheer terror and he, from having just ingested a palm rat (one hopes ;-)).

Since my formal education did not include herpetology, I have no idea what kind of snake it is - corn snake? rat snake? - so if any one of you can enlighten me, I would be very grateful.

In the meantime, I plan to walk softly and carry a big stick ;-)

Special thanks to Olivier for presenting me with the "You make my day" award! I hope he feels the same way after today's post ;-)

Waterworld

Weekend on Venetian Bay in Naples. Boating, shopping, dining...

And just so you know, this condominium complex is firmly planted in the middle of the Bay. WaterCar mandatory ;-)

The colors of Naples - 5

The Village on Venetian Bay, Naples

If you've been to Paris, you are undoubtedly familiar with the stereotypical French mademoiselle - very thin, dressed in black, cell phone in one hand and cigarette in the other.

This is the Florida's version - more rounded, wearing bold colors, with latte instead of cigarette, but with the ubiquitous cell phone ;-)

(BTW - did you notice the bead store motto: "Don't worry. Bead Happy"? )

Winged

Blue heron in my community wetlands

"The reason birds can fly and we can't is simply that they have perfect faith, for to have faith is to have wings."

~James Matthew Barrie

(I love the birch tree reflection on the left, don't you?)

Le dejeuner au bord de la mer

One of the perks of living in a vacation destination and thus hosting a slew of visitors, is that they often insist on taking you out to eat. Whether they are grateful for lodging or just tired of my "healthy" cuisine - why look a gift horse in the mouth?

We enjoyed this delightful lunch at Marie-Michelle's - a French bistro, right on Venetian Bay in Naples. Warm, sunny day, the sight of dolphins frolicking in the water and a slightly fruity Chardonnay...need I say more?

Every dish was finger-licking good, but I personally recommend the Saumon Poche aux Fruits Tropicaux - Poached Alaskan King Salmon served with a mixture of exotic mango and papaya, laced with lime ginger Beurre Blanc.

Oh, I almost forgot: halfway through the meal, Marie-Michelle herself, came out and double kissed all the diners. The French way ;-)

Shellshocked

Remember how much fun you had combing the beach for shells as a child? Or even as an adult ;-)

Southwest Florida has some of the best shelling beaches in the world! I previously wrote about it here.

There are approximately 400 species of multi-colored seashells in our area, from the commonplace scallop and clam to the exotic – tulips, olives, fragile paper fig shells and the rarest of the all, the brown speckled junonia. This poster lists the most common ones found on Naples' beaches.

What kind of seashells are common in your area?

Nuts!

"A squirrel leaping from bough to bough, and making the wood but one wide tree for his pleasure, fills the eye not less than a lion,—is beautiful, self-sufficing, and stands then and there for nature."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

I wonder, is that where the expression "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" came from?

Theme day - best photo of the year

Sail into the weekend. Naples Fishing Pier (with pelicans)

It is nearly impossible to pick one's best photo of the year. What criteria should I use: what I consider the best, or the one you liked the most? The most dramatic one or the most visually pleasing?

So I took the easy way out and picked the 5 top comment garners. Hope your favorite is among them ;-)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Please visit the rest of the DP Bloggers who participate in today's theme:
Paris, France - London, England - Hyde, UK - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Grenoble, France - Stockholm, Sweden - Riga, Latvia - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Manila, Philippines - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Weston (FL), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - New Orleans (LA), USA - Wichita (KS), USA - Cleveland (OH), USA - San Francisco (CA), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Greenville (SC), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Mainz, Germany - Melbourne, Australia - Portland (OR), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Toulouse, France - Naples (FL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Brussels, Belgium - Stayton (OR), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Toruń, Poland - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Baziège, France - Nashville (TN), USA - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Prescott (AZ), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Nottingham, UK - Miami (FL), USA - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Evry, France - Trujillo, Peru - Arlington (VA), USA - Denpasar, Indonesia - American Fork (UT), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Chandler (AZ), USA - Coral Gables (FL), USA - Montpellier, France - Joplin (MO), USA - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Boston (MA), USA - Torun, Poland - New York City (NY), USA - Dunedin (FL), USA - Quincy (MA), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Chateaubriant, France - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Jackson (MS), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Budapest, Hungary - Austin (TX), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Cypress (TX), USA - Bicheno, Australia - Wrocław, Poland - Brookville (OH), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Cheltenham, UK - Wellington, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - London, UK - Haninge, Sweden - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Arradon, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Orlando (FL), USA - Mumbai, India

Cherish

I no longer make New Year's resolutions. My success rate is pretty low - good intentions are usually forgotten halfway through January.

Reading some of my favorite bloggers lately, I noticed a trend; instead of making resolutions, people adopt words they will focus on throughout the year. Words like: forgiveness, compassion, risk, health, understanding, adventure, love, acceptance, spirituality...

So I pick the word "Cherish" for 2008. To be aware and appreciative of the people in my life, the places I hold dear and simple moments like this one - curling up in a comfy chair with a good book and Truffles gently snoring on top of my head...

What's your word?

Neapolitan Christmas

I just realized that I have not posted any Christmas themed photos this year. But it is so hard to get into the proper spirit when the beach calls your name...

Lest you call me Scrooge, here are some holiday takes from around town: a rooftop Santa from the Palm Cottage, a disco boat from the Christmas Boat Parade on the Imperial River, a Christmas Tree from the Venetian Village, a couple of lawn decorations from my community and yes, a self-portrait ;-)

Whew! Glad to get it out in one big swoop. Now, back to the beach...

The aftermath

The Village on Venetian Bay, Naples

After the recent days of continuous feasting and overall Christmas merriment, I feel like "The Pie Lady" ;-)

Luckily, right behind her is a clothing boutique selling Tummy Tuck Jeans. They promise to: lift your butt, flatten your tummy and make you look a size smaller!

If I buy a few pairs, will I drop several sizes?

Rejoice!

"The time draws near the birth of Christ:

The moon is hid; the night is still;

The Christmas bells from hill to hill

Answer each other in the mist.

Four voices of four hamlets round,

From far and near, on mead and moor,

Swell out and fail, as if a door

Were shut between me and the sound:

Each voice four changes on the wind,

That now dilate, and now decrease,

Peace and goodwill, goodwill and peace,

Peace and goodwill, to all mankind."

~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson Voices in the Mist

Warm and wonderful Christmas wishes to all my Blogger friends!