All Hallows Eve

A murder of crows at Pelican's Nest Country Club

"And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting
On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door;
And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!"

~ Edgar Allan Poe The Raven

"Strange animal facts" #13:

Bats always turn left when exiting a cave.

On Heron Pond

“When despair for the world grows in me, and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be -- I go and lie down where the wood drake rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought or grief. I come into the presence of still water. And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.”
~ Wendell Berry

On the road again...

Cascade, Michigan

I am traveling this weekend. Leaving here...

Naples, Florida

...and arriving here.

Hmmm...seems I can't escape the color red ;-)

Have a colorful weekend, everyone!

"Strange animal facts " #12:
In Alaska, it is legal to shoot bears. However, waking a sleeping bear for the purpose of taking a photograph is prohibited.

The quiet before the storm

Third Street South, downtown Naples

The official season for South West Florida does not begin until November 1st. That's when hordes of "snowbirds" (residents from the cold, northern parts of the US and Canada) descend on Naples and its environs. They stay up to 6 months in their second homes and condos, boosting the local economy and contributing to the wellness of the region.

Then, there are "the visitors". They swoop in at the heart of the season - February and March -
populate our beaches with their pale, weary bodies and empty their full, bulging wallets into our stores and restaurants, all the while stretching the local resources to the max.

And that leaves you, "the tourist" - carving out a week or two out of your busy schedule to escape the cold and snow and melt in the sun. To you I say: come, you won't be disappointed, but if at all possible, avoid the full season (February and March).

You'll thank me ;-)

A star is born...

Bauhinia variegata forma alba

Be like the flower, turn your faces to the sun.

~ Kahlil Gibran

"Strange animal facts" #11:

Elephants are the only animals that can't jump.

Sunday's catch

Some of you asked where I was standing when I took the previous photo.

Here's your answer: Naples Pier. Just me and the fishing boy, each hoping for a good catch ;-)

"Strange animal facts" #10:
Fish that live more than 800 meters below the ocean surface, don't have eyes.

Beach bathing

The average water temperature at Naples beach in October is 81F (27C).

Great for wading and...hair washing, apparently ;-)

"Strange animal facts" #9:
The blue whale has a heart the size of a small car and its blood vessel is so broad, that a person could swim through it.

Tagged!

" I want my privacy, please!"

I have been tagged by both Victoria and Glenn to reveal 8 random facts about myself.

These are the rules:

1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.

2. List eight (8) random facts about yourself.

3. Tag eight people at the end of your post and list their names (linking to them).

4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving them a comment on their blogs.

Here are some things about me you probably did not know:

1. I was born on a beach (long story!) on Friday the 13th. This should clue you in to how well my life is going ;-)

2. I had a poem published at the age of 9. It was entitled "Shattered Dreams" (at 9???)

3. I am a decent cook but a dismal baker. I guess baking requires precision and exact measurements - that's sooo not me...

4. I once danced with Robin Williams, the actor, at a night club in Jamaica.

5. I was detained at Frankfurt Airport on suspicion of espionage. Questioned, searched and released shortly after.

6. I can never get through Chopin's "Heroic" polonaise without crying (but then again I empathize with his longing for his motherland).

7. I have this uncanny ability to tell time...without consulting a watch. No matter when, day or night, if you ask me what time it is, I will be exact to the minute. (Can anyone else do that or am I a freak?).

8. Nobody makes me belly-laugh like John Cleese in "Fawlty Towers".

Now, it's my turn to tag you, my blogger friends:

Jilly - Menton Daily Photo

Sonia - Leaves of Grass

Nikon - Hemingway's Paris

JAM - John's Daily Digital Images

GMG - Blogtrotter

Lessie - Anderson Daily Photo

Zsolt - Budapest Daily Photo

Richard - Zurich Daily Photo

Au naturel

Wetlands in my community

"I thank you God for this most amazing day, for the leaping greenly spirits of trees, and for the blue dream of sky and for everything which is natural, which is infinite, which is yes."

~e.e. cummings

"Strange animal facts" #8

It is estimated that millions of trees in the world are accidentally planted by squirrels who bury nuts and then forget where they hid them!

Shade seekers #6

Promenade at Bonita Bay

And finally, when all else fails, you can always find relief at the local mall. For yourself...and your wallet ;-)

"Strange animal facts" #7:
The female pigeon cannot lay eggs if she is alone. In order for her ovaries to function, she must be able to see another pigeon.

Shade seekers #5

my community

A pair of moorhens cooling off at the edge of the golf course.

"Strange animal fact" #6:
Eagles mate while airborne.

Shade seekers #4

Third Street South, downtown Naples

This sparrow found a cool spot in the shadow of a planter. No dummy, he; there's always a chance of a juicy worm nearby...

(Jilly, you'll need one of your tranquilizers before you continue reading ;-))

Strange animal fact #5:
A cockroach will live nine days without its head, before it starves to death.