Beneath the Streetlight

Shadows on the Street

Wordless Wednesday

Quote of the Week

Image Source:  Wikipedia

We find our energies are actually cramped when we are overanxious to succeed.  - Michel de Montaigne


The pressure we put on ourselves to succeed creates anxiety, which in turn hampers our abilities.  Success is achieved not only with hard work and perseverance, but with patience. Let us be patient with ourselves and success will follow.

A Day at Ft. DeSoto

Stepping back in time, we take a brief look at Ft. DeSoto in Pinellas County Florida.  I know I post a lot about Florida, but it is one of my favorite vacation places, and Ft. DeSoto is a "must visit" every time we go.  

Last year we were there in November, somewhat later than normal, and it was unseasonably cool that week.   As usual we headed out to Ft. DeSoto for the afternoon, only this time instead of fishing we rented bikes.  This was something we had wanted to do for years, but it was always too hot.  Now was our chance!  The temperature was in the 70s and there was a nice breeze.

Practically everywhere you can go by car, there is a separate bike lane.  We had a grand time, and put in several miles of tooling around, stopping for lunch at the snack bar next to the Gulf Pier.

Our method of transportation today (mine has the basket).

This was our view at lunch.  It is hard to tell from this photo, but the specks you see are really dragonflies...large dragonflies...and lots of them.  This pier faces the Gulf of Mexico and is a great place for fishing or just strolling along watching the birds.

Gulf Pier

Just up the road from here is the Bay Pier, which faces Tampa Bay.  Between these two piers is where Tampa Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico.  It is definitely a beautiful place.

Beach at Ft. DeSoto with a view of the Sunshine Skyway.

There are still remnants from the war at the Fort, and many of the rooms are open for exploration. 

Ft. DeSoto has something for everyone including swimming, boating, wind surfing, fishing, picnic areas, bike and kayak rental, and offers great photo opportunities.  There are also several snack bars and a gift shop.

I am looking forward to my next visit and more biking and fishing this fall.

New Beginnings

In response to The One Minute Writer prompt Era, our life is in the Era of New Beginnings.  Times are changing and we are charting a new course, taking up new interests and renewing some that have fallen by the way.  Our world has expanded significantly, and I see good things on the horizon as we sail toward all that life has to offer. 

Quote of the Week

Image Source:  Wikipedia

If I am what I have, and if I lose what I have, who then am I?  - Erich Fromm

We are more than the sum total of our possessions, and our lives have meaning beyond what we have accumulated.  What we are inside is who we are, not what we have or don't have.

Running Away

Mile after mile she sped down the highway, hoping with each passing town she would be further from the past that has haunted her every waking moment for nearly two decades.  She would be eighteen now, graduating from high school and starting life as an adult. Jenna hoped her daughter would make better choices than she had at that age as she reflected back on those days of drugs, booze and indiscretions which resulted in a life-altering moment as she gave up her first-born child.  

This current upheaval came about the week before when she received a phone call...one that she had dreaded for eighteen years...Mom?

Knowing in her heart of hearts (albeit mistakenly) that this was the best thing she could do for the daughter she abandoned all those years ago, she did what she has always done when her life runs amok, she runs away.

Written for Five Sentence Fiction based on the prompt Distance.

The Frogs at Salem Lake

This was filmed at Salem Lake a couple of years ago when we were serenaded by a bunch of frogs.  Not the peepers of Spring, but big bullfrogs.  At least I think they were bullfrogs - we didn't actually see them.

I am in the process of learning how to edit my videos.  This was done using Windows Live Movie Maker to edit out the dead spots and other conversations.  Any tips for the beginner?

Quote of the Week

 


Great opportunities to help others seldom come, but small ones surround us every day.  - Sally Koch



Anywhere, at any time, you may be presented with an opportunity to help someone in need.  Yesterday, it took two men little more than 5 minutes to change a tire for a lady in need in the church parking lot.

I was not the lady in question, but my husband was one of the men.  People helping people; it's a beautiful thing. 

Can You DrawSomething?

A while back I was introduced to a new app called DrawSomething.  I play this on my Samsung Stratosphere smart phone which has a 4-inch screen.  Some folks use iPads or tablets, which obviously provide a bigger "page" on which to create their masterpieces.  You have a choice of 3 words, and you must choose one and draw something that represents that word.  It's sort of like charades, and the drawing instrument is your finger.

I have virtually no drawing talent, but it's fun to draw, and then watch the other player guess your drawing.  You get coins as points so you can purchase more colors or bombs.  Bombs serve two purposes.  One, you can use them to get special or additional words to choose from.  Or you can use a bomb to explode away some of the unnecessary letters if you are having difficulty guessing a drawing.

It's a great way to while away some of those long hot summer hours, and you can dream about where you would  really like to be.  

Want to know more?  Check out the video.

  Are any of you DrawSomething fans?

Silly Goose

Wordless Wednesday

Now you see me.

Now you don't.

Quote of the Week

You don't love someone because they're perfect, you love them in spite of the fact that they're not.
- Jodi Picoult

If being perfect were a prerequisite for being loved, we would all be out of luck.  As it is, we find someone with whom we can share our imperfections.

I'm Melting...

Free-extras.com

It's past my bedtime, my brain cells have melted, my cat's had his knickers in a twist all evening and my muse is on strike again.  So beat the heat and have a great weekend!

Music for a Friend

The Chad Morris Band

Last Friday night we attended a benefit concert and silent auction. Several local bands joined together to help a friend in need, and local artists and businesses donated items to be sold at the silent auction. In addition there were baked goods, and tea (courtesy of Chad's Chai and Tea Company) available for sale. It was an evening of music and fellowship of the community.

When people talk about how bad the world is today it makes me sad.  True, bad things do happen.  They always have and will continue to.  That doesn't make the world bad, or the human race on the whole bad.  What it does do is prove how much good there is in the world and in man kind.

  

In times of trouble, sickness, natural disaster and tragedy, people come together to help one another.  We saw this first hand Friday night, and we see it time and again - the inherent goodness in people.  There will always be dark nights and troubled times, but the sun always rises, and so do we.

The evening included performances by The Chad Morris Band, Suitcase and Michael Kuehn.

Intermission

Not exactly quality photographs from the back of the room with my phone.

Quote of the Week

Indecision becomes decision with time.  - Author Unknown

For example, have you ever waffled around trying to decide whether to do something or not only to discover that, for whatever reason, it is too late?  By waiting until you could decide, the decision was made for you.


 

Divine Llamas

While searching for ideas for today's post, I came across this video from a couple years ago.  We visited the Divine Llama Vineyard for a wine tasting.  It was a double treat to visit with the resident llamas.  You can read more about that here in Wine and Llamas.

Here's what they had to say about it.

Llama #1: Just once you'd think they would come see us first. 

Llama #2: Yeah, they beeline to the tasting bar without so much as a glance our way. It's only after they hear about how our llama beans* fertilize the vines that grow the grapes that make the wine that they ignore us for, that we get some appreciation.

Llama #3: My friends, we don't have to stand for such second class treatment. Follow me!

*this is the term the folks at Divine Llama use for llama poop.

If The Shoe Fits

Can I get that for you in a smaller size?

Sophie trying on my shoe

I hope I have better luck with these!

My first mail order shoes

Do any of you order shoes online?

Quote of the Week

We could learn a lot from crayons; some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, while others bright, some have weird names, but they all have learned to live together in the same box.  - Robert Fulghum

Just like a box of crayons, it is a big beautiful, colorful world filled with beautiful, colorful people.  Just think of all that we could create and accomplish if we learn to live and work together without fear and prejudice.

Into the Tunnel

There isn't a lot going on in the creative department today, so I take you back to June of last year and our visit to Minnesota. 

Here we are about to enter a tunnel.  No big deal, but there aren't any around here which makes it interesting.  For some reason I've always enjoyed tunnels.  Why?  I dunno, just do.

This was a very short tunnel within in the city.

I have proven that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

When I was a kid my parents and I would travel North along 1-95, and would go through several tunnels on our way to Maine where my Mom's family lived.

Here's one we probably went through.  

If you like tunnels too, come join me on a wild ride!

Not Just Another Teddy

Did you ever have a favorite teddy bear that you liked to sleep with as a child?  Those were the days, right?  Safe and comfortable and taken care of.  And then you grow up and leaving behind the safety and comfort of childhood.  That's what I thought and then... I was about 22 and had moved into my first apartment with my best friend from high school.  I won't dwell on how much of a mistake that was, but I moved out five months later.

In the meantime, I went to work every day and my roommate worked the night shift.  I was usually up until she left for work and gone before she got home in the morning.  Not enough sleep and poor eating habits led to my getting sick twice that summer.  Both times I was diagnosed with strep throat and both times I had different symptoms.  Let me just say that I went to what would today be referred to as "an old country doctor".  He had probably practiced in that same tiny little office for at least 40 years.  

He didn't do any tests or cultures.  You're supposed to get a culture for strep, right?  Nope!  The first time I just had a sore throat and otherwise didn't feel all that bad.  The next time my glands were swollen, and I had a fever - for a solid week.  I took antibiotics and aspirin around the clock for a solid week.  

Did I mention that my parents were on vacation a thousand miles away?  Or that my roommate had absolutely no sympathy for my situation?  "Aren't you going to work" she asked?  Duh!  I'm sick!  What do you think?

I began staying at my parents house even though they weren't there.  I drew comfort from just being home.  They were due back at the end of the week and I was literally counting the days.  I suppose you are wondering where teddy bears come into the picture.

I was there when they got home, and the first thing Mom did was hand me a teddy bear.  I instantly felt 100% better.  My fever went down and I felt better than I had over in a week.  It did go back up that evening, but I was so much better.  I slept with that teddy bear for a very long time after that, and I still have him.

Was it the bear?  Was it a mother's love?  I think it was both, and they were one in the same.  

Quote of the Week

We’re all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love—true love.

― Robert Fulghum, True Love

I think we can all relate to this on some level.