from the porches

the hitch hiker

If you read my blog often, you may remember me showing photographs of a cicada riding on my windshield.  Well, this morning I drove to the post office and as I was pulling out to drive back home I noticed legs dangling above my windshield.

"Yikes!"  I blurted.  It was a two inch long banana spider hitch hiking on my car.  Of course I found a suitable place to pull off the road to take its picture.

It may not look very frightening to you, but the thing seemed as big as my palm perched right in my line of vision.

This photo is fuzzy because I was blocking a car so I had to pull back in the road and try to take a picture at the same time. 

Somehow I didn't have the same warm fuzzy feelings about this big spider as I did about the cicada.  I wanted to drive real fast to blow it into the highway.  I couldn't stand looking at its long creepy  legs.

Then I saw this monster flip to the driver's side window, hanging on for dear life.  That's when I put the metal to the pedal and I reached an outrageous speed for one mile and hoped to see him sail off onto the asphalt.

Unfortunately, I didn't see him sail off my window at all.  As I pulled up to the studio my only fear was that he would flip inside on me when I opened the door.  He didn't do that either which caused me to give a big sigh of relief.  When I opened the car door he was gone.  Thank goodness. 

What is it with large creatures hitch hiking on my car?

a green surprise

The other afternoon I decided to water my flowers.  This particular bed of impatients and lantana needed no water.  They're very tall and very lush.

As I strolled along the edge of the flower bed I paused and greeted a tiny grasshopper sitting on a hibiscus.

The little green thing just watched my every move, anticipating a flick of my finger, I'm sure.

"Get off of there!"  I said.

But he didn't get off.  He just turned his tiny body toward me, ready to pounce.  "You win,"  I said and walked away.

crystal river

Recently Truett and I drove down to Crystal River, Florida, home of about 400 Manatees and home of a Nuclear Power Plant. 

The Nuclear Power Plant was an ominous structure spewing out white plumes of smoke.

It reminded me of James Bond movies and evil men.  In fact, there are a number of mesothelioma lung cancer lawsuits pending right now.  I can see why.

Truett and I ate a late lunch at Crackers, a seafood restaurant located on Kings Bay.

Following lunch we took a stroll and watched boaters enjoying their afternoon activities.

We saw signs beckoning us to swim with the manatee, although we didn't see any on this particular day.

Manatee and nuclear power plants seemed like odd bedfellows to me.

After that we drove past strip malls that made Crystal River seem quite ordinary.  Then Truett turned down a side street and we meandered through a quaint little neighborhood. 

   

We saw neat old houses and an area where a farmer's market is set up on Saturdays.

It looked like an art colony with colorful spools stacked around.

I was quite impressed with this Market Day advertising and felt like the trip to Crystal River had been worth it, even though a menacing looking nuclear power plant loomed in the distance.

this 'n that

I would really love to share all the exciting things I've been doing this past week; but quite frankly, nothing outstanding has been happening.  As I told my sister,  "I've just been piddling around. . . doing the same old same old, a little of this and a little of that."  

Yesterday we stopped by Trinity United Methodist Church in Gainesville where Advent Glass Works, Inc. is installing church windows.  While we were there we got out of the car to get a closer look at the chapel.

The chapel is a beautiful little building made of all glass except for the roof.

Then we made our way to Petco for dogfood.  After we parked, I took a shot of a dragonfly.  Looks like a little bi-plane, doesn't it.

Of course, since it's summertime, a summer storm raced in, threatening to drench us when we came out of the grocery; but we were spared and only got sprinkled on.

Meanwhile, on the home front, Roger and Punky insist on standing halfway between an open door leading to the porches, literally running up the AC bill, with me counting dollar signs rushing to the outside.  Why do cats do this?  I think they know that's one way to irritate humans.

Also, our town is bustling with tourists, snatching up tubes and rafts for a trip down the Ichetucknee River.

And banana spider webs are draped everywhere.

So, if you ask me what's been happening in my life, I may simply respond,  "Oh, this 'n that."

roscoe pico coltrain III

Yesterday morning Truett and I pulled up at GTO's for a nice hearty breakfast.  Just as I opened the car door to get out I was startled by a loud, "Ahrooooo!"  It took me back a second and then we saw Roscoe Pico Coltrain III sitting in his owner's truck.

Have you ever heard a bloodhound let out an "Ahroooo?"  It is a one of a kind bark for sure and will scare the pants off of you if you're not expecting it.

   

 Roscoe Pico Coltrain III was quite a hit with the customers of GTO.  I grabbed my camera and headed for Roscoe, but he hopped in the front seat.

"Come on,"  I urged.  "Get in the back and stick your head out so I can get a good picture."

But the dog wouldn't budge.  So I headed back to my car when he let out another loud "Ahroooo!"

I quickly turned and caught him in his bark. 

During breakfast Truett and I talked with the dog's owner who said he was strictly a pet, although he could be trained to track criminals or lost people if the need arose.  He said his dog was good with children, but definitely needed another dog as a playmate because he does get into trouble if left alone. 

We ate our breakfast and headed back to our car.  I realized I didn't get the dog's name, so I ran back in the restaurant and interrupted the owner's breakfast and asked,  "What's your dog's name?"  He replied,  "Roscoe Pico Coltrain III."

We said good-bye to the bloodhound and he left us with one more . . .

    "Ahrooooo!"

the tower

Yesterday we were driving a dirt road and saw a tower.

As we drove by it the tower began to reconfigure.

It's getting narrower. . .

And narrower. . .

It was almost like magic as we then watched it unfold.

Unfolding. . .

Unfolding . . .

Unfolding. . .

And now we have the tower again.  Tah dah!

new typepad

For any of you who post on typepad, you may be just as frustrated as I am.  Typepad has a new configuration and I swear it took me five minutes to figure out how to post a new blog, which, by the way was not going to be about this.

However, I am obviously stuck with the new configuration until I spend many many more minutes trying to decide if I like it or not.  Oh, well.  Just another little chink in my life regarding technology which absolutely drives me up the wall.  If I was a ten-year old, I'd be whizzing all around the new typepad configuration, fearful of nothing.  I guess the saying, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" applies to me!

My gardener from Sunshine True Value is expected any moment.  Since I now have an underground irrigation system for my flower gardens, it is time I learned to control the outpour of water.  You see, we have been getting daily rains along with the timed irrigation system, so therefore, my plants are way over watered.

My roses are leggy and some of the leaves are turning yellow.  Not a good sign.  With all the rains the mosquitoes are viscious and I despise spraying that awful mosquito spray on my arms and legs.  Maybe that's why I see pictures in magazines of gardeners dressed in long sleeved shirts and long pants.  So maybe I'll quickly yank these shorts off and reconsider my gardening attire.

Have a good day.

sunday morning in july

One recent Sunday morning I was picking up a sausage biscuit for my mom at Hardees in High Springs.  As I made my way through the drive-thru window I saw a cattle egret (cow bird to the locals).  I pulled in a parking space, grabbed my camera and crept toward it.

      

Then it spotted me.  "Don't go,"  I whispered.

      

I guess it felt threatened because it headed for the parking lot.  "Wait,"  I said.

      

But it didn't wait.  

      

It then headed toward a truck with me hurrying behind.  "Stop,"  I pleaded.  "Look at me."

      

But it wouldn't turn it's little head in my direction. 

By now it was headed for the shrubs bordering Hwy. 441, so I decided to let it be, and I turned and headed for my car.

      

Even though I couldn't get real close to this cattle egret, it put a happy spin on that Sunday morning in July.

swim lessons

       

Yesterday Truett and I volunteered to take Maddie and Oliver to swim lessons.  It was only three weeks ago that Oliver wouldn't get in the swimming pool except with only his mom or dad, but almost exclusively his mom.

      

Waiting for their turn in the pool is the hardest part of the lesson because of the heat and humidity.

      

I decided to focus on two and one-half year old Oliver.  He has gained so much trust with the instructors during the past two weeks.

      

Oliver did everything the instructor asked of him.  He kicked his feet and blew bubbles.  Then I got distracted from swimming and focused on his many faces while the other two little girls took their turns.

      

      

My goodness.  He's such a cute little kid.

      

Then it was Oliver's turn to swim again.

      

And while Oliver waited more faces unfolded.

      

      

And more faces.  I couldn't take my camera lens off of this kid.

      

Meanwhile Maddie listened to her swim instructor; however, it seemed like they mostly hung on the wall.

      

I like it that my grandchildren are learning to swim.

out & about

       

Part of the fun of going to the beach is taking some time off from the blistering sun and hot sand.  Unfortunately, we never escaped the bright, blistering sun at New Smyrna as we shopped around town.  I found I craved pine trees and woods and spring water.  But as we wandered around I found things of interest.

      

                   Kayaks lined up at JB's Bethune Beach Boardwalk.

      

                      An unusual wind sock flapping in the ocean breeze.

      

                                               A yellow hibiscus.

      

       A Bird of Paradise growing in town instead of in a florist shop.

      

                           And a sea grape leaf as large as a Panama hat.

This post will be the last simply because my anecdotes about beach life are waning and are no longer holding my interest.  So I will end by sharing a couple of pictures of two American Bulldogs we met on the ride home while refueling our cars.

       

This is Georgia and Bailey.  Bailey is on the left and Georgia is on the right.  I noticed Sherry and Quinn motioning for me to get my camera as they stood talking with a young man at a gas pump next to their car.

      

The dogs' daddy would say,  "Who's a bulldog?"  and Bailey would answer with "Aroo-roo-roo-roo!"   I've never been a fan of bulldogs of any sort, but these two dogs were so cute.

And that's it, folks.  Now it's time to focus on life at home once again.