Bowling

We went to a birthday party at a bowling alley. The kids had fun bowling but the adults, I think, had more fun watching them try to bowl.

Hunter

Hunter was trying to relax.  It was windy out and the cushion fell on top of him.  He didn't care.  When I took the picture I did not realize the Sandhill Cranes were in the backyard.  They come everyday like clockwork for bread. 

Slithering Guest

This little guy was in my bushes just laying in the sun.  He was not really bothered by my going back in to get the camera.

Pink Begonias

This shopping plaza is lined with these beautiful begonias.  Makes walking into the store so pleasant.

Hunter ~ My Cat

My Cat~ Hunter

We adopted Hunter about 5 years ago.  Someone moved out of a house in the neighborhood and left him behind.  When we took him in he looked like a kitten he was so skinny.  Now he is a very plump happy, especially since he became an inside cat about a year ago. 

Pink Serenity

Sunglare

 

So I did not keep up with the photo challenge like I wanted to. Life got to crazy busy! So I am going to look for a new one or create my own. This is a shot from today. Last night while walking I saw the old tractor. It had some cool features on it and I knew I wanted to photograph it but was so tired that I did not go back with my camera. I thought it would still be there in the morning~~NOT!!! Oh well, you snooze you lose. So i got this shot instead. 

March Photo Challenge ~ Day 14 Something from My Front Yard

Day 14

Something from My Front Yard

I love when I get surprised when taking photos.  I wanted to take a picture of this yard ornament.  I wanted a close up picture but you could see my reflection in the glass, which I did not want.  So I backed up and zoomed in.  I love the reflection in the glass now, I love how you can see the fluffy clouds and the trees.  I got a few shots before even noticing the little lizard on it ~ suprpise.  They blend in so much you can miss them easily if your not paying attention.

I can remember coming to Florida to visit when my daughter was about 12 and how much fun she had trying to catch them.  Never did I think I would be living here now.  Sometimes it is awesome and sometimes I miss home so much it hurts. But this time of year in Florida ~ is perfect.  Warm days and Cool nights.  

March Photo Challenge Day 2 Water

Day 2

Water

This is a photo of the fountain at the entrance of my complex.  I did not go there to take a picture of the fountain, as nice as it is, I went to take a picture of the flowers on the trellis~ they are incredible!!!  But once there I saw the fountain and immediately the Day 2 Water came to me.  I love the color blues with the water.  



If I had not allowed my mind to think of something else besides the beautiful pink begonia's then I would not thought of the water fountain.

If you don't open your mind to other __________ you may miss___________!!!!

Keep an Open Mind!

March Photo Challenge Day 11 Clock

Day 11

Clock

My favorite clock.  It is big and colorful and has the old worn look to it.  This challenge may have been a little to easy for me but it is what I like.  And since I did not go out of the house this day except for walks ~ this is it.

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March Photo Challenge Day 9 Music & 10 Something that Sparkels

Day 10

Something That Sparkles

We went to the Drum Circle the other night.  The Drum Circle is a group of people who gather at the beach to celebrate the sunsetting. They do this by beating on drums and dancing in a circle.  As the sun sets they beating of the drums gets faster and faster. It is a very relaxing night out.  This time may have been my favorite time going.  The sunset was amazing, the crowd was huge; with 45 minutes till the sunset the circle around the drumming was 12 rows out.  Everyone there was just so happy and having such a good time.  We stayed till after dark and the drum circle kept going.  http://www.nokomisbeachdrumcircle.com/index.html

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Day 9

Music

Everyday I try to sit outside on the lanai.  I love to listen to the music that nature makes especially from wind chimes.  These wind chimes have pink and red gems in the middle.  It is very relaxing to me listening to the wind chimes, the birds, the sound of wind. 

A few days ago I was asked to sit quietly and listen to the noise around me.  If you sit in quietness you will be amazed at what your ears can hear when that is all you are focasing on.  Try it for your self.

March Photo Challenge Day 8 ~ Dream

Day 8 ~ Dream

The Wizard of Oz

Follow the Yellow Brick Road, follow the Yellow Brick Road, Follow..Follow..Follow.....

This one was a little difficult for me because I had a few ideas but didn't think I would see them on day 8.  So it took a little bit of thinking.  But what better than the Wizard of Oz!!! It was all just a dream after Dorothy hit her head from the flying wood plank.  AND being a huge Wizard of Oz fan I thought how perfect for me. 

So the above picture is of my Wizard of Oz nutcrackers I received as a Christmas present some years back from 2 very special young people in my life. I don't know who was happier, me receiving such a thoughtful gift or them for thinking the most perfect gift for me. I love nutcrackers, too. Below is of a magnet on a speaker by my computer and also a close up of the DVD.

March Photo Challenge Day 7 ~ Fruit

Day 7 ~ Fruit

There is nothing like Florida Oranges!!!! I have been getting all my fruit at the local farmers market right down the street from us.  It is a great way to start our weekend by going there and picking fresh, locally grown fruits and vegtables.

March Photo Challenge Day 6 ~ Chores

Day 6 ~ Chores

What can I really say about chores!!! I have to sweep or swifter on an almost daily basis.  I have a black lab and a cat.  If I let it go past 3 days I have fur balls rolling all over as if I lived in the dessert with the dust balls.  I don't mind to much because I really can not stand a dirty floor.  I am always barefoot so that IS a big deal to me.  It is worth cleaning every/every other day to have these pets.  I love labs and I love my cat as much as he will let me. LOL

March Photo Challenge Day 5~ Something I Love

Day 5 ~ Something I Love

I love so much, it was hard to pick 1 thing.  I chose my moring coffee w/ my husband.  I love my morning coffee with him.  Most days we sit outside on the lania for a bit before going in to watch some news then take the girl (80 lb Black Lab) for a walk.  Sitting outside having my mornig coffee watching the birds fly to the pond for the day and the birds singing is one of my favorite things.  It is a great way to start the day, it is one of the most relaxing times of the day before crazyness begins of "life"

March Photo Challenge Day 3 Black & White

 Day 3 Black and White (even though it is day 5)

These 2 birds were in my back yard this morning. I tried to get a good picture of the 2 together but you could not really see the birds, they were to far away. So I was gonna just use one bird, the white with black but then decided to use both. In contrast to each other one is black with a little white and the other is white with a little black.

Personally I love Black and White photos.  The effect on them is extremely dramatic, I think. 

 

March Photo Challenge

I did not create this list.   I found it on Facebook from The Maternal Lens.  A friend had shared it w/ me.  So I am up for the Challenge.  I will use the photo from last weeks tree for today and go after day 1-3.  Below is The Maternal Lens's comments on FB~

MARCH PHOTO A DAY CHALLENGE!! directions:: each day there is a different challenge word or words to photograph. you can interpret these words however you wish!! it's however you want to see it. you can take these photos with your cameras, your phone, your ipad, your kid's camera....it doesn't matter!! you can post them to your facebook page, your blog, instagram or just keep them to yourself. the ...point is to just have FUN!!! if you do post them to instagram with your iphone or ipad, be sure to tag them #tmlphotoaday, that way others can go look and see your photos! if you miss a day, it's okay!! try and get it the next day. no pressure. all fun!! i hope you will join us and play along!!! if you are planning on playing we would love for you to 'share' this photo and invite your friends to join it too!

Braving the Storm

Don't let fear stop you from living, or the next thing you know, life will have passed you by and you will have lost your chance.

Before I moved to Florida I was petrified of Thunder and Lightning.  I honestly don't think I would have moved to Florida if I had known that it is the Lightning Capital of the world.  It took a lot years for me to get over this fear.  I had no choice, if I was gonna live in here then I would have to get over it.  There is no other way around it, especially come summer time.

We finally got some rain yesterday.  I sat outside on the lanai with my afternoon coffee enjoying the sound and smell of the rain.  There was some lightning that was pretty cool for this time of year.  I sat there thinking of the time not so long ago that I would NEVER have sat outside, willingly, watching the storm.   When I was afraid of the thunder and lightning I missed the beauty in lightning.  It is really an amazing thing when you can overcome your fears.

The picture above was not taken yesterday, it was taken before a hurricane about 5 years ago when I was still a little bit afraid of the storms.  But the beauty in seeing the flag whipping with the stormy cloud background was worth getting over my fear for the moment for the sake of a couple pictures.

Pretty in Pink

I really do love the color pink!!!

I was talking my walk and saw this tree.  I have seen this tree for many days now, but it was forcasted to rain & it was pretty windy so I HAD to go back and get my camera.  Afraid that if I didn't, the rain would wash away all the petals and I would not be able to enjoy the pretty site.   This picture (to me)does not do it justice.  The color on the tree and ground was just~Pretty in Pink.  If you can notice in the picture further down the street are more Pink Trees. 



Spiritual Energy

While taking my morning walk with my black lab Bella this morning I was graced by the presence of a Bald Eagle.  I have never seen one in nature before.  I was mesmerized!!!  I went back home for my camera and rode my bike back hoping he was there.  He was but flew away to the tree (above) so I got to see him in flight as well.

I animal totem'd the bald eagle and this is what he means:
Freedom~Rise above~Strength~Illumination~Courage
The eagle teaches us:
~the ability to see the highest truth or highest viewpoint
~a connection from earth to sky symbolising balance
~Spiritual Energy
~that we have the ability to reach great heights when we find the courage to do so
~that freedom is our birth right

I LOVE it all!! It is everything I am working so hard at~ Courage, Freedom, Strength and Spiritual Energy

Goals for 2012

This photo was shot Feb 2012.  An early morning sunrise. 

I have several goals for 2012 and beyond!! They are not the typical goals that I would normally have. 
1.  to have more Spiritual Faith
2.  to Read more
3.  to Meditate more
4.  to pick up my Camera more often than I have been.
5.  to Walk more and further
6.  to Eat Healther
7.  to learn more about Creating Websites
8.  to try a different form of Exercise~ maybe Zumba or Yoga ( I have done 2 classes and really liked it) maybe ride my bike again. 
9.  to Let Things Go that I have no control over

The Beatles are one one of my all time favorite bands.  I attached a link to a youtube video (not mine) of Here Comes The Sun.  One of my favorite songs, but then again I think they all are. 



http://youtu.be/U6tV11acSRk

The sun is always shining even when it is cloudy and rainy.  We just don't see it at that moment. 

Being Creative

This photo is actually 2 separate photos I took.  One is of the full moon and the other is of the dragonfly.  I erased the background of the dragonfly and meshed it with the photo of the full moon.  Then I turned the photo black and white and added a border~ of course Pink, my favorite color.  Dragonfly totem represents change.  That is one of the reasons I love dragonflies.  Life is an forever changing.
http://www.whats-your-sign.com/animal-symbolism-dragonfly.html