Even a stormy sunset....

....is beautiful when viewed from the causeway at Howard Park beach.

Sunset on a stormy evening at Howard Park, Tarpon Springs, FL

We've had some unusual weather this winter -- wetter than usual, foggier than usual, and stormy on occasion.

But it's all good.

So beautiful.

166 Down -- 84 to Go!

This is among my favorites of the gift bags I have decorated for the GFWC Woman's Club of Tarpon Springs Charity Fashion Show on March 23 at Safety Harbor Resort and Spa on Tampa Bay.  The card inside is a gorgeous parrot and the bookmark sports another tropical cocktail and hibiscus blooms.

I heard earlier this week that we are almost sold out!

This continues to be such a fun project, but we will be glad to have our house back in order.  Thank goodness Beau is such a good pup and never gets into anything because it would have been too much temptation for the average pet.

Our sweet little boy has lain contentedly on his bed and watched me cut and paste to my heart's content.

Along the Blue Ridge Parkway

I took this picture along the Blue Ridge Parkway a few years ago and just ran across it this morning as I was looking for something else.  If you have never driven the Blue Ridge, take the time to do the whole thing.  We did the Skyline Drive first and then continued on down through North Carolina stopping at lots of different places along the Parkway.  

There are so many overlooks with such gorgeous views....

It's obvious why they are called the "Blue" Ridge.  If these pictures don't convince you to give it a go, nothing will.  It's time for us to make that trip again.

Especially when the Mountain Laurel starts to bloom again.  They are just spectacular.  Spring is just around the corner.  Hang in there!

Food for Thought

I received the following in an email that was sent with the subject, "Best Email Yet."  After reading it, I couldn't get it out of my mind.  I'm not one that could be called "liberal."  Progressive? Yes, probably.  One can be conservative and progressive at the same time.  

I do support our teachers.  I know there are some poor teachers.  There always have been.  I remember the teachers I had back in the 50's and 60's who taught by reading to us from a book.  The ones who should have retired years before.  The ones who bored me to a comatose state.  The ones in whose classes I spent a lot of time drawing -- and it wasn't my art class. 

But I remember most the ones who inspired me.  A math teacher in Pittsburgh.  A Latin teacher, creative writing teacher and a World Lit teacher in Richmond.  Despite having some poor teachers, I got an excellent education.   
Because I wanted to learn and I had parents who had high expectations of me.

Today, I believe we are expecting entirely too much of our teachers. We are expecting them to do far more than teach but want to rate them on "teaching" results.  I've barely touched on this subject, but keep my thoughts in mind as you read the following:

"After being interviewed by the school administration, the prospective teacher said:

'Let me see if I've got this right.

'You want me to go into that room with all those kids, correct their disruptive behavior, observe them for signs of abuse, monitor their dress habits, censor their T-shirt messages, and instill in them a love for learning.

'You want me to check their backpacks for weapons, wage war on drugs and sexually transmitted diseases, and raise their sense of self esteem and personal pride.

'You want me to teach them patriotism and good citizenship, sportsmanship and fair play, and how to register to vote, balance a checkbook, and apply for a job.

'You want me to check their heads for lice, recognize signs of antisocial behavior, and make sure that they all pass the final exams.

'You also want me to provide them with an equal education regardless of their handicaps, and communicate regularly with their parents in English, Spanish or any other language, by letter, telephone, newsletter, and report card.

'You want me to do all this with a piece of chalk, a blackboard, a bulletin board, a few books, a big smile, and a starting salary that qualifies me for food stamps.


'You want me to do all this, and then you tell me......

I CAN'T PRAY?"

Saturday Chuckle

It's One of those Mornings....

Lovely Craig Park

This was the site of the old library before the new one was built on East Lemon Street.  Our Heritage Museum is now in that lovely building and it is a very good use for it.  It is also the place where some cultural events and large meetings take place.  The Woman's Club holds the Membership Tea there in September and our Arts & Crafts Show in January.

At one time, this was the site of the city docks because it was close to the train station.

There are few things lovelier than this park.  I have posted in the past about the beautiful monument to those citizens who gave their lives in five wars.  It is a beautiful and fitting place for them to be remembered.

I turned in several different directions to take these shots.  Everywhere I looked, the view was magnificent.

As everyone knows, I just love this place.  Perfect winter weather....

February in Craig Park.

Out of Chaos

Out of chaos, occasionally we get something pretty nice.

Chaos: Three rooms are in chaos right now.  Hopefully by the end of the day, my dining room will be back to normal for a day or two:

Dining room table as of 2PM today

Staging:  Putting tissue paper, decorated bag, card and bookmark together...

Card, bookmark, gift bag and tissue

Please don't look at my spoon racks.  They are in dire need of polishing....and it ain't happening until after the charity fashion show.

And, "Voila!"

Ready to go into a transport box....

Done and ready to move back to the guest bedroom -- which of course, has no room for a guest at this point.

40 of the 100 bags already done...

We're right on target for this project.  The bag I just completed is number "100" of 250.  And we still have 6 weeks and 3 days before we have to transport them to the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa.  Plenty of time.  The cards are all done.  The bookmarks are 2/3 done.  Bags 40% there.

It hasn't been stressful YET.  Just lots of creative fun.

And Beau?

He is such a good boy.  He never gets into anything that doesn't belong to him.  He doesn't eat or chew on anything that isn't food or one of his own toys.  I could never do a project like this if he were not such a well behaved little pup. I took this picture earlier this week when he was waiting for his morning treat.  That intense look is saying, "Put that thing away and give me my treat."

Sweet Sounds to Wake Us Up

It's a little noisy around the homestead this morning.

No, it's not Beau.  He slept in this morning and has yet to spot a squirrel.

He has been more concerned with making sure we didn't forget his breakfast or his walk out front where he checks to see (smell) if the dreaded C-A-T-S of the neighborhood have poached on his property.  After he gets his nose out of the grass he lifts it to the air to determine if anything interesting is afoot.  He turns west toward the Gulf where I think the most interesting scents must float on the breeze, because he will hold his nose up in that direction far longer than any other.  It makes me wonder what he's thinking.

What he doesn't pay attention to is what woke us up in the first place.  The birds.  The sweet sound of osprey chicks.  Yesterday, we saw osprey chicks circling over our house just above the trees.  Their parents were also circling, but much higher in a wider circle, ensuring that their offspring stayed safe from predators.  While in flight the major predator of ospreys are owls and eagles.  In the nest,  raccoons and snakes prey on their eggs and babies.  Often called the "fish hawk" ospreys themselves are amazing predators of fish.  I love to watch the adult osprey fly over the area on his way back from the Gulf with a fish in his grasp.  We are in the direct path he takes to get to the nest.

Stock photo of of an Osprey with Spadefish in talons by J. Tobin

There are a lot of people fascinated by ospreys.  We have an osprey nest about 5 miles south of us in Dunedin on which a live cam is focused.  You can access the camera HERE.

That site allows you to watch for the birds' return to the nest, to snap pictures, and to display them.  There is all kinds of information about the osprey there and it is easy to lose a good part of your day spying on these marvelous birds.

As I have this morning.

Have a happy Super Bowl Sunday.  Go RAVENS -- of course, I'll root for the birds!

Our Dog

Our dog is half Lhasa Apso and half Shih Tzu.  This breed is known as a Shih Apso.  However, my husband calls it "Lhasa Shiht."  I guess because he is the one who walks our little monster and has to pick up behind him. ;-)

Our dog also does not know he is a dog.  He thinks he is a people.  Like us.  His favorite food is pizza.

Beau  - waiting for dinner

He loves people food.  He has reached the ripe old age of 11 now.  So eating people food hasn't killed him yet.  He's healthy, happy, and somewhat of a pain in the ass.  And the cutest little guy around.

Beau, 3 yrs old - when we adopted him - February 2005

It's been 8 years since we adopted him.

Beau, 11 years old -- December 2012

We think he's beautiful, funny, and a sweetheart. He makes us laugh all day long.

But he can still be a real pain in the ass.

Yep.  He's a people, like us. ;-)