Monday Macro -- Plumeria Blooms

Plumeria

We are experiencing a truly tropical summer this year.  The summer rains are back after several years of drier summers.  As a result, the plumeria trees have grown at least another foot.  The blooms are gorgeous and the leaves are a deep, shiny green.  So I chose one of my favorite macro photos of plumeria blooms for today's shot.  The plumeria is also known as the Hawaiian Lei Flower and the Frangipani.  The scent is simply wonderful.  Nothing like sitting on our lanai and smelling the plumeria scent carried on the evening Gulf breezes.

Heavenly. 

Have a great Monday!

A Little Bling

A 21st Birthday Girl deserves a little bling in her card.

Our granddaughter, Amanda, has spent the last week celebrating #21. Our son, Bill, surprised her with her first plane ride.  They flew over his house in New Kent yesterday where family and friends were assembled for the surprise party.

Amanda said she was "scared to death" but had a lot of fun.  It was definitely a birthday to remember. Grandpa and I had sent a pretty floral arrangement complete with balloon. And I had made her this card and bookmark to commemorate the occasion.

The sentiment expressed on the card?

"Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint on it you can." -- Danny Kaye

She probably doesn't even know who Danny Kaye was.  He died 5 years before she was even born.  I felt this was a fitting quote for a card created by this grandmother just for her.

Another reason a Danny Kaye quote is apropos? Danny Kay was an accomplished pilot, licensed to fly everything from a single engine Piper Aztec to multi-engine commercial jets.  A Vice-President  of Learjet, Danny owned and operated a Learjet 24.

Though coincidental, a quote from Danny Kaye seems to fit right into the scheme of things for Amanda's big surprise.

Happy #21 to our sweet, smart and beautiful granddaughter.

Beauty in Opposites

Mountain Laurel on the Blue Ridge Parkway

I took this picture on our last trip along the Blue Ridge Parkway.  I have always loved those mountains in the Springtime.  I'm not sure whether we were in Virginia or North Carolina at this point.  We ended up spending a couple of days in Asheville on that trip.  Dinner at the Biltmore Winery was delicious and when we left our hotel the next day, we drove non-stop back to Florida.

Palms and Dunes at Fred Howard Beach Park, Tarpon Springs, FL

We were both glad to see our beach that next morning.  The best thing about a trip is that we get to come home to Tarpon Springs.

Our country is a place of such diverse beauty.  I am deeply grateful to be an American.

Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.

Friday Potpourri

I could have titled this "Friday Odds and Ends," but I don't get to use the word "potpourri" very often.  Anyway, this blog entry is a compilation of yesterday's activities.

Yesterday morning, I checked on our pineapple twins.

The new plant is thriving and has gotten BIG.  The original pineapple top isn't doing much of anything.  This tropical weather we are having has got to be good for it, though, so I'm still hopeful that twin will make it.

After writing my blog entry yesterday, I was able to spend some time in my art nook.  The nook is actually a room with two full and two partial walls just off the entrance to the house.  It is jam packed with art supplies and I am constantly having to reorganize.  What I need to do is to go through with a ruthless eye to getting rid of stuff I haven't used....but it is kind of like my yarn stash.  I feel as though I will need something as soon as I discard it.  So I worked on that a little and then when it was neat enough (by my standards -- not my daughter's) I decided to play with my new Copic markers and some stamps and pretty paper.  I came up with this note card.  And bookmark.

I was interrupted twice in this process by my gardener who wanted me to come approve the places he had selected for finally planting my avocado trees.  I left one as is and made him pver the other about 10 feet from where it had it.  He is a retired AA Pipefitter.  He wants things "square."  I am not into "plumb and square" unless I am cutting cardstock.

Anyway, he got them into the ground and Beau and I went out to check on them.  This is the taller of the two at 40".  It sprouted to stems from one avocado pit and both trunks are growing strong so I have left it because I think it has the makings of a really pretty tree.

The other one only has one trunk and is 36" tall.  I love its shape, also.  Too bad I inadvertently top the top off in my picture.

Beau was inspecting them both and gave the 40" one his "seal of approval" by marking the spot.  I gave him his privacy..... ;-)

I decided it was hot and we needed to go in.  Beau was not ready and got stubborn about it.

He planted his little paws and refused to budge.

But then I said the magic words.

"Beau, are you ready for dinner?"

Time to head for the library.  Bookstore duty today.  See you tomorrow.  Maybe.

Walking at Howard Park Beach

I am a Night Owl.  I love the late evening hours.  Always have.

Therefore, I am not an early riser like so many friends.

But, to walk around the island at Howard Park Beach in July, I need to be out there no later than nine.

I do that occasionally.

I usually would rather be out there in the late afternoon when it is cloudy or after a storm.

But not when the storms are still around:

I posted a similar picture taken a few hundred feet east of this one on FaceBook last night.

I liked the reflections in this one, but loved the rain in the first shot.  Loved the clouds in both.

I have been blessed in so many ways.

I know it. And, I deeply appreciate all of it.

July 17th already?

July 17.  Half the summer just plain "gone"!  Poof!  Just like that!

I am retired.  I am on "summer vacation" from a lot of my activities.  I am not supposed to be too busy to do things like blogging or painting,reading, keeping house and planning meals.  But here I sit for the very first day this summer with time for my blog.  And, because I really don't have much to write about, I'm just fumbling around for a topic.

Everything I really could write about with passion this summer is controversial and this blog isn't about controversy.  Nor do I invite controversy.  This is supposed to be fun and somewhat relaxing.

Maybe I need a REAL vacation -- not a stay-cation.  A change of scenery. New experiences.

Or maybe I just need to take a walk.  With this guy.

Doesn't he look like he wants to go out?  That's his, "Can we go somewhere?" look.  Or maybe it's his, "If we can't go for a walk, can I have a piece of cheese?" look.

He's not allowed at Sunset Beach:

And the sidewalks and causeway are "egg frying" hot right now.  So we have to wait until the sun is down behind the trees so he won't burn his little feet up.  

Hubby just offered a solution.  Let's go get an early dinner at Cody's Roadhouse and then take a ride out to the beach afterwards.   This little guy can pout 'til we get back.

The sidewalks will be cooler and he can sniff every tree and blade of grass to his heart's content without our worrying about him and his little paws.

So, dinner out and a little walk at the beach afterwards.

Perfect!  We used to drive 14 hours to do that down here.  Now it's 3 minutes. ;-)

Monday Macro

Double Bloom Hibiscus