>>>>

Thursday, January 26, 2012

A Florida Kind of Day!

I wasn’t able to even able to CHECK for comments to yesterday’s post until I was back to my digs after last night’s lecture and trunk show! What a full day!

It was really interesting to read the comments, and to hear people’s thoughts. I do think it is all about BALANCE, as is everything else in our lives. And --- I was so encouraged to hear that kids ARE still playing and imagining in many ways ---we can’t turn our backs on technology, but we can’t abuse it either. Again, balance!

Also – I think I don’t SEE it as much because my kids ARE grown – and all the commercials on TV are of course trying to promote something, to sell something, commercialism wise --- and we know that imagination doesn’t require all that stuff…….so it isn’t something that is seen as still alive and well unless you work with children every day.

Never fear, imagination IS still alive and well in many children’s lives and I am SO grateful!

I’m also grateful for the kind of day where I could have just a BIT of time in between a My Blue Heaven workshop --- and my lecture --- to experience a bit of the best that Florida has to offer! And it doesn’t require a pass to a “Magic Kingdom” for me to entertain myself either!

venicefl2012 092

Say hello to the Gulf of Mexico on the west coast of Florida! It was a beautiful day --- and I was thinking about how different this ocean looks than the one on the OTHER coast. Was it really just a week ago that I left California? Holy Moly!

After our workshop, four of us wandered down to the beach, because I whined loud enough to make them understand that I can NOT leave Florida without at least spending a bit of time de-stressing by the water’s edge.

venicefl2012 096

Beautiful sandy shores, and a few walkers out enjoying the last of the late afternoon sun. It’s about 5pm in this picture, shadows are long! But unfortunately we couldn’t stay and wait for the beautiful sunset that was soon to occur --- we had to get ourselves over to a guild meeting and get set up!

venicefl2012 095

We grabbed a table at Sharkeys, a trendy little tourist spot, and delighted in the afternoon sun, tucked under the shade of our own awning. Don’t you love the bright colors of beach umbrellas? We ordered off the appetizer menu because no one wanted a big meal at just past 4pm --- but it would be too late to eat if we waited til after the meeting was packed up to eat something ---It was great chatting to each of the ladies and finding out what brought them to Florida, and what they “used” to do before they retired and threw themselves into a frenzy of quilt guild activity.

Sharkey’s sits at the end of the pier…and we had enough time after to go for a little bit of a walk down the pier --- watch the fisherman trying to get their bait out of the cooler to bait their hooks, all the while trying to keep it from the beaks of nosey birds who were sure the bait treats were just for THEM!

venicefl2012 107

We watched this little fella for a long long time. If any other birds got near his territory, he’d puff up his tail and shoot those head feathers straight up, Mohawk style and raise quite a ruckus! He was such a character!

venicefl2012 110

Here they’ve both got bait in their beaks…it should keep them busy for a while, but they just open up their beaks and swallow it down whole and expect more! I could watch the birds for hours…

venicefl2012 104

I just love the shape of their necks! Wish I had been able to get a picture with his plumage all in a fuss!

venicefl2012 097

I you have a chance to stop at Sharky’s --- it’s VERY nice, right on the beach and the pier, the food is great ---well worth a stop!

And while you are planning your trip to Sharkey's -- arrange it to coincide with a Venice Area Quilters Guild meeting --- you will be welcomed with open arms, and be treated to a wonderful time with some really great ladies and gentlemen!

I’ve got more pictures from the My Blue Heaven workshop to edit down, write the post and send it live to you as soon as I can. Too may photos to edit down before heading out this morning to catch my flight. So look for that maybe tomorrow ----I've got more to share!

I’m headed back to North Carolina!

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

If you were on the Gulf side you were not at the ocean... you were at the Gulf... big correction I got 40 years ago when I moved to the Gulf and not the ocean by one of the BOI's.

Great the way you get yourself out there and see other parts of life besides sewing machines in all 50 states.

Mary said...

The Water looks so nice and a sandy beach to stroll sounds like a perfect afternoon! The Pacific ocean is a totally different color, isn't it? I'm sure you'll be glad to get HOME to NC.

Sarah Martin said...

Isn't it amazing! What struck me most about the Carribean was the color of the water, those wonderful ranges of turquoise...I realized why they paint the insides of swimming pools that color! It actually does occur in nature! Big surprise for this California girl! The Pacific, in all her grandeur, has many colors, but never just like that. Thanks for the photos of wacky Mr. Egret too! : )

Anonymous said...

OH BOY - now you have gone and done it lolol - as a south Fl native, I do miss exactly what I am seeing in your wonderful photos. Esp. during a cold - no snow - winter, the itch to be down home comes over me.

LOLOL - Then I remember! super hot super humid non-winter days, hurricanes and worst of all...yup MILLIONS OF BUGS THAT WANT TO LIVE IN YOUR HOUSE WITH YOU! lolol --- OK, loving TN even more. But mucho thanks for wonderful Florida memories.
Smiles,
JulieInTN

Tena D. said...

Bonnie, I enjoyed your My Blue Heaven class very much. Your lecture was really great, so funny! And oh, my! The quilts you showed were so beautiful. What a delightful day! Thanks so much! I'm lovin' scrappy more than ever.

Tena D,
Sarasota,FL

Randy D. said...

oooh the ocean looks so inviting! Did you atleast put your feet in the water?? Great pictures!!!

Ginny said...

I have eaten at Sharkeys many times while visiting my parents in Sarasotta. It's always fun! And sometimes you can see dolphins in the water. Always a thrill.

Post a Comment

If you are commenting as "anonymous" please leave your name at the end of your comment.

Did you know that ad space on this blog provides for all of the free patterns and free mysteries and challenges at no cost to you? Without ads, this blog would not be possible.

Thank you for understanding the many hours that go into this blog 6 days a week, 52 weeks a year. :)