Santa, John

Here's why John gets lots of second glances in the mall around this time of year..

This Santa was in the Dallas farmer's market after the parade.

In Texas

I just know I've written a Blog entry since I left Florida. Darn! Don't know where it went.

Anyhow, we're with Karin and her family this week. Been to two parades and stayed downtown in the Indigo Hotel again. Farmer's market, too. All traditions fulfilled for Sheel's b-day. Everything went so smoothly, too - it's great that the kids are not only not extra work, but they are both actually very useful. The whole weekend gets easier every time. Of course, it has always been fun!

Pictures sometime this week, I promise.

Why I've not been blogging much

Sometimes I sit on the enclosed part of our lanai, where the breezes are delicious, while I'm writing.
It's a slow slog, but it's coming along!

Living Garden

This was so cool. There is a professional street performance troupe called Living Garden, and they were in Naples last weekend to advertise the grand opening of our newly renovated local botanical gardens.

There were two women, performing separately. They were on tall stilts, and they were holding what I call 'hand stilts' as well, so they had four balance points they could use at any one time. They were completely wrapped in ivy and grapes, and basically walked around, twining around various structures and striking ballet-type poses. Really, really amazing.

They mostly moved in slow motion, and it was hard to discern the shape of the person inside. They startled quite a few unwary shoppers when they went from stationary to moving!

The Dry Season

It's official. Florida has entered its "dry season".
Our hurricane season this year was eerily calm, but I'm not complaining.
We are still in a drought here, but it seems to be much better than the last few years. At least there is water is some of the roadside ditches.

Summer Storm

This is just a random shot. When we drive down to Florida in the summertime, this is the sort of skies we often see. Lashing rainstorms sweep across the highway in bands - sometimes drenching us and sometimes going off to one side or the other before we get to them. (John was driving while I was shooting).

And, oh yes, the orange construction cone beside the road is also a very common sight along I-75.

I'm still here!

I'm still in Florida, working on The Book. One would think that writing on a computer should be very neat and tidy ... but actually my accoutrements have now expanded all the way through the living room and even onto the dining room table. It's amazing.

(Photo by John, when he was down here with me.) Now he's home in the cold rain and I'm still here in the hot, hot sunshine.

Happy Birthday to Me!

It was the perfect evening. The food was scrumptious, the scenery gorgeous, the company charming!

My key lime pie dessert was garnished with a candle by our well-trained and very good waitress.

The next morning I awoke to a dozen red roses...life is good.