A Full-time Life

BUTTERFLY ESTATES

FOR RUBY TUESDAY

  

                                                        

There were shades of ruby all over when the Red Hat ladies from our RV resort visited Fort Myers Butterfly Estates. 

The guide reminded us that red is a favorite color of butterflies.  There  were lots of red plantings -- and so the red hat ladies seemed to fit right in.

This privately funded eco-educational facility houses only butterflies native to this area. 

All of the plants are local as well, so people can learn how to attract the butterflies to their own yards.

Some of the ladies thought the feathery looking flowers below would look well on their hats. 

 
 

 

 

 

THE GREAT-GRANDKIDS VISIT

FOR MELLOW YELLOW MONDAY AND THAT'S MY WORLD  

  These guys live in South Carolina. Last week they came to visit us -- Great- Grandpa and Great- Grandma --  in Fort Myers Florida. 

 We went to the Imaginarium. 

  

Lots of the toys and games were just like the ones they have at home -- but the GGs don't have very many toys in their house, so it was fun to play there! 

Oh yeah, they brought a couple of grownups with them.  They came along to to drive the car and push the kids on swings and stuff while Great-Grandma took pictures.       

 

Great-Grandpa took everybody for a boat ride to Franklin Locks Park.

Mom and Grandma (and the GGs, not pictured) showed the kids how we all wear our life jackets and our hats whenever we go out on the water. 

It was a lot of fun. I think Great-Grandma and Great- Grandpa had the most fun of all.   But today we are taking a long nap!

 

 

 

    

FINE CUISINE?

 A bit of a Flashback to share on SIGNS SIGNS hosted by Lesley

on    

We didn't try this restaurant!  I'm not sure I want to find out what flea market cuisine is -- even if it IS the finest!

Flea Markets are really popular with RVers no matter where we go.  And with lots and lots of  other people as well.  They aren't our favorite shopping experience, because we already have enough things we need to get rid of!    I don't like "stuff" stores (souvenir shops) much any more either.   For the same reason.   But we're in the minority. 

THE BOAT IS HOME

SHARED WITH THE BLOGGING COMMUNITIES AT THAT'S MY WORLD

AND WATERY WEDNESDAY

 

It takes a while each year to get a boat fit for the water after a summer in storage.  It was finally ready last week.  The picture above is our friend Don driving the boat down our canal after he helped Bill launch it from the boat ramp at the end of the canal. 

Here's Bill tying it up at our dock after that very short trip.  A couple of days later we took it out for the first time this year when we went to Fort Myers Beach with several other boats from Upriver Boating Club.    

Below is a view from the restaurant where we had lunch. (You can see those colorful trailer houses in the distance.) 

       Going to lunch by boat -- and eating with friends -- turns Wednesday lunch into a special event! 

THERE'S JUST SOMETHING ABOUT A RED COTTAGE!

THIS POST IS LINKED TO one of Mary the Teach's wonderful memes:  RUBY TUESDAY,   Brighten up your week -- go to her blog and click on the links.

We don't need another house -- not at all.  But if we  did, a charming little cottage with red trim would be very tempting.  There's just something so welcoming about red. 

 
 

 The house above is from Coburg Oregon, a tiny little town near where we used to live in Oregon. 

(And not too far from the Lake where we stay when we go back to visit.) 

It's full of antique stores and pretty little houses.  We love this one because the owners have taken such pains to make the trim and the chairs match the geraniums (or maybe it was the other way around!). 

This picture and the one below are from Martha's Vineyard.  They are part of the intriguing Camp Meeting Association homes. 

(Notice how these red chairs are almost the same as the ones in Oregon.)  There were so many pretty gingerbread cottages in this neighborhood.  The red ones were my favorites.



















 

 

 

FLORIDA ICONS

THIS POST IS LINKED AT WEEKEND REFLECTIONS and MELLOW YELLOW MONDAY.

 

 

We went to lunch at Fort Myers Beach the other day and I snapped these iconic Florida trailer houses as we walked into the restaurant.   After we ate, one of our friends pointed out that the gift shop there had paintings of this exact scene for sale.  I was happy I'd snapped my own.

THE END OF ANOTHER DAY

THIS POST IS LINKED TO SKYWATCH FRIDAY.   There's a beautiful video over there this week -- as well as links to skies from everywhere.

 
 
This is a more typical sunset here at Upriver RV Park.  Not as spectacular as the one I posted last week, but soft and beautiful in its own way.

READING FOR FUN AND CHALLENGE

For Margot's Foodie Reading Throwdown.  (My total to date = 2 books)

E-Book Reading Challenge  = 5 books, completed.

  "Garlic and Sapphires" is my third Ruth Reichl memoir.  I read the Kindle edition and was a little disappointed because I don't think Mr Kindle did a real good job of copying this book.  Quite a few words were divided in the wrong places.  (Obviously, I really don't have any idea how the whole process of transferring printed-on-paper words to this format works -- and this is the first one I've read where I noticed any problems.) 

There are also recipes included in this book and I hadn't yet learned how to bookmark (that's my fault), so now I will need to use the search function to find the one or two that I actually think I might make someday.  (Had I been reading the paperback or hardcover version, I'd just have gone right to the copier and printed the recipe.)

In this book, Ruth, her husband and small son move across the country to New York City, where she's taken the dream job reviewing restaurants for the NY Times.  (You don't have to read her first two books to see the arc of how she "earned" that job, but you'll enjoy this one more if you do.) 

It's fun reading about the food -- and (most of the time) envying her for being able to enjoy the three or four meals she and her companions "needed" to eat at each restaurant to write her review.  All on the NY Times expense account, of course.  She includes some of her reviews as they were printed in the paper, along with her experiences arriving at what she finally wrote. I enjoyed her descriptions of the good and bad parts of the restaurants she reviewed.

And it was fun to read about her family life in a New York City apartment and her work life at the Times (surprisingly to me, much of it was similar to offices everywhere.)

 But the subtitle of this book is "The Secret Life of a Critic in Disguise" and that's the part I enjoyed most. The restaurant world in New York apparently is way more like a small town than I would have thought; to get an unbiased review, she really couldn't go to a restaurant where she'd be recognized as herself.

So she went in wigs and different outfits and made up a personna for each different disguise.  She talks about how her appearance changed her very personality (if only temporarily) and how she liked and disliked parts of her "selves."  Being somebody else for a short while actually changed the way she thought and acted when she was living her real life.

And of course, depending on how she was disguised, her appearance changed the kind of service she received at the restaurants.  And sometimes even the food.  If she went as herself and was recognized, she got better service and more attention from the kitchen.  Some restaurants had her picture posted so that the host could alert the staff.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys memoirs, even if you don't consider yourself a foodie! 

  

 

 

 

 

THE MAGIC OF WATER

 
 
 This post is linked to WATERY WEDNESDAY, hosted by 2-Sweet --  and SIGNS SIGNS by Lesley.

Pictures from Six-Mile Cypress Slough, Ft Myers. 

SANDHILL CRANES

THIS POST IS LINKED TO THE BLOGGING COMMUNITIES AT RUBY TUESDAY (because of the cranes' red cap) and WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY.

 

The sandhill crane is one of our favorite birds and we've taken pictures of them in several different locations over the years.  We saw the pair on the left when we were out driving around our Florida backroads recently.  It's not a good picture (not even the best I've ever taken of them) but their parade with the cows does show how tall these birds are. 

(Most of our pictures show one or two of them standing alone out in a field and it's really hard to get an idea of their size.  These are big birds!) 

They're fun to watch on the ground and just beautiful in flight.  

 

  
The last two pictures were taken at Bosque Del Apache bird refuge in New Mexico.  The top photo is in our file labeled "where the heck were we when we took this?" 

 

ORANGE COUNTRY

LINKED TO MELLOW YELLOW MONDAY (Orange is a sort of yellow, don't you think?)

 

It's orange-growing season around here.  Most Florida oranges are grown for juice, although it is possible to get some good eating ones.  The groves are fun to see as you drive out in the country.

Trucks of oranges going from farm to juice plants are common sights along our roads. 

 (The truck is a Google Image.  We took the other orange pictures while  on a Sunday drive out into the surrounding countryside.)

RED SKY AT NIGHT

This post is linked to SKYWATCH FRIDAY.

This was our sky a week ago on Thursday evening.  If "Red sky at night, Sailor's delight" is a true saying, sailors in our area must have been ecstatic the next day. 

 
Taken from our front yard (street side). 

 

 

TREASURE HUNT

 

My library card is a treasure-hunting license.  I always start at the new acquisition shelves to see what interesting finds I can score.  

 Sometimes I get really lucky and find a new book that I've just read a good review of, like this one.  Usually, these books are on hold by people who really know how to use the library system.  But sometimes one escapes and is just sitting there on the shelf waiting to be picked up. 

 "I Remember Nothing" is a quick, fun read. Nora Ephron's short essays are like talking to a friend or neighbor (or reading a favorite blog) -- if your friend or blogging buddy just happens to be an academy award nominated film writer and director of (just for a few examples) "When Harry Met Sally",  "Silkwood", and "Julie and Julia."  This collection of stories and her last one "I Feel Bad About My Neck" make you realize how much women (of a "certain age" anyway) have in common --  no matter how different our lives.    And Nora Ephron makes you laugh about it all.    

  Sometimes I find a new book by a favorite author.  

I love Alexander McCall Smith's "Ladies Detective Agency" series.  (Is there anyone in the world who doesn't?)  And I enjoy his books centered on Isabel Dalhousie too, although not quite as much.  Another series he writes, the 44 Scotland Street series, I have found utterly incomprehensible.   

So I wondered about "Corduroy Mansions" (the Library is a great way to sample books you're not sure of).   I liked this book right away and, even before I finished it, guessed it would be the first of a new series.  A peek at Amazon confirmed it -- the second book will come out next month.  

"Corduroy Mansions" is the name of the London condo building where most of the characters live.  And there are a bucket-load of characters.  But they're easy to keep track of -- I got to know them in the same way I get to know my real-life neighbors.  You might not remember everybody's name right away but you begin to know them gradually, know when they go to work or take a walk, and who they hang out with and pretty soon you know how they are connected to each other.   At the end of the book, I wanted to know more about most of the people who seemed like neighbors while I was reading it.  So of course there must be a follow-up book.  

It is amazing that this prolific author can keep all these balls in the air.  Several series already and now this one, with its many recurring characters.  I wonder what it would be like to know someone with all these people bounding around in his head?

 

What I'm reading now 

 

WOOD STORK

THIS POST IS LINKED TO WORLD BIRD WEDNESDAY and WATERY WEDNESDAY.   Go click on the links!!!

These are two of the birds we spotted on the Darling Refuge Wildlife Drive Sunday. 

Wood Stork:  A separate family from any of our other birds, he is definitely not the benign-looking baby bringer of myth.  (This one would give babies terrible nightmares I fear!)

 .    

Great Egret:  Looks as if he's admiring his reflection, but really waiting for lunch to appear.

 

We saw a ton of other birds on the Kayak Trail, but my pictures didn't turn out well.  It was hard to concentrate on kayaking, keeping the camera dry and not going aground -- the water was very shallow.  We'll try again another time.

SHOWING OFF FOR COMPANY

THIS POST IS LINKED TO THAT'S MY WORLD.   Go click on the links to visit the world of other participants  -- or to join the fun.

Our son and daughter-in-law from Colorado popped in for a visit last weekend.  We packed a lot into a short time, showing off our area for company. 

We visited Manatee Park, across the river from where we live in North Ft. Myers:

 

The picture on the bottom right is from a different manatee sighting -- it's very hard to get a picture of their faces, and so, since I didn't get a better one this time, I used this old one.  (Nothing like stealing pictures from yourself!)    Here is a link to the post where I used that picture before -- it tells a little more about these fascinating creatures.

***

    We toured the grounds at the Edison and Ford Estates in downtown Ft. Myers:

 

***

We watched birds at the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel Island -- from Wildlife Drive and while kayaking on Commodore Creek Trail:

  

All this doesn't even count the good conversations and meals shared, we had a great visit.  But Bill and I are glad we didn't have to go to work Monday morning like the kids did (especially after they had to fly back to snowy Denver)! 

 

NEW BEDFORD REFLECTIONS

This post is shared at WEEKEND REFLECTIONS which is kindly hosted by James of Newtown PA.  It's also a roadtrip Friday Flashback.  Reflections in the windows of two historical buildings in New Bedford Massachusetts remind us of a beautiful September day spent exploring this lovely old town.

A wealthy New Bedford woman donated this inherited house in order to establish The Mariners' Home. It was opened in May 1851 "to render aid to the spiritual and moral needs of seamen and their families" and it has been continually used more or less for that purpose.   Over the years, rooms and meals have been provided to thousands of seafarers.

 Here is another look at Seamen's Bethel, also in New Bedford.   This is the Chapel memorialized by Hermann Melville in "Moby Dick."  

 After visiting New Bedford, I decided to read the book and it was one of the first things I downloaded onto the Kindle (free!). 

It's a major undertaking, even when tackled little bits at a time (and without having to lug a huge book around).  Several people have suggested Cliff Notes! 

One of the Visitor Center volunteers remembered meeting Gregory Peck when the 1956 movie based on the novel was partially filmed there.  Watching it would be easier yet! 

 

 

THE SENTINEL

FOR SKYWATCH FRIDAY -- click on the links.  Admire -- or join in!

 

Somebody has to be on lookout duty!

 

 

 
 

READING CHALLENGES 2011

 Click here to see what's on my current reading list.

Because I enjoyed "Support Your Local LIbrary" so much last year, I am joining two additional book challenges in 2011. 

Margot, of Joyfully Retired is hosting the Foodies Reading Throwdown.  I love to eat food, read about food, and, on most days, even cook food!  So I'm joining her challenge at the "Bon Vivant" level.  I think I can read at least 5 books about food (this includes cookbooks, memoirs, non-fiction, anything food-related).   

Right now, I'm reading "Garlic and Sapphires", the third of Ruth Reichl's series of memoirs.  You don't have to be a foodie to enjoy Ruth's books, especially if you enjoy reading about lives that are different from your own, related with a touch humor.

But start with "Tender at the Bone", her first one. It's about Ruth's unique childhood growing up as part of a restaurant family in New York City.   It seemed to me that her early life almost predestined her for a future as a top-rated restaurant reviewer and critic.  "Garlic..." begins when she gets the plum job of restaurant critic at the New York Times. 

I've enjoyed following her interesting life and reading about her love of good food (whether at New York's fine restaurants or her own cooking). This one even has recipes.

 

I'm reading this book on my Kindle and so it will also work for the E-Book Reading challenge -- the third one I'm joining.  This one is sponsored by The Lady-Bug Reads.   Because it was fun keeping track of my books on the Library Challenge last year, I am excited for this nudge to keep track of my Kindle reading.  I think it will be easy to meet a goal of 25 E-books.

For me (and I think for most readers who join them), these challenges are  not at all about out-reading the other participants, but more about learning to write about books and, for me at least, helping me to remember what I've read. 

Thank you to the Hosts of all three reading challenges.  I look forward to checking out their links to see what other participants are reading.  And, although this isn't primarily a book blog, I do want to share a few of my own favorite reads this year. 

  

JANUARY AFTERNOON ON THE CALOOSAHATCHIE

For WATERY WEDNESDAY.  We are glad to be back on "our" water -- the Upriver RV resort canal -- off the Caloosahatchie River.  These shots are from various points around the canal taken on an afternoon walk.  The yellow and blue chairs are ours -- no boat at the dock yet.  It is undergoing its annual cleaning and servicing!  No problem -- we love our watery spot, even when viewed from dry land.    

 

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE

For RUBY TUESDAY  --  Post Cards from the RoadTrip that we forgot to send you.  

 From Martha's Vineyard (Gay Head and Chappaquidick):

 

From St Augustine and Booth Bay Harbor:

From Ocrakoke Island (Outer Banks), Cape Hatteras, and BoothBay Harbor: 

  

INCLEMENT WEATHER (FLORIDA-STYLE)

 SHARED ON MELLOW YELLOW MONDAY, a meme for anyone who loves that bright and cheerful color.  And for THAT'S MY WORLD -- go visit the links -- or join in.

This sign was posted near the parking area at Lakes Park when we went for a walk there a week ago today. 

The 279-acre county park has miles of well-maintained walking trails around freshwater quarry lakes.  There are playgrounds and concessions for families; fishing; wildlife; and birds.  It's very accessible to the public, being within a few miles of downtown Fort Myers.

I'm not sure what the temperature was, but the wind was blowing hard.  Florida just caught the tail end of the terrible snow storm "up North."  It wasn't great walking weather, but....

...here's what inclement weather looked like in these parts:

 

This pelican and little blue heron were hanging out in spite of the wind chill:

 

So the park wasn't really closed due to inclement weather.  The sign was on a water playground. 

If open, Florida kids probably would have come down with pneumonia!  Temperatures last week were getting down to near freezing in the early mornings.

 But this week we have our Florida weather back!  Sunshine and temperatures in the 70s.  Warm wishes for the New Year.