It’s been so chilly down here that even the Gulf needs a warm, fluffy blanket! 🥶 (And yes, I’m well aware that I’m a wimp!)

The sunset last night inspired some camera play. The shot above was taken with the Live setting which I changed to Long Exposure for that airbrushed look.

The shot below was also taken Live but I opted to Loop it for a very relaxing, serene show. I hope you enjoy them!

My friend Katie and I took advantage of the sunny, mild weather this afternoon and paddled out to Shell Key. I haven’t been out on the water since hurricane season, when the Gulf of Mexico decided to enter so many of the homes around here (including mine).

It seems the Gulf and I need to work on our relationship, and today was a good start. While floating on the calm, clear water I admired the view and asked it to kindly refrain from entering my home again in the future. Here’s hoping that works!

There weren’t very many other folks out today. We only had to share the island with the snowbirds: dunlins, gulls, pipers, plovers, sanderlings, and turnstones along with a squadron of White Pelicans.

What a lovely way to start the year!

In 2025, may our days be bright, our dreams take flight, and our hearts be light…💖

As for resolutions, I’m with Calvin. 😉

However you celebrate, I hope your holidays are full of warmth and cheer! 🎄

Cats are well-known for creating toys out of the most ordinary objects and Westley is no exception. This evening my mischievous boy stole a cotton ball from me and proceeded to have a very energetic solo snowball fight.

Thankfully, that’s the only kind of snow we’ll have to deal around here. ☃️

When leaving work this afternoon I noticed something peculiar in the parking garage. Not sure why someone left a parliament of owls on the alarm box but I was amused by the quirky display. It was a charming bright spot during my otherwise hectic day.

While our outing did not go as planned today, my friend Amber and I made the most of the lovely weather. Since the hurricanes blew through a couple months ago we’ve both been busy working and restoring our lives. There hasn’t been a lot of time for fun, so wandering around downtown St Pete this afternoon was a pleasant reprieve.

Our walk was really quite beneficial – not only was the fresh air and exercise good for us but Amber purchased a gift at the Pier market, I found a drill bit, and we stumbled across a fun little oddity.

In the grass along the waterfront, across from Al Lang Stadium, a small, unassuming slab of granite caught my eye. Of course, I had to veer off the sidewalk to check it out. It sported a bronze plaque touting the launch of the Titanic on October 29, 1976.

Amber and I were intrigued. We knew that it couldn’t actually be related to the infamous ship so a quick Google search ensued. Thanks to the Tampa Bay Times for providing some background:

“The men named on the plaque resurrected an old wooden Chris Craft and, taking into consideration its potential, named it the Titanic. On launch day the crew – complete with captain’s hats and deck chairs – hired an orchestra to play Nearer My God To Thee at the moment of launching. Then they joined their guests for a champagne luncheon.”

Little is known about the fate of this second Titanic, nor does anyone seem to know who placed this monument to absurdity. As for me, I’m glad this bit of whimsy exists in St. Pete, it’s a good reminder to not take life so seriously.

“A grateful St. Petersburg commemorates the site of the launching of the Titanic Oct. 29, 1976, and salutes these gallant, farsighted, unselfish citizens: Capt. Gary Froid, Capt. Joseph Lettellier, Capt. Raleigh Greene, Capt. William Mills, Capt. David Knowlton, Capt. William Mills Jr. and Capt. John B. Lake.”

Today was only my third visit to the beach since Hurricane Helene swept through on 09/26. She brought a major coastal surge that flooded thousands of homes (including mine). While a scant two weeks later Hurricane Milton blew through with winds over 100mph and dumped 18″ of rain, damaging and flooding previously unscathed, inland homes. It has definitely been an interesting couple months!

Today, the sun wasn’t shining, the sky was overcast, and the Gulf of Mexico wasn’t at its most beautiful, even so it was still quite striking.

*Not pictured are the huge piles of household debris I drove by (including my own) and the thousands of mullet carcasses that I walked past in order to get down to the waterline.