Linear view vs. Masonry View

Archive for ‘Observations’

Rainy Afternoon Fun

When inclement weather interrupted our outdoor plans, these two intrepid explorers hopped in the car and headed north to the adorable town of Dunedin.

Our first stop was the Dunedin Fresh Market’s grand opening so we could listen to talented native, Aubrey Wollett. Afterwards, we wandered over to the town’s namesake brewery for a frothy beverage. Feeling peckish, we dodged sprinkles as we crossed the street to the Hog Island Fish Camp where we shared some mouthwatering seafood.

By the time we finished, the storm had blown out to sea, so we headed to the beach to watch the sun slip away. Our toes in the sand, what a perfect way to end a great day!
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Friday Night Lights

Power Ranger?

Alyssa, Katie, and I were in the mood to try something new so we checked out the Asian Night Market last evening. Thankfully, the threatening thunderstorm stayed north of us and didn’t ruin our fun!

There were so many enticing aromas wafting from the 50+ food trucks and tents, it was hard to decide what to try. Korean barbecue, Japanese sushi, Lao papaya salad, pad thai, Chinese stir fried squid, Vietnamese nuoc mis (sugar cane juice), Filipino Suman Malagkit  (sweetened rice in banana leaves), Taiwanese boba tea, and so much more!

Ultimately, we ordered different items and sampled each other’s selections, all of them were delicious. It was loud and crowded but a very festive event. I’m glad we went. I do love living here, there’s always something new to see and do!
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Storied Silver Springs

Like a Painting
Props from I Spy
Twin Oaks Mansion
Pink Sorrel (Oxalis sp.)
Common Gartersnake (Thamnophis sirtalis)
Zebra Longwing Butterfly (Heliconius charithonia)
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Silvery Reflection

Since 2013, Silver Springs State Park has encompassed both the Silver River and the 30 artesian vents that feed the waterway. The largest of them, Mammoth Spring, is a first magnitude spring, discharging an average of 100 cubic feet of water per second. Making it the second largest spring in Florida. 

The springs are clustered closely together. Given the small size, it is surprising that the area figured so prominently in the state’s history. Located near the center of the state, the riverway was one of the main transportation routes.

Noting that early travelers were entranced by the crystal clear water, enterprising settlers Hullam Jones and Phillip Morrell added glass to a rowboat. Thus, Florida’s first attraction opened in the late 1870s.

Over the ensuing decades zoological displays and demonstrations were added to the property. Starting in the 1930s, Silver Springs even attracted Hollywood directors who used the scenic area in tv shows, like Sea Hunt and I Spy. As well as 20 films, including Rebel Without a Cause, Creature from the Black Lagoon, and six Tarzan movies (the latter inspired Colonel Tooey, who operated the “Jungle Cruise” boat ride, to import some Rhesus macaques).

In 1971, Silver Springs was designated a National Natural Landmark, the same year that Disney World opened, which, ironically led the attraction’s demise. When the state acquired the property they removed the old cages and rundown buildings, returning much of the site to its natural state. Thankfully, they restored the glass bottom boats so you can still float over the springs as they burble up through the Ocala limestone. Small but still scenic!

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Monkeying Around

Grooming Session
Legs Up, Monkey Pose
Where’d Everybody Go?
In a Hurry
Got to Catch Up with the Troop
Snack Time

Friday I finally had a chance to head over to Silver Springs State Park. While the park’s namesake is stunning and has an interesting past, that story will have to wait, because the main reason I drove 100 miles inland was for some monkey business.

Lucky for me the weather was gray and moody, with rain threatening at any moment. Why was this a good thing? For a couple reasons, the cloudy skies kept the temperature down and scared the crowds of tourists away. Which the monkeys and I both took full advantage of.

While I only saw a dozen of them, there are over 400 Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta) freely roaming the banks of the Silver River. They are descendants of 12 monkeys that an enterprising tour boat operator purchased and released onto a small island in 1938. Colonel Tooey had hoped to capitalize on the public’s fascination with Tarzan. Unfortunately, he did not do his homework and the Rhesus Monkeys promptly swam away.

As you can tell, they didn’t go far. Over the ensuing years, free food enticed them to stick around and colonize the area. Though that practice ended in 1993, when the historic tourist attraction was purchased by Florida and became a state park, the monkeys have remained.

While the state considers this colony to be invasive and a threat to native species (and poses a slight human health risk as they can carry Herpes B) there are no current plans for eradication. Not only would it be expensive but the public outcry would be immense.

I enjoyed getting a peek into their lives, it was well worth the drive!
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Walk It Off

Since sleep proved elusive this morning a beach walk seemed a viable alternative. I’m so glad I ventured out there, the clouds and sea breeze kept the temperature mild while the view was just incredible. As if that wasn’t enough, the gulf offered up some lovely treasures for me to discover!

Shark Eye Moon Snail, Coral, Sand Dollar, Lightning Whelks, Fighting Conch, Paper Fig Shell (rare because it is so thin and fragile), Treasure Island, Florida

Such a stunning way to start the day. I love living here!
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Ready When Red

I’m so delighted with my little Strawberry Guava (Psidium cattleyanum aka Psidium littorale) trees! I certainly never expected to be enjoying their fruit so soon, I only planted them a year and a half ago.

Though small (ping-pong ball sized), the fruits are mild and juicy. They have a tropical flavor with overtones of strawberry and just a hint of lemon. The best part? They need no special preparation and can be eaten whole (minus a few tiny, hard seeds).

So far, these tasty treats remain undiscovered by my neighborhood avians. I certainly hope they remain that way, because I don’t want to share!

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It’s a Small World…

I went for a sunset beach walk with a couple of friends last night. Before hitting the sand, we made a quick pitstop at our favorite tiki bar for some refreshment.

While there, Alyssa asked a solo man if he’d mind sharing his table for a few minutes. During our introductions it turned out that Gary had moved down here from Michigan (as had both Alyssa and Katie). So that was interesting (graciously, they allowed this non-Michigander to continue hanging out with them).

As the conversation progressed Katie discovered that Gary was from the same little town that she grew up in. That was pretty wild to learn, so they both started rattling off names and locations to see what else they might have in common.

It turned out that Katie’s parents had purchased a store from Gary’s sister over 30 years ago…and now Katie, Gary, and his sister all live down here in St Pete. Talk about a small world! 🌎

And yes, you probably now have that Disney song stuck in your head. You’re welcome! 😂

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Ohio Visit

Near the end of May, I hopped on a plane to Ohio. The trip required some careful preparation on my part, since I was trading hot Summer days for cool Spring-like weather. I had to dig jeans, long-sleeve shirts, and tennies out from the back of my closet where they were relegated months ago.

It was a quick five day trip but I packed a lot in a short amount of time: watched Harper’s baseball game, prepped for Gracie’s graduation party, checked out Ronja’s newly purchased old house, chatted with family, explored a Civil War era historic site, met some local wildlife, found my wings downtown, and spent quality time with Shane and Angelika (my favorite cousins).

It was a such a wonderful visit!
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