After a few days of much-needed rain, the skies cleared to make for a beautiful opening weekend of this year’s Sanding Ovations sand sculpture competition. With sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-70s, who could ask for anything more?

The event’s theme was “It’s About Time” and it was fascinating to see all the different interpretations. One of the sculptures there was a young woman taking time to smell the roses, and a working sundial, while another was titled, “Clocktopus”.

The people’s choice award went to the Jimmy Buffett tribute, “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere”. Fittingly, Saturday ended with live music by the Landsharks Band (which was Jimmy Buffett’s opening act for many years).

The festival will continue next weekend, though the artwork could remain into the New Year (if the elements allow). Walking barefoot on the beach in mid-November, not a bad way to spend time!

I decided not to let the rain keep me inside yesterday afternoon. It was actually a pleasure to walk in the mizzle since we have been unseasonably dry down here. It reminded me of my days living on the Oregon Coast.

Thanks to that adventure, I still own lots of wet weather gear (rain pants, rain parka, and waterproof shoes) all of which came in handy. I didn’t encounter a single person on the trail at Walsingham Park but I did have the pleasure of meeting this Peninsula Cooter (Pseudemys peninsularis).

It looked to be enjoying the precipitation as much as I was!

While I’m admittedly not a morning person, I can see the appeal. This recent sunrise was just as colorful as a sunset!

…to be a spider! Winter visitors like this Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) are trickling back south. Despite their tropical name, these birds breed up in northern Canada.

Wisely, they choose to avoid the cold by flying to the southern US and the Caribbean. As some of our earliest migrants, they are usually harbingers of cooler weather (though this year summer seems determined to stick around).

This immature warbler must’ve worked up quite an appetite, I watched it gobble up six spiders in less than 10 minutes!

Spent part of a recent afternoon wandering around Sawgrass Lake Park. Though half of the park was closed for renovations, there was still plenty for me to see: tortoises, snakes, alligators, birds, and fish.

While strolling the boardwalk I noticed a juvenile alligator off to the side. The rule about baby gators is that momma is always nearby. I looked from side to side and all around before it finally occurred to me to look down.

Through the cracks between the planks I spied a large alligator. Taking advantage of my position I paced over the top of the big girl, she measured in at eleven feet. Thank goodness for the boardwalk!

Last week I took advantage of a day off to drive to Oscar Scherer State Park. The slightly cooler weather down here is enticing me to explore more inland places, away from the water. I had two goals for my visit, take advantage of the state park pass discount sale and see my first Florida Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma coerulescens).

I accomplished the first but unfortunately, dipped on the second. There were plenty of other attractions for me to focus my lens on but I didn’t see a single Florida Scrub Jay (though I thought I heard one calling).

While the bird is endemic to the state it only resides in a habitat known as Scrubby Flatwoods. Sadly, this dry, interior landscape is rapidly disappearing due to development. Thankfully, the park protects roughly 1400-acres of their preferred landscape.

There is a movement to establish more protection for this species, including an effort to name it as the state bird. Currently, that spot is held by the chatty and prevalent Northern Mockingbird. While I love mockingbirds, they already represent other states and the Florida Scrub Jay is unique to the Sunshine State.

It may be a symbolic change but it could help drive conservation of the species. After all, nobody would want to admit that they allowed the extirpation of one of their state symbols!

In the meantime, I’ll keep looking for the handsome bird.

While our nights are markedly longer and the temperature of the Gulf of Mexico has dropped into the low 70s, our days are still full of warm sunshine – and I am not complaining! I’m definitely a Gulf Coast girl!

I hope you get to spend time in your happy place this weekend!

Stepped out my front door to take the trash out last night and encountered this sweet face (sorry for the low quality images, it was almost dark out and kitty would not pose for the camera).

At first glance I thought that somehow my boy Westley had dashed out because they certainly look alike. But this cat’s mellow little voice allayed my fears. I love Westley but man, his meows can be strident at times!

I gave new kitty a few scritches and offered it some food. Though I’ve never met this kitty before, it seemed to know the routine because it hopped right up on the patio table and waited patiently.

Makes me wonder if the other cats in my neighborhood have marked my house as a safe place, kind of like a cat “hobo code”. Hopefully they’ve given me 5 paws!

Last week was bookended by two fantastic concerts, Lukas Nelson and Promise of the Real kicked things off on Monday night while the Zac Brown Band brought the party on Saturday. As you might have guessed by now, I thoroughly enjoy music, especially live music performed by talented artists. It’s amazing how they can transport you with their songs.

I was fortunate to see both acts in Texas a few years ago and, as before, they did not disappoint. If you have a chance to see either of these bands I suggest you take advantage of it!

I really can’t think of a better way to honor the life of Jimmy Buffett than being a member of a Parrot Head club. The funky term for his fans came out of a concert in Cincinnati back in 1985. Four years later, the first club was formed.

Parrot Head clubs earned Jimmy’s blessing by committing to volunteer and/or raise money for social and environmental charities. Each club hosts annual fundraisers, usually in the form of a themed musical weekend. Over the past 30 years, members have volunteered 4.5 million hours and donated close to $60 million.

Meeting of the Minds (MOTM), is the largest annual Parrothead gathering but it isn’t all just fun and games. Here’s a snippet from the Parrot Heads in Paradise recent email of what we accomplished in Gulf Shores this year:

“Parrot Heads literally bled for our new host city, donating 126 pints to the LifeSouth Blood Bank that will save 378 lives. And we donated $16,172 to Singing for Change, $3,000 to Bras Across the Causeway, $3,000 to the South Baldwin Community Theater, $3,726 plus 115 toys and 61 pairs of shoes to the Christian Service Center, $3,000 to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, $3,000 to the Alabama Gulf Zoo, $2,000 to the Lone Palm Foundation, $2,000 to the Artist Relief Fund, and we raised $10,100 for the PHiP Scholarship Fund. We also had over 400 walkers/runners in the SKIPPIN’ & SIPPIN’ Breast Cancer 5k and walk that raised an additional $18,000 for Bras Across the Causeway!”

I love knowing that we are doing good while having a good time! Bubbles up! 🫧🫧