3rin's View…

Heading out to the beach for my sunset walk today, I opted to wander south instead of north just to get a different view.

My direction ended up not mattering at all because the fog started rolling in shortly after I stepped onto the sand. When I left my house it was 71º and sunny. By the time I left the beach 45 minutes later, the temperature had dropped 10 degrees and visibility was under a mile.

The fog, cool breeze, and choppy sea took me back to my beach walking days on the Oregon Coast.

I was not expecting a holiday theme when I drove over to explore a new nature park in nearby Dunedin but I was pleasantly surprised. Within five minutes on the trail at the Gladys E. Douglas Preserve I encountered Reindeer Lichen (Cladonia spp).

It’s only found in undisturbed areas, so even though I’ve tramped numerous miles through scores of parklands here in Florida over the past few years it was my first ever sighting. As the common name implies, it also grows north of the Arctic Circle where caribou (aka reindeer) browse on it in the winter.

Further down the trail was a Hog Plum tree (Spondias mombin) with a few late-season fruits still hanging on. While the small fruit is edible, a quick nibble proved it was the opposite of a sugar plum.

Turning around I spotted Christmas Wreath Lichen (Cryptothecia rubrocincta) growing on a tree trunk. The name is based on the color combination along with its typically round shape.

I noted some cheery red and green pops of color along the trail. Then, tucked back in the woods, I spied a tall, scraggly orange tree. I had to wander over and get a closer look. It felt like I found a little gift because there was one ripe orange on the ground (while the rest of the fruit was at least 10 feet in the air and well out of my reach). I’ll be planting the seeds soon, it will be interesting to see if I can get it to grow.

Speaking of presents, a few minutes later I stumbled across a pretty painted rock. I enjoy finding these and sometimes I take them with me, but this one I left so that someone else can experience the joy of discovery.

Next a thin, yellowish twining vine caught my eye. It looked remarkably similar to one from the desert southwest of my childhood but this dodder is called Love Vine (Cuscuta europaea).

In a small clearing nearby I was treated to a sweet and simple sight, someone had decorated a pine seedling for the season. It made an adorable little Christmas tree. Whoever you are, thank you for the giving me a smile.

Near the end of the loop I looked up and received the best gift of the day, my first sighting of a Barred Owl (Strix varia). Thankfully, this one was so involved in a preening session that it didn’t mind me taking photos. It was a treat to share a few peaceful minutes together.

Who says Florida doesn’t celebrate the season? What a wonderful way to spend part of the holidays!

Wishing you peace, love, and joy, not just on Christmas but throughout the coming year! 🎄

Ran into Santa on my beach a couple weeks ago. I guess he was getting in some relaxation before the big night.

I imagine that by now he’s on his way to your place…🎅🎄

I had some time to kill in Tampa this afternoon, so I popped into a curiosity shop (more about that later). Though there were innumerable oddities, I only made one small purchase.

I passed over the shrunken heads, buying instead a little novelty item. As you can see, the Fortune Teller Miracle Fish thinks I’m passionate (though I’m not sure I needed a little plastic fish to tell me that).

This curio is definitely misnamed, since it is (purportedly) picking up on my current feelings, and not, in actuality, divining upcoming life events. So, there’s no need to toss out your crystal ball!

The secret to this phenomenon? A thin coating of sodium polyacrylate that reacts to the moisture secreted by sweat glands in our palms. Watch it in action:

Apparently, we owe thanks to the Sinclair Oil Company for the proliferation of roadside dinosaurs in this country. In 1932, capitalizing on our fascination with the extinct beasts, they adopted a green brontosaurus, named Dino, as their logo in homage to the age of their petroleum.

The symbol proved incredibly popular and made finding a gas station easy, passing motorists knew to look for the green dinosaur. The rise of the personal automobile and cross-country road trips meant businesses had to find a way to attract customers. Taking a clue from Sinclair, colorful images and signs sprung up along the nation’s highways.

In the next few decades these signs evolved into life-size caricatures, thanks in part to Sinclair Oil’s Dinoland at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. The exhibit wowed crowds with its large dinosaur models (two of which eventually found a home at Dinosaur Valley State Park in Texas).

Closer to me, I’m lucky to have an original Sinclair gas station dinosaur. Built in 1964, it is still in use as an automobile service center. Just a few miles further south on Highway 19, is the bright pink Foxbower dinosaur. It was constructed in 1959 to draw tourists into the family’s wildlife museum.

I hadn’t set out in search of them but they certainly caught my eye. So yes, the gimmick still works, even after all these years!

Last week, I traveled down to Siesta Key with Katie to honor her recently departed aunt. While I love the beach near me, I can see why Siesta Key was so important to Katie’s family.

The powder white sand is probably the main reason why Siesta Key is ranked among the 25 best beaches in the world (according to TripAdvisor). Our long beach walk was capped by a stunning sunset, truly a fitting tribute to end the day.