I’ve always been told that Peonies and Ants have a symbiotic relationship, but a little research revealed that not all believe this to be true.
What say you, my gardening friends?
Polished
My friend Crystal, over at Conscious Engagement is a woman of many talents.
She is a hard working, home owning, keeper of chickens, and is also an incredible Mom, a passionate hiker and traveler, and a lover of photography and music.
And even though we’ve never met in the physical sense, I am oh so happy to call her my friend. When I admired the mailbox that she and Tara had renovated with leftover nail polish, it wasn’t long before my very own unique and colorful mailbox arrived.
Thanks to my nephew Sam, who installed it yesterday, I now have the best looking box on the street!
Thank you, Crystal! Thank you, Tara!
You can read about their creativity here.
We’re Still Waiting …
I was walking through the dining room one day last week, and was struck by the morning sun streaming through the window, and the shadows that were created.
I’m also struck by the fact that while women achieved the Right to Vote via the 19th Amendment in 1920, we are still not protected by the Constitution. We’re still waiting …
ERA: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex.
Lookin’ For Adventure
If you need me this weekend, just head out on the highway.
Hope the next few days offer you the chance to do something that brings you joy.
Surprise!
Illness visited my house last week, and because of that, I was not paying attention to the weather report.
Okay, let’s be honest, I never pay attention to the weather report.
Needless to say, I was surprised when I opened the curtains Saturday morning to see snow on the ground.
We’ve all seen Daffodils push up through the snow, but I’m pretty sure my Redbud Tree had not seen the white stuff before.
Between spring snow and upcoming travel, my bike will remain quietly on the carport for another week. Sigh …
Monochromia Struttin’
If you haven’t visited yet, you are missing out on some incredible Black & White Photography by some very talented photographers.
Be sure to visit Monochromia soon.
Another image from a morning walk on Siesta Beach
To see this handsome fellow in color, visit this post on Life on the Bike
Art & Whimsy
On our last full day of fun in Sarasota, we were able to take another long walk on the beach,
followed by opportunities to explore some of the downtown architecture, Farmer’s Market, restaurants, and street activity.
We also visited the Marietta Museum of Art & Whimsy, where “part of the mission is to collect and preserve work of artistic and whimsical importance. Our collection is bright and colorful. The artwork will lift your spirits and, hopefully, inspire creative expression”. It was a bright, sunny day, and these images do not do justice to the colorful, metal works.
Take my word for it, our spirits were definitely lifted!
Before I knew it, the time had come to fly home. What an incredible 3 days! I’m grateful to have friends who value this tradition as much as I do!
Thanks for coming along with me on the adventure!
Monochromia Sea Star
My contribution to Monochromia this week
I’d never seen a live Starfish before. What a neat find during a morning walk on Siesta Beach.
A little Starfish research offered the following info:
Starfish come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, but they all resemble a star. They have spines covering their upper surface and a soft underside. Starfish are not actually fish. They do not have gills, scales, or fins. They have tiny tube feet to help them move along.
Gulf Coast Florida History: Spanish Point
After enjoying the water and wildlife of Lido Beach, we toured historic Spanish Point.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Spanish Point is an “old Florida oasis”. Many people think of Florida as Disney, Orlando, and beach front condominiums, but a walk through Spanish Point reveals what Florida was like before it became a tourist/ retirement destination.
There are four main elements to the overall story of Spanish Point: Prehistory, Pioneer, Palmer and Plants, and we enjoyed a walking tour through all of those elements. An archaeological record exists on the site from approximately 5,000 years of Florida prehistory.
I loved learning about Bertha Honore Palmer. “The Chicago socialite and widow of Potter Palmer came to Sarasota to establish a winter estate. She purchased thousands of acres for cattle ranching, citrus groves, and real estate development. She named her 350-acre estate “Osprey Point” and preserved the pioneer buildings and connected them with lavish formal gardens and lawns.
She also had vision, and she used her influence to elevate the status of women. She was quoted as saying that “women have no desire to be helpless and dependent. Having full use of their faculties, they rejoice in using them”.
photo credit HistoricSpanishPoint.org
Bertha Honoree Palmer also said “Freedom and justice for all are infinitely more to be desired than a pedestal for a few”. What a progressive woman!
The Guptill house, built in 1901 and originally rented to winter boarders, is now furnished to reflect the Florida pioneer era.
Mary’s Chapel was built in 1901 in memory of a young woman who died while staying at the winter resort. Mary’s parents provided the funding for the Chapel, and it’s six stained glass windows.
Those six stained glass windows were salvaged when the Chapel was reconstructed in 1986.
This Gumbo Limbo tree is known as the “tourist tree” because the bark is red and peeling like a sunburn.
Visitors to Spanish Point can “explore 30 historical, environmental, and archaeological acres at this irreplaceable outdoor museum on Little Sarasota Bay in Osprey, Florida”. I urge you to visit if you are in the Sarasota area.
After all the walking and exploring, it was time for a cold beer, and where better to have one than in a Tiki Hut.
Mother Nature and the local birding wildlife offered a beautiful end of the day show!
Nest Post: Siesta Beach and the Museum of Art & Whimsy
One Year Ago
We Interrupt the posts about 3 Days in Florida to remember an incredible time.
One year ago, a group of intrepid WordPress Bloggers met in Washington, DC.
Oh, what a time we had! And although most of us had never met in person, within moments we knew we were sisters of the heart.
The next day, we were joined by three more WP Bloggers, and the happiness grew.
And later that day, we met with another!
Oh what a time we had!
Stories were told, adventures were shared, laughter bubbled up and out, and love was abundant.
We traveled around in the big red truck,
and when we said goodbye at the train station in Lynchburg, the rain was a perfect metaphor.
Tears as we said goodbye, but many, many more tears of joy!
(Edit: this post was supposed to publish on the one year anniversary of the gathering, which will be April 3rd. Sigh … ALSO, the last photo was taken by either Pauline or Boomdee, yet it has my watermark. I apologize for both errors)
**************************************************************************************************************
Boomdeeada – Blogging About Life, Art, & Other Bits
Gardening Nirvana – Sharing My Life In and Out of the Garden
The Contented Crafter – A blog containing random thoughts, bits of life, creations from my art room and tales of a cat named Orlando and a puppy named Siddy
Arlingwords – Gardens, Food, and Local Pleasures
Visual Venturing – Because Everyone Likes Pictures
Displaced Beachbums – Exploring Washington, DC and Beyond
Life on the Bike and other Fab Things 