While in Sarasota I'm usually on the beach at sunrise, and on this particular morning there was quite a bird show..... .....with the usual precocious gulls.....and lots of these orange beaked birds (below) that I had never noticed before - but have probably always been around (usually I'm scouring the water for dolphin sightings). None of them were budging from their spots for passers-by, so it was easy to get close pics of them. Also while in FL this trip, my son and family were doing the Orlando scene before embarking on the Disney Cruise, so we all went to Discovery Cove. This is another one of those places I had never been to, despite living in FL so many years, and it was a pleasant surprise. It's a bit pricey, but if hassle-free, water-themed relaxation is your goal (and you can't get to the Bahamas) this is the place to be.Classy and accommodating from beginning to end! All the (pretty decent) food you can eat, wetsuits, snorkel gear, towels and lockers are included in the price, and they limit the number of guests, so no standing in lines or fighting for beach chairs. You can do the optional dolphin encounter, or just hang out with the fish and rays in the reef pools.There is an interesting walk-through aviary, long winding river float, and shark encounter (behind glass) in the reef pools. All in all, a fun time for kids and adults alike. But alas....it was inevitably back to the gray, drizzly skies of the ATL. (I'm just glad it's a warm winter, anyway!)
Since I am finally done with the big 'Spring Clean Out' (fromhell)......I was able to squeak in another trip to sunny Sarasota for Mom's Birthday, and wanted to surprise her with this post on her book store!
This month Mom turned 85 and I couldn't be prouder of her--she still works full time and is doing what she loves at her paperback book exchange: Bee Ridge Books. Books are my Mom's passion, and about 30 years ago she decided to jump in the deep end and open a little store of her own. She found a spot just down the road from where my Dad had built his auto repair shop, located some inventory from a book store closing on Anna Maria Island, and was on her way! My Dad built the book shelves and helped get everything rolling...... ....and it has been a joy to Mom ever since.
This little shop has seen her through the loss of my Dad, her battle with cancer, and these brutal years of recession (plus the added challenge of the coming of Kindle and Nook--and the explosion of on-line book selling).
She has hung tough through it all!!
I hate to think of the small booksellers becoming extinct....these shops are a treasure trove for true book lovers and avid readers!! She has so many fabulous hard to find, and out of print books, and can provide invaluable help with comparative authors, or recommendations from her vast knowledge gathered over the years. This trip she put me to work re-stocking the shelves....deja vu! I used to work here regularly when my boys were attending Sarasota Christian School and remember all the incredibly nice customers we had--it truly was a fun job!
Also on this trip we were delighted to have a visit from my cousin Jan and her husband Dale from the Quad City area--whom we hadn't seen in roughly 20(?) years!It was so great to see them again!!
Happy Birthday Ma!!
And the life lesson part? If possible...do what you love!! Blessed are those who are able to pursue what they love as their work!!!I'm so glad my Mom is able to enjoy this gift!!
Check out this amazingly historic estate, complete with stunning manor house, massive barns and scenic grounds! Stay tuned for all show details and updates on Linda's blog: Bella Rustica Nashville!
I've always wondered what other Ebay and Etsy sellers do with all the stuff that is listed and waiting to be sold and shipped. I find myself just decorating a wall in my office with it, since I don't have an extra room for storage.
As my massive cleaning/purging "everything unnecessary that I own is getting donated" project continues (after many months, only 1/2 finished---this is why I run away to Florida!) not much else is getting worked on....especially blogging and creating....but I did manage to make some wire bees during a brief time out.Kinda fun and spring-y--and not too involved.
Hmmm.....make that: "sassy loves trash....but is getting rid of most of it"!! I found these cool mini photography letter magnets last trip home at my favorite St. Armands shop: Garden Argosy. They come in two large sheets, with about 6 of each letter, and are really fun to play with....I use them on old baking pans.
Motorcycle mirrors have caught my attention lately.....there's an idea brewing somewhere in my brain of how to repurpose these--it just hasn't materialized quite yet.
The gray days of winter made me do it! (post MORE pics of Florida, I mean) I know, I know.....my blog is starting to become a travel brochure, but I promise this is the last of my FL pics.........for now, anyway! What could possibly be more fun than watching a real live mermaid show in crystal clear bubbling springs through giant underwater windows?
For this aspiring mermaid......NOTHING! (except getting in there myself, but they have silly rules about that) It's vintage Florida for sure, being one of the state's earliest tourist attractions, and it seems so quaint and low-key compared to the mega-attractions of Orlando, but I'm really glad it's still open and delighting little mermaids of new generations! My Florida mantra is "off-season...off-season...off-season"! There are such killer deals on fabulous hotels from September to December......and the weather is usually great! The Sanibel Harbour Resort, overlooking Sanibel, Captiva and Pine Island, was practically deserted! (and the pools are even heated....oh yeah!) Sanibel Island is almost one-half wildlife preserve and the best way to see it is drifting through the beautiful mangrove trails via kayak. It's beautifully serene to drift along and quietly take in all the amazing scenes of nature as you decompress into a totally chilled-out and mellow state of mind. Manatees love the warm waters of the Florida inlets this time of year (it's super hard to get pictures of them!). So much beauty...... .......but the sunsets - with the ever-present seagulls - always steal the show!
**This one's for you Kayla! (My sweetie just loves giraffes!)
Unforgettable, educational, surprising...........these are just a few adjectives that come to mind when describing this unique eco-adventure located on the backroads of Pasco County north of Tampa.
Giraffe Ranch, which is situated on 47 acres of rolling terrain shaded by beautiful oak canopies, is a surprisingly personal and interactive wildlife experience that is very much like embarking on your own private safari. Charles "Lex" Salisbury and his wife Elena Sheppa have created a wonderfully unique wildlife preserve and working ranch, with experiential learning in mind.
Lex is the former director of Tampa's Lowery Park Zoo and together they share interesting information prior to, and throughout the tour---which BTW has strict size limits to retain the personal element. All of the animals have lots of roomy habitats, and you can see the care that has been taken to ensure their days at the ranch be happy ones. Although the giraffes are the stars of the ranch, there are many other interesting animals--we saw antelope, warthogs, Dexter cows, zebras, ostrich, Haflinger horses, Lemurs, all type of fowl, and lots more. You can even take a camel ride, or experience your tour by camel-back! But since it was about to rain, I wimped out and boarded the safari truck with the canvas roof! The clean and carefully thought-out habitats, the amazing depth of knowledge shared, the hands-on interaction with the animals..... ....are all what make this experience so unique...... .....and refreshingly personal. I believe they were about to acquire a pair of rhinoceros when I was there (some of the animals are on loan from the San Diego Zoo since the ranch is fully accredited and licensed). You know, I'm actually not much of a 'zoo person'---I always find myself distractedly imagining a world where the animals all run free---but I truly enjoyed this unique place--you acquire knowledge without being 'taught', and really feel like family by the time you leave!
~It's all about the thrill of the hunt and cruisin' backroads searching for rusty gold. Rummaging for cool pieces of antiquity is only part of the adventure. Next comes the challenge of re-purposing into new creations with updated functionality. Favorite finds are architectural iron, wood salvage, industrial, lighting fixtures, automobilia, farm salvage, and old hardware. But the real story, which always transcends the pickin', is about the interesting people and the unique places discovered along the way!~
While in Sarasota I'm usually on the beach at sunrise, and on this particular morning there was quite a bird show.....
.....with the usual precocious gulls.....and lots of these orange beaked birds (below) that I had never noticed before - but have probably always been around (usually I'm scouring the water for dolphin sightings).
None of them were budging from their spots for passers-by, so it was easy to get close pics of them. 
Also while in FL this trip, my son and family were doing the Orlando scene before embarking on the Disney Cruise, so we all went to Discovery Cove.
This is another one of those places I had never been to, despite living in FL so many years, and it was a pleasant surprise.
It's a bit pricey, but if hassle-free, water-themed relaxation is your goal (and you can't get to the Bahamas) this is the place to be. Classy and accommodating from beginning to end!
All the (pretty decent) food you can eat, wetsuits, snorkel gear, towels and lockers are included in the price, and they limit the number of guests, so no standing in lines or fighting for beach chairs.
You can do the optional dolphin encounter, or just hang out with the fish and rays in the reef pools. There is an interesting walk-through aviary, long winding river float, and shark encounter (behind glass) in the reef pools.
All in all, a fun time for kids and adults alike. 
But alas....it was inevitably back to the gray, drizzly skies of the ATL. (I'm just glad it's a warm winter, anyway!)
