Rhapsody in hue

I have spent many sublime hours working in the garden over the past few months trying to get some major projects done before the real heat and humidity of the rainy season set in. We have booked a long camping trip to Nantahala National Forest in North Carolina and the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee … Continue reading Rhapsody in hue →

There is nothing like a South Florida childhood

We have logged many hours at Fort Myers Beach and the beaches on Sanibel and Captiva Islands. Our new favorite beaches to hang out at, however, are the Causeway Islands on the way out to Sanibel. They are called the Causeway Islands because they are natural landing spots for the series of bridges that carry … Continue reading There is nothing like a South Florida childhood →

Bearded Dragons are the Craziest Pets

Henry Flagler with a blueberry on his head. Bearded Dragons love berries. We almost named him "Raspberry," because he had a fuchsia face from pounding down so many berries when we first saw him. We have fishing, hunting, and a charming view of the sunset. The only problems are the pests. You see, most places … Continue reading Bearded Dragons are the Craziest Pets →

Raising children that flourish and will be taken seriously

As it is not one swallow or a fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy.Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics I came across this 2017 article from Forbes recently, 13 Things Mentally Strong Parents Don't Do, and thought I would share it … Continue reading Raising children that flourish and will be taken seriously →

Two fledglings!

Of the two bald eaglets in our neighborhood nest, Jules and Romy, both have now fledged the nest. Jules just up flew the nest for good a while back, though the fine folks at the American Eagle Federation think Mom and Dad are taking care of her off-site, bringing her food and teaching her to … Continue reading Two fledglings! →

Nostalgia

I spent most of my youth in Doc Martens and Vans, so it was kind of hilarious that I found these for our daughter. Yes, they do leave a trail of glitter everywhere. I wish I could still get away with wearing stuff like this in public.

Homeschooling by flashlight

This has been a surreal day so far. It is normal to have tornado outbreaks across the Deep South as the seasons change, and I associate this time of year as being all rain, all the time. (Hey, at least it's good for my gardens.) The storms from the last couple of weeks have been … Continue reading Homeschooling by flashlight →

The secret language of children

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to loseNothin', don't mean nothin' hon' if it ain't freeKris Kristofferson, Me and Bobby McGee One of the silver linings of this moment in time is that it has turned our neighborhood into The Sandlot. Our daughter is finally getting the childhood we'd always wished she'd have during … Continue reading The secret language of children →

The art of noticing

Even in your hobbies, has there not always been some secret attraction which the others are curiously ignorant of--something, not to be identified with, but always on the verge of breaking through, the smell of cut wood in the workshop or the clap-clap of water against the boat's side? Are not all lifelong friendships born … Continue reading The art of noticing →

The Duke of Glenn’s Creek

It has now been two years since we first moved to Florida. It was a bittersweet move, considering that my giant, 200-pound English Mastiff, Duke of Glenn's Creek (Duke) passed away in the hours right after we closed on our new beach house. He had been eleven-and-a-half years old - according to the vet, the … Continue reading The Duke of Glenn’s Creek →