Britain Comes to the USA??

The Earl of Grantham’s impressive library/study. 

Credit: Courtesy of © Carnival Film &

 Television Limited for MASTERPIECE

Can you believe a US congressman has decorated his office to imitate [well sort-of] Robert Crawley 's study in Downton Abbey? Guess he fancies himself an Earl to be addressed as Lord?? And yup, it has created a scandal and his resignation.

OK, you can also buy stuff (I do mean STUFF) to fix up your home like Downton.  Whatever next!

Last Saturday was the 4th Annual Great American Grunt Hunt (including  Hogfish) and Fish Fry.  Hook a fish, enter the competition (by weight) and then have your fish fried and served up to the public for $7. Youth fish too.  First prize is $500 if you want to have a go next year.

Attractive? Hogfish, the grunt is grey and ugly!

Here's a totally different type of critter, trotted out (or should I say hopped out?) in our lobby for Easter.  S/he looks a bit 1960's hippy to mini me.  My neighbour feels the desire to prick him with a pin and put this rabbit out of his misery!

Spring has definitely arrived and everything is in bloom - including this Australian Bottle Brush which in Florida grows as a tree and in our London garden a bush no higher than my knee!  Apparently the leaves have a lovely fragrance if crushed - so I will have to go crushing. And Spring brings out the GALS (Giant African Land Snail), which have invaded Florida, for all those tasty new leaf morsels; they grow as big as a rat and can eat through your house walls, hence they are considered the most dangerous snail in the world!  Bigger than mini me, we fortunately haven't met one yet!

source: altereddimensions.net

Spring Break (college kids going wild escaping winter by coming to FL to party) hasn't impacted us too much on our stretch of the beach, however, all ages have come out with their 'toys' to play - on the beach, in the sea and in the air. Life size me has been venturing into the ocean (just before stingray season starts) and hears there are sand dollars tickling underfoot on the sandbar just offshore!  The gulls too get in on the action soaring and bouncing on the air currents.

Skim boarding in the surf

Kite with
sound effects

Ultralights, sometimes in pairs cruising the beach

Fast seaplanes

Sad to miss the solar eclipse --not visible here--it got good news coverage in the UK.  But we have been watching planet Venus nightly for months.

The local blog has just sent us a "Weather Alert" as follows 'Rain Chances on the Rise.' Life is tough on the beach!

That Family Quilt

A quilt has come to me down the family line.  In January hubby made a compression hanger as a Christmas gift to attach the quilt to the wall. Click here to see how it is done.

Little is known about this quilt, but as my Aunt who quilts says 'it was too good to just stay folded up!'  Hence it came to me via my Aunt Nancy (mother's sister) who got if from . . .

Aunt Rainy (Lorraine Rath) handed down through the family, details now sadly lost in time.  We think it came from my Mother's Grandma on her Father's side (my Great Grandma M=Helen Elizabeth Sawyer) -the only quilt that came down that side of the family (we have others from the Rolka side). They lived in the original Derby, Conn homestead (Bradley family line via my mother's Aunt Katherine's marriage) which included a florist business from 1882.  Sadly the house and greenhouses are now gone.

It is unusual having a big pocket on the back, so my Aunt thinks it may have been hung between rooms instead of a door to keep out the drafts.  It seems a proper 'quilt' with many different and lovely fabrics [from old/special & loved clothes?] and exquisite stitching.

Mini me and I are delighted to have this to look at every morning upon waking (much better than seeing oneself in the mirror first thing - ha ha!).

And this January at last my grandparents furniture (out of storage) is repaired and right side up -- 

My first sizable crochet project is almost done - a poncho -- and just in time for the cool weather.  I have had compliments on the yarn/colour.  

Just needs sewing long ends together and
presto - poncho!
OK, not perfect, but I am still a crocheter with L plates!

And my church craft group has been busy making an adaptation of lavender bags.

and then Ruffle Scarves from Red Heart Sashay Metallic yarn (March).

Cannot sign off without the obligatory sunset photos - taken from my balcony. I used to import American goodies to my UK home, now I am importing English goodies to my US home; am off to enjoy a cup of Options hot chocolate - amazing what one misses!

Protected Manatees Reach Record High

6,063 Florida manatees counted from the sky - a record!

Picture from & to see more click here.

Osprey out in abundance with babies on the way!

Snowbirds and Beach Time

sunrise seen from my bed

USA clocks 'Spring Forward' the first weekend in March; with the sunrise now 'an hour later' I have seen it more often and the beautiful pink reflections on the clouds over looking the Gulf.

We had a flock of beautiful white birds (unidentified) fly by this morning (17th) like a white ribbon cutting through the blue sky; beautiful.  Which reminds me:  the snowbirds (Northern escapees from winter, primarily Canada, Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Minnesota) arrived en-mass the first week of January and will begin to return home in April.  This is known as 'The Season' and impacts almost everything done on/around the beach.

A snowbird (SB) conversation has a certain predictability and pattern to it in the lift (AE= elevator) or around the pool or out-and-about:

ME:  Good morning/afternoon

SB:  Hi,where are you from?  Today sure is cold/hot/windy/cloudy/_____[fill in the blank].

ME:  I live here, lovely day.

SB:  Back home we just had 12 inches of snow and it is 20 degrees below [Fahrenheit that is, adjust snow depth/temperature as necessary but always in this ballpark].  So this weather isn't bad for us!

ME:  Ah well, good you are here then.

SB:  We better make the most of it, going home in 3 weeks. [adjust time to go home depending on if they stay 2, 3 (or less likely 4) months from January].

ME:  Enjoy (said with a smile; what else to say??)

Bliss, but not likely a snowbird!

One can have this conversation 6 or more times a day.  It is modified by 2 snowbirds meeting one another where there is a slight digression into where they are from and how close their hometowns are before reverting to the weather.  Often the conversation doesn't progress beyond this level - and I thought the British could talk about climate!

The transient winter population does make connecting a little harder, but certainly adds seasonal flavour!  Many organisations have seasonal programmes and you can even buy a seasonal plan for TV/Internet/Phone service.  Additionally as America was founded on the basis that all power resides with the States unless specifically given to the Federal government, there are many differences in legislation between States that makes life with out-of-state Snowbirds entertaining as they try to adjust to local laws and practices.

As the Snowbirds are on extended holidays in rental units they have no problems adjusting to Beach Time and a 'loose' approach to most everything.  For those of us living here, it can be a tad bit more frustrating, the 'live in the moment, don't plan for tomorrow' tropical island approach.  For a good read try Triggerfish Twist by Tim Dorsey which is a fun novel, but is filled with stories about living in the Tampa area.  Hubby's doctor says 'everyone who can't get on with their families & colleagues migrates to Florida'!  This would explain a lot!

The human beach highway

Snowbirds also increase traffic not only on the roads, but along the beach -- on what Mini Me calls the 'human highway' of morning and evening beach walkers!  With so many people out - you guessed it - an opportunity; advertising banners are pulled by both boat and plane and sometimes cross in the air.

Snowbirds also bring with them beach weddings (the worst name for a wedding company I ever heard was Weddings on a Whim - but the irony seems to pass by many people).

Hubby has a new map of the Tampa Bay shipping channel and fancies himself harbor master watching the cargo and cruise ships from our balcony. One can identify and track the ships on www.marinetraffic.com

Rare Kemp Ridley

Sea Turtle nesting season is almost upon us (1 April or when Gulf waters reach 80 Fahrenheit) and so mini me is scheduled for two beach clean-ups this week.  Life size me better avoid contact with the poison plants this year!

It's turtle tracks like these that identify the nests laid at night. See turtle snaps (ha ha) in my 2014 August posts with two turtle hatching video in 30 August blog.

Picture courtesy of http://activerain.trulia.com

Dolphin Behaviour, Turtles & Hedgehog Pets

Dr Ann Weaver; Tampa Bay Times photo

Tuesday night a free talk by a local marine researcher, Dr Ann Weaver was offered: "Dolphin Behavior at Johns Pass."  As we live within the 6 mile zone around Johns Pass that the Dr is studying, we just couldn't pass up the opportunity to hear what she has learnt.

The 10+ year study was initiated to explore how the rebuilding of the Johns Pass Bridge impacted the local dolphin population.  In conclusion, badly with primarily the female dolphins disappearing/moving away.

There are circa 300 dolphins Dr Weaver has identified in and around the pass - ie out our window.  Dolphin behaviour appears sophisticated with each dolphin having a whistle name, able to recognise, preen and observe itself in a mirror, and 'self-
decorating.'  The self-decoration is done with seaweed, whelk cases and even placing a lost sunglass

Photo by Ann Weaver

lens over its eye (scooping it up from the sea floor) apparently imitating humans!  Identifying their gender is another matter - hard to do when they are in the water; The title of the Beach Beacon column in which this picture appeared is "Seaside fig leaves can thwart scientists while at sea" (5 March 2015).

OK, OK, first to an airport and then to
a library for lunch - what is Mini Me
thinking you wonder?  . . . well this
IS FLORIDA!!

The Dr. says the dolphins are at some level interested in us and she raises the question of whether they recognise not only the boat, but individual people.  They often have scars on their dorsal fin -- frequently it seems from encounters with sharks -- which greatly aids in identifying them.

For more info/video click here.

Other evening entertainment has included a trip to the Largo Regal Cinema to see The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, where for the first time we sat in recliners!  Must confess between these recliners and all the mobile scooters about, I feel as if America has turned into the Wall-E future depicted in that movie with everyone flying around in personal vehicles, but without the strength to get anywhere under their own steam!

Mini Me wanted to see turtles so we took a detour first to the Largo Library to have lunch at the Bookmark Cafe and then on to the Turtle Sanctuary (officially named George C McCGough Nature Park in Largo).  We didn't see any gopher tortoises (land animal that sinks in water), but did see a lot of turtles -- snapping, red-eared, soft-shelled and Florida box turtles, along with a screech owl and a hedgehog. 

Apparently domesticated African hedgehogs (smaller than wild European hedgehogs) are common pets!  Not sure why one wants a round nocturnal pet, but hey (picture from www.hedgehogaspects.com).

Rounded a corner in the park and saw . . .
flying boats (on racks at local marina behind the trees)

Now why a turtle park - well according to the Tampa Bay Times (30 September 2007):

Tammy Peterson, who oversees the city's nature parks, said the city has never stocked the pond. Many of the original turtles were released by their owners . ..

Over time, the turtle pond grew in popularity and people started bringing in reptiles from all over the county.

Now a sign warns people not to use it as a dumping ground for unwanted turtles.

Peterson says she once had to stop an uninformed do-gooder from putting a gopher tortoise into the pond. Gopher tortoises live on land and can sink under their own weight in water.

Another kind soul risked a mean bite to bring in a snapping turtle found by the side of the road.

"They mean well," Peterson said.

Kind of like the people who would feed the turtles their favorite snacks.

"People were feeding them Doritos, M&Ms, everything," Peterson said.

To manage that problem, the city started offering turtle food.

Fish skeleton, sometimes the gulls try to fling them about

Today seen at the beach:

Beach Wedding witnessed from my balcony
Hard to see any smiles
Set up, wed and dismantled in under 2 hours without a trace

and waiting for us when we got home to our front door - a mourning dove.

Strawberry Fields

Fancy a picture of yourself in a plastic strawberry?
Mini Me didn't

Yes, it's Strawberry season in Florida and Mini Me took an excursion to Plant City, home of the Winter Strawberry Festival.

It was a mini county fair - with rides, animal exhibits, a milking demonstration, a parade including Miss Strawberry 2015, stuff to buy, plenty of eats and of course the strawberries.  The pig races were present (see blog post of 16 June 2014) and the food deep fried like the moon pie we had last June.

As awful as it looks
Bacon funnel cake on stick
with powdered sugar &
some maple caramel sauce!!

The Broadway

It started off cloudy, but in Florida that is a blessing as it keeps down the heat and makes the experience more pleasant.

Mini Me's new playmate

Turned out there was baking awards as well as quilting & crochet!  Yippee says Mini Me.  But they were all displayed in locked rooms behind glass.

Scrubbers bottom left & in hands of woman

There was also a 'Pioneer Village' with old-time crafts. Mini Me picked up a scrubber made from palm tree - hardy enough to clean potatoes, but soft enough not to scratch glass.

The 'Grand Parade' was a bit haphazard, with a few characters, lots of police vehicles and politicians seeking re-election; all threw strands of plastic beads into the crowd - a real pleaser! Following  a number of LARGE gaps in the parade Miss Strawberry appeared.

Tractor 1 - making the beds

Now back to the main event - the STRAWBERRIES; poor life-sized me doesn't even like the smell of them, not to mention the taste, but this was hubby's day out :-).  First a tractor forms raised beds from the ground.  A second tractor lays an irrigation tube and covers the beds with plastic.  The strawberry plants are hand-planted and when ripe hand picked.

Hubby advises the trip was worth it for the strawberries - much tastier, softer and richer flavoured than those in the grocery.

Tractor 2 - laying plastic

Growing alongside the strawberries out in the fields, as insect

Strawberry Fields . . . for now

protection, are strawberry onions; yes they are huge!  I am happy to report they do not taste of strawberries in any way.

Apparently a cold snap during growing season increases their sweetness.
Yum, Yum, we had for dinner baked with a little olive oil and thyme.  And you can use the green & white tops as well.