The weather outside is . . . Christmassy!

Well the temperature and more importantly the humidity has plummeted (well OK dropped to 51 F/11 C overnight and from 99% humidity to 38%), enough to drive away those cownose stingrays mentioned in the last blog . . . but not before Kenny, our intrepid beach raker, got this video.

Must say this is the first morning mini me welcomed the heat from the hair dryer on her   body as usually it is too hot and humid to appreciate a warm blast on the head!!

You never know what you will see on the beach and here was this week's interesting sight - not that salt water is good for one's bicycle, but hey it looks fun!

Wind is up, humidity down; we have a rip current and a RED tide warning in effect. The beach joggers are all bundled up with hoodies and mittens. Musical instruments, however, don't fare well in cooler weather, so this winter front meant the outdoor Christmas Florida Orchestra concert last night was cancelled.

But mini me has gotten on with holiday festivities including . . .

Welsh cheese straws made with friend Sharon

LARGE wine glass painting with
neighbour Diane
note the flip flop footwear

. . . a spot of quilting to take the place of a door wreath.  Pattern given to mini me by her Quirky Quilting friends (and creator!), but of course life sized me felt she could improve upon the pattern - what do you think?  A bit more quilting wouldn't go amiss, but we were keen to put it on the door.

the result

the pattern

No Florida Christmas would be complete without a special local song and a boat parade or several.

We were invited to a Treasure Island Boat Viewing House Party this year; the wind and lower temperatures kept the number of entries down and the boats sped along (rougher water means faster speeds to retain control of the boats), but there was the usual boat hooters honking and 'Merry Christmas' shouting (likely alcohol fueled - this is Florida after all). The highlight was the turtle boat, and the flippers were animated swimming through the air!

Florida Jingle Bells

standing at end of dock looking at house party

Dashing through the sand, in a rented minivan
Driving by the bay, laughing all the way.
Tourists drive too slow, everywhere you go,
Oh what fun it is to live in sunny F.L.A.


Chorus
Jingle Bells, Coconut shells
Dolphins in the bay
Oh what fun it is to live in sunny F.L.A.
Orange juice stands, Mickey Mouse land

see the hatchling at the back?

Gators in your way,
Oh what fun it is to live in sunny F.L.A.

Crowded shopping malls, Lotto and BIngo halls,
Sunshine that's too hot, a football team that's not.
When Santa hits the shores, He finds stingrays galore,

Oh what fun it is to live in sunny F.L.A! 

As my British friends would say, it is feeling very 'fresh' outside.

Happy Christmas (or Merry Christmas to our American friends) and all best wishes for 2016!