Chill on the Beach

Tons of sponge and coral on our beach signal the Gulf waters are being stirred up by a storms out to sea - headed our way. Our hurricane shutters came down overnight last weekend as a special weather statement had us on watch for:

• High Surf Advisory
• Coastal Flood Advisory
• Rip Current Statement
• Wind Advisory
• Tornado watch
• and on 24th Jan - a Wind Chill Advisory (in effect when windchill is forecast for 26-35 F or -3 to 2 C)

The Skyway Bridge just south of us is closed due to winds of 60 mph and deadly tornadoes struck on the other side of the bridge in the night.  We had 6 alerts on our emergency weather radio between 1 and 3 am Sunday (17th Jan) night. The shutters rattled, the seas are high and the wind blows. Out came my crochet slippers with turtle buttons kindly made by CB.

The pelicans and gulls were out feasting just before the storm. Mini me learnt that birds stand (and hop we were surprised to see) on one leg to conserve heat/energy. So with lower temperatures, our sea birds have all been one-legged recently!  Just time for one last warm sunny day on the beach . . .

Here, on video, you can see a native brown pelican swallowing his catch.

larger white pelicans stop by
in route to warmer climes

smaller (but not small) local
 brown pelican in flight

Migratory white pelicans are one of North America's largest birds; when not stealing food from others, they work together to semicircle fish and herd them to shore before scooping them up with their pouches for a tasty meal.

'Exceptional cold' is what we are experiencing according to the weather reporters and this means the balcony lemon tree, complete with one budding lemon, has come inside. But of course nothing like the blizzard conditions further north nor the cold in the UK.

Alexa's turtle journey

And the Mad Beach Textile Fans group has abandoned the beach for warmer indoor venues - sigh.

Hard to believe it will soon be turtle season again! Here's a great year-round reminder of our turtle friends created by Alexa.

Manatee drawn in sand

My Manatee wall quilt (post of Dec 30) was replicated on the beach when I found this orange coral. It is on hold whilst I make a lap quilt from my 90 year old neighbor's mother's hand quilted flowers.

Last Saturday night our dining group went to a St Pete Beach restaurant called Chill; the food was excellent - what I had of it (my main meal never arrived) - but the service was anything but 'chilled' although the temperature certainly was! The British manager wasn't interested in any American customer feedback, although our whole group of 26 got free dessert.  Here's their new wall decor - just remember this is [bonkers] Florida!

Shortly thereafter he left the beach
under his own steam

Just looked out the window and either someone almost drown or they are performing a religious/spiritual ritual of an unusual nature involving lots of head shaking . . . who knows what is going on down on the beach - it is never boring!!