Seen from the Beach . . .

Check out this skimmer picture from Doc Jon

'Tis our rainy season with very loud thunder and lightning storms most afternoons - rolling in like clock-work about 5 pm. Today it is fast moving with sheets of rain.


We just made it out for a boat ride around the bay before the storms hit this afternoon - saw several one month old dolphins with their mothers, but no manatees nor sea turtles.

a pelican flying in the storm

sunset through the rain clouds

Sometimes we have a little window of blue sky right over us like this -- not today!

sunrise with full moon on morning turtle patrol

We have beautiful mornings . . . and here is the local "Sand to Sea" turtle patrol at 7 am.

A couple of days ago a paddle steamer went by.  On the horizon, we have barges dredging the Tampa channel and bring sand into nearby beaches to counteract erosion.




Red tide has hit just south of us as shown on Bay News 9 TV . . . but so far we are OK.



And here's a few different turtles - forest/land turtles found in a swimming pool skimmer - looks like they were having an August conference!

Where in the World is Mini Me - Part 2

spot rocker & dog

Rivelin Valley, Sheffield with a fabulous nature trail complete with weirs and ruins of 18th and 19th century grinding wheels.

1800 cheese toaster

We visited Brodsworth Hall in Yorkshire and had a short hike in the Monsal Head in the Peak District.












This area is famous historically for wool, textiles and metalworking.  These items were on display at the Millennium Museum in Sheffield. There were also egg toppers, spring scissors, Argyle (gravy server) and much more.

Yup, served turtle soup in 1800s

1850's

Sheffield historic sites, include this police box (used 1928 - 1960s) with telephone connect to the local station before individual homes had phones and an old public system of standard measures presented by the local earl (and mayor) to the city in 1910.

Back to the beach . . . ever tried Nordic pole walking on loose sand? Also did a bit of sea swimming.

Lara Malklem  SWNS.com        Daily Mail photo

Headline is 'Beach Blanketed ... in Starfish' 

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Our waters have plenty of sailboats of all sizes, paddleboarders, daily small commercial fishermen, the occasional kite surfer and has been patrolled by the Border Force and some cruise ships too!

MS Silver Wind flanked by cargo ships in Thames Estuary

Morris Dance integral to Folk Week

Girl Dancers

Where in the World is Mini Me?

Here's a selection of photos from Mini Me's summer activities . . . can you guess where she's been?

Some are obvious . . .

I'd never seen such precision sky writing before with 'puffs' of smoke -

And I will help you out here . . .

Have you ever been stuck on a train overnight during a strike (not recommended)? We were given emergency thermal blankets which created a somewhat alien environment (and  are very noisy too) -->

Pienza, Italy

Photograph of Shroud of Turin displayed at St Augustine, Ramsgate

restored early 1800's Italianate Glass House, Thanet

Dr Who's Tardis outside
redeveloping Earls's Court

A spot of filming from the annual Dickens Festival.

This whale is made of the plastic representating the amount thrown into the seas every second -- Ugh!!

gulls following a local fishing boat

Our local butcher loves putting these in his shop window - do you think he's done a deal with the green grocer up the street?

He's not the only one with a sense of humour ---

Landscape Artist of the Year Trials

<-- As seen in a friend's neighbour's yard.

Lawn bowls anyone? The UK season is April to Sept (they plan a modified game inside in winter) and in Florida it is November to April -- ha ha. Mini Me might be able to play year-round!

Us crafters have to get up early to fit everything into our day ---- LOL, but believe it or not, I did take the picture below (before jumping back into bed).

dawn taken at 3:45 am!!

Manatees at John's Pass, courtesy of Doc Jon