How to Make a New Island & Spread COVID?

In case you are wondering, here's what a hurricane, in this case Hurricane Sally. did to a barrier island in the Florida Keys - one barrier island became three!

Fortunately nothing so dramatic has happened directly to us yet ... but has happened within last 100-150 years a few times nearby ...

On the COVID-19 front our R0 rate is hovering just around or under 1, but here we go again as clearly our leaders don't read the international news headlines "Europe: Sickened by a second viral wave'."  I know people are confused in the UK as to the myriad of ever-changing rules and here in the US we also haven't a clue what to do:

• Florida Gov. DeSantis Proposes College ‘Bill Of Rights’ To Party (headline of 25 September 2020)
• The Republican governor also said he would move to block local governments from closing restaurants again. The governor's plan to stop cities and counties from closing restaurants will have no immediate effect because most eateries have been allowed to reopen, albeit at reduced capacity, as part of the governor's plan to revive the state economy.
• Phase 3 FL Reopening Means Bars, Restaurants At Full Capacity -- no masks required!
"We're also aware of the need for business certainty," [Governor] DeSantis said. "There have been some local closures and other types of restrictions, so the order that I'm signing today will not allow closures of restaurants, and they can operate at a minimum of 50 percent regardless of local rules."

Storm Brewing: COVID? Or ?
we need to send this cloud to CA wildfires!!
It looks like the people abduction cloud in La Derniere Vague 

?????Confused???? Thankfully now we have out local county asserting itself [but without teeth!]:

County COVID-19 ordinance remains in effect. A County ordinance put in place to facilitate safe reopenings while slowing the spread of COVID-19 remains in effect, following the announcement of Phase 3 of the state’s Safe, Smart, Step-by-Step phased plan Friday (25th). Executive Order 20-244, signed Friday by Governor DeSantis, does not impact the local ordinance the County adopted, including the face covering requirement for indoor facilities and that customers be seated to be served at a bar or restaurant.

While the governor’s order suspends the collection of fines and penalties associated with COVID-19 enforced upon individuals, it does not restrict counties and municipalities from enforcing rules on businesses.

Face Coverings: The countywide ordinance 20-14 took effect in June and remains in effect through the duration of County’s State of Local Emergency. ... Citizens must wear a face covering in indoor public places within the County, although the Board provided several exceptions. Among them: o The County ordinance mandate cannot conflict with the Americans with Disabilities Act. o The ordinance does not apply if a person is strictly adhering to social distancing and there are 10 or fewer people in the location who are also maintaining social distancing. o It does not apply to governmental entities such as schools, courthouses or city halls, although those entities are encouraged to develop procedures to protect employees and the public. Etc Etc

Predictable Impact:  Florida bars packed after state lifts COVID-19 restrictions. Think anyone there got the FL Surgeon General recommended flu vaccine?

More notably the weekend saw mini me take borrowed clippers to hubby's head and now instead of looking like Einstein, he looks like Shaun, the shorn sheep.

So to soothe use all, here is a 2 am moon picture from Kepi Peterson.

"We are Flirting with Danger"

http://www.docjonphoto.com/

"We are Flirting with Danger" in oh so many ways - presidential election, politically both sides agree on this, but the exact danger each side sees is polar opposites! And then the coronavirus pandemic, weather extremes (went to zoom presentation on 'controlled burns') and ... ah well... back to the mundane -->

-->Lysol disinfecting dash of 15 September:  Friend texted "they have disinfecting wipes" and I was out the door to snag my first supply in months!  Wow wee got there in time and made my COVID-19 day - how sad is that?  But I figure another surge may be coming so doing all I can to be prepared despite the lower positive test rate here recently.

Mini me has taken to a news holiday on Saturdays and finds this uplifts her mood along with swims in the pool, which reminds me ...

Through September 21

turtle nest with light screen

. . .we are so thankful the hurricanes have missed us to date.  Tropical Storm ( become a hurricane) Sally passed us by 125 miles offshore on the 13th, so all we have is big waves and a bit of wind ...for 5 days!

Our typical rainy season includes lots of thunder and lightening storms reminding me of a childhood saying 'the angels are bowling' and getting lots of strikes I might add! Plus preceding and following a tropical storm we have had what I call humidity pea-soupers or what the TV weatherman calls 'air you can wear!'  It is worse than trying to swim, just walking about in the dense humid conditions - thank goodness for air conditioning (a/c).

Turtle season is winding down, above you can see the big waves of Sally trying to attack this nest, which unusually has both a light screen and a self-releasing (ie big holes) cage around it.  Here you can see it did hatch on night of 14/15th.

turtle nest hatching hole in center of cage

Our beach walk (generally in the rain or just after a storm when beach is empty) turns up a few things ...

. . . we watched this gull try to eat this seahorse for quite awhile (hubby got a great picture),

tasty seahorse dinner, but hard to swallow

and this is a non-stinging (thankfully) moon jelly - our beach is full of them!

The mask hospital was open here recently as I repaired our first set of masks and made a couple more - think we are going to be wearing these for awhile.

Not watching the news is helping to save me from swimming in the sea of mediocrity (I even have made an action motion for this) which is seemingly sweeping the world -I do suffer the  COVID grumpies and weariness trying to anticipate the actions (or inaction) of others.

left = friend Jan; right = mine

On a cheerier note:  here's a craft project I can share as I am keeping it for myself!  I really love this basket.

This along with trying out new recipes (mainly salads some of which I make up on the spot with whatever is in the fridge!) &baking keeps me more or less sane.