Dolphins & 4th o' July Parade

"There's dolphins in the backyaaard!" is what I heard M. yelling, just as I started rolling down the driveway.  Say what?! I dropped my bike and sprinted around the house in time to see a two smooth silver dorsal fins breaking the surface just a few feet from our seawall.  Since one fin was mucho tinier that the other, we think it was a mom/baby pair.  Aww. In three years living at PMH we hadn't been so lucky as to see dolphins, since neighbors had told us it was a rare treat.  Indeed.  So great was our shock and aww at seeing the dolphin family that it delayed my thinking... Pictures! Must get pictures!  Unfortunately for our camera, dolphins swim fast and they were quickly out of range.  We gotta be quicker on the draw next time. 

Actually, the experience was so magical and surreal, that I almost forgot I was previously on my way to be in a parade.  Oops. On an impulse, we had decided to participate in a local 4th of July Parade.  Officially dubbed a "bike parade" the reality is a mix of tricycles, strollers, big wheels, etc.  All the wheeled-thingys get gussied up in red, white and blue.  I woke up extra early to get to the parade line-up, never dreaming that a pair of dolphins would almost make me late.  Luckily for me, I made it to the parade right on time :) 

Hope everyone had a wonderful, relaxing, and safe holiday weekend.

Beach: Ft. De Soto

Today, I felt the slightest chill in a tank top - a sign of Autumn in Florida. It's hard to believe that just over a month ago, we were sweating bullets at Ft. DeSoto Beach. If you haven't been there, locals will *gasp* in shock that you haven't discovered this Florida gem. It's true, there is much to do: campsites, biking trails, bird watching, kayaking, paddle-boarding, reef snorkeling, and the ruins of a historic Spanish Fort that will transport you in time to an era when Espanol was the dominant language round these parts. Oh, yea, and there's a pristine beach guarded by mangroves as old as Florida herself.

On our first visit, we took along a few houseguests that hailed from California (thanks for the visit K. & A.). We started off with some waterside dining a-la-picnic-style. But when I discovered this swing, I didn't really want to move from here. Would you?

At the information center, we learned about all the things to enjoy here. Right behind the building, we looped through this short sweet trail.

Finally, we made it to the white sands and clear warm waters that vacations are made of. I can see why this beach keeps getting voted as the #1 Beach in America (according to TripAdvisor and Dr. Beach).

We had fun, but the day ended too quickly. Next time, I hope we get to take the ferry over to Egmont Key for some serious snorkeling.

Having felt the magic of Ft. DeSoto, I just know that we will be back.

Crabs for breakfast

As many mornings as possible, I try to enjoy a mini-moment of life on the bay. Sometimes, it's just a peek out the back window to catch a glimpse of the high tide. But on leisurely mornings, it's a slow stroll - coffee cup in hand - all the way down to the end of our dock. The experience is always the same and always different. This morning, I discovered someone had fresh crab for breakfast. It wasn't me.

Obviously, I'm just not this MESSY of an eater. Good to know that the birds of Tampa Bay aren't boycotting crabmeat out of the Gulf ;)

Oh, and lately, we've been blessed with visits from faraway friends & family, along with a lil' bit of house projecting...yeah! I'll be writing it up soon enough.

Green hope for Tampa?

Tampa isn't known as the greenest city. Actually, it's ranked pretty low compared to other cities. But there's hope! Last weekend Tampa held the Going Green Tampa Bay Expo 2009. On the first day of the expo, author/actor/environmental activist Ed Begley, Jr. was signing copies of his two latest green publications. We made it to the Expo on its 2nd day and perused a variety of eco-vendors ranging from solar installation companies to eco boutiques. We drooled over endless eco-goodies and the mack-daddy of them all: a hybrid-electric luxury boat manufactured in Clearwater, FL.

Behold the "Endeavor" which even has a bimini roof option featuring solar panels: