seriouslyscorpio

thoughts of the moment and of my life

Tag Archives: spring/summer/fall/winter


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THEY’RE GONE!!


They’re gone! I repeat….’they are gone’! The snowbirds are retreating to the north….the harsh winter has ended, and the daffodils are pushing through the wintery mess. It is as though the smell of Spring began drifting into the state of Florida. Having to cut fresh green grass doesn’t seem like a chore in April, now! If you live in the Midwest you understand why winter must come and spring must follow. It offers rest and rebirth to every living creature and every seed of winter wheat. Redbud peek through the woods on the Interstate, tulips thrust out of the soil overnight and seem to grow an inch a day. And then there are the lilac ……there are no words to explain the experience of being near lilac…and better yet, having a bunch in your favorite vase on the dining room table.

Farmers hope for just the right amount of rain, even a little snow, and then warmer days so they can get out into the fields to plant. Soil is turned and turned again. Little streams still run full as snow melts further north, winding their way through new housing developments, and into ‘creeks’ where good fishing will come in just a few months. Flowers show up in the back seats of cars each weekend, carefully chosen by their new owner, to bring color to drab neighborhoods.

Sleds and snow blowers go into hibernation for another 3 seasons. In their place, the new swing sets are assembled, and tricycles rest beside cars.
It is a sight!

Little League fathers come out of their dens…..riding lawnmowers and gardening equipment caravan to local baseball fields. Soon….’play ball’ will be heard across small towns everywhere. And all because of the faint and yet endearing ‘feeling’ that spring is in the air, as life moves from indoors to the patios and parks of these wonderful states.

Ain’t it grand? You betcha!!


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NO CURFEW IN THE GULF


Well, I’m here to say, there is seems no end to this spring party in the Gulf….One doesn’t hear much, but the beaches are jump’in..yes, even ‘in the air’ jump’in.

Now that the little guys have arrived, their extended family have received their invites. It is time for sprucing up the digs, so many hermit crabs are up sizing. Yes, they do outgrow, their studio type homes, so searches go on constantly. People (nice humans) who visit the Gulf, know they should only take one live shell away from the beach each visit……what a shame they are allowed even that.
(another ‘be that as it may’) So it is proper etiquette to lift gently and peek in to these shell homes first, before plopping them into your bucket. If they have set up housekeeping, it is then necessary to put them back, and apologize for making thier little hearts skip a beat.

As spring progresses, many empty shell bodies are found. The tides give us a new view of what the Gulf has to offer, and the waves gently deposit the new, old, and empty shells of life in it’s beautiful waters. It is a fact of life, life and death, and the Gulf of Mexico shows us how the grand plan was put into place. I still wonder, at almost age 70, why things are the way they are, so don’t feel alone, if you wonder the same, now and then.

Discarded shells from other generations do provide exquisite art that cannot be duplicated. Their color, their shape, and their design are the architecture of God. Each is made to house the life inside…and is done so to perfection. Take note…..and know it is a simple joy to ‘stop’ and look at these treasures….they will move you and replenish your soul.

I spent the evening at low tide, picking and choosing my next gallon of shells….What a wonderful and inexpensive habit I have. The warmth of spring, the waters of the Gulf, a good friend, and a bucket. These are the days to remember. Thank goodness I’ve been allowed to realize these moments. Just take 60 seconds…and stop to look around…then take 70 seconds and then 80. Take in all the gifts God gives us each day..for free!!


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THERE’S A PARTY GO’IN!


Wow….or maybe it should be WOW!! It is party time in SW Florida and the city is not one you regularly party in on Fri. night…well, at least not all the time. IT’S THE GULF OF MEXICO, of course. It is springtime in the Gulf and on the Gulf and the place is jump’in.

Everyone who is anyone in the Gulf Kingdom is coming home to reunite with some and partner up with others. It seems they’ve spent the winter in the deeper waters of the Gulf for safety and warmth, but now the beach waters are 80F and the welcome mat is out.

Mother Nature/God sure set it up right. The breezes are mild, the bugs are few and the snow
birds have gone north. The beaches are relatively quiet as big and little couples come to be a part of the large guest list. As in the order of things, there are some who depend on the lunching of others to keep this arrangement in harmony. I plan to ask Mother Nature/God about this when I visit the other side. If I ever come back, I’ll write about what they say.

Be that as it may, these wonderful creatures come home with great folly. There are schools of little fish…just new babies who stay close to each other or Mom/Dad. Some come from long egg pods that look like snake skeltons…and are they a work of art. Others look like the rubber seals that keep canned peaches tasty.

In the sky, parent and child Osprey glide and squawk during daily lessons. As in our species, many children carry on something terrible when mom quits bringing the daily meal. Goes to prove that leaving the nest is not exciting for everyone.

The skates come to visit for the summer in April/May of each year. They definitely add a ‘shuffle’ to our step when we take our daily walks. You see, they love to nestle in the very shallow waters of the Gulf….looking for tasty morsels. After finding a spot, they wiggle/shiver into the sand and do whatever….maybe take a nap.
However!!

When someone or something comes by unannounced, these tiny darlings become a little startled and whip their tail around to barb whoever is nearby. Well, dang, I can vouch for the fact that THAT HURTS!! Keep in mind, however, I’ve been coming here for 35 years and have only been stung once…and it was my fault….not shuffling in a skate zone. No ticket given, but 45 min of pouring super hot water on the spot to ease the toxins, taught me well.

More later…….your correspondant, from the beach says tootle