Pool Time

"When I was forty-five I lay for hours
beside a pool, the green hazy
springtime water, and watched
the salamanders coupling, how they drifted lazily,
their little hands floating before them,
aimlessly in and out of the shadows, fifteen
or twenty of them, and suddenly two
would dart together and clasp
one another belly to belly
the way we do, tender and vigorous, and then
would let go and drift away
at peace, lazily,
in the green pool that was their world
and for a while was mine."   Hayden Carruth

Linking up to Texture Tuesday..I used Kim Klassens 2110 texture at Multiply 25 percent.

Island News

Today's weather...high of 82, low of 72, sunny with chance of light sprinkle...funny, that's been the same weather report since we arrived.  It's one of the things we love most about St. Maarten..predictable weather, always in our favor...the other thing I love about being here is the smell of the ocean, the smell of the heat...it just fills me up..comfort food for the nose and soul, so to speak.   The weeks pass quickly, already home is seeping slowly into my mind.  We will enjoy the rest of our time here though and store up the color and sounds, sun and light rain...the kind of rain that is like a gentle kiss on your body.  No worries, no hurry.

So, I share with you a few of my favorite finds for this week...Color, it's all about the color.

My favorite tree...it's like the "meeting tree" for the locals, always interesting people and that branch is just made for soaking up some shade on these hot, hot days...

The Sweet Sugar Bird...yes, that really is the name of this very pretty bird...they literally eat sugar.  This little one was just finishing up his bath and I just love how he was puffing up his feathers... 

Ah, the Pinal Island lizard...o.k. this one is not so colorful but I love his stance..there are many others that are much more colorful and they just hang out at the beach...first time I met one, I was in the "ladies room", outside of course and one of these creatures sauntered in...literally scared the "crap" out of me...LOL Anyways...we have become much better friends since then...I no longer use the "ladies room."

The sunsets are gorgeous every night..sometimes, like here, I just shot it from my balcony.  Other times I head down to the beach.  Wherever  I am, the sunsets bring me to a halt.  They remind me of the beauty of nature and the spectacular paintings of a higher spirit...always the end to a perfect day.

I could not end this post without offering up another French treat...Last week I gave you Hot Cross Buns, this week I'm sorry to say they were out of those buns but they did have some "day old buns" that I thought you might enjoy..something for everyone on the beaches...

I'll hope these photo's bring you some respite for the weather you might be experiencing at home...Even though I am here I think about my family and my peeps everyday...we can travel, relax and enjoy another culture but we are never really very far from home and heart..

Happy Weekend to all of you...

Love Is In The Air....

No one does L O V E like the French...everything about them says love...so one of the first things I do when I come back to St. Maarten each year is run over to the French side of the Island get me some of the best macaroons on the planet...they are big, with lots of oolala stuffing, just a bit crunchy on the outside and soft as butter on the inside...Today's flavors are Raspberry (my personal favorite) Mocha and Mango...Wishing you all a little love bite today...

Here are a few of my Friday Finds for this week..

Lovely little bright and creamy drinks...medicinal of course, and beautiful eye candy.

Always looking for health benefits...fruit on the beach..crack me one please.

 I love fresh flowers any day of the year...but especially soft pink on Love day.

To finish of this week of L O V E what about some nice Hot Cross Buns...yes, a nice view from my lounger..

Now isn't love just wonderful...in any form you choose..go out there today and find yourself some love, you don't even have to wait for someone to provide it for you...gather it up yourself and enjoy.

Happy Friday and most especially, HAPPY VALENTINES DAY...

I Only Have Eyes For You

The time is winding down for these lovely little birds to be in our area...soon they will move on to a colder climate to continue their hunting...I could not miss one more opportunity to post and I've saved this one for last...wink,wink...

He is the cutest and he was the bravest...coming down off his perch to sit on the ground in front of me...I think in their time here they got very used to all of us gawkers looking at them and sometimes they were very accommodating.. He sat here quite awhile, not moving his claws at all, just turning his very flexible neck constantly...It was raining, I was under a tree and we looked at each other, me, every few seconds clicking the shutter...the owl, every few seconds swiveling around..looking for his lunch..

I've been fortunate over the years to capture a lot of wildlife...nature is where I'm most comfortable with my gear.  In all these many years, I've been treated to some very lovely gifts from my forest friends..but I must say, these owls have captured my heart like no other bird.  They are beautiful and cute.  They are patient and fast.  They wait and they watch.  They teach me to do the same.   You can not rush them. They are in charge.  So we wait..in the cold, rain, and if we are lucky, in the sunshine.  I have yet to get one in flight but that will be my goal for next year.  Just by being with them and seeing them was  accomplishment enough for this year...I am on the bonus plan with these little guys...because beyond finding them..I was able to get some very nice shots..so, I for one, will leave them in peace for this year.  

I am thankful always for the privilege of living in an area that affords me so much land to poke around in, and in this tiny space surrounding me, I have been blessed to see such natural beauty and amazing critters. So although I will not be shooting the owls anymore this year..I will be back in the marsh, along the seacoast next year...in the meantime, I'll be practicing my bird panning...Thank you my Owl friends, your eyes are amazing..they are your light and now they are mine..

the Wisdom of the Owl

                      
                              an                    owl
                                is                      the
                                one                  true
                            symbol of all the wisdom
                        of the world. God gave him big
                      penetrating  yellow eyes to see us
                      and                    he                  will
                      by          ( )        his        ( )      task
                        he                  will                now
                            watch over mankind forever
                            oh feathered      bird stand
                              your ground we seek your
                        wise sight given to you by God,
                      as you sleep by day and watch in the
                      night for mankind is rife with it's fault
                      loses grace with each sin that is wrought
                    thats why you were made you were born to
                    fly,given the wisdom that shines in your eyes,
                        and closed by day gaining rest for the night 
                            needed for manuevering with your flight.
                                of all of the animals that God ever created
                                    a creature of the night you are situated on an
                                        old                  oak tree              branch of a limb
                                        for                  you  are                          like a sentinel 
                                        to                      him.
                                  a    wise              one  to  boot
                                  so  let  us all        hear you hoot !