Category: Just do it

Amazing artwork, blessings, connections, exploring new places, finding my way, flowers, food, friends, Just do it, leap of faith, life, making memories, perseverance, photography, second chances, strangers become friends

Life goes on…

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As unlikely as it may seem, the day may come when there is a new someone special in your life, and you want to introduce him to your kids. Not that I was worried, but really didn’t I expect to have one of the most fun nights ever. Belly laughs that just wouldn’t quit.

See? Laughing!

There were crabs on the menu at Frankie’s Raw Bar, and this New Englander who found herself in Baltimore for a few decades wasn’t going to miss a chance to eat steamed blue crabs. I consider it a failure, however, that I failed to recognize that it was not Old Bay seasoning, gasp, that they were doused with, it was J&O seasoning instead. My son didn’t pick up on it either, but he didn’t eat crabs in Baltimore for as many years as I did, so he had an excuse.

My daughter-in-law took us on a tour of the back rooms and garden of the place, where we found many surprising things…

This door looked like a potential ‘through the looking glass’ moment, but we didn’t enter to find out.
There were sea creatures in crates, coming or going? Who knows.
And not so sea creatures.
Some possibly escaping.
Beautiful pieces everywhere.
And stained glass pieces to boot.
And what felt like a secret garden.
New life…
And a froggie too.

Life is funny, but when it hands you a gift just take it and be grateful…

'scene' along the way, flowers, fun, gardens, Just do it, life, live and learn, nature, on closer examination, perseverance, photography

Succulents…

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I’ve certainly raved over photo ops that come to me in the past, but this one didn’t come to me. No, I had to walk across the street to see it. And I heard it before I saw it. The fountain gurgling caught my attention. A sweet little succulent garden. I’ve been offered cuttings, but my track record with plants isn’t great. Fortunately for my kids and pets I’ve done better with them.

This last one is the flowers that really caught my eye. So sweet, love them.

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, Hudson Beach, Just do it, on closer examination, perseverance, photography, sunset

Skeleton Key…

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I’ve been to Hudson Beach so many times over the years, but hadn’t ever walked all the way to the far end of the parking lot before. Which is how it is that I had never noticed this sign until last night. One of the reasons I kept walking past where I normally would have turned was that I heard lots of commotion and couldn’t decide if people were having fun or not. They may have been having fun then, but by the time I left there were police cars in the area and my guess is someone wasn’t having fun anymore.

This sign was behind a locked fence, I wished for a different angle.
This is a different angle on a familiar view.
Did I spot a lighthouse?
There were no clouds to light up the sky but it was a pretty sunset anyhow.

'scene' along the way, a second look, adventure, friends, fun, Just do it, life goes on, making memories, nature, perseverance, photography, reality check

Photo shoots…

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Most of the time when I head out to take pictures I might have a little conversation with someone or another, but I come away with enough pictures to keep me busy for hours editing them. But not always. Considering how much talking I did yesterday I’m surprised I got even one decent picture at the race track. It was the last racetrack photo shoot of the year, and it was hot, but with a cool breeze that saved us. Or I thought it saved me anyhow, but I will have to buy some more sunscreen and a hat if I’m going to keep this up. Ouch.

'scene' along the way, adventure, family, fun, Just do it, nature, perseverance, photography, road trip, travel

Princess Place Estates…

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The last of my stops in my East Coast of Florida tour was at Princess Place. Of course I hadn’t ever heard of it, but it’s a lovely park with many beautiful live oaks and a water view. There is even a lodge house sporting a porch decked out with rocking chairs for you to sit and enjoy that view. This is a venue for events, such as my cousin’s daughter’s wedding not too long ago.

Here is the lodge with it’s nice porch, and rockers to sit in while you enjoy the view.
I loved all the live oaks on the property, but what really caught my eye in this picture is that vine that is draped from on tree to the other.
A covered bridge was an unexpected, but fun, find.
There are stables on the property. My cousin’s daughter’s wedding party used one of the horse stalls to change clothes on the big day. Which is a while lot nicer than it might sound.
The stables also house this antique carriage.
Keeping up with this small person is what kept us from sitting and rocking on the porch for a little longer. That wasn’t what she had in mind.

Another nice day seeing the area and catching up with family. Or trying to, see above photo!

'scene' along the way, adventure, bugs, dragonflies, exploring new places, finding my way, flowers, fun, gardens, Just do it, live and learn, making memories, nature, perseverance, photography, road trip

Newhall Audubon Preserve…

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My young cousin and I had a conversation the other day about taking the detours that you see along the highways of life. She says she always takes the detour if she is traveling with time on her hands. I always feel like I spotted them too late to take the turn, or I think I have nowhere to pull the car over safely. There are missed photo ops that have been living in my head for many, many years. And while I missed a great potential shot the other day, I later hung a right at Newhall Audubon Preserve, a quick but worthwhile stop. Stopping to smell the roses, so to speak. I need to do that more often…

I confess that heading down a path like this by myself doesn’t always feel safe. Other hikers are a welcome sight.
The views are often lovely.
I didn’t walk the path around the little lake.
There were no big fat bumble bees, just tiny little ones.
Oops, one fat bee.
Loblolly pines are amazing. So tall and straight, I’m sure they were prized for timber. But taking a picture is almost impossible, except from this angle.
So very tall.
This isn’t the butterfly I had in mind, but he’ll do.
I loved seeing this dragonfly’s shadow.

After a short while I got back on A1A, knowing that just beyond the beautiful houses I was seeing on my left as I drove south, there was the ocean. I passed up one beach access turn off, I guess I hadn’t quite learned my own lesson, but I took the second one. I was catching on…

The ocean has my heart.