A Snowbird's Life Through the Lens
Life on my own, on the Nature Coast of Florida, and beyond…
Sometimes you get to catch up with a friend and also catch up on some sunset and sunrise photos all in the same visit. This visit was to John’s Pass, an overnight visit with no long drive home hanging over our heads and the hope of a nice sunrise before taking that long drive home the next day.
The trip to John’s Pass was a spur of the moment decision, with little expectation except a chance to catch up with a friend, but with sunset and sunrise as possible photo ops at the same time. We sat on the balcony overlooking the boardwalk, on a beautiful breezy afternoon, drinking beer and enjoying apps at Bubba Gumps. Staying in the hotel right there on the boardwalk was an essential part of the plan, so that the drinking could be enjoyed with no long drive home, and the sunrise would be right outside the door in the morning also. The dolphin’s were a bonus. I hadn’t seen them at John’s Pass before, and I couldn’t resist focusing my camera on the water and waiting, all the while expecting a fin to pop up, but I got more than I expected.
We were so busy watching for dolphins that we thought we’d dithered too long to catch the sunset, but I wouldn’t have minded that after seeing this dolphin.
Yesterday was the last of the Tampa Bay Downs photo shoots of the season, which ends right after the Kentucky Derby. Except for one weekend in July it will start up again in the fall. It was going to be HOT, and I wasn’t too enthused about going at all until Bernie said that he’d like to shoot from the grandstand and that sounded like an excellent idea. Standing trackside doesn’t give me a good angle to shoot, but the grandstand makes for a better angle and has huge fans to keep you cool. Walking out onto the balcony is still shaded and is a good option too.
Thank goodness pollen season is nearly over, or so said the ophthalmologist the other day. My eyes were itchy and dripping so we left after this race. Lately we have been the only ones from the photo group who have shown up for the once a month trip to the races. I went to one just after I joined the group in 2017, and I was surprised to meet another member who also had grown up in Brockton, MA. Life happened in the meantime, and we are now the 5th couple who have met by joining the group. Funny how life turns out sometimes.
We took a bit of a wildlife drive yesterday with my visiting friend. The eagles are pretty easy to see when they have eaglets in the nest to raise and protect, but not so much with the owls. We recently went to the park for the owls and the first time I looked at the tree, after getting some advice about where to look, there she was! So easy to see, so I was looking forward to going back again, but I discovered that even when you know where to look you might not ‘see’ her until you put your pictures into the computer. And with that camouflage it’s no wonder that’s true.
We made angel ornaments together, my mother and I. She came to visit at Thanksgiving and stayed until Christmas. It was my idea, but when I suggested it I was kidding. My daughter and family, which included her first great-grandchild, would also be visiting for both holidays that year, so it was going to be especially fun. When my mother called back a few days later and said that yes, she would come and stay, I had my doubts. Our relationship had never been an easy one and that was a lot of time to fill. But together we visited many Christmas venues, searching for the right homemade ornament to copy, always an angel, and when we found it we would buy one. Then while I was at work all day my mother would deconstruct the ornament and make a pattern for us to follow. We shopped for fabrics and trims, and laughed at the kitty who would sit on the table and watch us sewing with a frown on her face. It turned out to be the most enjoyable visit ever, which is why she did it several more years in a row. I’m grateful for these memories, so glad my mother and I found our way together.
Eventually my mother had to go into a nursing home and my sister and I would try to think up a way to create a ‘tree’ for her room every Christmas. This was one of them, and after she died I took this one home with me. I had to buy a new string of lights for it this year. It brings back good memories as it sits, twinkling on my desk, all these years later.
Story of my life, I always did cram for tests at the very last minute. We have planned and had to reschedule our field trip to the Everglades twice since September. Plenty of time to get myself and the camera ready for this weekend’s trip. I was actually proud of myself for finding out how to get the camera set according to directions. And while I had worked out how to set my camera for star trails photos, I didn’t actually go out and take a shot. So I didn’t discover that my Canon camera didn’t work quite the same as our instructor’s Nikon until we were in the Everglades, in the dark, and since everyone else’s cameras were also taking pictures I couldn’t turn on any lights to try and figure my issue out. Thank goodness I had gotten the phone out for the shots I did get.
I did adjust my camera on the fly, and in the dark, so I did come away with some photos from the shoot. But the class that will teach us how to edit those pictures isn’t until next Sunday, so I will resist doing anything with them until I hear how the expert edits his pictures. Kudos to Mike Spears, who put a lot of time and effort into bringing us this opportunity. It was a fun trip, can’t wait to try this again, but maybe in the backyard this time. And I’m happy to report that no alligators, panthers, or pythons were spotted on the trip. I may love a nice photo op but I do have my limits.
A Snowbird's Life Through the Lens 