Loving This Life of Leisure

We had wonderful meals here at The Crow's Nest.  Lon and Jared had steaks and I had walnut-crusted salmon on rice with an awesome sauce.  I was blown away by the flavors.

We spotted this beauty in the parking lot.  You don't see a Cadillac El Dorado like this very often anymore!!  

While we waited for our table at the Crow's Nest, we saw this dolphin swimming in the waters nearby.

CB's is one of our favorite shops. 

This pair of pelicans near CB's store were unbelievably tame. 

Pretty close, huh?

I never anticipated getting this up-close and personal.



...bold advertising for parasailing and jetskis...



...boardwalk shops...



We don't see trees like this is Wisconsin.



Life Is Good on Siesta Key

...another day going down... 

...one of our favorite places for dinner...

...the deck gazebo beside the Gulf...

...the walk to the pool...

...our early morning view...



...our rental car...



...we went inside but didn't eat here... 

...the Gulf waters on Crescent Beach...

A pelican skims over the water.

We always play at least one game before dinner.

A Walk, Wine, Beer and the Beach



Come with Lon and I on a walk to the Gulf.





We've come down four flights of stairs.  After a few turns we'll be facing the Gulf of Mexico.

Others enjoying the grounds.

...late afternoon shadows...



...a beer, Lon and my glass of wine...



...on the deck with the Gulf behind me...

...pretty in pink...

...with a green lustrous sheen...

...with a wedge of lime, of course...

...palm trees aplenty...

...love the landscaping...

...hop the fence and you're in the pool...

...dressed to stay warm on a chilly afternoon...

A short drive on Midnight Pass Road got us to dinner Friday evening.  Yesterday, we dined at The Outback. 



...ah, yes, I agree with this clam chowder's claim... 



A Quick Peek at Us on Siesta in FL

I successfully fought to get my weight down to a nearly all-time low.  The joy of that made me a little crazy.  Before we left home for FL a few days ago, I got the urge to buy a two-piece swimsuit and half an hour later I found this one reasonably priced in a neighborhood store.    If I'm going to wear it, I better do it real soon because I'm in a vacation eating mode already!!!

I threw on some clothes this morning and we walked downstairs from the condo to the gulf waters.  It's on the cool side right now but warmer weather is on its way.  I know, I know, I look like a clown.  At my age, I've decided I've earned the right to do that upon occasion. 

I snapped a few random photos to cheer up Sarie.  I hope whoever stops to visit my blog enjoys this photo peek at Florida on this eleventh day of March, 2011.  
     

The little girl in the pink cap is so adorable that I had to capture her without being too obvious.  I wish I could have zoomed in even closer.  

Reflective Moment #3

With the advent of a new month, I turn to a new page in my Reflective Moments book.  (Thank you again, Sarie).

I feel at peace when I look at this photo of a solitary figure in a canoe amidst the gorgeous colors of the setting sun.

Albert Camus (1913-1960) lived a rather short life, yet obviously gave a considerable portion of it to philosophying on the subject of life itself.


According to Camus, I'm not happy and I'm not living, because I often consider what are the best ingredients for making happiness and I'm often side-tracked and at least momentarily search for the meaning of life.  

I'm being silly.  I get what Camus is getting at, I just like to argue whenever possible.  So much for putting philosophical ideas like these and Shaddy in the same room.

Perhaps I should ignore the words this month and focus entirely on the photo!!  Yeah, that's what I'll most certainly do. 

How do the photo and words affect you?  If you don't want to go to the work of thinking seriously about either, just leave a few words of nonsense.  I'm into the nonsensical quite heavily these days.  My hero presently is the Mad Hatter.         

It's OK To Be Crazy About Alice

 I've added two books to my Alice in Wonderland collection.  My library presently contains a grand total of three books about Alice.

To round out my total experience with the story, I recently watched the Disney DVD of Alice in Wonderland based on or, more accurately in my opinion, inspired by the books--Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

The blue book on the right is the adaptation of the original stories as depicted in the DVD.  

The movie is a far cry from the books.  Note the names credited with the adaptation, screenplay, novels (we already know the author), producer and director.

Pictured to the left is the third book in my collection.  I'm not all that thrilled with this publication but I'm pleased with words I found on the back cover.  Continue on for the details.

I've been feeling kind of silly that at my age I'm beginning to collect this particular book.  My perception  changed after reading the last paragraph on the back cover.

Lewis Carroll's writings delight "audiences ranging from children to the literary elite..."  

If Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass appeal even to the literary elite around the world, I certainly needn't be embarrassed that I'm such a big fan.







P.S.  Today, the day after I originally published this post, the fourth book in my collection arrived at my doorstep.  I better start shopping for that perfect bookshelf to display them on!!!