Red Dragonfly?

I am happy to say that I have seen something I have never seen before. This beautiful red dragonfly was at the regatta on Sunday and I was fortunate enough to see it and have my camera. I did a little looking on the net to find what it was, but came up with different dragonflies that looked close but not exactly the same. I will do a little more research and see what I come up with.

Maybe it is a Scarlet Skimmer.

States ~ Regatta

Just a warning lots of crew photos today.

Check 1-2-3, check, check, sibilance, check 1-2, testing 1-2-3, check. Paige with her head gear on, getting ready to take the boat down to the dock, would you like fries with that?

When they get down to the start of the race, they have to wait for awhile to let boats ahead of them start.  They have a holding pattern and get to take a break before they start their flight.

I went on the bridge today to take some photos at a different angle than I usually can.  Tampa is a great place to take close-up photos.

This is the race that started right before the Men's Junior Varsity Four (MJV4).  I thought it was an interesting photo to see them all lined up.  Usually you only see the finish line and do not get to see the start.

This poor woman sat here for hours holding the boats at the starting line. I think she was pink before she left for the day.

From up on the bridge the boat look so small, you can't even see Paige.

The canal looks small when your on the bank, but from the bridge you can see that it is pretty wide.  They have six lanes.

Paige is tucked into the front of the boat coxing the the Men's Junior Varsity Four (MJV4).  We go back to Tampa tomorrow they did great today and have to row again tomorrow in the finals.

Always makes me sad...

I hate it when I see a butterfly dying on the ground. I had hoped that it was just stunned and needed a little help, so I set it in the tree buy the garage.


It just was not going to make it. It fell into the tree and did not move. I got a few great photos of its beauty, these creatures are so magnificent.

I need to plant some butterfly bushes. We had them in Nebraska and I was amazed how many butterflies they did attract. They are so fun to watch.

An Engineer's Guide to Cats

For those of you who like to see videos here is a funny one, An Engineer's Guide to Cats

Who let the cat out of the bag?

I really don't know what to say about this photo. I also did not want to show how messy my pantry is, but this was too funny of a photo to pass up. Yep, she was just sitting there, inside the bag, just sitting there. Can someone tell me what she was doing? Thinking? Hoping? Anyone?

Cat Nap

These two cats never cuddle, last night Tulip and Crusty were all balled up on the chair and I thought this was so cute. I am sure this will never happen again.

How about these...

Sun glasses are always on the list of things she needs, ALWAYS! Mr. Hygiene would like her to get sporty sunglasses that look simple, clean and authoritative. Me, I like a little bling on her glasses. We liked these when Paige put them on, but then we saw the price. I am glad Paige gets sticker shock too. Sensible child didn't even ask for them, but she did ask for me to take a photo. I love this child, she is so fun.

How Swell things were

Gee whiz things were swell back then. KC Tom reminds me from time to time about this great site Lileks.com if you have time to blow today this would be a great place to spend your lunch break.

You will need to turn off the sound on my playlist to the left and listen to the great music while this is playing. Enjoy and have a great Monday.

Pearl

This was Pearl basking in the last few rays of sun today.

Pearls Room ~ A Dogs Life

If you were a dog would you like this for your room? This is Pearls room. Yes, our Dog has her own room. I do get to use for a craft room from time to time. Today, I could not find her and when I looked in her room, she was napping in the sun, on her bed. It was so sweet. She is a lucky dog. I told her not every dog gets their own room and a mattress with springs in it to sleep on, with clean sheets that get changed on laundry day. She did not believe me. I really think she believes all dogs live like this.


Here she is when I was telling her that some dogs live outside and that some dogs don't have people.


Pearl what are you thinking? Yes, it is true Pearl, some dogs even live in the wild without a dinner time and a night time snack. What?


Pearl is sad that all dogs are not as lucky as she is.

Black-Eyed Pea Salad Re-posted

I made this salad again this week, it has been a month or so since the last time I made it. I was reminded how refreshing it is and how much I love it. I thought I would post it again with the hopes that you all will give this yummy salad a try. There is a lot of chopping, I know, but it keeps well and with a good slice of bread it makes a quick and healthy meal.

I wish I could make this for my friend Sheri, she is over busy with design deadlines and getting ready to go again to NY for the design show, they both have the same deadlline. She is working only stopping for very little sleep and even less food. I would also like to make it for Leisa it is spring and her wee garden shop, Green Wellies, is a buzz of prep work getting ready for a very busy season, Oh and did I mention tax season, I don't know how she also lives, works and carpools with a CPA.

Black-Eyed Pea Salad
2 cans black-eyed peas (Drain & rinse well)
4 green onions, finely chopped (I use more)
1/2 c. celery, diced (I use more)
2/3 c. red pepper, diced (I use more)
1/2 c. parsley chopped (I use more)
1 jalapeño pepper minced
1/2 c. yellow banana peppers (canned)

Dressing
1/4 c. vinegar (I use more)
1/4 c. olive oil
2 t. Dijon mustard
Salt & pepper to taste

Random Photos pt. 2

Here are the last random photos from our vacation. There were so many photos that I wanted to put up for family and friends to see but if you know me at all you know that on our mini-holiday I took over 500 photos and I do need to stop boring everyone with the sun, sand, ocean and photos soon. Today I thought I would put up the last few photos. Below you will see Paige's pink toes in sea weed. My Self portraite ~ Red toes in sand, OPI's ~ Quarter of a cent-cherry, and yes, Mr. Hygiene's feet in all his beach glory.

Random Pt. 1

It is so fun to see people on the beach, there is such a wide variety, all there for different reasons.

The kids sitting with the fish on the line in front of them while their grandfather holds the fish is funny because the kid looks freaked out by the fish.

One of my favorite photos was the guy adjusting his overalls that were attached to his swim trunks. Stacy said "You can take the man out of Wisconsin, but you can not take the Wisconsin out of the man." So true.

Take a look at this guy who is looking for treasure, I would love to have a metal detector. I have wanted one since I saw them inside the Bazooka gum wrappers when I was little.

The lady taking photos scares Stacy a little, I think he is hoping that I will stop taking photos before we get that old because he would not want to have to get sand out of his socks on photography outings at that age...

And I love the couple holding hands on the beach as they take their walk,  so cute.

Mini Holiday pt. 3

Stacy bought Drumstick ice cream treats to have in the hotel as a refresher when we got back from a hot day at the beach.  We had a few left when it was time to check-out of the hotel and he was bound and determined to save the Drumsticks and take them to the beach.  He packed our small cooler with ice to the top encasing the treats, hoping this would keep them long enough to enjoy on the beach.  Here he is so pleased with himself.  We heard about this for hours, how great it was, how he did it and got to enjoy his tasty treat on the beach while Paige and I (a.k.a. "The Doubters" as Stacy called us) looked on. 

I love it when Paige has her hair flipped to the right side.  She has flipped it to the left side since October when she got a Chalazion on her left eye.  She goes in to get the Chalazion removed a week from Thursday, she will be very happy about that!

This is our favorite shell find of the vacation.  It is so small, but has the most detail of any of the shells we found.  We are going to frame it.

Paige and I love this bird. He has great hair and a little bit of attitude.  Paige thinks he looks like Christian from Bravo's Project Runway.  I agree.

Mini Holiday pt. 2 ~ Don't Feed the birds!

It seems that there is always something that sparks a photo shoot in our family's life. Usually it's me getting over excited about some small uneventful thing, that because of my enthusiasim becomes an event to remember.  It started when I began tossing crackers at Paige in an effort to see how close I could get the birds to sidle up next to her.  As I was holding a cracker, a brave bird swooped down and stole it right out of my hand.  Then...



After some begging on my part, Mr. Hygiene was given a cracker and the fun began.  I only wish my camera was a little faster.  Look at his face, poor guy once again roped into something by his wife.  But wait there is more...



"Stacy, Stacy stand up and try it, that would make a great photo...Pleeease!"  He is so nice to indulge me.



By then they both were on board with my antics and Paige was even getting brave and it only took a little coaxing to get her to try feeding the birds with her Dad.  Stacy's cracker went first, the birds beak nipped his thumb a little.  Don't you love Paige's face?



Then it was Paige's cracker.  See the cracker in the birds beak.  Poor Paige, I think she was a little traumatized by this. Notice Mr. Hygiene's shoes are back on.



Paige got grossed-out when she saw the bird left some saliva on her finger, and we had to take a photo of that too.



We stayed until the sun went down. It is not very often we get time to stop, or I should say take the time to stop, and watch something this beautiful happen. To think we could do this every day, not at a spot this lovely but where ever we are. Another great day...

Mini Holiday pt. 1 ~ Siesta Key

This beach was beautiful.  I can see why it is listed by Travel Channel as the #2 beach in Florida.  Even though this picture doesn't show it, the only draw back was the number of people.  It could have been busy because of the beachside performers (hippy drummers) or because most of the schools here are on break. Due to the hippy drummers there was also the faint smell of an illegal herb in the air. Where are the police when you need them?

Oh, there's a police officer now! If you had to be a cop on patrol this might not be the worst place to work.  We saw them talking to some kids that looked like they might have had some beverages that they were not old enough to be consuming or might not have been able to have on the beach.



I love this photo of Paige chasing the birds. Her hair is so out of control.

Here is Mr. Hygiene without shoes on.  Notice the unsure look on his face.  "Yes dear the sand is soft"  "No dear, the sand is not too hot for my feet"  "...I feel so exposed..."   

As I was snapping this photo Stacy said "I know what you're doing and I do not give you permission!" I did not know that I needed permission to highlight his lilly white feet that are as soft as a baby's bottom on my blog...how does this man live with me?



The end of the day...