Tales of the Neighborhood Birds

Well, we have remained homeless through the holidays and way beyond . . . I still have not been home.  I've written bits and pieces on the ponderously slow process of rebuilding after a hurricane on my other blogs.

Rather than go on and on about the unpleasantness, I prefer to write about the happy times.

I've gotten through this time enjoying nature in my mom's back yard.  There have been many times in my life that nature has gotten me through some stressful times with simple pleasures that nature brings me.

Experiencing nature in my mom's back yard is much different than it was at home.  However, we are in for more changes when we finally get back home. It will be totally different with the huge oak tree gone.

Before

After

 

All the power lines in my mom's neighborhood run through everyone's back yard, making it a natural perch for all the birds that like to hang out here.  We have experienced different types of birds that visit, such as the sea gulls that our baby Kiki does not like at all. 

It is strange, but those are the only birds she barks at for some reason.  It could be their size that intimidates her or perhaps their "voice" that is distinctively different than the other birds.  They have like a mocking laugh that is so funny.  We have named the one who hangs out here Jasper . . . it could be more than one, but they are all named Jasper the Gull.

Through the time we have been here, the mockingbirds have ruled the territory, keeping out the cardinals that I love so much.  They venture through here occasionally, but they are quickly chased away.  But something has recently changed . . .

We were lucky enough to witness the raising of baby mockingbirds close to where we sit.  Maybe they thought we would help them protect the babies from the neighborhood cats.  The sweetest thing was watching the feeding process.  You can barely see them, but we managed to capture the open beaks of the hungry baby birds. 

It seems like only one baby survived and the mom and dad have left her their territory, so only one remains here.  She is just discovering her voice and has begun singing those beautiful mockingbird tunes for us.

She's a sweetie and I've named her Lola.

There are many other stories to tell, but for now I will leave you with the one about Florida's state bird, the beautiful and graceful mockingbird.

FEMA Denies Our Claim

It has been a few days since we received the notice from FEMA that they have deemed our house habitable.  

How can you live in a house with a huge limb of an oak tree sitting on your house, sinking deeper every day from the weight and more rain pouring into the holes in the roof?  The back room is visibly crushed.  The truss is cracked.  You can see daylight from the holes in the kitchen ceiling. The air handler has busted pipes.  The Captain can't get into the laundry room . . . the door won't open.  What would happen if you force it open?  Will the ceiling crash in further?  What is damaged in that room?  It stores our laundry equipment, lawn equipment and power tools.

But FEMA thinks the house can be lived in and we have to appeal their decision in order to have any chance of getting help from them to rebuild.

The FEMA inspector who met with The Captain and checked out the damage was very encouraging and we really thought we would be rebuilding the damage soon.  Oh no, how silly of us to think that . . . things can't be that easy with the government red tape.  The appeal process could take up to 90 days.  Then the repairs can commence should we win the appeal. 

So, we shall remain homeless through the holidays and beyond.  What a nightmare!

Although this is a major setback and our future with the house my first husband and I bought in 1984, The Captain and I still have tons of faith that we will get through this and come out of it better than ever. 

Faith and the unknown can be a very scary thing . . . damn you Hurricane Irma!

More Hurricane Irma Perils and Being Grateful

We moved again and have settled at my Mom's house.  She had evacuated to hide from Hurricane Irma at my brother's house in Georgia.  Her house is where evacuees usually flee to, but a Category 5 Hurricane Irma scared her as it did me.

Initially FEMA gave us 14 days to stay at a motel.  With only three days left to go, we contacted FEMA only to be told they were not sure if the program would be extended.  They assured us they would let us know.  They let us know a few hours before we had to check out.  Since the motel was booked solid, we were proactive and set up a reservation at another motel on our own dime.  

We decided that it was not worth having to wait until the last minute to know if we were going to have a roof over our head every week or so.  We have no idea how long it will be before we can move back home.  

The fact that we had my Mom's house to fall back on, we decided to leave the FEMA program and stay with her.

Now we know we will have a roof over our head that will not be taken away at a moment's notice and I am very grateful for this . . . not everyone has those options.

Our FEMA house inspection was very positive and we should be hearing from them sometime next week as to their decision on how they will help us.

I still haven't been home . . . don't want to see the damage.  My heart has been broken enough!

There is something unnerving about being "homeless" and still having a home . . . an oxymoron.  Although the feelings of homelessness are very creepy, I'm grateful to still have a home that is mostly intact.

Our part of the world was hit by another major hurricane after we were hit by Hurricane Irma.  Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico and produced a humanitarian crisis of major proportions, destroying their electrical grid and bringing their economy to a standstill.  

The grateful feelings overwhelm me when I read the stories coming out of Puerto Rico.  Lives have been devastatingly shattered.  I can only imagine all those people feeling so helpless and not knowing where to turn.  They are running out of money, but what can they buy?  I could go on and on about what is going on there.

The Captain and I, along with my mom, have been inconvenienced.  It will no doubt change our lives, but I believe for the better.  I've always believed that everything happens for a reason, fate and destiny.  I can see many reasons for us and they are all positive.

Count your blessings . . .

Perils of Hurricane Irma

For the first time in my life, I hate living in Florida.

As I sat outside our motel room this morning, enjoying a gorgeous blue sky Florida morning, I couldn't help but think back to a week ago today when The Captain went back home after Hurricane Irma passed to make sure all was well to go back home.  Initially, I was not worried because Tampa was spared with a Category 1 instead of Category 5 hurricane.

It is something that I can't face at this time . . . I have not seen it, nor do I want to even see a photo.  A huge limb on a chunk of our house, pierced through the roof and even some of the ceiling, affecting several rooms.  The Captain tells me parts of the ceiling and insulation is scattered all over the place. 

What once was my favorite part of the house, the back room whose walls were made of glass, were smashed, exposing the house to future storms, exposure to the bare elements of nature and further deterioration of the roof and ceiling.  I can imagine the puddles of water and sand making a muddy mess on the floor.

I am feeling lost, like a gypsy wandering in the wilderness of FEMA motels, not knowing if the temporary housing will continue and for how long.  

So far FEMA has been awesome.  We will see when we hear what the inspector has to say and what they are prepared to do for us.

In the meantime, we can't touch the damage and there is  another hurricane threatening to hit Florida.  It is almost unbearable to think about . . . time is just making a bad situation worse.  The heavy limb sinks a little bit further with time and every rain that decides to come around.  Thank God our rainy season is winding down, although it is peak hurricane season.  Until the inspector sees the damage, we can't even put a tarp on the roof to prevent more water from gushing in.

I'm thankful that The Captain and I had the good sense to evacuate to a local motel when we were faced with a Category 5 hurricane colliding with our world.  We did not have to experience the ravages of the storm ripping through the house not knowing if we would live or die.  God does not give us more than we can handle and after 34 years of living in that house, that little voice in my head told me to get out this time around.

Hurricane Irma hit Florida as a Category 5 hurricane . . . I'm so grateful that we got the west side of the hurricane after it was downgraded to Category 1.  There could have been so  much more damage.

Pray for the victims of this season's hurricanes which have come at us with a vengeance we have not seen since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans.  Our damage is minor compared to others . . .

Tampa Sunrise

Love this Tampa sunrise photo taken on Bayshore Boulevard, one of my favorite areas.  Source

A very uneventful rainy Florida summer has come and gone.  Now is the time of year that tourists start to crowd our overcrowded highways and drive us crazy in general.  But . . . it IS the best time to visit our area, in my opinion.

Gone are the afternoon storms, the humidity is a bit lower and we have had nothing but blue sky days.

I am hoping a trip to Busch Gardens is in our near future since we haven't been there in over a year.  We will take lots of photos and report on our visit when it happens!

Hope everyone is having a beautiful October!

Florida's Hidden Gems

Hidden away off of a winding road on the other side of Tampa's well-known Bayshore Blvd. is Ballast Point Park, which is my favorite pick for Florida's Hidden Gems.

Only In Your State has an interesting article on 14 of their picks for Hidden Gems in Florida.  Click here to go to their article to discover some new spots in Florida to explore.

What I Love About Living in Central Florida

As I sat outside in my Carport Jungle this morning, I was feeling especially grateful that I live in Central Florida.

Why?

Although it is hot and humid, since I've lived here all of my life, my body is acclimated  to this type of weather and I love it.  

The gentle breezes that were blowing through were very pleasant and soothing, as were the beautiful butterflies that rode the breezes like a colorful parade. The unknown vines growing on the fence are blooming (one is a bleeding heart vine) and butterflies of all colors and sizes have been gathering around them. I'll have to take a photo of them!  I keep forgetting to take photos!

Ground cover plants that most people buy at the nursery as houseplants are growing wild and begging to be pulled up and planted in containers for use in the Carport Jungle.  Since my serious gardening days are over due to my arthritic knees that have deemed me disabled, light container gardening is all I can do.  But I am so grateful that I can still get my hands dirty and have free plants to play with.

Since we are still without running water, the frequent afternoon storms are welcomed so the plants can get watered properly.  As a result, the plants are green, lush and thriving.

I can say without asking The Captain that he is very grateful for the nearby park he visits frequently that is so beautiful and picturesque, full of nature where he goes fishing.  What I love to do is visit with bread and popcorn and stay entertained feeding the animals who are so happy to see us show up with goodies for them.

As for what I don't like . . . I saw the first snake of this year who took a liking to the Carport Jungle that I had to chase away and haven't seen since.  It was just a black racer, but they still freak me out.  Very early this morning as I sat out there before dawn, I saw the first big, fat, ugly possum of the year run through the side yard and through the fence to the back yard.  I hope the cats chase him away to another yard!  I strongly dislike these animals!  And the mosquitoes are fierce this year . . . gotta start experimenting with the home remedies I'm finding online.

We saw the first huge toad yesterday that kind of scared me at first until I realized what it was.  I heard a loud rustling through the leaves and almost didn't see him since he blends in so well . . . then he jumped.  He's almost as big as a dinner plate and at least 6 inches high.  Very pretty toad!

Although we have been unable to do any maintenance with the plants that are left, they are blooming like crazy and such a joy to see.  Can't wait to hire a yard guy to take care of the Paradise and bring it back to it's former beauty.  My social security checks that I worked so hard for all my life should be coming in shortly!  Also a benefit of being deemed disabled . . . I'd rather have my health though!

The Captain and I will soon be ever so grateful for the Gulf beaches when we have some extra money to spend an occasional weekend retreat on that Gold Coast!  Pier fishing is one of my favorite things . . . especially before dawn. There is nothing like night turning into day on the Gulf of Mexico!  It is simply magical!

Last, but not least, is our membership to Busch Gardens and Adventure Island where it is awesome to get away and feel like we are in a different world. Florida's theme parks are the best!

I've been slacking on photos . . . will catch up soon!

Saturday on the Hillsborough River

River Hills Park in Temple Terrace is one of those hidden fantasy lands that has no admission fee. Its beauty is a testimony to the community and its efforts to provide the simple beauty of the Hillsborough River.  It is best enjoyed just after sunrise.

The squirrels are always looking for a handout.

It was a cool morning along the trail.

Come Join us.

Iceplorations at Busch Gardens

During a recent visit to Busch Gardens in Tampa, Florida, The Captain and I enjoyed one of the best ice shows I have ever seen in my life that features dazzling, sparkly and colorful Broadway-style costumes from a Tony Award-winning designer. 

Daily performances are held in the Moroccan Palace Theatre.  Check the Busch Gardens website for show times.

Along with the awesome show filled with world-class skaters, more than 75 original costumes, amazing aerial performances, master puppetry and live animal stars, the audience is treated to effects that seem to bring you into the stage production.

Some facts about the production from the Busch Garden website . . .

Iceploration® incorporates 21 live animals including an African ground hornbill, sun conures, Siberian lynx and Siberian huskies. 

Among the award-winning individuals lending their talents to the creation of Iceploration are a Tony Award-winning costume designer and an Olympic gymnast.

Creating the four tons of ice for the Iceploration stage required 10,000 gallons of water.

Iceploration's 77 featured costumes took more than 10 months and nearly 500 yards of fabric to construct.

This video is a sampling of the awesome show . . .

Greetings from Florida!

Back when the Captain and I went to Punta Gorda this Spring, it seemed like it was a promising start to a busy and adventurous Florida summer since we have both retired and have all this time on our hands.  We both had all kinds of ideas for Florida adventures we could experience and share on this blog.
Nature had another thing in mind.
I don't remember a summer when the weather was so nasty and rainy with storms every day to where it was difficult to do anything outdoors and have a good time.  No hurricanes this year, but more waterlogged than ever!  We haven't even been back to Busch Gardens since the beginning of the year.
It has been an eventful season of hardship that doesn't seem to end.  The huge tree that fell on our big storage shed is still there, crushing the building more every day.  All my treasures and memories are in there and it breaks my heart!
Big bummer and lots of work needs to be  completed before the adventures begin again.
But wait . . . after the tree incident, our water well system broke down.  The municipality we live in . . . within the city limits of the City of Tampa . . . does not even offer water hookup in our neighborhood.  Imagine that in a big city like Tampa . . . we pay city taxes!  But they will do the necessary prep work for a modest $15,000 just for the pleasure of having the option to hook up to city water . . . oh yes, and three others in our neighborhood have to pony up $15,000 too before they will even consider it.  They spend millions of dollars on crap stuff, yet don't provide basic infrastructure to all the tax paying citizens who live within their city limits.  Amazing!  Don't buy a house with well water!
Sorry for the rant!
It is nearly impossible to get the well people to fix our well . . . too many trees and obstructions have to be removed before they can get the truck to where the well is.  The Captain has had to troubleshoot the well problem and will be the one doing the repairs manually.  The experts are not forthcoming with helpful hints since they are all about making money.  It is a learning situation and a lot of work!  All of a sudden, in comparison, that one tree smashing the storage shed is like an ant in the forest. 

The removing of the tree adventure

will not begin until we have

running water again.

Anyway, that is why there have been no happy adventures in Florida posts!
All in all, we are still so grateful for what we do have and it is not the end of the world . . . we have each other.  Just a little inconvenience to remind us to be grateful for every little thing we have been blessed with.  
The autumn weather has been awesome and we are looking forward to spending a warm Thanksgiving with family.
Happy Holidays everybody . . . keep us in your prayers!

Punta Gorda . . . a jewel in the sun

Although the Sarasota area is by far my favorite Florida destination, The Captain and I were pleasantly surprised with a sweet jewel in the sun, Punta Gorda, located approximately one hour south of Sarasota.

The Captain's parents and brother invited us on their spring break adventure to the southwest Florida resort . . . the guys wanted a deep sea fishing adventure and I was very pleased to find a beautiful little town to relax and take in some sun with our dog Kiki.

We stayed at the Four Points by Sheraton Punta Gorda Harborside which is located on the edge of the Charlotte Harbor waterfront in beautiful Punta Gorda.

The grounds were beautifully landscaped in a tropical setting, the hotel itself was decorated with a pleasant nautical theme, the rooms were super comfy with especially comfortable beds/fluffy pillows and the staff was friendly and helpful.  I was very surprised that they accepted dogs and Kiki was very happy in her familiar kennel in a new room.

A huge complaint about the hotel is that it is 100% non-smoking, which can be a form of torture for two smokers who had to escape to the vehicle in the middle of the night and in the midst of a rainstorm for a smoke (even though we tried to go smoke free with patches).  If we return to the area, that one inconvenience may be the thing that keeps us from staying at the hotel again.  It is my belief they could accommodate both smokers and non-smokers with their own areas.

Another negative was no microwave or refrigerator, but available for an additional charge.  A nice coffee/tea bar was included in the room.

The pool area was very relaxing and perfect for what we were looking for . . . relaxing in the sun . . . the surrounding landscape was awesome!  I appreciated that our dog Kiki was welcome at the pool area.

This photo of Dean's South of the Border is courtesy of TripAdvisor

Dean's South of the Border was another pleasant surprise!  The Captain and I ordered an overflowing plate of Nachos Supreme loaded with meat and cheese that was reasonably priced and very tasty and delicious.  The portions were so generous that we took home a doggie bag to enjoy later.  The service was friendly, but slow.  The atmosphere was awesome and so festive!  A live band was playing in the outdoor dining area.  I would definitely recommend this restaurant and dine there again and again.

Laishley Crab House advertises waterfront dining and the freshest seafood available.  The atmosphere was absolutely awesome . . . sadly, the food was very pricey and not so great . . . the service was less than desirable.  

For example, I ordered the Fried Shrimp plate which was just OK at the steep price of $18.00 for a moderate amount of shrimp.  It included a skimpy portion of french fries and a shriveled little piece of frozen corn on the cob . . . no salad included.  Others dining with us left most of their food because it lacked flavor.  Huge disappointment!  I do not recommend this restaurant!

Unfortunately, it rained all but one day of our stay, so we did not take our own photos and we didn't get to venture out much to explore this wonderful little town.  However, I would love to return and explore more!

The guys chartered an all-day deep sea fishing boat and came back with what equated to a freezer full of fish . . . it was worth the trip and the guys had an awesome time out on the Gulf of Mexico.  They wanted to do it again another day, but the weather did not permit another fishing adventure.

Most of the photos were taken from The Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce website.

Blooming Busch Gardens!

The Captain and I took advantage of an early morning special for Busch Gardens passholders, and we really enjoyed having the park pretty much to ourselves for quite some time, so I took advantage of the unusually peaceful time at the park to take landscape photographs.

While much of the country is buried in snow, check out these beautiful blooms that reminds me that Spring is here in Tampa.  I especially enjoyed this section of the park with all the color!

Sheikra reopened this month for those adventurous and brave enough to hang from the ride and get flung upward, upside down, sideways and even through the water from this huge roller coaster.  For a taste of the ride, click on the photo for a video The Captain made . . . he's a bit obsessed with the ride!

We really enjoyed the concert featuring Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr., formerly of the Fifth Dimension and multiple grammy winners.  They put on a fabulous show that was part of the Real Music Concert Series. We plan on going back next week to see Herman's Hermits featuring Peter Noone.  Their music specials are getting better and better . . . The Doobie Brothers will be there tomorrow!

It was a gorgeous February day with temps in the 70's-80's!

This is why we love living in Florida :)

Coming soon to Busch Gardens!

I'm so excited that one of my favorite cartoon characters, King Julien, will be a part of a new original live musical show featuring singers, dancers and rock/pop music performed by a live band!

"Madagascar Live! Operation: Vacation" coming to Busch Gardens Tampa in May 2013, will bring exciting changes to Stanleyville Theater, which will be refurbished and become enclosed and air-conditioned.

Click here for more details.

Wonderful Florida Winter

Winter in Florida can be wonderful!

The Captain and I recently spent a leisurely day at Busch Gardens Tampa.  This is one of our favorite spots to enjoy a cup of coffee while snapping photos of the lovely landscaping that surrounds this area.

The weather was typical for what we have been experiencing this winter . . . temps in the upper 70's with no humidity and no threats of afternoon storms.  Paradise!  As we relaxed and took in the sights and sounds of the park and enjoyed the wonderful weather, my thoughts went to my friends in other parts of the country who have been bombarded with snow.  I've lived in Florida all of my life and have never experienced snow, and although we have had to ensure some colder winters, this is a typical winter in Central Florida.  

I would not want to live anywhere else!

What gorgeous landscaping!  This is another view of the same area where we were sitting.  Bromeliads, orchids, tropicals and everyday houseplants are featured in this area.

These landscape photos are just a taste of one of our favorite relaxing spots at Busch Gardens.  The landscaping throughout the theme park are varied and equally as impressive.  They will be featured in future posts.

There is so much to do at Busch Gardens!  It can't all be seen in one day for sure.  In addition to the regular features of the park, there is the occasional concert series and special presentations.  This is one of the lineups for this year!  Another series features The Doobie Brothers and the Goo Goo Dolls!

If you are visiting the Tampa Bay area, 

don't miss out on a visit to Busch Gardens!

Tropical storm woes

Barely into the hurricane season, the Tampa Bay area has been slammed with the most rain we have had in a long time by Tropical Storm Debby.  So far, this area has experienced the worst part of the storm.


At the moment, we are in Tropical Storm Warning/Watch mode, in and out of tornado watches/warnings and severe thunderstorm watches/warnings have become normal.  The forecast calls for a couple more days of more of the same and we have already had 10-15 inches of rain throughout the area.


The photo comes from our local cable news channel, Bay News 9, who have provided awesome 24/7 coverage of the storm.  Bayshore Boulevard is virtually unrecognizable . . . they describe it as "non-existent" . . . I'd hate to live in that area right now!  I've posted photos of that area before . . . this is what it looks like on a normal day . . .

Many areas of Tampa are flooded, making a drive in traffic a nightmare!  There are stalled vehicles all over the place!  I wonder how many people are having a "mental health day" from work?

This photo comes from WFLA Channel 8, a local network affiliate . . .

Tropical Storm Debby looming, before the flooding.

Although the weather service has deemed Tropical Storm Debby unimpressive, those living in the Tampa Bay area will disagree!  

Normal life has been majorly disrupted!  How about the owners of this home?  OMG it is one of my nightmares with all the trees on our property!

Photo source:  Bay News 9

Even the local gators are enroute to safety . . . at least this one is using the crosswalk!

Photo source:  Bay News 9

For more photos . . . click here

Last night's sleep was intermittent . . . I kept waking up to the sound of fierce winds whipping through the trees with the heaviest rainfall I've experienced in a long time.  We slept with the television fixed on the 24/7 storm coverage.

With the storm stalled out in the Gulf pounding areas of Florida, there are many more stories yet to be told.  Let's pray that it weakens and goes away soon!

This is just the beginning of hurricane season . . . the one reason I hate living in Florida!