Thursday, July 29, 2010

Skywatch Friday

Monday we were out on our driveway and looking up at our San Pedro Cactus to see if any of the flowers were going to come out that night and the sky looked so cool.

So I grabbed my camera and started shooting.
Of course pretty much every evening or late afternoons in the summer here in Florida you can see the clouds come in from the east.

The sun was trying to peak through the clouds, but couldn't make it.


Some of the sun rays did peak through...but just a touch!

The same sky but facing the other way. It's so strange it is such a straight line like that.

I couldn't stop...

Thank goodness for digital cameras, we can just pop them in the computer and share them. I took a few more yesterday when the sky was the brightest yellow I've seen. So I went out to take the same photo of a totally different sky. It was such an unusual color they mentioned it on the news last night. They are still in my camera...I'll share them later.

To see other fantastic sky photos check out Skywatch Friday !

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Watery Wednesday - At the Ca da Zan - Ringling Mansion

Now I know it's still Tuesday, but for many who participate in Watery Wednesday it is already Wednesday in there part of the world. So I'm not early for them!

I can't help myself but take photos every time we visit John Ringling's mansion the Ca da Zan.


It has so much details and marble work that he had imported from all parts of the world.

Sitting right on Sarasota Bay, the view is so peaceful, on a hot day.


The iron lamps surround the front lanai.


It would be a great place to entertain. It is open to the public, and you can walk through the house inside with the price of an admission ticket to the John and Mabel Ringling Museum of Art.

Otherwise just stroll through Mable's Rose Garden and walk around the grounds and enjoy it outside for free!


This is included in this weeks Watery Wednesday check out all the other wonderful ...

...photos from around the world and around the country! Enjoy!!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Theme Thursday - Park











This was added to the Theme Thursday link "Park" if you enjoyed this theme check here for more. Have fun!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Watery Wednesday - Fishing Pier at Sharkey's


Under the fishing pier at Sharkey's in Venice, Florida.
My nieces were in town visiting. This beach is a great place to come with the family. Here you'll find many fossilized sharks teeth...
...if you're lucky enough to have a screen scoop to gather a pile to look through!

This is linked to:

If you love watery photos like I do...check out Watery Wednesday and see more photos from all around the world!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Watery Wednesday - Sunshine Skyway Bridge


This isn't the best picture of the bridge, but it was my chance to take it when I wasn't driving the car. We were on our way the the Tampa Bay Rays game in St Pete. If it was clearer you would be able to see the dome where they play. Just kind of a hazy day in the bay!

On top of the bridge freshly painted yellow, before that it was spotty.

This is after the game on the way back home. The fishing pier you see is part of the old skyway bridge. That one was hit by a freighter and was destroyed, they left the two entry road for people to fish off from.
Heading toward Pinellas County, crossing over Tampa Bay.

This was added to: http://waterywednesday.blogspot.com check out the other water photos.

It just might cool you off!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Summer Beach Run

Each summer every Tuesday evening is the summer beach runs. It is sponsored by Sarasota County Parks & Recreation and The Manasota Track Club. They hold two runs each week, the first one is for the kids a half mile down the beach and back. The adult run is usually to the wall (point 'o rocks) about 3 miles or so, and sometimes they have a cross country run through the soft sand and playground and all around. The kids sign up and each week they run gets counted, after four runs they get a free T shirt. After each run they get a ribbon and a freeze pop! Maranda has been doing this since she was 3 and has every T shirt to prove it. It has really grown over the years and it's a good thing that Siesta Beach can handle it.

We were a little last this week so we just hopped on the beach over another ramp and skipped the crowded pavilion.



Headed toward where the starting line is you can see how crowded it is.




At Siesta Beach there is a long walk on the soft white sand to get to the water. After the rain it's usually easier because it's packed down. It's not bad though I love it.




We usually set up by the green life guard stand so Wade can find us when he gets there. He comes here straight from work and runs in the second run.



We are at the green life guard stand looking toward the south where the run is going on. We missed it this week but stayed to watch the second runners. The beach is full of families and they usually stay to swim and just hang out at the beach. i always run into a lot of kids from school here.



As we were sitting there the typical Florida, afternoon, summer weather comes rolling in. It seems funny that we still need to wear our sunglasses when you look at these black clouds. Often we'll see some type of clouds during these runs. This time there were some pretty dark clouds, but not any thunder or lightning. Wade usually has to call from work to see if it's raining here and if we should even go.



Everyone's leaving and the run is still in progress! Still no lightning. Hey where is everyone going?


Looking towards the north it's still pretty bright.




The wind is picking up you can see the sand blowing.




We decided to pack it up but still wanted to wait until Wade was finished running before we left, still no lightning.



No rain and no lightning (otherwise we would of been gone if there were lightning) but the wind is really blowing the sand. It looks like a blizzard blowing the white sand around like that.




Maranda wasn't happy that we stayed, we were really getting sand blasted. Think of it as a full body exfoliation! It didn't start to rain until Wade was back, he was surprised to see us still there, but we didn't care if we got wet. By the time we got to the parking lot it was full of cars going nowhere. We were soaked and decided to wait with Wade in his truck until the rain let up a little. We weren't going anywhere anyway. It was like a concert just let out with the traffic in the parking lot all jammed up. We had to wait to even back out of the spot. Good thing we were not in a hurry!

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Watery Wednesday #2

Caught a quick glimpse of the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico at Venice Beach, Florida.
I'm going back real early in the morning to get a another photo of the aqua (my favorite color) life guard stand soon! It's better to go early before it gets too hot. Last time I was there before this it was peak tourist season way too many people!




This has been added to Watery Wednesday please check out the other blogs that joined in.