the sky is blue!  now stay that way, please.

on another note, after our five mile walk and with no other reason to leave the house today, i have happily moved into my winter flannels.  i have missed you winter woolies.

twas a wild and wooly night . . .

to be meeting Sandy on the darkened roads from there to here.  huge oak crashed to the ground covering the exit from the black parking lot.  back roads taken, waves pounding, wind swirling, rain thrashing the little roadster.  up on the highway things faring even less well.  right lanes flooded, wind shield wipers beaten back, lights out, visibility missing.  thrusting wind. blinkers flashing. heart thrumming. trees bending, onward forging. finally haven found.  take that Miss. S.

and so went my trip back from my sister-in-laws birthday party.  tears formed when everyone yelled surprise and more when she discovered her sister had been smuggled in from Ohio for the affair.  the power wasn't always cooperative but fun and feasting were aplenty.

happy birthday, jackie!

a cautionary tale . . .

this morning i got up early, jumped in the tub, put on my face and got ready to run down to the Iceplex in Rockledge to watch a grand nephew play hockey.  but first i needed to feed and love on Joanie's cats, who i have been babysitting for the last week.

as i was almost to her front door, i smelled smoke.  no surprise, the temperatures f.i.n.a.l.l.y, hit the 60's and i figured someone decided to have a fire.  went inside and played with the beasties and fed them their kibble and happened to look out in the back yard and noticed the steam coming up from the earth as the sun started to clear the trees.  then i looked again. and again.  

i tried to reach Joanie and failing that, called for reinforcements:  kidlet, her dad and the fire department, in that order.

the fire was still smoldering but out.  lucky. lucky. so lucky it was not worse.

 moral of the story?  joanie may never ask me to cat sit again. sniff. sniff. waaaaaaa.

complex activities . . .

i fell in love with the restoration of the lighthouse at Ponce Inlet.  The entire complex is stunning with displays of old articles including an exhibit on the children of the lighthouse.  Most of the buildings are completed and if you can't wander through them, at least you can peek in the homes of the keeper, first assistant keeper and second assistant keeper.  very, very cool.

here are some more shots:

 please note the little red miata in the parking lot.  she is normally camera shy.

 there is nothing i don't love about this room.

 i'm moving in as soon as it is fully restored.

 two bedrooms and a small kitchen.  more than enough.

 oops, i have no idea what this is or why i took the shot.

 the main building is now a gift shop of course.  i'd have to evict the nautical junk and lock the doors.

of course if it was to be found, i would find it.  rest in peace little buddies.

and then there was this:

it's a very complex situation.  i need to move in now . . .  you understand.

up the down staircase . . .

we marched up all 203 steps, huffing and puffing the entire way.  well, so it was just me doing the huffing and puffing and stopping at every landing.  Robin managed quiet well, thank you very much.  the top photo is looking up, the second looking down. 

Ponce Inlet Lighthouse.

I'm thinking this is not the best advertisement to find near the bottom of the climb:

who cares if it was overcast and raining.  we explored the entire complex and then moved on for fish sammies under the bridge.  we are the best trolls yet.

so you knew . . .

if there were photos, there would be a layout.  i am so glad i made the trek.

up in the air junior birdman . . .

up in the air, upside down!

i decided to drop down to Daytona today to check out the Wings and Waves Airshow.  Although the show ran from 11: 00 - 4:00, i didn't stay that long.  the temps have gone up once again and even though there was a gorgeous breeze, it was HOT.

so glad i went though.  lookie, lookie:

 

gotta love the fall in this area.  something going on every weekend.  color my camera and i happy.