So far, however, no hurricane warnings, which makes everyone happy I think. Just when we thought in July that we were never going to get rain again...we got RAIN, big time!
At first I thought they were cow-nosed rays which I love to swim with, but these clearly had the mouth wrapping around the front of their faces (see photo) so I knew what they were, I was just totally surprised. I was around for most of this summer and I am glad to say that overall nature seems to be surviving pretty well despite our interferences. I have even seen some things I've never seen before. For instance, I saw a school of manta rays as I was swimming one day.
Hopefully they get straightened out and come back to our shores. On the other hand, I have not seen any Southern Stingrays off shore birthing their young. It may be that because of the red tide last year, they are avoiding us this year.
I saw a man catch a huge snook at the point of Pass-a-Grille and was most pleased when I saw him de-hook it and return it to the Gulf. He said he had enough fish for the day. The skimmer bird made a great show this year, skimming along the shoreline with their dislocateable jaw. If they hit a rock or shell, it simply snaps back into place-the wonders of nature. And who says fishermen aren't compassionate?
If you've been walking the beach or a golf course, I am sure you have seen the Ibis poking around the ground for coquinas, worms, grubs...you name it. Sometimes you'll see a flock of them flying which is quite a sight. At other times you might see them carefully aerating grass as they get their evening meal.
Rain was coming towards me so I waited to get drenched. But I didn't. The rain stopped right on the bay side of the seawall so I could reach my arm in and it got wet, but I was nice and dry on the other side! Has anyone noticed how St. Pete Beach seems to be blessed when storms start rolling in? We get the beautiful view of them and then they split in half and go right around us. I have seen this happen several times this summer and it is quite a sight to behold. Let's hope that all hurricanes follow the same path.Rain. Go figure. It rains on one side of the street but not the other. It rains on 70th Avenue but not on 60th I remember when I was ten or so I was standing on the seawall by Merry Pier.
Lightening. Don't go figure, just go run for cover. We have had some awesome storms with lightening close enough to make the hairs on my arms stand straight up, but I still sit on my porch and watch every strike I can see. My Mom used to sit with me and we'd just ooooohhh and awwwwhh over the incredible patterns God was painting in the sky. When I say go run for cover, however, please make it inside a building if possible. If you are caught on a golf course or in a field, find a ravine or gully and curl up inside-you want to be the lowest thing around. Do not go under a tree. If lightening strikes the tree (because it is the tallest thing around), it bursts out through the roots and you don't want to be standing on them when that happens!
So bring your favorite dish (homemade or bought) and come join the fun. We're going to ring the bell and bless each other that we are here, living, and living in paradise no less. Hope to see you there. And most important of all TADAH!!! On September 22nd I turn 69 and I am happy to be seeing another birthday. Please come join me at the Sea Side Grille on 10th Avenue and the beach side in Pass-a-Grille one hour BEFORE sunset for a fine celebration. The last time I did this for my 65th birthday, 75 people showed up and some of them I didn't even know, which was an even bigger treat. - 29977
At first I thought they were cow-nosed rays which I love to swim with, but these clearly had the mouth wrapping around the front of their faces (see photo) so I knew what they were, I was just totally surprised. I was around for most of this summer and I am glad to say that overall nature seems to be surviving pretty well despite our interferences. I have even seen some things I've never seen before. For instance, I saw a school of manta rays as I was swimming one day.
Hopefully they get straightened out and come back to our shores. On the other hand, I have not seen any Southern Stingrays off shore birthing their young. It may be that because of the red tide last year, they are avoiding us this year.
I saw a man catch a huge snook at the point of Pass-a-Grille and was most pleased when I saw him de-hook it and return it to the Gulf. He said he had enough fish for the day. The skimmer bird made a great show this year, skimming along the shoreline with their dislocateable jaw. If they hit a rock or shell, it simply snaps back into place-the wonders of nature. And who says fishermen aren't compassionate?
If you've been walking the beach or a golf course, I am sure you have seen the Ibis poking around the ground for coquinas, worms, grubs...you name it. Sometimes you'll see a flock of them flying which is quite a sight. At other times you might see them carefully aerating grass as they get their evening meal.
Rain was coming towards me so I waited to get drenched. But I didn't. The rain stopped right on the bay side of the seawall so I could reach my arm in and it got wet, but I was nice and dry on the other side! Has anyone noticed how St. Pete Beach seems to be blessed when storms start rolling in? We get the beautiful view of them and then they split in half and go right around us. I have seen this happen several times this summer and it is quite a sight to behold. Let's hope that all hurricanes follow the same path.Rain. Go figure. It rains on one side of the street but not the other. It rains on 70th Avenue but not on 60th I remember when I was ten or so I was standing on the seawall by Merry Pier.
Lightening. Don't go figure, just go run for cover. We have had some awesome storms with lightening close enough to make the hairs on my arms stand straight up, but I still sit on my porch and watch every strike I can see. My Mom used to sit with me and we'd just ooooohhh and awwwwhh over the incredible patterns God was painting in the sky. When I say go run for cover, however, please make it inside a building if possible. If you are caught on a golf course or in a field, find a ravine or gully and curl up inside-you want to be the lowest thing around. Do not go under a tree. If lightening strikes the tree (because it is the tallest thing around), it bursts out through the roots and you don't want to be standing on them when that happens!
So bring your favorite dish (homemade or bought) and come join the fun. We're going to ring the bell and bless each other that we are here, living, and living in paradise no less. Hope to see you there. And most important of all TADAH!!! On September 22nd I turn 69 and I am happy to be seeing another birthday. Please come join me at the Sea Side Grille on 10th Avenue and the beach side in Pass-a-Grille one hour BEFORE sunset for a fine celebration. The last time I did this for my 65th birthday, 75 people showed up and some of them I didn't even know, which was an even bigger treat. - 29977
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