Happy Halloween, Snow or Shine

Happy Halloween to my new island friends
and my old mountain friends!

We are super excited to be here on the Island of Palm Beach this year for Halloween because for the first time in a long time, we expect not to have snow. (Apparently, it's not that common here.) Denver, on the other hand, plays host to many bundled-up super heroes, princesses and the like as nearly every year, it snows! Want to check out the forecast for Denver? Palm Beach?

In 1993, HB, as Pink Tinkerbell, looked darling at the charming school parade. Later it seemed that Tink was having a little problem with steroids. (but at least she was warm)

This year, HB is the mad hatter and can't wait to Trick-or-Treat on Palm Beach's "Sea" streets... Seaview, Seaspray and Seabreeze.

Apparently, these neighbors hoard candy for months to try to have enough candy to make it through a few hours of passing out "sugar comas."

I was unable to find any confirmation of this online, so I guess it's not an official island event but many locals assured me this was the place to be for costumed, candy-collecting youngsters. As in most cities, going early will help stave off a late, hyper-inducing sugar buzz and might help with avoiding older kids...who should be at home passing out candy.

Anyway...

Here's my treat to you. Some town images I  photographed and "doctored up" a bit...

BOO!

 

{All pics by me}

One last little treat, a favorite hymn: I sing a song of the Saints of God...

Again, Happy Halloween and All Saint's Day.

Until next time, Eli

Mother Nature's Competition

It's green.
Everywhere, green.

On Palm Beach Island, Mother Nature hardly has a chance to craft her wildly beautiful fields and forests by whistling the seeds into place, shining the warm sun and sprinkling the tiny buds with rain. Nope. The landscaper has subdued the land, invaded the walls and embellished nearly every surface around. And I say, "Wow!"

Take a little adventure around the island and you'll find nearly every shade of green you can imagine: some indigenous but many species imported from exotic lands. Every hedge, topiary, palm and more is carefully planned for its ability to shade, hide and decorate year round.

Today, I'm sharing some of my favorite images of what I call "painting green." Enjoy these island images and decide who has the upper hand: Mother Nature or landscapers!

Love the grass painting the lines between the yard tiles

Mural on the wall at 150 Worth Avenue. Go see it.

My favorite. So elegant and "natural."

I'd say the landscapers are giving Mother Nature a run for her money. What do you think?

Until next time, Eli

{all photos by me}

Interpreting the Signs

Not being a girl who grew up near the water, I find it disconcerting when trouping off to the beach and I see a flag or two flapping in the breeze. A feeling creaps over me, similar to the moment the eerie music comes on  and you think, "Don't open that door." Cause you know it can't be good.

So what do those flags mean? And what do I do about the meaning? Are they as predictable as a low-budget horror flick, traveling from beach to beach, seeing the same thing?

Well, grab another helping of  popcorn 'cause as it turns out, it is not complicated.

The Florida Coastal Management Program along with several other government organizations (Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association, the United States Lifesaving Association (USLA), and the International Life Saving Federation) has created a "uniform waving flag program for use by Florida’s beachfront communities." 

Thank goodness for that!

Seriously, imagine grabbing your board and showing up at one beach with red flags while your bud 10 minutes away flies orange flags...and the same conditionse? Hey, Don't open THAT door...confusing to say the least.

This beauty needs no warning system

According to FCMP, beaches now have "flags in four colors accompanied by interpretive signs along the beach to explain the meaning of each color."

Using the small key below, see if you can interpret the signs.

• Red flags with a no swimming symbol indicate that the water is closed to the public.
• Red flags without a symbol indicate a high hazard from surf and/or currents.
• Yellow flags indicate a medium hazard from moderate surf and/or currents.
• Green flags indicate a low hazard with calm conditions. Beachgoers should still exercise caution.
• Purple flags indicate a hazard from dangerous marine life. These flags are used in conjunction with another colored flag indicating the current surf/current conditions.

The flag pic above coordintates with this interpretive sign. So the purple sign for "dangerous marine life" warns of Jelly Fish. The green flag heralds a "low hazard." Look beyond the guard post or the sign and see the sea is pretty much flat. Now check out this one:

Not only are the waves much bigger but you can see that the flags are straight out due to plenty of wind. In this case, an inexperienced beach goer, like me, might want to stick to the sand and stay out of the water.

My final thought, imagine a stop light: green is go, yellow is caution, red is stop. That is pretty good advice for the beach...purple, you say? Check the interpretive signs to see what it refers to before splashing about. Above

Finally, always be alert, never go alone and just plain be smart when taking to the beach. Mother Nature can always throw a curve ball.

Until next time, Eli

Furry Home Invasion

The Feast of St. Francis of Assisi is celebrated by many Christian churches the world over on October 4th which commemorates St. Francis' death.

The Church of St. Francis of Assisi

A service of Blessing of the Animals often takes place the first Sunday in October as Francis is known for his love of animals. The Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea shares in this splendid tradition.

A blessing in action

I'm not sure when BBTS's event began but nationally it crawled into being in the 30's. Sunday's celebration was a marvelous event, and I met a number of people who attended every year. {It sure looks like they all came this year.}

The church is full and many are blessed

The most popular blessing in the US is found at St. John the Divine in New York City and began in 1985. According to Squidoo, "Each year thousands of animals with their humans congregate [there] for the annual Holy Eucharist and Procession of Animals."

      But

I wondered what it might be like from Ranger's perspective. {Ranger is our 3 year old Shih Tzu seen above.}

Let's put it this way. Nearly every day, Ranger and I take a stroll or two through the church grounds. He loves to chase frogs, smell the flowers and greet the staff. I think he feels like this is part of his home.

Now imagine coming to church on Sunday and having hundreds {"maybe even thousands," says Ranger} of creatures invading!!!

Dogs of all shapes and sizes, cats in baskets, snakes, an ocelot, a chinchilla...would it ever end?

Poor Ranger endured it very well I would say. He did not bark at any of the visitors (furry or otherwise).

And his comment on the whole thing?

He left a small note for his new friends about every 15 feet on our walk Monday morning. 'Nuff said!

Until next time, Eli