Cats in my life

Felix the Cat

Some of you have inquired as to whether I have any pets in my new Florida digs, and yes we have two cats. One is a noisy & talkative Persian named KC and the other a quiet and unassuming mutt named Angel.

KC is an expensive feline, with papers no less, purchased from a fancy Orlando pet shop. Angel, on the other hand, hails from a litter of paperless parents in Mississippi. (At times her accent is quite difficult to decipher).

KC sleeps at night in the laundry room sink, while Angel is nocturnal and tries to sleep during the day (if she can avoid the ever verbal KC, who follows her around yowling after her).

Angel likes me and will hang out in my office when I'm working and swat at me when she wants some attention. KC seems to grudgingly tolerate my prescence and will occasionally yowl in my direction to let her out on the porch so she can watch for her friend the bobcat cub.

All in all they are fun to have around and make life a little more colorful in our home. Now that I have a digital camera again it is possible to obtain some good shots of them so y'all take a look for yourselves at our feline menagerie.

KC


Angel

Interior Florida

Over the weekend we made a journey to central Florida to pick up some furniture and household stuff to bring back to our condo here along the famed Emerald Coast. Sleeping on the floor has been so much fun that I hain't gwana take kindly to no baid anytime soon!

The trip was through 400 miles of deepest darkest Florida and guess what? I thoroughly adore this state, with its deeply rooted sense of the past, wild overgrown all enveloping nature and the focus on a prosperous future. I really dig this place! Now on to the pictures:

The Old South lives on in the crossroads hamlet of Lee, FL


One of Florida's oldest churches, Moss Hill Methodist (1821)

Floor of the jungle, Osceola County


Live Oak, FL


Gator infested pond, Osceola County

Jungle walkway, Celebration, FL


A happy Beamis beaming away!

Black & white shots of the South

I used an old reliable Canon A-1 film camera to chronicle my recent cross-country trip because my outdated Mavica digital was incompatiblte with my new Apple computer. I gave it away to a very grateful teenager in Virgin, Utah before departing. Anyway, after leaving New Orleans we discovered that we were out of color film, but luckily possessed a single roll of black & white. I mindlessly popped it into the camera, never realizing the arduous task it would prove to be getting such an ancient film medium developed and put on a CD.

Today, after finally getting this seemingly impossible undertaking completed, I would like to share some of the shots that were taken from the Mississippi state line to Seaside, Florida. A beautifully colorful stretch of country, perfectly suited to black & white.

Stuffed frogs decorate The Shed in Ocean Springs, MS


License plates adorn the walls. My kinda place.


Barmaids, Ocean Springs, MS


Yeeeeee-haaaaaaw!


Thick & beautiful coastal forests of Alabama


Sign commemerating the travels of America's first naturalist

Journeys end

October in Florida

Winter hat and warm Gulf waters

I had no idea how warm and sunny it would stay down here in Florida throughout the glorious month of October. It has been quite an enjoyable experience to get out and explore this beautiful region under cloudless skies and pleasantly low humidity. It feels a lot like southern Utah weather only warmer. I can't wait for November when we cool off into the low 80's and upper 70's.

So here is another little photo album from Beamis to all of his friends, whom I hope will get a chance to visit this magnificent corner of Dixie in the not too distant future. If not they can at least enjoy some armchair travel through cyberpace.

Side street, Sea Grove Beach, FL


Monarch butterfly on goldenrod (Solidago fitulosa)


Big Daddy's on Hwy. 98


Coastal dunes


Gulf of Mexico


Southern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus)


Biking in Point Washington State Forest


Another beautiful sunset

Make sure not to vote next week. Y'all know it's a scam.

Check out my new blogsite: http://naturalflorida.blogspot.com/

The Georgia vs. Florida Cocktail Party

Albert the Alligator and his date

Well folks it is time for the annual game held in Jacksonville, Florida pitting the Georgia Bulldogs against the Florida Gators in what has been famously known as the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.

This year university officials from both schools have asked that sponsors, broadcasters and Jacksonville businesses stop using this moniker to describe the game. They want to downplay this particular aspect of traditional southern good ole' boy atmosphere that pervades this event. I guess if no one calls it that anymore it'll surely cut down on all the drinking. Good thinking guys. I'm sure this will have a huge effect on people's behavior. Maybe y'all could schedule a prayer breakfast instead of the normal pre-game tailgating parties.

Even though the Bulldogs are currently in a deep trough of despair and the Gators are at the top of the SEC East, and have defeated Georgia 14 out of the last 16 meetings, I'm going to go out on a limb and predict an upset by the Dawgs: GA 30 - FL 27.

Don't call your bookie until you consult with the Bagwhan. I'm sure his oracle sees it differently.

Regardless of the outcome it's a one of a kind game, which is as southern and delicious as pecan pie ala mode. YEEEEE-HAAAWWW!!!!

Sweet little UGA

Bobcat neighbors

Florida Bobcat

A small juvenile bobcat, that lives in the scrub between our condo and the beach, has been paying visits to our two cats: KC (a spoiled Persian) and Angel (a feline mutt from Mississippi). They have been mysteriously wanting to hang out on the screened porch a lot lately and we finally got a glimpse of the reason why yesterday at dusk, when we spied a young Florida Bobcat (Lynx rufus floridanus) brazenly walking along the top of the stone wall above the walkway that leads to the beach, and just across from our back porch. Upon seeing us it leaped up into the scrub and checked us out for a short while before scampering off towards the beach and presumably its mother, whom we've also seen out by the mailbox shelter in the front of the complex. Since it is the off-season we are practically the only persons living here full time and our cats are the only playmates this wild little kitten has to cavort with. I'll keep you posted. Maybe we'll write a children's book about it.

Florida scenes

Dave is dwarfed by an ancient live oak

Have been spending some of my spare moments exploring the beaches, parks and cultural attractions of my new home in northern Florida. Here I've gathered together a few images for a travel blog post to show you the wide range of experiences available in this wonderful area.

Next week we travel to Orlando on business and have plans to stop at five state parks along the way. I will post a blog about this adventure upon my return. Have a Happy Halloween kids!

Ponce de Leon Springs State Park

Wesley Mansion, Point Washington, Florida

Walton County Fair

A Confederate concession

Camp Creek tranquility

Another Gulf sunset

Home stretch

On the beach

Photos of the final leg of my journey to a new home are in and ready for your viewing pleasure. Know that I am content and happy here, confident that the future is bright and that I leave my former home with few regrets. It's the American way. Wagons HO!

Best barbeque too!


Biloxi, Mississippi


Passing through Mobile, Alabama


Ponce de Leon Springs, Florida


Watch out for gators!


My local library is the oldest in Florida.


Home at last.

That "Welcome to Texas" sign

Some of you made note of a recent email I sent out, which included a photo of me posing next to a Welcome to Texas sign which had the word proud crossed out with black electrical tape. Not a few of you thought that I had done this most honorable & decent deed. I must confess that I wish I could take credit for this very patriotic act, but alas it was not done by me.

A brave and stout hearted Texan (or Oklahoman) was the enlightened soul who stood upon the elevated height of their pick-up truck bed, and nimbly affixed these black strips across that accursed word. For now, the welcome sign on Texas Hwy. 6 in Hardeman County, along the south bank of the mighty Red River, begs to differ. Halleluah!!

Down the road a spell at J.T.'s Drive-In in Childress, Texas