Circle Of Life On the Beach

Another delay...

we were ready to head north on Tuesday morning,

as they say "the best laid plans...were changed.

My husband woke up on Monday morning

had a cup of coffee, looked at me and

asked "is it warm in here", response  "no".

It was downhill from there...the flu bug had taken charge,

Okay I am not going into details but according to my husband

No one has ever been this sick.  REALLY.

Okay I going to stop there because if I get it I don't want this to be used against me:)

SO CHANGE OF PLANS.

Off to the Beach

All I wanted to do is to GET OUT OF THE HOUSE.

Trying to escape the dreaded "bug".

(I did take my cell phone just in case he really needed me)

So I joined all the other beach people (NO ONE)

with my trusty Aussie, Kix,

and we were breathing the fresh SEA air.

We took advantage of our BONUS beach time.

Lots of swimming and exercise.

We also counted 14 set of tracks that looked like this.

Can you guess what they are???

I have to admit I was clueless the first couple of times I encountered this scene.

Every night this time of year SEA TURTLES come ashore and lay their eggs.

They lumber out of the sea at high tide,

dig a huge hole, drop their eggs and bury them past the high tide mark.

The tire tracks are from the Turtle Patrol.  Each morning every nest is
recorded, date and location.  Unfortunately turtle eggs are a delicacy in some cultures.

After the next high tide you would never know they were there.

I worried that Kix would find the nest and dig up the eggs,

NEVER, EVER has this happened.

For some reason the dogs can not smell them, Kix had never even taken a second look

when trotting right over a nest.

I am told the eggs will sit in the sand, incubate and hatch sometime in late summer. 

THE MOST AMAZING FACT IS THAT THE TURTLES THAT HATCH ON THIS

BEACH WILL RETURN TO LAY THEIR EGGS ON THE SAME BEACH, EVERY YEAR

FOR DECADES TO COME.
Some of the turtles travel as far as 2,000 miles
in the meantime.
(Information via turtles that are equipped
with tracking instruments)

Our little community is very "Turtle Minded"

When you go to the beach you are always reminded the beach belongs to the Sea Turtles.

Starting March 1st to October 31 all lights from the houses on the beach must be blacked out so not to confuse the turtles when nesting or hatching.

In Juno we have a Loggerhead Sea Turtle Marine Center

They rehab any Sea Turtles that are injured in the area.

It is all run by volunteers and they are passionate.

This is Zoe, you can adopt her and keep updated on her progress via the web

 and then a tracking device when she is healthy enough to be released.

I think this would be a fabulous gift for a young person.

I have even designed some of my bracelets in honor of the Sea Turtle.

I have so enjoyed learning about the Sea Turtle

However today I was reminded of the CIRCLE OF LIFE

This afternoon this male Green Sea Turtle washed ashore.

The volunteers from the Marine Life Center in Juno were called

they arrived almost like 911 responders. 

Unfortunately it was too late for this turtle.

The Marine Life Center documented as much as they could

and returned him to the sea.

They sprayed painted his shell fluorescent pink.

This was to alert boaters and anyone that found him that he was "accounted" for.

Credit: Pinterest Picture

I find some strange comfort in thinking

 that perhaps he returned to where he was hatched to

complete the CIRCLE.

 My husband is on the mend,

he has his sense of humor back,

always a good sign

So now I am tapping my Red Rudy Toes hoping to be home soon.

Enjoy!

Why Am I Still In Florida?

When I arrived in Florida last November I was so excited!

The year before we had rented a little beach house but this

year we purchased a house in the same neighborhood.

I have spent the last couple of months

making it mine.

I had a blank canvas.

I had a new theme to work with.

 Coastal!

I have always wanted to decorate "beachy"

 but seashells in snowy Michigan just seems a little silly.

I planted a Cocktail Tree.

(get this...it has lemons, limes, oranges and grapefruit all from the same tree)

I went all out!

Scouring consignment shops for a little bit of this and that.

I transformed some old urns,

 that my Mom was throwing away, into side tables.

I painted them with a Martha Stewart textured paint

that reminded me of sand

I added a little "bling" to the base.

Then I finished the inside to display shells.

While my husband was out fishing (not catching:)

I was creating a little trophy fish all my own.

But the story takes a twist.

The reason we are still in Florida

 is that we are getting

our little house ready to sell.

Even I didn't see that one coming.

My husband found his Florida "dream home".

(He is a Real Estate Junkie)

I wouldn't even go look at it for months.

Then right before we were to leave the owner

drastically reduced the price.

I finally gave in and went to see it...

and darn it I really liked it.

So...we have decided to sell our little house.

The house I made mine now will be someone elses.

All my little personal touches are being packed away

and I am busy making our house look cute but not too personal.

So I am in sunny Florida

 until we have everything "wrapped up".

Not a bad place to be but...

still missing Michigan.

Hopefully it will sell soon.

I'll sleep a little better when all is done.

Enjoy!

Purple Passion

Yesterday I walked out in my yard to water my plants

and I was greeted by a wonderful surprise.

 I planted a tiny little vine last fall.

For a couple of months nothing really grew and then...

I believe a little boy named Jack

 visited my garden.

My little vine grew and grew, almost out of control.

It produced lush green leaves,

tiny fingers reaching out to grab onto anything they could find.

It covered my outside shower like a cloak of green velvet

The Mandelvillas bloomed like crazy.

My pergola was decorated in flowers.

But...my little vine remained only green

and then...

the wonderful surprise!

Passion Flowers

Purple magic!!!!!

I am fascinated by their beauty.

I believe Mother Nature was truly
 passionate

when she created this beauty.

Enjoy!

The More Things Change the More They Stay the Same?

As of this year I split my time between Michigan and Florida.

Two very different worlds

yet very similar...

Currently I am longing for my Michigan

Hopefully very soon I will return.

I try to think what I miss most

 and find that my two worlds are not that very different.

I miss the morning path at the farm.

I leave... my morning path to the beach.

I miss my beautiful gardens.

I miss my pink roses.

However, in Florida I leave... 

 pink abounding all around me.

I miss the Kellio.

I leave... a starlit pergola.

 I miss... the magic of Lake Michigan.

I leave... my morning walk on the beach

 where everyday I discover magical treasures.

I miss all the baby horses

 that have been part of my life for the last 20 years.

I leave... my grand baby

 that I pray will be part of my life for multitudes of 20 years.

I leave... a new world, to me,

  of baby seahorses raised by daughter and her husband.

I leave...Seahorse Nurseries.

I leave...being a guest blogger

 on Salt and Seahorses

I really miss my friends in Michigan.

I leave... many new friendships in our new neighborhood.

I have gained new appreciation

 for everything in both worlds.

I also have gained new appreciation

 for those of you who are part of my BLOG world.

I left for a while...

and now I am back with greater appreciation

 for you who visit and share your world with me.

Enjoy!