FLORIDA - Naples - May/Jun 2015 - House Sitting - Chapter 1 - Welcome to the Swamp

Once again, I’ve been blessed with a house and pet sitting assignment for a returning client/friend.  I sat Jim and Cynthia’s home and Bichons last year as I recuperated from hand and elbow surgery.  When they contacted me to sit again, it was an immediate ‘yes’ response.

Arriving the night before their departure, we renewed our friendship and reviewed what’s been going on in our lives, while Tuffy, Baby (the Bichons), and I got reacquainted.  

I spent the first day with the dogs and lounging around the pool.  Day two was an outing to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.  Enjoy the swamp pix as you ‘Travel Thru My Eyes’.
 

FLORIDA - St. Petersburg - 2015 - House Sitting - In Retrospect

I recently completed a routine house and pet sitting assignment for Amanda in St Petersburg, Florida. Her house is a typical, old style, Florida cinder block home.  It sits in a quiet community, with most homes having direct access to a channel (canal of some people call it) leading to Tampa Bay.  Boat docks outnumber pools, and backyard fishing is combined with cookouts.  Welcome, to coastal Florida life.

The back of the house

TUESDAY TRAVELER - March 2015 - Safety Harbor, Florida - Chalk Art Festival

Here are a some sidewalk chalk art photos I too on 21 and 22 March at the Safety Harbor, Chalk Art Festival. 

TUESDAY TRAVELER - Tarpon Springs, FL - The109th Annual Greek Epiphany

The sun casts long early morning shadows, temperatures in the mid-60s, and the water is like glass.  We search for a place to launch kayaks.  There it is, a walkable incline, floating dock, secure parking, and a short walk from the van to the water.  IT"S BLOCKED.

‘Copter Bill’, a local friend, who is a quad copter (drone) pilot/photographer, parked the van and we readied our equipment.  As we placed our cameras and drone near the incline we saw law enforcement looking on.  No shouts denying or giving us permission to be there, we continue.

Under their watchful eyes, we unload the kayaks, launch them, and transfer our equipment from the shore; still no shouts from law enforcement.

Van secure, kayaks launched, equipment loaded, we climb aboard, and paddle to Spring Bayou.