tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794Tue, 23 Apr 2019 17:37:40 +0000Floridabeachbirdsday of departurewildlifelongboat keyShorebirdsanna marianaturevacationManatee CountybutterfliesjanuarywinterGeorgiaamusementstravelSunsetWhere Am I?crittersflowersDay TripFebruaryTampagardenCaptivaCortez VillageFort Desoto BeachGulf CoastSkySt. PetersburgWakulla CountyWhere Am I Revealedautumngardeningseptembertarpon springsAmelia IslandAugustFernandina BeachGulf of MexicoHoneymoon IslandMyakka CitySeafoodSpringState ParksSunrisecaladiumscedar keydecemberfoodplantswakulla springsAgricultureAprilBayshore BoulevardBlack SkimmerBridgesCaladesi IslandCentral FloridaCitrusCoastCoastalCookingCoquina BeachCowsCracker HouseCrystal RiverCumberland IslandCypress GardensDixie countyDogwoodsFlorida CropFlorida FestivalFranklin CountyFreezeGGW photo contestHawthorneHistoryHorseshoe BeachJulyLevy CountyManasota KeyManatee Springs State ParkMapMarbled GodwitMarchMyakka State ParkNature CoastNovemberOcalaOld FloridaPalma Sola Botanical GardensPanaceaPanhandleParkPinxterQuiet TownsRainbow SpringsReddish EgretRiversRuddy TurnstoneSanfordSarasotaSkyway BridgeSoup RecipeSt. Mark's NWRTreasure IslandTrumpet TreeUniversity of TampaWeatherYellow-crowned Night Heroncontainersdowny woodpeckerfishfriendsgrasshoppersholly treehomosassa springslake walesoctobertreesvegetable gardenhttp://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/noreply@blogger.com (Meems)Blogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-874328266795480768Sun, 06 Apr 2014 13:03:00 +00002014-04-06T09:03:11.714-04:00Nature CoastOld FloridaQuiet TownsSeafood Marsh Steinhatchee River Steinhatchee River Oysters http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2014/04/steinhatchee.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-1556238173581990137Sat, 22 Mar 2014 09:30:00 +00002014-03-22T05:30:02.266-04:00beachFloridaSunsetTreasure Island Evening sun, March 2014 http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2014/03/treasure-island.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-4499943787910752770Thu, 20 Mar 2014 11:00:00 +00002014-03-20T07:00:12.385-04:00Crystal River Crystal River, FL http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2014/03/sunset.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-8695352088863903570Wed, 19 Mar 2014 19:11:00 +00002014-03-21T09:42:44.918-04:00AgricultureCentral FloridaCracker HouseFlorida Cows and Old Florida 'Cracker House' ~ Two of my favorites. Outhouse Like dialing back time about 70 years ... both structures still standing in the middle corridor of Central Florida.http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2014/03/old-florida.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-7126337938639291881Fri, 26 Aug 2011 11:08:00 +00002011-08-26T07:14:32.406-04:00beachFloridaManatee CountyShorebirds It's about this time every year when the air is muggy and thick with humidity that I long for the cooler weather to hurry its arrival. Sandy shores are calling out to me. The hot summer months don't keep us away from the beach but the cooler months of the year are preferred for beach going. We make day trips in the heat of summer instead of weekend or week(s) long stays out of our beach timeshttp://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2011/08/beach-dreams.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-1739600222357064801Sat, 20 Aug 2011 19:03:00 +00002014-03-21T09:48:40.102-04:00FloridaHistoryMap Recently in a Texas antique store one of the vendors was selling loose-leaf pages from an old Atlas. A bit tattered but I couldn't resist buying this map of Florida. Just imagine what might have been going on (besides swarms of mosquitoes) on the lands of this great state in 1890. Florida was admitted as the 27th state to the United States of America in 1845. For more quick facts about http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2011/08/floridacirca1890.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-8971951018861673053Wed, 20 Jul 2011 02:21:00 +00002011-07-19T22:22:01.656-04:00beachflowersGulf CoastA walk along the sandy shores of the Gulf Coast will likely give you a first-hand look at these remarkable Florida native plants. It's a wonder any plant could survive in these conditions.Railroad Vine: Ipomoea pes-caprae or beach morning glory is found on many beaches worldwide ... in the Carribean and in Australia.Often Sea Oats and Railroad vine are utilized for beach restoration and http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2011/07/railroad-vine.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-2338278107515696251Sat, 18 Jun 2011 02:04:00 +00002011-06-17T22:56:57.002-04:00beachlongboat keySkySunriseSunsetSunrise at the beach is a magical time of day.Sunset is equally magnificent and full of wonder.The skies along the shoreline can transform into many shades and colors in the course of a day.First light of soft pinks and orange-yellows reflect onto tree trunks against brilliant blue skies.Sometimes clouds and wind shift the skies from blue to grey and back again very quickly.And birds in flight http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2011/06/beach-skies.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-95588322563286349Mon, 06 Jun 2011 02:49:00 +00002011-06-05T23:14:07.722-04:00longboat keyRuddy TurnstoneShorebirdsRuddy Turstone (Arenaria interpres) is a common shorebird on the Gulf Coast of Florida.They can be seen foraging along the water's edge flipping over stones and rocks with their beak .They are in search of prey or other debris hiding underneath rocks and seaweed. Small clams, mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and insects are all part of the Ruddy Turnstone diet.Also look for the short, black, http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2011/06/ruddy-turnstone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-5252938338106216145Sun, 29 May 2011 01:17:00 +00002011-05-28T21:45:06.761-04:00beachbirdsBlack SkimmerFloridalongboat keyBlack Skimmers are beautiful and unusual shorebirds. The lower mandible being longer than the upper and their coloration striking.In flight it is graceful and soaring with a wing span of 3.5' and a body of only 18".A beautiful sight to see on the shoreline as it forages in flight while skimming its lower mandible just under the surface of the water.There were large colonies of them roosting http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2011/05/black-skimmers.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-4697623878366835893Sat, 07 May 2011 19:54:00 +00002011-05-07T16:40:58.188-04:00beachbirdslongboat keyShorebirdsYellow-crowned Night HeronAn early morning snag by the powerful beak of a Yellow-crowned Night Heron perusing the shoreline.The ghost crab peeked his head out of his own home in the sand at just the 'wrong' time.A wiggly, squirming, but useless struggle ensues.Some flipping and tossing by the strong, deft beak.Eye-ball to eye-ball, Mr. Crabby sees his life flash before his eyes.Probably wishing about now that he had takenhttp://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2011/05/crabby-breakfast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-8601510425877924929Fri, 06 May 2011 01:30:00 +00002011-05-05T21:40:47.720-04:00PanhandleSt. Mark's NWRI've got a good bit of catching up to do on this blog.Backing up a few months ... it was a cold, blustery autumn day when Mr. Meems and I made our way to St. Mark's Lighthouse and National Wildlife Refuge.We spend quite a bit of time in the Panhandle of Florida. It is a beautiful part of our state.So much land and so many places left untouched by man.St. Mark's is a remarkably breathtaking place.http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2011/05/st-marks-national-wildlife-refuge.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-5666568150702452601Wed, 19 Jan 2011 20:40:00 +00002011-06-07T13:59:47.766-04:00beachCaladesi IslandHoneymoon IslandShorebirdsState ParksOne of the barrier islands west of the coastal (and oh so quaint, too) community of Dunedin, FL, Caladesi Island State Park, is only accessible by boat. Private boats can dock or even stay overnight in the 108-slip marina.For those of us who don't have a boat the ferry service leaves from Honeymoon Island State Park and runs back and forth between the docks all day long.Mangrove forests line the http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2011/01/ferry-to-caladesi-island.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-6408086284052030551Fri, 10 Dec 2010 12:39:00 +00002010-12-10T07:56:58.080-05:00Amelia IslandFernandina BeachFernandina Beach is just one of the many destinations you wouldn't want to miss on Amelia Island. This month the Christmas lights are up and they are sure to draw lots of oooohhs and aaaahhhhs.We go there as often as we can. If we get near the Northeast borders of this beautiful state we drive to the downtown area of Fernandina Beach.The marina is breathtaking as well as peaceful and http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2010/12/amelia-island.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-936886425044001314Mon, 29 Nov 2010 22:49:00 +00002010-11-29T17:49:27.269-05:00FloridaTampaUniversity of TampaAs much as I adore "my Florida" it isn't the concrete side of it I'm ever particularly drawn to. Along those lines I've actually never thought of Tampa as being an especially pretty 'city'.That's not to say there aren't some very lovely places and locations within this well-populated metropolis. I tend to prefer wide-open spaces and less congested situations.In recent years Tampa has done a few http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2010/11/downtown-tampa.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-7352886788874681871Mon, 18 Oct 2010 11:36:00 +00002010-10-18T07:44:05.630-04:00Dixie countyFloridaHorseshoe BeachThere isn't too much "beach" to speak of at this small town "nature coast" city. But there is plenty of "old Florida" to soak up.http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2010/10/horseshoe-beach.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-8183298855681431941Sat, 09 Oct 2010 11:29:00 +00002010-10-09T07:31:41.048-04:00FloridaSt. PetersburgSunsethttp://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2010/10/st-pete-beach-at-sunset.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-8454155824622255695Sat, 25 Sep 2010 20:55:00 +00002010-09-25T16:57:23.227-04:00beachCoastalGeorgiaRising with the sun is not all that unusual.Getting to view the rising sun from the vantage point of the shoreline as it crests above the waters? THAT is unusual for these east coast residents.Living near the Gulf of Mexico means watching sunsets is fairly standard.Visiting the Atlantic Coast it's a beautifully solemn time to rest in wait for that first peek from this most amazing star in the http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2010/09/sleepy-coastal-island.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-8353889478230447521Fri, 17 Sep 2010 11:08:00 +00002010-09-17T07:14:38.031-04:00GeorgiaSunriseClouds make for an even more stunning sunrise!http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2010/09/atlantic-coast.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-4933273049917328139Mon, 06 Sep 2010 02:30:00 +00002010-09-05T22:36:37.242-04:00anna mariabeachlongboat keyI realize it's been a long while since I've made an entry on this blog. But it isn't because I haven't had photos to share.There are hundreds ... no, thousands of photos filed away, neatly cataloged, in folders on my computer.Several weeks ago the computer I save ALL my photos to blue-screened. To make a long story short subsequently it was decided by a true expert (not me obviously) that it was http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2010/09/beach-and-word-about-backing-up-photos.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-6891189586020847685Sun, 13 Jun 2010 02:57:00 +00002010-06-12T22:58:15.101-04:00beachManatee CountyDinner outdoors at a favorite casual eatery.Followed by a reminiscing walk on a late evening beach.http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2010/06/evening-at-beach.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-8781212278769596792Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:50:00 +00002011-06-07T14:02:34.295-04:00anna mariabeachbirdsFloridaShorebirdswinterhttp://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2010/03/winter-day-at-beach.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-3642999782538923621Sun, 21 Feb 2010 03:26:00 +00002010-02-20T22:37:51.106-05:00foodSoup RecipeHomemade soup is just the ticket for chilly winter weather. I can't remember a winter when there were so many eligible nights and weekends for a good, yummy soup to take the chill off from head to toe.Soup is just fun to make. There are so many combinations and ways to throw a good soup together. This winter I came up with one that has become my favorite. That usually is the case until I come up http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2010/02/tummy-warming-comfort-food.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-6076347175255266281Mon, 18 Jan 2010 01:11:00 +00002010-01-22T06:51:23.708-05:00beachjanuarylongboat keyManatee CountywinterOftentimes the month of December is (overly) consumed with preparations for family and holiday activities.No matter how many ways I tried to persuade myself to get away this December it was the case again that no spare time was made for escaping ... not even for a day.One of these years I'm going to get that figured out and right in the middle of the Christmas hoopla a day will be spent http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2010/01/sandy-shores-for-diversion.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-986921057108787794.post-3356840914113724493Tue, 29 Dec 2009 02:34:00 +00002009-12-28T21:34:58.131-05:00beachFloridaGulf of MexicoManatee County http://www.fortheloveofflorida.com/2009/12/tide-battered-pier.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Meems)4