Flower (Drum) Song

On my midday walk today, I came upon this flower.  I don't ever recall seeing one like it.

This was in the same planting.

There is so much color and beauty around.  So much to see on my walks!

Early April Morning Walk

Another beautiful morning for a walk. I decided to take my camera with me since I've been seeing a lot of shots I'd like to capture on my recent walks.

This lawn looks like a carpet.

We had some thunder storms come through last night, so the soil was pretty moist and the foliage had dew on it.  The storms last night knocked my power out about 5 times.  Would go out momentarily, then come back on.  Longest out was about 3 minutes. Thought maybe I'd be taking my shower by candlelight!

This is the pergola near the Vinoy.

This group of bicyclist are usually having their coffee at this time.

One of the alleys.  I'd like to do a photo essay of the "Alleys of Old Northeast" someday!

Jacaranda is a little past peak.  Interesting peak in the roof over the front door.

Interesting "berries"!
There are so many different colors of the berries.

Daily Walks

I am in my sixth week of total retirement.  I'm not focusing on a routine yet, thinking maybe over time, one will work itself out.  One thing I have been trying to do, is to take at least one walk every day.  So, I usually meet Dave at 9 AM each weekday morning and we walk for about an hour or more.  We try to mix it up, walking a different route each day.  This shot is on Coffee Pot Bayou.

There's always a picture of something that I would like to capture.  I haven't been taking my camera, relying on my dumb smart phone camera.  It's not that good, so I'm thinking about starting to bring my camera.  This is the bridge leading over to Snell Island.

This ship kept 'tooting' it's horn.  Looking out on Tampa Bay from just north of downtown St. Pete.

I use to take a lot of pictures of the area when I was out on my walks.  Now that I'm walking regularly again, I keep seeing shots that I would like to capture.  I'm thinking of doing some themed photo essays.  Why not?  I've got plenty of time now!

Here I am looking up from the park bench that I am sitting on, enjoying my iced coffee outside of Starbucks.

It's a strange season here now in Florida.  Sort of a combined spring and fall.  There are tons of flowers blooming all over the place, and at the same time, lots of dried leaves falling from trees and blowing around.  The temperature has been around 80 each day lately.  Nights in the upper 60s.  I have to keep reminded myself what month it is.  Huge difference now, what with Albany having it's first significant snowfall of the winter now.

A Foggy Morning in St. Pete Town

I am in my fifth week of "retirement" now.  I haven't developed any sort of routine yet, taking the time to let whatever will be, will be.  One thing that has been fairly well consistent, is a morning walk.  Dave meets me at 9 AM and we head off in a different direction depending on the whim of the day.

This morning there was a fog hanging over Tampa Bay and over downtown St. Pete.  As our walk progressed, the fog was lifting.

I still find it hard to believe that this is February and I'm living here.  So much of "winter" is a distant memory.  I forget what time of year it really is.

One of the things I am enjoying, is having time.  It sort of reminds me of when I was a child.  Especially thinking back on summer days when I was growing up.  I got up in the morning. Had breakfast.  Went out to play with my brother and sister, and/or cousins and/or neighborhood friends.  There was no set schedule.  We played until we were called in for lunch.  Then played some more until we were called in for dinner.  A clock wasn't necessary.  It's pretty much like that now.  Only my playtime is not quite the same, and no one prepares my meals and calls me in when they are ready.  (Shout out to Ma!)

Caught this school of fish under the dock on the way back.

I'm glad I live in a place that is perpetual "summer".  It always was my favorite time of year!

Beginning Life as a Full Retiree

This has been my first full week of absolute workless retirement!  I have been taking things slowly.  Getting out of bed when I felt like it.  Eating when I was hungry.  Making no appointments or scheduling anything!  Only one thing I wanted to do was to make sure I took at least one good walk a day.






I have been taking a different route each day, to keep things more interesting.  Work and exhaustion was my excuse for not exercising.  It's good to be moving again!






I've never seen this marker on 9th Ave N before.

This gazebo is in Round Lake Park.

I saw these colorful homes nearby.

This morning I went on my walk with my friend Dave.  Although there was a fine mist in the air, it cleared up shortly after we set out.  This is a couple blocks from my apartment, as we were finishing up our walk.