Clouds

 Clyde Butcher's clouds are art.

I found Clyde on Facebook recently, (Clyde Butcher Photography) and am sharing just a bit of his art. 

He said:

I've been photographing in Myakka River State Park for many years, but after my stroke, it became my new backyard and second healing waters. Much like Big Cypress National Preserve was for me after the loss of my son.

Nature has always had a profound ability to heal me, and the water, in particular, has been my sanctuary. My time in the Everglades helped me heal in ways I never imagined, and now, in Venice, I've found the same comfort in the gentle flow of the Myakka River.

To see more of my images from Myakka and be inspired just as I have been: https://bit.ly/3S6Ytsw

 

He also has a web site clydebutcher.com

I lived in Florida many years...where it's mostly flat and wet. And all summer long thunder clouds float into being each afternoon. I once had a poster (black and white) of one of Clyde's beautiful clouds.

Wikipedia says this:

Beyond photography, Butcher is an active environmentalist. He has been instrumental in raising awareness about the importance of preserving natural habitats, particularly the Florida Everglades. Through his galleries, exhibitions, and public speaking engagements, he advocates for conservation and educates the public on environmental issues.

My photo of Lake Tomahawk in September 2023. 

Another view of Lake Tomahawk from November 2023.

Yes, North Carolina has thunder clouds also.

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Sharing with Skywatch Friday!

Today's quote:

There are two things to aim at in life; first to get what you want, and after that to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind achieve the second. -Logan Pearsall Smith, essayist (1865-1946)

The pelican chase!

After eating fresh catch seafood while sitting by the bay, I wanted to see some pelicans.  Several (I think I counted to 5) had flown by in the time we were eating.  But my son and girlfriend knew just where to satisfy this desire!

A charter fishing boat had docked at a marina, and there they were waiting for dinner!

A few other birds gathered as well, while fish were weighed and cleaned...and look below the dock!

A pod of pelicans waiting for the fish trimmings!  (I looked up the venery term for a group of pelicans!)

 Some of these pelicans had 6 foot wingspans, though not many were interested in flying.

There were sometimes arguments over entrails!  As you can see, seagulls didn't bother coming by with these delightful monsters.

 A more snazzy fishing boat at the same marina.

A beautiful egret didn't mind our presence at all, I think we left before he did.

PS...here's the last half of my lunch!

Today's quote:

Although we have been made to believe that if we let go we will end up with nothing, life reveals just the opposite: that letting go is the real path to freedom.

Sogyal Rinpoche

Back to Florida

My Homes, Chapter 5: (an archive for my descendants)
Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Tampa Florida

Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL - After a vacation (from Tennessee to Florida) which included going to a beach on the Atlantic Ocean, I wanted to be back in sunny Florida. So I again typed my way into various temp jobs. We moved into a medium size mobile home in 1994. I kept doing Administrative Assistant work, and turned down a few offers for permanent jobs typing on computers.

Below shows the location of our home in Jacksonville, FL. I spent a lot of weekends going to the beach!

Countryside Village Mobile Home park on left, Atlantic Ocean on right

Still living in Jacksonville, eventually I got a job doing counseling with elderly people in nursing homes. Several were in St. Augustine, where I commuted every day driving down highway A1A along the beaches! And I was just 4 hours away from my oldest son in Tampa FL who we visited every other month or so.

15th St., St. Augustine Beach, FL - I found a lovely apartment just 5 buildings back from the beach of the Atlantic Ocean, and I could drive to work in 15 minutes. My youngest son moved off to college after graduating from high school here.

Tampa condominium

Hanging Moss, Tampa, FL - a condo near the U of South Florida.  I moved to be near my oldest son and his family, while my youngest son was at college in St. Petersburg FL. Middle son had married and was beginning his family in Atlanta. I worked at a new position which fit me like a glove...an Activity Director in an Assisted Living facility, starting in 2000.

Lotus St, Tampa, FL - I rented a medium size home in a slightly questionable neighborhood (thus it was affordable.) I was now working with elders in a 200 unit independent living building...as an Activity Director still. My youngest son was living out in Colorado, while middle son remained in Atlanta. My oldest son and his family were still in Tampa, but I only saw them a couple of times a month. It was good, but changes were to come when I considered retiring!

Quote for today:

Although we have been made to believe that if we let go we will end up with nothing, life reveals just the opposite: that letting go is the real path to freedom.

Sogyal Rinpoche
Glimpse After Glimpse

To see the sea for the first time

When I was a grad student at the U of Florida, I lived in "family housing" called Corey Village.  Most of the residents had children, or were married so had spouses.  I met a dear family from Nepal, where the husband was studying Forestry.  His wife spoke almost no English, and they had son around 2 at the time.

Her first time to see the ocean (my son in the waves)

My friend Nancy and I decided that the wife (who's name I have unfortunately forgotten) needed to see the sea (er Atlantic Ocean) while she lived in Florida.  So we planned a Saturday trip to the beach.  (I think her husband had perhaps seen the ocean once before.)

Of course she had to borrow one of my swim suits.  My son, Tai, was already a fish in water, so I was comfortable with his playing in the waves.

Nancy (in hat) and Tai (another hat) with family from Nepal at Corey Village, U of Florida, Gainesville, FL

Nancy and I had such a great time sharing this event with this family.  Nancy was a friend from my Quaker Meeting.

Nancy Tyler and Barb Rogers, St. Augustine, Florida 1985

I'm adding this to Sepia Saturday this week...
there are some hats in my photos!