A New Season Begins....

Down here October brings back the "Snowbirds" and everyone (at least everyone with something to sell) breaths a little sigh of relief and thanks the powers that be, they made it through another summer and are still in business to see them arrive...

For some it's the end of long hot days and humid nights that seem to bother many of the full time residents....

For me it's a good time to once again renew friendships put on hold for by the summer migration northward, it's also a time to change fishing tactics from early and later in the day when it's cooler, to mid-day when the water warms up a little more and gets the fish moving... I guess you might say I'm getting "Floridarized"...65 degrees has become my new "damn it's chilly outside" and lows in the 50's at night is downright cold....water temps are whole nother thing...used to be I'd wade fish in my shorts or swimsuit all winter long...hell the way I looked at it, the temp never got below the best summer day on Canandaigua Lake...so it was always warm water....now it's cold water if it gets below 80 degrees...

This months slide show is a mixed bag of the annual fly in breakfast at the local air field...some great redfish catches that I've had lately, some cute shots of the kids...my birthday party...and the annual Halloween Kids Walk on Dearborn Street, some very cute shots of the kids and the Pirate (Arrrgh)..and some great odds and ends shots with Jenny and my friends...God Bless you all

Hope you enjoy it.... Remember by the time you read the intro the slide show will be half over so make sure you start it again when it stops....

That's All For Now...

Live, Love, Laugh..and Dance...

Semper Fi

Monk

A September to Remember....

This month's slideshow is a little bit of this and that...

Had some visitors to my door...I think they were storks...they were begging for handouts but since my drainage ditches were full of nice juicy new frogs and tadpoles...they didn't need a hot dog handout...they staked out the house and chowed down till they needed a nap...

Had a busy month...did some golfing with friends and fishing with my friend Rodger...

My friend Jimmy got to sing at the coffee shop...so many talented people here...

It finally happened...I inherited my son Kyle's parrot...his name is Riley as in "Life Of"... I knew I'd be getting him when Kyle's new dog tried to have him for an appetiser...it's a lot more peaceful here...I think he appreciates it...he's young only 6 months old...we are getting used to each other but for a while I thought that by Thanksgiving I'd be having him with bread stuffing...it was the only way I could see enjoying him...he wouldn't let me near him without threatening physical harm to my digits...he's coming around now...so I guess he'll be an invited guest instead...

Went to the Keys with Jenny and Jay for a long weekend and had a great time...we stayed at a condo complex that had it's own saltwater lagoon for swimming and snorkeling...lots of fish and it saved the trip because the weather was a little unpredictable...we did manage to get out on the reef one day but I had forgotten my camera...the water was crystal clear and the colors and fish were so beautiful that I wish everyone could get to experience it just once...it was perfection and a memory that I will cherish....but no camera...so you'll just have to think of the best underwater reef shots you have seen on Discovery or National Geographic and that's what I experienced first hand...WOW....did get some shots of the fish in the lagoon so all is not lost...the one in the slide show is one of several Parrot Fish that we fed crackers to...we ate at a restaurant with a glass bottom bar...the underwater lights attracted lots of fish and it really was a treat...

When we got back we decided to have beef ribs and nobody cooks them better than Jen's brother Jay...the secret...Burn'em baby Burn'em til they scream..til the neighbors call 911...when
the fat is burnt off slather them in barbecue sauce....uuuuummmmmm.......

Of course we played a little golf and had our monthly car show...it just keeps getting better...The kids in the slideshow...Alex and Hanna... were visiting Jenny and I couldn't resist a couple of shots...of course no blog is complete without some of my Grandbabies...Dakota and Callie are making their very own play dough..still the cutest ever...

I threw in a nice canvas that I did of the Royal Palm Marina at Sunset...this new direction with the art is a nice change of pace...

Enjoy the slide show....

Well That's All For Now...

Live, Love, Laugh and Dance...

Semper Fi

Monk

Labor Day Weekend Special

It's been a busy few days ...My son Kevin and family visited me on Friday the 3rd and we had a great time at the beach...it was a surprise visit and the first time he has seen my place in Florida and he got to visit his brother Kyle as well...

I got some great shots of the Cardboard Boat Races at Indian Mound park on Saturday and another great group of shots for the Pioneer Days Parade on Monday....

I've included some new photos of flowers etc. and some of my newest attempts at art...

I'm putting the two different events on separate slide shows so be sure to watch both...


For an added treat I've included a Video that I posted on YouTube...soon to be a new Olympic Sport...Ditch Skiing...or Redneck Yachting...had a little shower at my house...these two decided to do a little skiing...watch how skilled he is getting around the corner and accross the driveway into the next ditch...nice job guys..

Enjoy the shows and let me know what you think....










That's All For Now....

Life is not about seeking shelter from the storm,
Life is about learning to dance in the rain....

Live, Love, Laugh, and Dance

Semper Fi

Monk

Lazy, Hazy, and Crazy Summer Days

Mostly Crazy...but still having a good time during my second full summer in Englewood...

Went back up north for a few days to celebrate my oldest grandson Alex graduation from high school and my youngest granddaughter Autumn's baptism...one was on a Saturday and the other was on Sunday..each followed by picnics in the park..great weather and some great food and entertainment..

Also very proud of son Travis he has made Tech Sgt. (E-7) and is probably one of the youngest ones in the Air Force...and just re-enlisted for six more years..congratulations son...

Also have been doing some more work on the canvas print idea...some of which you will see in the slide show...got some great new shots of Flora and Fauna included as well and have re-organized my space at the gallery at least six times since the last posting...I have to my amazement sold several more matted photos and a canvas or two...and my brother Richard back in Canandaigua has sold more copies of my book than any other local entity...not counting my publisher of course..

Have had my son Andy come down for a visit and we all had a great time while he was here..pretty sure he will be the next public servant in the family..looks like he may be getting a job as a firefighter in New York..very proud of him and all the kids...as a father I am a very lucky man...

Well enjoy this installment of the slide show and have a great summer..I'll post again soon..



That's All For Now...

Live,Love,Laugh, and Dance...

Semper Fi...

Monk

Where Has The Time Gone...

I know....I know...it's been a long time between updates...Guess I just got lazy or in the case of this winter in Sunny Florida...to cold to move...what an awful winter...weather wise at least..January through the end of March was some of the coldest weather in 35 years here in this neck of the woods...

Enjoy the slide show and I'll try to keep up....





Rather than try to fill you in on everything since Christmas I'll just get to the meat...Got a brand new Granddaughter ...her name is Autumn Grace and she is a doll..all 8.3 pounds of her....


Got home to see mom a few weeks ago and that felt good...she is 87 and still going strong...Love you Mom...

Went to the Ringling museum...attended a few parties...got to feed the bald eagles again...the artists of Englewood did a fantastic job on benches for Dearborn Street...a little golfing and a lot of living the "Hemingway" lifestyle as one of my friends refereed to my comings and goings...

Been doing some experimenting with photos of landscapes in the area and have gotten a few feet of wall space at the Englewood Art Alliance...but I truly am humbled by the tremendous amount of fantastic art represented by the artists, photographers and sculptors represented in this gallery...come see for yourself...right on Dearborn Street...can't miss it...


Still catching fish but have done more on the photographic side of my life...I'll be catching up on my Gyotako this summer...

That's All For Now...

Live, Love, Laugh and Dance...

Semper Fi...

Monk