Cocoa Village

Can you imagine working for one place for 36 years. Well on Friday, I attended a going away party - get together really - for a man who has worked for Community Health at the Health Department in my county for the 36 years. He has done a myriad of things under the Public Health umbrella. And he said so eloquently and humbly, there were good days and bad days as there are with anything, but there never was a day he was not proud to say he worked for the Brevard County's (Public) Health Department. I too believe in our government's commitment to public health: local, state and national. I happen to work on a local/state level. I work with federal to state grants in a local arena with HIV/AIDS programs helping individuals access basic care; mostly to prevent HIV to progress into AIDS. Also, to provide a "net" of small support programs that will help them, if they get sick for a time, from falling out of a job or a house/apartment until they get themselves back on their feet - physically. I've been doing this for about 10 years, but the political scene has never been so against government "workers" - especially from my own "boss", my state's governor, so I don't know if I'll see my retirement get together. At least not from the government. But, oh well, I am from the generation that knew early on not to expect anything.

Anyway, what I really wanted to show on this blog is the pictures from the area that we had the party. In case you ever come to the area you will know there is more than just the cruise ship, cocoa beach's Ron Jon's and Disney World.

We were at the Cocoa Village River Front Park.

These are the fountains. In the warmer months, the children like to play in the water. The park also, is surrounded by large oak trees and has benches for enjoying the scene, or a good book. The river itself has a boardwalk that is built up around the river itself.

Many people come to live in the area in the winter months. Their real estate is right on the river.

Then, there are those that live in the river, year round. This is my attempt at a dolphin shot. Still no telescopic lens....

Cocoa Village itself is quite quaint. It is meant to keep with building codes from the early 1900s. Most buildings are restored. They are mostly small independently boutiques, art galleries, antique stores, cafes, restaurants, and Cocoa Village Playhouse. A farmer's market takes place every Friday and there is usually "a happening" on the weekends.

Cocoa Village Link


Visit the link above. It will take to you to more information about Cocoa Village present and past.

I always have fun wandering around the streets: cobblestone, yes. It was a cold day, but I was dressed for it. I even had by arm/hand warmers on. But, look at that Florida Sunshine!

Peace.
Brianne

The Birth of Winter

Sometimes, well actually, often, the ideas that I have for making into pieces of "art" don't actually make it into a physical representation. I may start with a sketch or two. I may even purchase or accumulate the materials I think I am going to need. But, then the pieces sit around in a pile until I use them for something else. So, when I do lay my hands to the creative process, and with love and commitment, tinker until I finally see something that I originally saw in my mind's eye, I find it amazing. Really. Our ability to create is in itself a miracle. To see something in our mind and create it. Magic.

So, here is my latest magic. Birth Of A Season: Winter

These are the three moons of winter just being born. They are busting from a pod; flying to their respective places in the night's skies. Just babies now, when they are full they will represent January's Moon of Ice and Cold; February's Moon of Storms, a Hunter's Moon and March's Moon of the Wind.

I snapped a picture of the pod in a fern outside. (It is always so difficult to capture those iridescent white faces and white fuzz around the heads.)

I posted this picture on my Etsy shop as well. What the heck. No one should think it is a real plant and pod. Etsy shoppers are elite. Anyway, I don't think anyone has found out where the Winters' Moons grow and are released from the pods. Or, is it where the moonflowers grow? I need to Google it. Or, better yet, look it up in Wikipedia; it'll be true if it's on Wikipedia! ;)

Enjoy the Moon's light whenever you can. Take a moment any clear evening and look up to see the Moon's  presence over your life. Always there, adding gentle gravitational pulls to the ebbs and flows to the rhythms of our nights and days. Journey Joyfully.

Peace.
Brianne

3/4 of a Cycle, Roseate and Orange

I had taken this picture a week or so ago. During the midst of the last cold snap we had. I wonder if up North if they call onslaughts of periodic cold weather in wintertime "cold snaps?" Here in Florida we can have one night where the temperatures are freezing for a couple of hours -just long enough to kill almost everything green, and then next day or so, it is back up to 78 or 79 degrees. Warm, muggy, mosquitoes (even now, yes) and everything is dead and moldy. Winter in Florida!

Well, at least, I don't have to endure long periods of cold temperatures. I KNOW I couldn't function. I would have to curl back into bed. But, maybe I would live in a house with central heat. Hummm. that would be a dream. We got our electric bill here and as spoiled as we are with our $30.00 a month bills; we did NOT get a $30 bill this time. Tom has limited heater use to the bedroom. I am typing this in the bedroom. I eat in the bedroom. I am moving my sewing machine and all my crafting supplies into the bedroom. Actually, no; I would get claustrophobia. But, I do as much as possible in here; or I carry the rather bulky space heater around with me. I guess I will have to pile on more clothes. Just like last year... The memory is coming back to me now: December, January, February. I am already prone to being cold. So, three socks, leg warmers, arm warmers, long sleeves, sweater, jeans, slipper boots, scarf. I am serious. See, us Florida girls suffer our fashion for the winter time as well. Actually, I did have a tank top and lightweight cargo pants on last weekend, so don't feel bad for me; it is Florida - coastal Florida, at that. Even the temperatures are rather fickle here. Yes, I said it.

Anyway, back to the picture. It is of the Maple. She is 3/4 of her cycle. So, I should expect the weather; the course of the year, to be just as I have said.



 OK. So, later on this evening. I'll be able to Wander my thoughts on what this loss of leaves, rather "messy" appearance and hibernation is telling me about my irritation about cold weather and about my own aging self. 

There is a little green in the yard. The 28 year old gardenia is still green. She is right by the little front patio. I brought her from our apartment and planted her when we finished building the house. I'll show you her when she blooms her glorious white flowers. This happens usually in May, around Mother's Day. The Bird-of-Paradise is still green. Luckily the "Bear-blanket" kept her warm on the freezing and frosty nights.

My neighbor has this in her front yard - the picture below. I wanted to show you because you might not really think I live in the coastal area of Florida by the pictures of my yard. But, this area (or the county I live in) actually has three temperate zones. I do live in the northern/central part of the county, and not on a barrier island. Although, that is where I did grow up!!

So, when you see this, you must be in Florida.

I tried the 1960's timeline feature on Corel Photo/Paintshop. This was her Holiday decorating this year. People often put out Pink Flamingos for Florida decorating, but get it right when they put out Roseate Spoonbills.



A. Morris Birds as Art





James Audubon



I saw the most beautiful Roseate Spoonbill rookery at the Ding Darling refuge on Sanibel Island. Pink is my favorite color. And the Roseates' have a variation of pink in their feathers; from very light to almost a fuchsia.

LINK To the REFUGE

We also see them on the Blackpoint Wildlife ride around the estuary in our own Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. LINK to Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge

OK. OK. If you have read this far; thank you for the long visit. I really appreciate it. One more thing. There are more oranges on trees in Florida right now than one knows what to do with. Tom went outside to the one growing in our yard (a Tangelo Orange really) and shook it this morning; early. I woke up to find two whole bowls full of oranges to slice thin and make my nice little garland.

Now, I just need to sneak them in next time I bake and dehydrate. That last electric bill he's not likely to forget. Well, even Superheros have their quirks  darksides.

Peace.
Brianne

No Ribbon For Me

I was going to blog a "How To." I see them all over the blogs. Ladies showing from start to finish their pictures with sometimes witty sometimes very serious commentary on the tutorials on the "how to" make this or make that special adorable craft they just completed. Mine was (now you know the jest is not in the present tense) going to be an adorable garland of dried oranges. I saw the idea on Flower Patch Farmgirl's blog.



from Flower Patch Farmgirl

 But.................

Mine were not going to be the regular old, well, regular orange oranges. I had picked up a bag of BLOOD ORANGES. And, because they weren't all that sweet and juicy I decided that they would make a gorgeous pinkish/red garland of dried translucent fruit hanging across my kitchen's Winter window.

I sliced them thinly and evenly.

Placed them onto the dehydrator trays (I used my dehydrator instead of the 225 degree oven for 2.5 hours).

I  dehydrated actual "eating" fruit along with the oranges so that no electricity would be "wasted."

This is where I might have introduced the "problem."

I made sure there were no throw-away wastes; the birds were fed what was left over.

So, then I dehydrated. They came out. Beautiful.

I didn't have a nice ribbon to hang them.

So, I planned to go to look for one Friday (a few days).

Being that this is Florida, even though it is winter, and cold, it is still damp, so I didn't want to leave the oranges in a "clump" on the counter. I put them in a paper bag and put them in the refrigerator until I got the ribbon and could skewer the two holes in each and hang them to catch the winter light in front of the window!!

Next day. I see that the bag has a twist-tie on it. Why, Tom, does the bag have a twist tie on it? Because, he ate about five of the oranges. Now, I swear to you, he was in the kitchen with me while I was cutting and blabbing away about making the garland. Just blabbing away about the silly garland and needing a pretty ribbon, I was. 

OK, there are more blood oranges in the bowl on the table. Tom, don't do anything with them. I'll cut them up tonight and I'll get the ribbon tomorrow and hang the garland this weekend.

I got home tonight, and saw that he had squeezed all the rest of the oranges.

I guess he really didn't want me to buy a ribbon.

Happy New Year

I have not had much new yet happen in these first few days. I have been busy with my etsy shop.

But, I wanted to post,

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

The First Robin

We were just talking about it the other day. Tom and I about when the Robins should be coming. He and his brother were discussing the annual visit and thought they were late this year. I checked my journal, the one I have kept for a few years in the side margins and empty spaces of the book: Rumi the Book of Love (Coleman Barks edition) , and for the last two years the Robins have come to visit in February. They weren't late. We are just impatient in our old age, forgetful maybe, separated from nature more and more, maybe. Or, maybe we ask it every year. Tom and I wondered with this recent cold, if the Robins would come sooner.

This picture is taken through the window and screening. I think it is a female, the breast doesn't look red enough to be a male. THE FIRST ROBIN of the year. I suppose it has a very different connotation saying that in Florida than, say, in Connecticut. But, for all you Northerners, we love the advent of the "return of the Robins" here as well. We welcome your redbird and feed and water them so that they will be healthy and full of vigor to bring Spring back to you!

It is a good thing Tom thawed out the birdbaths. But, here the temperature is already rising. Although, in the house, it is another story.

This is another picture I wanted to share. Yesterday, Tom had covered up the front Bird of Paradise with an old "faux fur" blanket. When I walked into the kitchen it caught my eye.

OK, another picture for clarity.

You don't see it, I suppose. But, what gave me a start is that out of the corner of my eye, I saw a Florida Black Bear in my front yard! Just kind of rolling around in the leaves. Her butt up in the air. Crazy!? In the middle of my neighborhood. We do have bobcats, and coyote and foxes and such, but an elusive Florida Black Bear. Who knew.

Peace.
Brianne

Florida Ticks

Masala wants you to know

just how big the ticks in Florida really are!

Tom got this so Masala will be able to really "bite back." This last bit of late Summer and Autumn was prolific with the little critters. If Masala could read, he'd enjoy the joke. Oh, well, at least we can.

Peace.

Brianne