By Bobbi
In one of my previous blog stories, I told you about the small lizards that populate our state. There are creatures living here even more plentiful than lizards. They are called Palmetto Bugs because, so I’ve been told, they live in palmetto plants.
Palmetto plants look like palm fronds (located at the top of palm trees). The major difference between palm trees and palmettos is their height. Palmettos are short, only about 4 to 5 feet tall. They grow wild and you normally find them in the countryside. Drive along Highway A1A in the beach area or back roads that border pine tree farms and you will see them as part of the thick undergrowth.
I think those bugs must live in other places besides palmettos, though, because they’re everywhere. They get into people’s home, so pest control efforts are a necessity. Doesn’t matter if you are a good or bad housekeeper because it has nothing to do with the fact they will find a way in, sooner or later. You rarely see the bugs in hotels or businesses, so the grounds outside the buildings probably get sprayed, also.
Adult bugs are huge, some measuring between 1 ½ to 2” or more in length. They’re dark brown, look like cockroaches, and they can actually fly. You haven’t lived until you’ve seen one winging its way toward you!
The next best thing to having one fly at you is having one crawl on you. That’s right, it’s happened to me. I know, eeeewwww, right?! Ha! Ha! Their legs feel creepy crawly on your skin. My brother-in-law had one land on his arm in the middle of the night. Of course, he was sound asleep so instinct took over. He quickly flung it off, right into the fan next to his bed. He laughed as he described the sound it made as it hit those whirling blades.
Finding a palmetto bug in my house is an opportunity to take out my aggressions on something with positive results. Once in the house, they’re normally moving a bit slower than usual because it means they’ve already traipsed through poison the pest control man left behind on his routine monthly visit. I use the edge of a spray can or other object to cut off the bug’s head. This is a quick and painless way to get rid of the pest.
Sometimes, if the bug is moving too quickly or I’m especially irritated about something that day, I just hit it with a shoe or step on it. If done just right, you will hear a loud “pop”. This method is a bit messy because you will have to clean up the brown, squishy mess it leaves behind but it’s effective.
If killing the bugs sounds cruel to you, just consider the fact that if allowed to roam freely about the building they’re in, they will build nests and breed more bugs. They get into the food supply, even if it’s stored in plastic bags or containers. Plus, they leave behind brown streaks wherever they roam.
Since these bugs don’t seem to have any redeeming qualities and don’t seem to serve a purpose, I’ve decided these bugs are pesky, not the lizards.
Showing posts with label Florida adventures. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Florida adventures. Show all posts
Monday, August 1, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Hurricanes & Tornadoes, Part 2 of 2
By Bobbi
The children didn’t start crying until some of the adults seemed frightened. One man had been standing in front of a door looking out its small window watching the storm when a chunk of hail hit the glass. He ended up with a small gash above one eye.
We found out later the worst part of the storm struck at the opposite end of town. Have you ever heard the saying, “the calm before the storm”? Well, there is calm after a storm, too. As we walked outside later when we knew the tornado had passed, there was an eerie sort of quiet calm. The moon was bright in the night sky, stars were twinkling and the ground was littered with golf ball-sized hail. Dad grabbed the camera he always carried with him, brought some of those hailstones inside and took pictures of them in stark black and white.
We drove around the area for awhile the next day to see some of the damage left in the storm’s wake. I recall seeing one two-story, mud-spattered house that was still intact but curtains were billowing out empty spaces where there once had been glass.
Tales were told, such as the brick home not far from where we lived that had taken nearly four years to build. It was demolished in a matter of seconds. Cars had been blown over and rolled up in stretches of barbed wire fencing. We also heard about a baby getting sucked out of its parent’s arms as they raced for shelter. The little one was found later, some distance away, wrapped up in fencing like the car.
I have had many discussions with family and friends over which is worse to put up with, hurricanes or tornadoes. Why don’t you decide?
· Hurricanes:
- you know they’re coming and usually have days to prepare by stocking up on food & water or leave town before they hit;
- heaviest damage is often due to flooding in low-lying areas, not winds;
- if you know one is headed your way, you need to board or tape up windows to keep glass from shattering.
· Tornadoes:
- they move quickly and you don’t always know they’re coming, though most towns & cities usually affected by them have warning sirens;
- vehicles & buildings can get damaged by hail;
- as soon as you realize one is headed your way, you need to find shelter in a basement or the innermost room of your home, preferably on the first floor, such as a closet or bathroom;
- while you are looking for a safe place to hide from the storm, you must stay away from windows to avoid being injured by flying glass.
We never got hit by any of the hurricanes during 2004, I’m happy to report. Our area of the state did suffer a small amount of damage due to high winds such as tree limbs broken off, some power outages, and debris scattered over the streets. I can’t imagine what things would have been like had we suffered a direct hit.
I kept the newspaper clippings containing the stories written about Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. I also still have the articles about the events of September 11, 2001; not the whole paper, just the section with the headline screaming, “TERROR!” When you’ve lived during times of major disasters, whether natural or man-made, it changes you. It can take awhile to get over them.
Which do you prefer, hurricanes or tornadoes?
The children didn’t start crying until some of the adults seemed frightened. One man had been standing in front of a door looking out its small window watching the storm when a chunk of hail hit the glass. He ended up with a small gash above one eye.
We found out later the worst part of the storm struck at the opposite end of town. Have you ever heard the saying, “the calm before the storm”? Well, there is calm after a storm, too. As we walked outside later when we knew the tornado had passed, there was an eerie sort of quiet calm. The moon was bright in the night sky, stars were twinkling and the ground was littered with golf ball-sized hail. Dad grabbed the camera he always carried with him, brought some of those hailstones inside and took pictures of them in stark black and white.
We drove around the area for awhile the next day to see some of the damage left in the storm’s wake. I recall seeing one two-story, mud-spattered house that was still intact but curtains were billowing out empty spaces where there once had been glass.
Tales were told, such as the brick home not far from where we lived that had taken nearly four years to build. It was demolished in a matter of seconds. Cars had been blown over and rolled up in stretches of barbed wire fencing. We also heard about a baby getting sucked out of its parent’s arms as they raced for shelter. The little one was found later, some distance away, wrapped up in fencing like the car.
I have had many discussions with family and friends over which is worse to put up with, hurricanes or tornadoes. Why don’t you decide?
· Hurricanes:
- you know they’re coming and usually have days to prepare by stocking up on food & water or leave town before they hit;
- heaviest damage is often due to flooding in low-lying areas, not winds;
- if you know one is headed your way, you need to board or tape up windows to keep glass from shattering.
· Tornadoes:
- they move quickly and you don’t always know they’re coming, though most towns & cities usually affected by them have warning sirens;
- vehicles & buildings can get damaged by hail;
- as soon as you realize one is headed your way, you need to find shelter in a basement or the innermost room of your home, preferably on the first floor, such as a closet or bathroom;
- while you are looking for a safe place to hide from the storm, you must stay away from windows to avoid being injured by flying glass.
We never got hit by any of the hurricanes during 2004, I’m happy to report. Our area of the state did suffer a small amount of damage due to high winds such as tree limbs broken off, some power outages, and debris scattered over the streets. I can’t imagine what things would have been like had we suffered a direct hit.
I kept the newspaper clippings containing the stories written about Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne. I also still have the articles about the events of September 11, 2001; not the whole paper, just the section with the headline screaming, “TERROR!” When you’ve lived during times of major disasters, whether natural or man-made, it changes you. It can take awhile to get over them.
Which do you prefer, hurricanes or tornadoes?
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Hurricanes & Tornadoes
By Bobbi
We went about our daily routines, as usual, but kept a watchful eye on the TV weather reports. Another hurricane was headed to the Gulf of Mexico and we needed to see if it was going to come our way.
The hurricane season of 2004 was well underway. Hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and ends on November 30 which sounds like a long time. To those of us who have lived in the area awhile, it passes by almost unnoticed.
Oh, we are well aware of its potential for harm and I dare say most of us have a fully-stocked emergency kit assembled, stashed away in a closet. It’s just that the storms don’t usually hit the main part of Florida. Andrew, back in 1992, was a major exception. However, the state is situated in such a place on the globe they usually swirl past. Bermuda and Cuba aren’t that lucky.
By now, the initial excitement of that first hurricane party we held was long gone. This was not our first time of having family and a few friends over to play games, eat snacks, and stay up late watching to see where the storm was going to make landfall. We were getting weary of the anxiety. It wasn’t so much fun anymore.
My mind wandered to the distant past as I reflected on another type of storm I had been through. Having grown up in the Midwest, I have a lot of experience with tornadoes. I had only been in one but had stayed up many nights, with my family members, watching weather reports on TV. We had run for cover on more than one occasion as storm clouds gathered, the winds picked up, and the sky turned a greenish color.
The one I was in occurred on the night of April 11, 1965, Palm Sunday, to be exact. My family had attended the morning worship service at church like we normally did every week. A friend invited me to spend the day with her at her home, so I was separated from my family.
I had a wonderful time at her house. We played together all day and I was treated to lunch, then supper with her family. The weather had been beautiful and sunny. But by the time her dad gave me a ride back to the church, the sky was dark, it began to rain, and on the way small pieces of hail had started to hit the car. My friend’s dad dropped me off then hurried off to be with his family at home.
It wasn’t long after my arrival at church the power went out. Up until that point, everyone had remained fairly calm. The kids were fine with everything, I guess because we didn’t know what was really going on and the ramifications. We were fine, that is, until the adults started praying. That’s when we got scared.
Part 1 of 2
We went about our daily routines, as usual, but kept a watchful eye on the TV weather reports. Another hurricane was headed to the Gulf of Mexico and we needed to see if it was going to come our way.
The hurricane season of 2004 was well underway. Hurricane season officially begins on June 1 and ends on November 30 which sounds like a long time. To those of us who have lived in the area awhile, it passes by almost unnoticed.
Oh, we are well aware of its potential for harm and I dare say most of us have a fully-stocked emergency kit assembled, stashed away in a closet. It’s just that the storms don’t usually hit the main part of Florida. Andrew, back in 1992, was a major exception. However, the state is situated in such a place on the globe they usually swirl past. Bermuda and Cuba aren’t that lucky.
By now, the initial excitement of that first hurricane party we held was long gone. This was not our first time of having family and a few friends over to play games, eat snacks, and stay up late watching to see where the storm was going to make landfall. We were getting weary of the anxiety. It wasn’t so much fun anymore.
My mind wandered to the distant past as I reflected on another type of storm I had been through. Having grown up in the Midwest, I have a lot of experience with tornadoes. I had only been in one but had stayed up many nights, with my family members, watching weather reports on TV. We had run for cover on more than one occasion as storm clouds gathered, the winds picked up, and the sky turned a greenish color.
The one I was in occurred on the night of April 11, 1965, Palm Sunday, to be exact. My family had attended the morning worship service at church like we normally did every week. A friend invited me to spend the day with her at her home, so I was separated from my family.
I had a wonderful time at her house. We played together all day and I was treated to lunch, then supper with her family. The weather had been beautiful and sunny. But by the time her dad gave me a ride back to the church, the sky was dark, it began to rain, and on the way small pieces of hail had started to hit the car. My friend’s dad dropped me off then hurried off to be with his family at home.
It wasn’t long after my arrival at church the power went out. Up until that point, everyone had remained fairly calm. The kids were fine with everything, I guess because we didn’t know what was really going on and the ramifications. We were fine, that is, until the adults started praying. That’s when we got scared.
Part 1 of 2
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Out in the Country
By Bobbi
The Midwest, The Heartland, America’s Breadbasket, and The Great Plains, our country’s midsection is referred to by all of these names.
In my previous blog, “News & Weather Reports”, I mentioned being able to see for miles across fields. This is also true of pasture land where the eye can roam free until it rests against the crest of a gently rolling hill.
I have lived in or traveled through most of these states including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa. I’ll never forget riding down the highway in central Illinois, watching out of the car window as we drove past miles of dark brown, almost black, rich soil ready for planting.
Driving through the back roads of Indiana during late summer when the corn stalks are so tall you can’t see anything but them on either side is an interesting experience. It’s a well-known fact to anyone from the area that the farmers want their corn to be “knee-high by July”. Drivers get killed in accidents out there because they’ve been known to get careless about stopping at intersections. I suppose they assume because they’re out in the country, nobody else is around so they can just blow through stop signs.
Traveling through Nebraska was fun! This part of the Great Plains is very hilly so driving over each one was an adventure. We heard the engine strain as the car traveled the highway, pulling up each long, steep hill. Our stomachs felt like they had jumped into our throats as we flew over the top of a hill and started down the other side. We looked ahead in anticipation as each successive hill loomed in front of us.
Another part of the Great Plains is South Dakota. It’s hilly there, too, but they’re the gently rolling type rather than the long and steep ones of Nebraska. I felt we were out in the middle of nowhere and it was easy to imagine how a person could get lost with the hills all looking the same. I could also sense we were climbing the whole way. By that, I mean I could tell we were way above sea level which is where we started out on that particular trip, in Florida.
“Out in the country” here can mean many different things, as well. You don’t see crop land like in the Midwest but rather, produce farms, as I’ve already mentioned, such as strawberry fields, potato and pine tree farms. Keep in mind you can also see orange tree (and other citrus) groves, which tourists love to visit.
Now, I mentioned Midwestern pasture land earlier in this blog. Generally speaking, cattle graze in pastures of thick, tall grass while pigs are usually kept in muddy, fenced-in spaces known as pens, hence the name pig pens. (By the way, pigs roll around in mud to keep cool due to the fact they don’t sweat, not because they like to get dirty.) Those herds are usually huge and consist of meat or dairy cattle. Here in Florida, some herds are much smaller and the grass is short and scrubby. I was shocked one day when we traveled out in the country and saw a single pig behind a chain link fence next to a house that was situated in the middle of a pine tree forest. The pig was being kept in an area no bigger than the size of a small back yard. I have also seen cattle being raised this way, too. The animals looked fine and didn’t seem mistreated at all.
The way people live out in the country here can be different, too. There are the typical nice single-story ranch houses, of course, but then you can run across broken-down trailers with people actually living in them. I’ll never forget hearing a woman talking about her dream house. She wanted to be able to buy a double-wide trailer and put it on 20 acres of land.
What’s your idea of the American dream?
The Midwest, The Heartland, America’s Breadbasket, and The Great Plains, our country’s midsection is referred to by all of these names.
In my previous blog, “News & Weather Reports”, I mentioned being able to see for miles across fields. This is also true of pasture land where the eye can roam free until it rests against the crest of a gently rolling hill.
I have lived in or traveled through most of these states including Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Iowa. I’ll never forget riding down the highway in central Illinois, watching out of the car window as we drove past miles of dark brown, almost black, rich soil ready for planting.
Driving through the back roads of Indiana during late summer when the corn stalks are so tall you can’t see anything but them on either side is an interesting experience. It’s a well-known fact to anyone from the area that the farmers want their corn to be “knee-high by July”. Drivers get killed in accidents out there because they’ve been known to get careless about stopping at intersections. I suppose they assume because they’re out in the country, nobody else is around so they can just blow through stop signs.
Traveling through Nebraska was fun! This part of the Great Plains is very hilly so driving over each one was an adventure. We heard the engine strain as the car traveled the highway, pulling up each long, steep hill. Our stomachs felt like they had jumped into our throats as we flew over the top of a hill and started down the other side. We looked ahead in anticipation as each successive hill loomed in front of us.
Another part of the Great Plains is South Dakota. It’s hilly there, too, but they’re the gently rolling type rather than the long and steep ones of Nebraska. I felt we were out in the middle of nowhere and it was easy to imagine how a person could get lost with the hills all looking the same. I could also sense we were climbing the whole way. By that, I mean I could tell we were way above sea level which is where we started out on that particular trip, in Florida.
“Out in the country” here can mean many different things, as well. You don’t see crop land like in the Midwest but rather, produce farms, as I’ve already mentioned, such as strawberry fields, potato and pine tree farms. Keep in mind you can also see orange tree (and other citrus) groves, which tourists love to visit.
Now, I mentioned Midwestern pasture land earlier in this blog. Generally speaking, cattle graze in pastures of thick, tall grass while pigs are usually kept in muddy, fenced-in spaces known as pens, hence the name pig pens. (By the way, pigs roll around in mud to keep cool due to the fact they don’t sweat, not because they like to get dirty.) Those herds are usually huge and consist of meat or dairy cattle. Here in Florida, some herds are much smaller and the grass is short and scrubby. I was shocked one day when we traveled out in the country and saw a single pig behind a chain link fence next to a house that was situated in the middle of a pine tree forest. The pig was being kept in an area no bigger than the size of a small back yard. I have also seen cattle being raised this way, too. The animals looked fine and didn’t seem mistreated at all.
The way people live out in the country here can be different, too. There are the typical nice single-story ranch houses, of course, but then you can run across broken-down trailers with people actually living in them. I’ll never forget hearing a woman talking about her dream house. She wanted to be able to buy a double-wide trailer and put it on 20 acres of land.
What’s your idea of the American dream?
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
News & Weather Reports, FL
By Bobbi
Watching the news and weather reports here in Florida was quite an eye-opening experience for me. I was used to hearing information regarding how the weather was going to affect crops as well as the prices of corn, wheat, and soybeans sold by the bushel.
For those of you who have never been to America's Heartland, I will attempt to give you a glimpse. There are vast, wide-open spaces where you can literally see for miles. These spaces are either filled with acres of crops, fields that are lying fallow, or grassland that may or may not have herds of cattle grazing in them.
Compare that to Florida which is basically flat land but instead of acres filled with crops, there are acres of mostly tall, slender pine trees. Most of these are grown on tree farms so they are evenly spaced apart. This makes looking off into the distance impossible. There are crops, such as strawberries and potatoes, grown here in different parts of the state.
We also have many bodies of water including the ocean, rivers, lakes, streams, and swamps. This is probably why our reports include the time of day when low and high tides are expected, how high the waves are going to be, and the difference in temperature between the beach and inland areas.
Every now and then, a story is reported on the news about someone driving off a pier or into a water-filled ditch and drowning. We also hear about people getting killed or badly injured in boating accidents.
I appreciate the advice my kids' pediatrician gave parents about teaching children to swim. If you're going to live in, or travel to, Florida, learn to swim. Good point!
Watching the news and weather reports here in Florida was quite an eye-opening experience for me. I was used to hearing information regarding how the weather was going to affect crops as well as the prices of corn, wheat, and soybeans sold by the bushel.
For those of you who have never been to America's Heartland, I will attempt to give you a glimpse. There are vast, wide-open spaces where you can literally see for miles. These spaces are either filled with acres of crops, fields that are lying fallow, or grassland that may or may not have herds of cattle grazing in them.
Compare that to Florida which is basically flat land but instead of acres filled with crops, there are acres of mostly tall, slender pine trees. Most of these are grown on tree farms so they are evenly spaced apart. This makes looking off into the distance impossible. There are crops, such as strawberries and potatoes, grown here in different parts of the state.
We also have many bodies of water including the ocean, rivers, lakes, streams, and swamps. This is probably why our reports include the time of day when low and high tides are expected, how high the waves are going to be, and the difference in temperature between the beach and inland areas.
Every now and then, a story is reported on the news about someone driving off a pier or into a water-filled ditch and drowning. We also hear about people getting killed or badly injured in boating accidents.
I appreciate the advice my kids' pediatrician gave parents about teaching children to swim. If you're going to live in, or travel to, Florida, learn to swim. Good point!
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Low and High Tides
By Bobbi
For those of you who don’t have much experience with being around an ocean, today’s story is for you.
I remember way back in grade school learning a little about tides during Science class. The moon has such a pull on the ocean that it causes high tides at its strongest and low tides at its weakest points. This occurs in about a twelve-hour cycle. As most of us know, learning something in the classroom is one thing, but having real-life experience with that same subject is quite another.
Spending time at the beach is a wonderful way to find out about the ocean, especially if you can stay at a hotel overnight. This would give you time to walk out on the beach at both low and high tide levels. During low tide, there is more sand to play around on, sometimes as much as 20+ feet. Likewise, during high tide that same sandy beach is nearly covered in water.
A person used to be able to drive on any of the beaches here. Daytona is especially famous for having hosted automobile races on its shores long before NASCAR got its start. I have heard many tales of people parking their cars on the beach and leaving them to explore the area, only to come back and find them floating away due to the tide coming in. My husband recalls seeing tourists frantically trying to grab suitcases and other belongings out of trunks and back seats in an effort to salvage something. Maybe this is one reason why parking is no longer allowed on most beaches. That, plus knowing people have gotten run over by careless drivers would be a deterrent.
Personally, I’ve almost lost a lawn chair and blanket to the sea. I guess lounging at the beach is just so relaxing to most people it’s easy to let your guard down.
For those of you who don’t have much experience with being around an ocean, today’s story is for you.
I remember way back in grade school learning a little about tides during Science class. The moon has such a pull on the ocean that it causes high tides at its strongest and low tides at its weakest points. This occurs in about a twelve-hour cycle. As most of us know, learning something in the classroom is one thing, but having real-life experience with that same subject is quite another.
Spending time at the beach is a wonderful way to find out about the ocean, especially if you can stay at a hotel overnight. This would give you time to walk out on the beach at both low and high tide levels. During low tide, there is more sand to play around on, sometimes as much as 20+ feet. Likewise, during high tide that same sandy beach is nearly covered in water.
A person used to be able to drive on any of the beaches here. Daytona is especially famous for having hosted automobile races on its shores long before NASCAR got its start. I have heard many tales of people parking their cars on the beach and leaving them to explore the area, only to come back and find them floating away due to the tide coming in. My husband recalls seeing tourists frantically trying to grab suitcases and other belongings out of trunks and back seats in an effort to salvage something. Maybe this is one reason why parking is no longer allowed on most beaches. That, plus knowing people have gotten run over by careless drivers would be a deterrent.
Personally, I’ve almost lost a lawn chair and blanket to the sea. I guess lounging at the beach is just so relaxing to most people it’s easy to let your guard down.
Monday, July 18, 2011
River or Ocean?
By Bobbi
Which body of water do you prefer, river or ocean? We have plenty of access to both in our fair state and each has its own bad and good points.
Rivers can smell a bit “fishier”. The waves there are choppy, especially when a fast boat passes by causing more due to the vessel’s wake. The water in ours tends to look dirty up close, though is a pretty blue when you look out over the surface. We occasionally see green tiger streaks floating in it from algae bloom which is due to the run-off from fertilized lawns. Signs that caution boaters to slow down in manatee zones are common and family members have actually seen one or two of those sea cows in person.
The ocean gives off a slight scent of sea life and salt. Its waves are long, rolling, sometimes slow- moving, but always powerful. Even on calm days, you can get knocked off your feet if you’re not paying close attention. The water looks clean and the surface color is some shade of blue, green or a combination of both. There are countless sea creatures living there; one of my favorites is the dolphin. My daughter and I were wading waist high in the ocean one afternoon when a pod of them went swimming past us, slipping in and out of the water. Now that was exciting!
You can fish in both the river and ocean, of course. We see people all of the time standing on bridges and piers with fishing poles. Some take part in what is referred to as surf fishing where the person actually wades a short ways into the ocean then casts his line from there. Others prefer to pay a fee to ride on a chartered boat that takes them miles from land out on the ocean. They drop anchor, fish a spot for awhile then choose another site. This is referred to as deep-sea fishing and I would caution anyone who wants to try it that they need to have a strong stomach to be able to handle it, especially on windy days. It’s called being seasick due to the rocking motion of the boat. Also, you’re out there all day with no way of getting back to shore until the fishing is done.
I have ridden in boats on both bodies of water. A friend gave me a ride in her pleasure boat on the river one time and that was enjoyable. You just have to remember to wear a life vest or the marine patrol can stop you and give you a ticket. My husband and I have also been on an ocean cruise which was very pleasurable. You learn to develop “sea legs” which means you have to catch your balance to keep from stumbling or falling over because the ship rocks slightly.
Breezes from both the river and ocean are very refreshing, though the salt air can feel a bit sticky.
All in all, I have to say the ocean is my favorite. Just don’t let that ship get too far away from shore.
Which body of water do you prefer, river or ocean? We have plenty of access to both in our fair state and each has its own bad and good points.
Rivers can smell a bit “fishier”. The waves there are choppy, especially when a fast boat passes by causing more due to the vessel’s wake. The water in ours tends to look dirty up close, though is a pretty blue when you look out over the surface. We occasionally see green tiger streaks floating in it from algae bloom which is due to the run-off from fertilized lawns. Signs that caution boaters to slow down in manatee zones are common and family members have actually seen one or two of those sea cows in person.
The ocean gives off a slight scent of sea life and salt. Its waves are long, rolling, sometimes slow- moving, but always powerful. Even on calm days, you can get knocked off your feet if you’re not paying close attention. The water looks clean and the surface color is some shade of blue, green or a combination of both. There are countless sea creatures living there; one of my favorites is the dolphin. My daughter and I were wading waist high in the ocean one afternoon when a pod of them went swimming past us, slipping in and out of the water. Now that was exciting!
You can fish in both the river and ocean, of course. We see people all of the time standing on bridges and piers with fishing poles. Some take part in what is referred to as surf fishing where the person actually wades a short ways into the ocean then casts his line from there. Others prefer to pay a fee to ride on a chartered boat that takes them miles from land out on the ocean. They drop anchor, fish a spot for awhile then choose another site. This is referred to as deep-sea fishing and I would caution anyone who wants to try it that they need to have a strong stomach to be able to handle it, especially on windy days. It’s called being seasick due to the rocking motion of the boat. Also, you’re out there all day with no way of getting back to shore until the fishing is done.
I have ridden in boats on both bodies of water. A friend gave me a ride in her pleasure boat on the river one time and that was enjoyable. You just have to remember to wear a life vest or the marine patrol can stop you and give you a ticket. My husband and I have also been on an ocean cruise which was very pleasurable. You learn to develop “sea legs” which means you have to catch your balance to keep from stumbling or falling over because the ship rocks slightly.
Breezes from both the river and ocean are very refreshing, though the salt air can feel a bit sticky.
All in all, I have to say the ocean is my favorite. Just don’t let that ship get too far away from shore.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Those Pesky Lizards
By Bobbi
There is a family of lizards living on our front porch. Not that we mind having them there. Their diet includes moths and bugs that would otherwise swarm around our two porch lights at night. This group makes its home underneath the gray vinyl siding surrounding those lights, a perfect spot to hide while they stalk their prey.
Our area of the country is filled with these lizards. I have no idea what type they are and I don’t really care. You can’t walk out the front or back door without seeing some scurrying away. They’re good climbers so you will see them in bushes, on the outside of buildings, and on fences to name just a few places. If you take a walk, you will also see them hurrying across sidewalks and lawns so you have to be careful not to step on them.
As far as size goes, the smaller ones are 1 – 2” long, the largest about 6” from the tips of their noses to the ends of their tails. They are light brown in color; during mating season a male can make the skin along the front of his neck stretch out, forming an orange half-circle. Our little fellas happen to be albinos. I wonder if that’s because they’ve spent so much time around the lights, they adapted to their environment.
The porch lights are located on either side of the front door. Occasionally, one of the lizards doesn’t get out of the way fast enough when we’re closing that door and we find its flattened remains on top. I really hate when that happens.
Let’s see now, the lizards kill bugs we don’t want around, they don’t bite (as far as I know), and I’ve gotten used to seeing movement almost everywhere I look. Maybe they’re not so pesky after all.
There is a family of lizards living on our front porch. Not that we mind having them there. Their diet includes moths and bugs that would otherwise swarm around our two porch lights at night. This group makes its home underneath the gray vinyl siding surrounding those lights, a perfect spot to hide while they stalk their prey.
Our area of the country is filled with these lizards. I have no idea what type they are and I don’t really care. You can’t walk out the front or back door without seeing some scurrying away. They’re good climbers so you will see them in bushes, on the outside of buildings, and on fences to name just a few places. If you take a walk, you will also see them hurrying across sidewalks and lawns so you have to be careful not to step on them.
As far as size goes, the smaller ones are 1 – 2” long, the largest about 6” from the tips of their noses to the ends of their tails. They are light brown in color; during mating season a male can make the skin along the front of his neck stretch out, forming an orange half-circle. Our little fellas happen to be albinos. I wonder if that’s because they’ve spent so much time around the lights, they adapted to their environment.
The porch lights are located on either side of the front door. Occasionally, one of the lizards doesn’t get out of the way fast enough when we’re closing that door and we find its flattened remains on top. I really hate when that happens.
Let’s see now, the lizards kill bugs we don’t want around, they don’t bite (as far as I know), and I’ve gotten used to seeing movement almost everywhere I look. Maybe they’re not so pesky after all.
Monday, July 11, 2011
St. Augustine Grass
By Bobbi
Have you ever taken your shoes off and walked barefoot in the grass? Maybe you have already experienced the cool, soft, spongy feeling of the blades on the tender soles of your feet. If you have done this already, good for you.
I have, growing in my yard, what’s referred to as St. Augustine grass. It’s a type that has wider blades than most grasses, especially compared to the delicate, thin blades of those in the northern and Midwestern parts of the country. I’m told the reason a majority of lawns here are made up of this type is due to our harsh environment of sandy soil and lots of strong sunshine most of the year. Other grasses wouldn’t stand much of a chance of surviving.
Another reason St. Augustine is unusual is that it’s a vine and grows on top of the soil. It fills up the yard by sending out shoots. Blades of grass grow off the top of what I’ll call “root system connectors” which form on the vine shoots at regular intervals every couple of inches or so. The shoots stay on their journey until dirt is found, creeping over everything from concrete to asphalt. The shoots then send out roots that attach to the dirt and keep growing those blades of grass along with more shoots. Edging a St. Augustine lawn on a regular basis is a must because it will end up covering a curb or sidewalk, if left unchecked.
You must be careful not to walk on this grass often because it will die off in high traffic areas. My kids and their neighborhood friends played touch football on our front lawn one summer and ended up killing off the grass there.
If you have a bare spot in your lawn, that’s easy to take care of. Transplanting this grass is very easy. Just search the vines until you find one of those “connectors” with lots of root systems already growing in the soil, dig it up, plant it where you want it to grow, water it, and then leave it alone. Or you can just guide a vine shoot where you want it to go. It will grow so quickly, you won’t believe it. Before you know it, that spot will be covered in grass.
If you haven’t already done so, take the time today to liberate your tired feet from their leather bondage and let them get tickled by those green blades. See if it brings a smile to your face!
Have you ever taken your shoes off and walked barefoot in the grass? Maybe you have already experienced the cool, soft, spongy feeling of the blades on the tender soles of your feet. If you have done this already, good for you.
I have, growing in my yard, what’s referred to as St. Augustine grass. It’s a type that has wider blades than most grasses, especially compared to the delicate, thin blades of those in the northern and Midwestern parts of the country. I’m told the reason a majority of lawns here are made up of this type is due to our harsh environment of sandy soil and lots of strong sunshine most of the year. Other grasses wouldn’t stand much of a chance of surviving.
Another reason St. Augustine is unusual is that it’s a vine and grows on top of the soil. It fills up the yard by sending out shoots. Blades of grass grow off the top of what I’ll call “root system connectors” which form on the vine shoots at regular intervals every couple of inches or so. The shoots stay on their journey until dirt is found, creeping over everything from concrete to asphalt. The shoots then send out roots that attach to the dirt and keep growing those blades of grass along with more shoots. Edging a St. Augustine lawn on a regular basis is a must because it will end up covering a curb or sidewalk, if left unchecked.
You must be careful not to walk on this grass often because it will die off in high traffic areas. My kids and their neighborhood friends played touch football on our front lawn one summer and ended up killing off the grass there.
If you have a bare spot in your lawn, that’s easy to take care of. Transplanting this grass is very easy. Just search the vines until you find one of those “connectors” with lots of root systems already growing in the soil, dig it up, plant it where you want it to grow, water it, and then leave it alone. Or you can just guide a vine shoot where you want it to go. It will grow so quickly, you won’t believe it. Before you know it, that spot will be covered in grass.
If you haven’t already done so, take the time today to liberate your tired feet from their leather bondage and let them get tickled by those green blades. See if it brings a smile to your face!
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Summer Afternoon Showers
By Bobbi
Summer in Florida is hot and humid, as you might guess. We’re closer to the equator than most parts of the country and that means we are closer to the sun, so the sun’s rays are stronger. Our normal high temperatures hover in the low to upper 90’s and seldom hit the 100 degree mark, though that does happen on occasion. It always feels warmer due to the high humidity.
Moisture in the air is a year-round occurrence. It can make a person feel like they need to shower right after they just stepped out of one. That’s probably because of the difficulty in getting water to evaporate off the skin. This is where baby or talcum powder comes in handy. Rub it on areas of the skin that come into contact with other skin on a regular basis, such as the inner elbow and underarms.
Our normal weather cycle during the summer includes thunderstorms, sometimes severe. Weather forecasters tell us the accumulated heat that builds up during the day from the sun beating down on all of the concrete and asphalt of our city helps cause the storms. They usually happen during the late afternoon hours and can last quite awhile. We normally welcome the rain because it helps cool everything down. However, watch out for those smaller storms that don’t last long. The sun comes out again immediately after they’re over making the heat and humidity worse than before. The best way to describe how it feels is like you’re walking around in wet air.
A lot of the houses in our area, especially the older ones, were built without eaves or downspouts so the rainwater runs right off the roofs onto the ground. This can be a problem if a homeowner wants to grow flowers in that spot or a driveway is located next to it. You can end up with bare spots in the lawn; it makes getting in and out of a vehicle without getting wet tricky.
I have gotten soaked many times after forgetting to take my umbrella with me. Believe me, walking around looking like a raccoon because my eye makeup has run down my cheeks is not my idea of a fun time! Those of us who live in Florida know to take umbrellas with us leaving one in the car, one in the house, and one at work at all times.
Our rainfall count is way behind what we normally get. In fact, our favorite TV forecaster says we are in near desert conditions since we haven’t received any rain at all so far this month. You couldn’t tell that from looking around because everything is green and flowering. However, if you take a walk, say at a local park, it doesn’t take long to kick up lots of dry, sandy soil.
Maybe it’s time for more of those afternoon showers.
Summer in Florida is hot and humid, as you might guess. We’re closer to the equator than most parts of the country and that means we are closer to the sun, so the sun’s rays are stronger. Our normal high temperatures hover in the low to upper 90’s and seldom hit the 100 degree mark, though that does happen on occasion. It always feels warmer due to the high humidity.
Moisture in the air is a year-round occurrence. It can make a person feel like they need to shower right after they just stepped out of one. That’s probably because of the difficulty in getting water to evaporate off the skin. This is where baby or talcum powder comes in handy. Rub it on areas of the skin that come into contact with other skin on a regular basis, such as the inner elbow and underarms.
Our normal weather cycle during the summer includes thunderstorms, sometimes severe. Weather forecasters tell us the accumulated heat that builds up during the day from the sun beating down on all of the concrete and asphalt of our city helps cause the storms. They usually happen during the late afternoon hours and can last quite awhile. We normally welcome the rain because it helps cool everything down. However, watch out for those smaller storms that don’t last long. The sun comes out again immediately after they’re over making the heat and humidity worse than before. The best way to describe how it feels is like you’re walking around in wet air.
A lot of the houses in our area, especially the older ones, were built without eaves or downspouts so the rainwater runs right off the roofs onto the ground. This can be a problem if a homeowner wants to grow flowers in that spot or a driveway is located next to it. You can end up with bare spots in the lawn; it makes getting in and out of a vehicle without getting wet tricky.
I have gotten soaked many times after forgetting to take my umbrella with me. Believe me, walking around looking like a raccoon because my eye makeup has run down my cheeks is not my idea of a fun time! Those of us who live in Florida know to take umbrellas with us leaving one in the car, one in the house, and one at work at all times.
Our rainfall count is way behind what we normally get. In fact, our favorite TV forecaster says we are in near desert conditions since we haven’t received any rain at all so far this month. You couldn’t tell that from looking around because everything is green and flowering. However, if you take a walk, say at a local park, it doesn’t take long to kick up lots of dry, sandy soil.
Maybe it’s time for more of those afternoon showers.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Oleander Sticks
By Bobbi
Florida is filled with many kinds of flowering shrubs, bushes, trees, and plants. Some of them give off scents that are delicious to smell and their colorful blooms are delightful to the eyes. That is what helps make this area of the country so beautiful and enjoyable.
Oleander bushes are no exception. They produce blossoms in tints of white, pink, red, and fuchsia and smell good, too. Apparently, they are popular, at least in our neighborhood, because I see them everywhere and there is even a street named for them.
I’m reminded of a tale I heard shortly after moving down here, one of caution about dealing with oleander. It seems a family was traveling in our state for the first time and decided to have a cookout. They needed sticks to use for roasting hot dogs over a bonfire and went out looking for some. Well, that family ended up choosing branches from an oleander bush.
Now, in all fairness, that would have seemed the perfect choice because oleander branches tend to be long and narrow. A perfect fit for the hot dogs. It’s what they didn’t know that caused the problems.
All parts of an oleander bush are toxic, or poisonous, which the family would have found out fairly soon after ingesting their meal. I’m told the members of that family ended up dying. Whether they did pass away or just ended up very sick from their experience, the fact remains oleander is beautiful but you must be careful handling the plant.
Florida is filled with many kinds of flowering shrubs, bushes, trees, and plants. Some of them give off scents that are delicious to smell and their colorful blooms are delightful to the eyes. That is what helps make this area of the country so beautiful and enjoyable.
Oleander bushes are no exception. They produce blossoms in tints of white, pink, red, and fuchsia and smell good, too. Apparently, they are popular, at least in our neighborhood, because I see them everywhere and there is even a street named for them.
I’m reminded of a tale I heard shortly after moving down here, one of caution about dealing with oleander. It seems a family was traveling in our state for the first time and decided to have a cookout. They needed sticks to use for roasting hot dogs over a bonfire and went out looking for some. Well, that family ended up choosing branches from an oleander bush.
Now, in all fairness, that would have seemed the perfect choice because oleander branches tend to be long and narrow. A perfect fit for the hot dogs. It’s what they didn’t know that caused the problems.
All parts of an oleander bush are toxic, or poisonous, which the family would have found out fairly soon after ingesting their meal. I’m told the members of that family ended up dying. Whether they did pass away or just ended up very sick from their experience, the fact remains oleander is beautiful but you must be careful handling the plant.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Red Bugs & Spanish Moss
By Bobbi
I’m going to venture a guess and suggest most people have heard of Spanish Moss and maybe even know what it looks like. They have possibly either seen it in person, looked at photographs of it, or viewed it in movies or on television. The southern states are known to have it in abundance and Florida is no exception. Our Live Oak trees in the area are covered and lavishly garnished with the light greenish-gray air plant, especially when located near a body of water.
Some strands of the moss reach almost to the ground and have a romantic look whether viewed in the moonlight or sunlight. It’s tempting for people to reach down and pick up clumps of the plant off the ground for use in floral arrangements, like my mom did when she visited us a few years ago. I would caution against that for a very good reason.
Down here, Spanish Moss is usually covered in red bugs. Now, for you Northerners who don’t know what red bugs are, they are called chiggers where I come from. No matter what they’re called, they produce the same results. If they bite you, plan on scratching yourself because they make you itch! A favorite place for them to hide and bite is along the skin where the elastic part of underwear is located.
In order for the moss to be used by florists, it must be treated first. This is usually done one of two ways, either by boiling it or cooking it in a microwave oven for a short amount of time. This will kill the bugs.
Fortunately, my mom didn’t get bit but if you do there are a couple of good ways to stop the itching. You can use either Calamine Lotion or nail polish on the bites and if you do, I hope you have the good sense to use clear polish!
I’m going to venture a guess and suggest most people have heard of Spanish Moss and maybe even know what it looks like. They have possibly either seen it in person, looked at photographs of it, or viewed it in movies or on television. The southern states are known to have it in abundance and Florida is no exception. Our Live Oak trees in the area are covered and lavishly garnished with the light greenish-gray air plant, especially when located near a body of water.
Some strands of the moss reach almost to the ground and have a romantic look whether viewed in the moonlight or sunlight. It’s tempting for people to reach down and pick up clumps of the plant off the ground for use in floral arrangements, like my mom did when she visited us a few years ago. I would caution against that for a very good reason.
Down here, Spanish Moss is usually covered in red bugs. Now, for you Northerners who don’t know what red bugs are, they are called chiggers where I come from. No matter what they’re called, they produce the same results. If they bite you, plan on scratching yourself because they make you itch! A favorite place for them to hide and bite is along the skin where the elastic part of underwear is located.
In order for the moss to be used by florists, it must be treated first. This is usually done one of two ways, either by boiling it or cooking it in a microwave oven for a short amount of time. This will kill the bugs.
Fortunately, my mom didn’t get bit but if you do there are a couple of good ways to stop the itching. You can use either Calamine Lotion or nail polish on the bites and if you do, I hope you have the good sense to use clear polish!
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Slow-Moving 'Gators
By Bobbi
The tourist and his young son were waving their arms back and forth above their heads, yelling at the small alligator in an attempt to get it to move. We overheard them commenting they thought he might be asleep, or maybe just slow. They never did get him to move and that was probably a good thing.
What many people don’t realize, especially if they grew up in a part of the country where alligators are not found, is that yes, they can move and very quickly, too.
An alligator does not move unless it needs or wants to, such as when it’s hungry. It can then travel up to 20 miles per hour across the ground in order to reach its prey. When you see them lying around, it’s usually because they are sunning themselves.
Having lived in Florida for more than 20 years, I have heard a lot of stories and news reports about pets, usually dogs and cats, getting eaten by ‘gators. This almost always happens near creeks, sewage lagoons, ditches filled with water and anywhere else where deeper water is present. They seem to hunt smaller animals but occasionally you hear about a child or adult getting attacked or just “disappearing”.
I recall a story a few years back about a young lady who was out jogging and never made it back to her starting point. She was a tourist and wanted to jog while exploring the countryside. The search party ended up finding her shoes and baseball cap under an overpass but her body was never found. The theory goes that she must have bent over to tie her shoes when a ‘gator spotted her. She had made herself look small so the ‘gator would have thought of her as a meal.
Once alligators bite down, it’s almost impossible to get free. They have very powerful lower jaws that clamp on the object in their mouths then they drag that object away. If they catch something either in the water or drag it to the water, they go into what is call the death spiral. They quickly turn over and over again which serves to drown whatever happens to be in their control. They are then free to eat it at their leisure.
I have seen small alligators in person both at shopping areas and also the John F. Kennedy Space Center near Titusville which is where my story began. It’s a good thing that the father and his son were standing on a raised concrete walkway with concrete railings. They were safe, there.
The tourist and his young son were waving their arms back and forth above their heads, yelling at the small alligator in an attempt to get it to move. We overheard them commenting they thought he might be asleep, or maybe just slow. They never did get him to move and that was probably a good thing.
What many people don’t realize, especially if they grew up in a part of the country where alligators are not found, is that yes, they can move and very quickly, too.
An alligator does not move unless it needs or wants to, such as when it’s hungry. It can then travel up to 20 miles per hour across the ground in order to reach its prey. When you see them lying around, it’s usually because they are sunning themselves.
Having lived in Florida for more than 20 years, I have heard a lot of stories and news reports about pets, usually dogs and cats, getting eaten by ‘gators. This almost always happens near creeks, sewage lagoons, ditches filled with water and anywhere else where deeper water is present. They seem to hunt smaller animals but occasionally you hear about a child or adult getting attacked or just “disappearing”.
I recall a story a few years back about a young lady who was out jogging and never made it back to her starting point. She was a tourist and wanted to jog while exploring the countryside. The search party ended up finding her shoes and baseball cap under an overpass but her body was never found. The theory goes that she must have bent over to tie her shoes when a ‘gator spotted her. She had made herself look small so the ‘gator would have thought of her as a meal.
Once alligators bite down, it’s almost impossible to get free. They have very powerful lower jaws that clamp on the object in their mouths then they drag that object away. If they catch something either in the water or drag it to the water, they go into what is call the death spiral. They quickly turn over and over again which serves to drown whatever happens to be in their control. They are then free to eat it at their leisure.
I have seen small alligators in person both at shopping areas and also the John F. Kennedy Space Center near Titusville which is where my story began. It’s a good thing that the father and his son were standing on a raised concrete walkway with concrete railings. They were safe, there.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)