Bloom Where You Are Planted

Amaryllis, along our walk in Punta Gorda

Cactus plant in the neighbor's garden; taller than I am

Kind of obscene little blossom, huh?  Started as a house plant

Clemetis? some kind of Osteospermum?  what?

In the front garden

Bird of Paradise, in the front garden; these suffered some damage due to cold weather in December

Flowering bush in City of Palms Park, Ft. Myers; reached the first balcony

 

 

 

Hibiscus tree, along our walk in Punta Gorda, previously seen in "orange" post

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update...eagles, "bungalow" & mural

Unfortunately, the eagle update is minimal...there are no eagles.  Although one of the adults was seen earlier in the season, the pair did not return.  Sad ;o(

The "bungalow" has nothing happening on the outside other than some stucco and there is a big sign warning of felony charges for anyone venturing onto the property.  We were going to check out the inside but decided against it.  Actually, Mr. Bill suggested I check out the inside while he waited in the car.  HA, I.Don't.Think.So!

The mural hasn't changed since the last picture was posted

however, there was a nice article in the local paper, Punta Gorda Herald, about the artist.  It answered a couple of the earlier questions.
1)  How does he paint so close?  Answer..."The secret is my digital camera"..."I take a picture and look at it on the LCD screen."  I don't understand how that helps but it appears to work for him.
2)  Doesn't the paint dry out in the sun?  His answer doesn't apply to the paint drying; however, "he also built himself an umbrella contraption that keeps the section of the painting he's working on out of the sun, which can distort the artist's perception of colors."

This mural shows several famous people that once stayed at The Hotel Port Charlotte.  From the left...Clarence Darrow, Henry Ford, Boy Scout founder Daniel Beard, Thomas Edison, golfer Patty Berg, Andrew Mellon and Harvey Firestone. 

The hotel, itself, will be painted on the building next door.

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;o)

DUH!

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;o)

A Rose By Any Other Name...

Weird, huh?

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;o)

I Am Titan - This Is My Nose

Also called a snout

My snout as it appears when I'm practicing my driving

My snout when my mama tells me to "sit" so she can take photos for her "blog"

A blurry close-up of my snout because sometimes my mama takes too long when I'm "sit"ing

My papa is of the opinion that my nose/snout was getting too dry and cracked and didn't look good on a dog that is "handsome" (at least that's what people keeping saying about me).  So, he took matters into his own hands and bought this stuff.

 

I'm slightly annoyed that he is putting stuff on my nose/snout that doesn't even have a picture of a dog like me on it.  He says it will make my nose soft.  ugh!  whatever!

This is what it looks like under the cover, after my papa stuck his finger in it.  It's kind of soft and gooey and he says it doesn't small THAT bad.  Well, it doesn't smell like cat poop and it sure doesn't taste like cat poop (one of my favorites) so what's the point?

This is what it looks like when he smashes it all over my nose/snout.  You can't tell but my mama has a good hold on my collar so that I can't run the other way.  You also can't tell that my lip is curled up in an effort to scare my papa.  He obviously is not scared and just keeps rubbing that soother stuff all over my poor nose/snout.  I have to admit that my nose is a lot softer now, which I think makes me even more handsome than I already was.

Woof, Woof
;o)

I Am Kathy

I pick up "poop".

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;o)

I Am Titan - I Am Happy & Spoiled

I was so happy when my Auntie Wendy came to visit me.  I was happy to share her with my mama and papa, too.  We went for walks and rode in the car and she spent lots of time spoiling me.  ;o)  Then she went home and I was sad!  ;o(

Last week, I was happy x 2 when my Auntie Jocelyn and her friend Michelle came to visit ;o)  They spoil me just like my Auntie Wendy (and even more) and Auntie Jocelyn was the first one to save me while she was waiting for my mama and papa to find me and take me home "for the weekend". 

Just like when Auntie Wendy came, I was expected to ride in the waaaaay back.  But I still don't like it back there, so I didn't stay.

I am making my biggest HAPPY FACE!

I was very happy after I escaped from the waaaaay back and was sitting with "the girls".  My mama and papa didn't make me return to the waaaaay back so I got to settle down with my Auntie Jocelyn (she's from May-n).

I think she's almost as happy as I am.

We had a good time while they were here.  They went for a walk with us and I was on my best behavior because we didn't see any other dogs so I didn't have to use my quiet voice and try not to sing.  I even walked with Michelle and gave her my best, trained "heel". 

They spent a lot of time at the beach, where I'm not allowed to go because I'm a d.o.g.  They were home with us every night, tho, and slept in my bedroom in the big, fancy bed.  Now, I hate to say this but Auntie Jocelyn is kind of a "push over".  She liked to get really comfy, snuggled in the bed, talking to EEEE-thun and I liked to jump up and snuggle with her.  She knew the rules and told me to get down (several times actually) but she was too comfy to MAKE me get down.  So.I.Didn't.  I got nice and comfy, too.

Then I heard it, that dreadful noise...my mama's footsteps coming down the hall.  There I was, with no place to hide, caught on the bed.  It was really Auntie Jocelyn's fault because she was more interested in talking to EEEE-thun than keeping me out of trouble.  In fact, she pretended like she didn't know my mama was there, she just kept talking, pretending like nothing was wrong, like there was not a dog lying right next to her.    I had to get OFF and sleep in my crate, all alone, until the sun came up the next day.  That's when I get to sleep on the bed and not get in trouble.  I am supposed to sleep at the foot of the bed, but as I said earlier, Auntie Jocelyn is a "push over".

Sleeping at the HEAD of the bed, resting on the PILLOW!!!

My mama and papa would Never.Have.Known if  "you-know-who" didn't take a picture. 

I had fun playing a joke on A.J. one night when she kind of dozed off and I got on the bed, very quietly, and settled right down.  When she got up to use the bathroom, she closed the door on my crate.  Now, remember, I'm already ON the bed; I'm not IN my crate ;o)  Michelle spoiled the joke!  She asked A.J. why she was closing the door on the crate and A.J. replied that it was to keep me in the crate until the sun came up. Then Michelle turned me in and advised A.J. that I wasn't in there.  hahaha, that would have been such a good joke, to sleep on the bed ALL night because the crate door was closed and I was already on the outside. 

Sadly, "the girls" had to go back to May-n today and I'm sad, again ;o(  It's just my mama and papa and me until we go back to May-n, too.  I did overhear that there's gonna be a play-date for me when we get home.  I'm looking forward to that because I haven't had any other dogs to play with the whole time we have been in Floor-i-duh and that's been a long time.

Woof, Woof
;o)

Venice...Florida, that is

Today we took a trip with "the girls" to Venice.  We thought they would enjoy seeing the Gulf of Mexico.  They both spent a little too much time in the sun yesterday, so we stayed at Venice Beach for a couple of hours.  They did manage to soak up some additional sun,

do some shelling,

some shopping and along with Bill, enjoy some gelato (Italian ice cream).

It's softer than ice cream and made without butterfat, so it must be good for you, right?

One of them, I won't mention any names (Jocelyn) was enthusiastically enjoying hers.  I think her eyes were closed behind those sunglasses. 

We had time for a quick photo op before heading home.

Remember, the camera adds 10 pounds

Bill & I should be so photogenic ;o(

It was a beautiful day, temps in the low 80's with a light breeze, a perfect blue sky and special people to share it with.

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;o)

Lions, Tigers & Bears, Oh My!

After looking over a brochure from this wildlife sanctuary, Jocelyn exclaimed, "We have to go".  And so we did.  It is located in Arcadia and the trip took us about an hour.  It is owned and operated by a husband and wife team and numerous volunteers.  Their mission is to give homes to unwanted exotic animals and endangered species.  You can check out their website here.

This donkey was born only a few weeks ago and was only slightly smaller when born.  Ouch!

Baby donkey on the left, mom on the right

 

 

 

 

Female lion

Is this not a beautiful animal?

Known by many names including panther & bobcat

Leopard

Such a sad face

Siberian tiger siblings; only a few months old

Jocelyn & Michelle (see the tiger in the background)

It takes about 100 pounds of meat to feed the animals at this sanctuary, every day, along with vegetables, fruits and other food items.

There are a number of other animals here, not just the ones we photographed.  Most of the animals find their way to this sanctuary after irresponsible owners obtain them thinking they will make a great pet.  Once they get too big, or take too much time, or cost too much to feed, or aren't fun anymore, or any number of other excuses, and their owners don't want them any more, these people are willing to provide them a safe place for the rest of their lives.

They also offer a Safari Dinner which provides a guided tour behind the scenes to watch the animals eat and includes dinner on the outside terrace overlooking the sanctuary.  Something fun for next winter.

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;o)

It's Not All Play and No Work

See Mr. Bill rake leaves in the backyard.

It's not all fun and games here in Southwest Florida.

As for me...I'm busy taking pictures and keeping Sir Titan away from the rake!

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;o)

Sky Blue

It has been a little more cloudy and windy this week.  Not complaining, can't expect a cloudless sky all the time.  This was our Southwestern Florida sky on Wednesday...

Spectacular Sky

This was our sky this afternoon...

Stormy Sky Today

We had some light showers this afternoon and the sky looked a little mean. It was, however, still 80*!

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;o)

I Am Titan - I Walk the Line

It's nice and sunny here in Floor-i-duh and the tem-purrrr-a-chur has been above average, in the low 80's.  My mama and papa just love it here and they say it's a lot nicer than last winter.  Sunny and warm suits me fine too!  As I have already told you, we walk Every.Single.Day!  But...when it's warmer, we don't walk as far because I get really tired.  It was a little cooler this week because there were more clouds and it was windy, which means...we walk farther.  I don't mind either way, as long as I get exercise. 

However, when the sun is out and it's a little hotter, the black stuff under my feet gets hotter, too.  I have learned a good trick, though, to keep my four pretties cooler.

"Someone" painted these nice WHITE lines on that hot black stuff.  That was very nice of "someone" huh?  That "someone" even painted them wide enough for all four of my pretty feet.

Woof, Woof
;o)

I Am Titan - I Sleep on the Bed

My mama and papa are getting easier to man-ip-u-late the longer we spend days and nights together.  I'm enjoying all this attention and I'm glad they don't have a job while we are in Flor-i-duh.  Unlike them, I like to get up a little earlier, not too long after the sun starts peeking through the blinds on the window.  They, on the other hand, like to sleep later because "they don't work and don't have to be anywhere anytime soon."  So, in an effort to get me to sleep later, they have started letting me out of my crate when I start calling to them in the morning and letting me SLEEP ON THE BED WITH THEM!!!!! 

WOO HOO, I wondered just how long I was going to have to work on them.  It turned out to be easier than I thought.  I might have pushed a little too hard this morning; I started "talking" about 4:30 or "Oh Dark Thirty" as they like to say.  I don't think that is going to work again ;o(

Naturally, I assumed that since they were letting me on the bed, it didn't really matter whether or not they were in the bed, too.  Well, color me surprised, when I got myself in trouble because I wasn't "invited" to be on the bed.

I am able to walk very quietly down the hall and leap, again very quietly onto the bed.  The jingly things they make me wear around my neck don't do any jingling when I'm doing something I haven't been "invited" to do.  I made myself a very nice nest of pillows and quilts while I was on the bed and I blend in so well with the copper colored special blanket that covers the bed, my mama didn't even see me when she came wondering what I was up to.   I was very still and quiet and she actually turned around and walked back down the hall because I didn't make a peep or move a muscle.  HA!  I think I was holding my breath but was wearing a big grin when she came around for a second look and I.Was.Busted.  I can tell when I'm in trouble because she uses her LOUD voice.

Sooooo, for now, I will be happy sleeping on the bed in the morning before we all get up and start on the day.  However, I will keep working on them until I can sleep on the bed whenever I want.

My mama is sorry that she didn't take my picture before she used her LOUD voice and told me "OFF" because she says a post is no fun without a picture.  I say she should think about that the next time before she uses her LOUD voice and ruins my good time.

Woof, Woof
;o)

CALOSTIMUCU

This wooden sculpture is located just over the bridge in Punta Gorda near one of the areas we park for our walk.  I believe the name means "The Whispering Giant" and is an effigy to the first people that inhabited the area.  I should have taken the photo with one of us in it so it's size would be more apparent; it is quite large.

The street side shows an Indian face...

with a flying eagle carved at the top...

It may seem strange but as often as we have walked or driven by this sculpture, we never noticed that the back side is not the back of a head but a different face completely...

and rather than the flying eagle, there is a beaver...

In our defense, the back side does not face the street but faces the side lawn of a residence.

To us, the most amazing thing about this sculpture is the fact that it survived Hurricane Charlie, although the two hotels located across the street sustained extensive damage.  The Best Western was repaired and has reopened, the Holiday Inn was completely destroyed. 

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)

Another Wildlife Kind of Day

Alas, no pictures...again!  However, on a road trip to Ft. Myers and back to visit the going-out-of-business Borders store, I saw an alligator sunning itself along one of the canals.  Although I did have my camera, we were traveling on a busy highway with lots of traffic.  So, once again, you will have to believe me.

While Mr. Bill was grilling the fillets for dinner, an owl flew through the yard and landed on an electrical pole at the property line.  We watched it for quite awhile, until the meat was done and it was too dark to see him/her any more.

It was slightly cooler today with mostly cloudy skies and a few rain showers.  The rain is badly needed so we didn't complain.

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)

I Am Titan - Happy 1/2 Birthday to Me

I guess my mama and papa don't know my actual birthday, so they use September 1, 2009.  That means today I am 1 1/2 years old in dog years; that's about 10 1/2 in people years.

Sometimes people call it 18 months old, which sounds a LOT older but it's still about 10 1/2 in people years.

 

Funny, I don't feel any different but my mama and papa heard, or read that once I reached 1 1/2, I would be more mature and better behaved.  Huh?   Who or what would make such an outrageous statement?

I believe that same "who or what" said something like between 1 1/2 - 2 years a pit bull matures, kind of like flipping a switch.   Well, I don't even know what mature means but I'm not ready to be that yet.  It doesn't sound like fun to be mature.  It sounds kind of old and boring.  I'm so busy being trained, I don't have enough time in the day to be mature, too.  I think I'll wait to be 2.  But, I will enjoy any special treats that might be coming my way to celebrate my 1/2 birthday.

Woof, Woof
;o)