Never give up

"I've got it...now what do I do??"

Great blue heron contemplating its next move

Limpkin on the lookout

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - The wood stork in the top photo has a problem.  It has this nice big fish...enough for a big meal with some left over to feed a lot of his stork friends.  And that's the problem.  The wood stork doesn't have the ability to swallow the fish...and it isn't equipped to tear the fish apart...and it doesn't dare drop the fish because another bird might swoop down and steal it.  We spent a good 10 minutes on Black Rock Drive in Merritt Island NWR watching the bird wear itself out trying all its moves.  It was an exercise in frustration and the flogging may still be going on.
     Earlier in the day (Friday) we made the rounds of Viera Wetlands.  This is usually a very good area for birds but lately the numbers have been getting smaller.  Hence, the character study of the great blue heron and a less seldom seen limpkin.

FPL (Florida Power and Light) to the rescue

ORMOND BEACH, FL - - It was 6:45pm Tuesday night and all was well in our home in OB...except the wind was blowing pretty steadily at 20mph plus with gusts up to 37mph.  No problem when you're snugged in and surfing your computer.
    Bingo!  Three minutes later the lights went out...and it wasn't a popped circuit breaker.  No, the way the wind earlier had been  whipping whitecaps on the Halifax River nearby was also causing a good bit of swaying in the power lines.
     I should mention that it is now 43 degrees and dropping.  Cold enough to cause iguanas to drop from their tree limb perches in way south Florida.  A sure story to warm the hearts of the northerners deep in snow with wind-chill figures at nose-tip freezing figures.
     Naturally, with the power out so goes the internet connection.  But, that didn't stop Lydia from ginning up a way to contact FPL about our situation.  And they answered quickly with a timeline of "fixed by 11:30".  Break out the candles; the flashlights / headlamps and a (thankfully) juiced solar light.
     FPL included a map of FL in their reply email so we could see how others were fareing.  With 250 customers included in our outage, we were right at the top of the list.
     Thirty minutes after the dark descended, the lights came back on.  The candles; flashlights / headlamps from our camping stash and the solar light now sit ready and able to light the way again if needed.
     And the battery-powered string of holiday lights...that I haven't put away yet...are making merry.

Storm coming!

GRAND CANYON, June 11, 2010 - -  Sun, a swirling cloud bank of light rain showers, and the vastness of the Grand Canyon as seen from the North Rim.