The River To Reef Art Festival

Yesterday afternoon my sister Susan and I attended the River to Reef Art Festival, which takes place at the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and Museum, located where the Loxahatchee River meets the Atlantic Ocean in Jupiter, Florida. The stated purpose of this festival is to celebrate local and regional artists, nature, and community. I was worried that we would not find parking at the lighthouse, and so we parked on Jupiter Island and walked across the drawbridge to the festival. Which turned out not to be necessary, but it was a nice day, and we arrived right at the assigned time for our entry. I took the photograph on the left from a boardwalk along the Loxahatchee, showing the artist's booths in the background.

The art show was fine, and the prices a lot more reasonable that the last few festivals we visited, but the artwork was overshadowed by the setting itself, which was really nice. Not only do you have views of the river and the lighthouse, but the landscaping was very impressive, too. There was also musical entertainment, although I thought it was strange that everyone was sitting in a central area, while the musicians were behind a rope and actually facing away from the audience, as seen in the photograph on the right. No matter. The view across the river definitely made up for it.

The Jupiter Lighthouse itself was the big attraction, as seen in the photograph on the left. The lighthouse became operational on July 10th, 1860, and was designed by George G. Meade, who later commanded the Army of the Potomac. Years ago, when we were visiting our mother Mary in Stuart one summer, Susan and I climbed to the top of that lighthouse while our mother waited down below. This time we decided to skip it - the walk to Jupiter Island and back was quite enough, thank you very much. All in all, visiting the River to Reef Art Festival made for a very pleasant day. The festival continues today from 10:00 until 4:00, although unfortunately, all the free tickets have been claimed, and so you will have to fork out $5.00 if you decide to attend. Plus another $5.00 to climb the lighthouse, if you so choose. What can I say - the early bird gets the worm. Or do they not say that anymore? I never know.

The March Issue Of Chicago Magazine

I just got around to reading the March issue of Chicago Magazine, and I must say, it makes for very interesting reading. The cover story is about Pete Crow-Armstrong, the 23-year-old Chicago Cubs superstar. Last season Crow-Armstrong became only the second Cub in history to hit 30 home runs and have 30 stolen bases. The other player was none other than Sammy Sosa. The first half of the season Crow-Armstrong stole 25 bases, hit 25 home runs, and batted in 70 runs, something no other player has ever done before the break. He became the second youngest Cub to ever start an All-Star game, but during the second half of the season, he hit only .187 with 6 home runs. Crow-Armstrong was not happy about that and is determined to regain his form this season. And although he grew up in California, he has grown to love Chicago and the dedication and passion of the fans at Wrigley Field. He comes across as a nice kid and an intense competitor. He very well might make the difference this season up on the North Side. 

A truly fascinating article this month is The Power 50, which lists the 50 most influential Chicagoans who "have shaped policy, molded minds, and redefined this city - and this country." It is not possible to discuss all 50, but what amazed me were all the Chicagoans on the list who I have never heard of, but have a major influence across this country, including Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago, who now has a major influence on the Catholic Church due to Pope Leo naming him to the Pontifical Commission for Vatican City State; Penny Pritzker, head of Harvard's top governing board; Valarie Jarrett, who has overseen the creation of the Obama Presidential Center in Jackson Park and helped raise the $850 million to pay for it, and Mellody Hobson, wife of Star Wars creator George Lucas, who was once the chair of Starbucks, is currently a director of JPMorganChase, and who owns pieces of the Chicago White Sox, the Denver Broncos, and the WNBA. And did you know that Nick Fuentes, White Nationalist Streamer and number 7 on the list, lives in west suburban Berwyn? I sure didn't. 

There is also an article about seven Chicago-area staycation spots, where you can feel like you've gotten away without the travel costs and headaches. All of them sound very nice, but most would cost about the same as a week or two in Europe. The cheapest on the list was the Wind Creek Chicago Southland in south suburban East Hazel Crest, a casino and hotel, with prices ranging from $199 to $299 per night. The article says it has a "glitzy" Italian steakhouse atop the 17th floor. What? There is a 17-story hotel and casino in East Hazel Crest, Illinois? I used to live near there. How the hell did that ever happen? In summary, it is definitely an issue you should check out. And yes, the two photographs of Chicago on this blog were taken by me on my last visit to my old hometown in April of 2010. Definitely time for another visit.

The First Day Of Spring (aka The Spring Equinox)

Today is the first day of spring, and right on time, the Tabebuia trees, one of which can be seen in the photograph above, are in full bloom all over Stuart, Florida and environs. These trees were the brainchild of Edwin A Menninger, who came to Stuart in 1923 to start the Stuart News, which, by the way, still exists, although is now owned by USA Today. Menninger felt there should be more flowering trees in the area to welcome in the spring, and contacted people from around the world, asking them to send him seeds from their flowering trees. Which they did. His favorite was the Tabebuia tree, which is native to Mexico and the Caribbean. He distributed the tree's seeds to people all over town, who dutifully planted them, with the result that they are now everywhere, a vibrant symbol of spring coming to Stuart, Florida. Thanks Edwin!

The 2026 Major League Baseball Season Begins Exactly One Week From Today!

And yes, I do know that the official opening of the season takes place next Wednesday night between the New York Yankees and San Francisco Giants, but that is just a gimmick. It is indeed next Thursday, March 26th when most of the teams start play, including my South Side heroes, the Chicago White Sox, who will be opening the season at 1:10 against the Brewers in Milwaukee. Their North Side rivals, the Chicago Cubs, will have their home opener at 1:20 that same day against the Washington Nationals. Meanwhile, my adopted hometown team, the Colorado Rockies, who now actually have people who know something about baseball in charge, will be waiting until Friday at 7:10 Florida time to begin their season against the Marlins in Miami. Last season the Rockies lost 119 games, 2 short of the record for worst team in the history of baseball - which is of course held by the 2024 White Sox - and so I suspect there is no great rush by the Rockies to start the season. They will definitely return to contention over time with new management, but definitely not this year. Or the year after. Or perhaps even the year after that. But it doesn't matter right now. Every team is starting out undefeated next week, and hope springs eternal. We should all enjoy it while we can. And yes, that is indeed the view of Coors Field from the press box, which I took at the Colorado Rockies Fan Fest this past January. A great view of the field, although last season I imagine many of the reporters did not want to look.

Watching The Marlins Take On The Blue Jays - A Late Spring Training Matchup

My sister Susan and I watched the Miami Marlins take on the Toronto Blue Jays this past Monday afternoon at Roger Dean Stadium in the Abacoa neighborhood of Jupiter, Florida. The weather forecasters predicted heavy thunderstorms starting after lunchtime, and so we were taking a chance, but since we already had the tickets, we forged ahead. The first thing I noticed as we approached the ballpark were the number of license plates from Ontario and Quebec, showing that despite what you hear on the news, there are still large numbers of Canadians who still winter in Florida, not letting one unhinged bully drive them away. And when they played the Canadian national anthem, there were lots of cheers, which I was very happy to hear, especially since Florida is such a red state. And best of all, when the first pitch was thrown at 1:10 P.M., the sun was shining brightly.

During the game I was surprised to hear a Toronto batter announced whom I knew well: none other than Eloy Jimenez, the former star player for my South Side heroes, the Chicago White Sox, who gave him a six-year, $43 million contract in 2019 even before his major league debut. Eloy got a base hit, seen in the photograph on the right leading off first base. Eloy did very well for the White Sox, winning the Silver Slugger Award in 2020. Then in 2024, the year the Sox lost 121 games and knew they were about to undergo a major rebuilding, they traded Eloy to Baltimore, who the following year declined his club option for 2025. Eloy then signed with the Tampa Bay Rays, and the year after that signed a minor league contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, where he is currently a designated hitter and outfielder. And will he go north with the Blue Jays when they break camp next week? Although only 30 years old, he is not the same player he was with the White Sox, but perhaps he can regain his form with Toronto. After all, that was a pretty sold hit he made this past Monday. Good luck Eloy!

It was indeed warm and sunny for the first 2 1/2 innings. Then the storm clouds came, and it started to rain. Susan and I made our way to the main concourse, and under the shelter of the roof. As we discussed what we should do, the sun came out again, and we made our way back toward our seats. The usher suggested we take the two handicapped seats right behind home plate, since it would be easier for Susan and me to leave when the rain started again (I think he had inside information). And so, we sat back and watched the game until there were two outs in the bottom of the 6th inning, which is when I took the photograph on the left. Then the downpour began and we hightailed it back out to the main concourse. As we headed toward the ramp, I saw all the players heading for the dugouts, and when we approached the exit saw that everyone was leaving. The game had been called. Toronto, the visiting team, was leading 5-4 after 5 innings, which made it an official game. Since everyone left the stadium at the same time, it took forever to get out of the parking garage. But no problem. Two groups of Canadians were parked on either side of our car and were very friendly and entertaining. Despite Donald Trump. Go Blue Jays!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today is St. Patrick's Day, and if you are thinking about putting on some green and starting to celebrate, I've got bad news for you - all the celebrating took place this past weekend. Here on the Treasure Coast of Florida, the main event not to be missed was the Jensen Beach St. Patrick's Day Festivities and Parade, hosted by the Jensen Beach Chamber of Commerce this past Sunday and sponsored by Mulligan's Beach and Sports Bar and AC Doctors. While the festivities started at 11:00 in the morning, the parade itself wasn't scheduled until 2:00, and my sister Susan and I were on Indian River Drive waiting for it to begin. There was a bit of a delay, and as I watched storm clouds gather in the distance, I had to wonder if they were waiting for the rain to start before launching the parade. Finally, the parade came into sight, the bagpipers in the photograph on the left walked into the street from the corner where we were standing, joined the parade, and started marching and playing those bagpipes.

Not surprisingly, Mulligans, being one of the sponsors, was quite lively, and many of the patrons took a break from their celebrations to step outside and watch the parade, including all those ladies in green wigs and sunglasses seen in the photograph on the right. The Mulligans in Jensen Beach is two stories high, and the upstairs area has a great view of the Indian River, while the location in Vero Beach has a patio that is right above the ocean, where you can sit at a table and gaze at the Atlantic. Neither of which I have ever visited but keep thinking I should. As for the other sponsor, AC Doctors, I assume they were having an equally lively celebration, although for the life of me, I have no idea where they are located or if they have a bar in the middle of all those air-conditioning parts.

This is an extremely popular event around here, and a lot of fun, but it really is a small town, community affair, and the parade includes a lot of community organizations and elected officials, in addition to a group walking their dogs in tight formation, two kids on unicycles, each holding an end of a banner advertising a new brewpub, and even a group of young violinists marching down the street, as seen in the photograph on the left. Meanwhile, back in Denver, the St. Patrick's Day Parade took place this past Saturday in Lower Downtown (LoDo), after which everyone stayed around that neighborhood to celebrate at places such as Scruffy Murphy's. In Chicago, they dyed the Chicago River green in the morning and then had their parade down Columbus Drive at 12:15 P.M. with bagpipers, dancers, and green floats.

There were a LOT of families with their kids at the Jensen Beach St. Patrick's Day Parade, and it wasn't until the back end of that parade that I found out why. After all the other groups marched by, they were followed by a line of about 500 or so golf carts, all decorated like the one in the photograph on the right, and from which they threw trinkets and candy - lots and lots of candy. The parents, no doubt regulars at this event, all brought paper bags with them, which they filled with all that swag and candy their kids were enthusiastically picking up. The woman standing next to us made sure Susan got a lot of the candy and trinkets, too, including a green necklace, a "Kiss Me I'm Irish" bracelet, and many, many lollypops. She and her husband also offered to help us as we got ready to leave the crowd and head back to the car, which was very nice of them, too. A small-town parade with friendly, happy people. I would have liked to head around the corner to Jensen Beach Boulevard, the main downtown area, where the "festivities" part was taking place, but those storm clouds were almost upon us, we had a way to go to get back to the car, and I didn't want to tempt fate. And so, including the Fort Pierce Block Party on Saturday, it was a really nice St. Patrick's Day weekend. But what do we do today, on the actual holiday? Beats me.

The March Mutt Of The Month

I took the photograph above of the March Mutt of the Month the Saturday before last, when leaving the outdoor patio of the Sailor's Return, located at the Sunset Bay Marina in Stuart, Florida. It was only 4:00 P.M. in the afternoon, and I had found a parking space - the last one, actually - but when my sister Susan and I arrived at the patio, all the tall-topped bar tables were filled with what I assume were snowbirds, as was every space at the bar itself. We sat down at a regular table that was vacant and located right next to one of the bar tables, but were told, as a friendly reminder for next time, that we would need to see the hostess to sit at one those tables. Which I am loathe to do if all we want is to have a drink, enjoy looking at the boats (yachts, actually), and then head home. In any case, sitting next to its owner, who was at one of the other regular sized tables, was that dog, who was the center of attention for everyone entering the place. I was not able to get a decent photo on the patio, but as luck would have it, I was able to take the photograph above as we were heading back to the car, with the dog happily posing for me while standing on that blue bench. And resolving to wait until April, after "The Season," to venture back to the Sailor's Return.

The St. Patrick's On 2nd Street Block Party

I stopped by the St. Patrick's on 2nd Street Block Party yesterday afternoon up in Fort Pierce, Florida, and my timing was perfect - it started raining as soon as I got there. But fortunately, not to hard, at least for a while, and the rain didn't seem to be bothering anyone. This St. Patrick's Day celebration is hosted every year by Sailfish Brewing Company and 2nd Street Bistro, both conveniently located on 2nd Street itself, as seen in the photograph on the left. There was a stage midway down the block where a trio were playing Irish music, there were booths with various items for sale, a street bar, food vendors, and a bounce house for the kids.

As usual, a number of people dressed up for the occasion. Most of the crowd decided to just wear green, or a St. Patrick's Day hat, while the two gentlemen in the photograph on the right decided to go "full leprechaun," drawing high fives from the crowd sitting on the outdoor patio of the Sailfish Brewery. Which makes good beer, by the way, and distributes it to grocery and liquor stores throughout the area.

As far as I could tell, most of the crowd was hanging out at the Sailfish Brewing Company, as seen in the photograph on the left, especially as the rain began coming down harder. There was a line to order beers that started at the end of the bar and went almost out the door. I would have suggested that they should have had a booth outside on the street, but of course, if they did, those people waiting in line would have looked like drowned rats by the time they got their beer. This was actually the first time I have been in that brew pub, and I was quite impressed. The front of the building consists of a long, covered, and rather dark patio, and so I did not expect to see such a lively and inviting interior. But, of course, long, covered, rather dark patios are quite useful when the sun is beating down on you, or there is one of those sudden cloud bursts that Florida is famous for. In any case, everyone was pleasant and seemed to be having a good time, and it was a fun experience, despite the rain.

The 75th Annual Under The Oaks Fine Arts And Crafts Show

My sister Susan and I drove up to Vero Beach, Florida yesterday afternoon to attend the 75th annual Under the Oaks Fine Arts and Crafts Show, which is held every March in that city's Riverside Park. And looking at the photograph above, it will be obvious how the festival got its name. This is a major juried art show, with over 200 artists from across the nation displaying their work, and is considered one of the top 200 art shows in the country. I was very impressed with both the quality and variety of the art, and was pleased to see quite a few photographers displaying their work, much of it very good. And no - neither Susan nor I actually bought anything while we were there. The items that did get our attention were priced around a thousand dollars and up, which is slightly beyond our price range. However, Vero Beach is quite an affluent community, and so I am sure the locals will no doubt make the artist's appearance at the show worthwhile. And if you are in the area and want to attend - and you should - the festival continues both today and Sunday from 9:00 until 5:00. 

Robert B. Parker's Showdown

I just finished reading Robert B. Parker's Showdown, the latest Spenser novel by Mike Lupica. I've always loved this series, created by the late Robert B. Parker, and when he passed away, I thought that would be the end of it. Happily, his family decided to hire first Ace Atkins and now Mike Lupica to continue the series, and both have done a good job of imitating Parker's style and producing new stories. The novels feature Spenser, a wise-guy Boston private investigator with a shady but fun sidekick named Hawk and a girlfriend, Susan Silverman, who is a Harvard-trained shrink. This time attorney Rita Fiore hire's Spenser to help a young man named Daniel Lopez, the son of an undocumented Guatemalan woman recently murdered in an apparent robbery attempt. Going through her papers, Lopez begins to suspect that Vic Hale, one of the biggest podcasters in the nation, who rose to fame with right-wing, anti-immigrant rhetoric, is his father, and wants to prove it, this at a time when Hale is about to sign a huge new contract. Revelations about the affair and a potential child could jeopardize his big deal, and when more bodies start to turn up, Spenser is determined to find out who is behind it all. I really did enjoy this story. The characters are witty and likeable, and it is very much like Parker's novels of old. Be sure to pick up a copy at your local library today.

My Father Nelson's Birthday

My father Nelson Hoyt was born on this date 117 years ago, in Chicago back in 1909. I am just amazed when I think about how long ago that was. It makes me realize how fast time passes without you even noticing. My father was a dentist and always hated it. He and my mother Mary were finally able to retire in 1976, at the age of 67, to a condo here in Stuart, Florida, and both were never happier. Dad had only 7 years of retirement before he passed away but enjoyed those years very much. My mother lived in Stuart for almost 30 years before coming to live with me up in Denver, although we would travel back to Stuart 3 times a year and stay at the condo until she passed away. In any case, I took the photograph above of dad at Circle Bay, which is a condo complex next door to our building, where we would sometimes walk around and look at the boats docked there. The Monterey Yacht and Country Club, where the condo is located, has a 9-hole golf course, and most people who live here are all about golf, as was both my father and my mother. At Circle Bay, everyone has a dock space, and so they are all about boats. My parents had friends at Circle Bay, and so nobody minded us walking the grounds. These days, those people are long gone, and so if my sister Susan and I decided to walk over there these days, multiple people would probably draw their guns. This is Florida, after all. In any case, I am glad my father at least had those 7 years of retirement after all those years at a job he hated. He deserved more but luckily had those.

Back To Stuart Beach!

I spent some time at Stuart Beach the other day - as seen in the self-portrait above - now that the big cold wave is over and highs are currently in the 80s every day, as God intended. And I am happy to report that things are back to normal: people are back sitting on the sand and actually going into the water, even the natives. The only negative is that we will not be seeing all those snowbirds in their bikinis and speedos putting on a brave face and diving into the ocean in 50-degree temperatures, which is always quite amusing. Serves them right for taking all the tables at the Sailor's Return's outdoor patio every night, not that I am bitter about that.  And believe it or not, people are now actually saying they miss the cold temperatures now that it is getting hot and humid again. The same old story, just like back in Denver: counting the days until summer in the middle of winter, and longing for the snow during the 90-degree summers. People never change.

Watching A Spring Training Game At Roger Dean Stadium

I went down to Roger Dean Stadium in the Abacoa neighborhood of Jupiter, Florida yesterday afternoon to watch the St. Louis Cardinals play the Baltimore Orioles. It was a perfect day for baseball, and the home team, the Cardinals, beat the Orioles 7-2, hitting 4 home runs in the process. The Cardinals are 9-5-1 so far this spring, while the Orioles are 7-8-2. But what does this really mean? Actually, nothing. The ballclubs are trying to put together the best teams possible with which to start the regular season, which is now just two weeks away, and focusing on each players individual performances is the only thing that matters right now. You leave in pitchers past what you would in a regular season game to see if they can get out of jams and leave in hitters who keep striking out to see if they can adjust to the pitching. Winning the game is the last thing to worry about right now. 

Which I have to keep telling myself, since yesterday out in Arizona, my South Side heroes, the Chicago White Sox, beat my adopted hometown team, the Colorado Rockies, 12-3 and are 11-7 so far this season. Which means the White Sox might very well be better this coming season, but by how much, who knows? As for the Rockies, they were historically bad last season, and are expected to be horrible again this season, but with new management will be slowly getting better. As for the Chicago Cubs, the White Sox's North Side rivals, they have a 7-9 record so far this spring and are expected to win the National League Central. Only once the regular season begins on Wednesday, March 25th will the true picture begin to take shape. Until then, I can look at that12-3 White Sox win over the Rockies and begin to think dynasty!

ArtFest By The Sea!

My sister Susan and I attended the 36th annual ArtFest by the Sea in Juno Beach, Florida this past Saturday afternoon, and I must say, I was very impressed. I attended this festival last year, but do not remember it being nearly as large as it was this time. There were over 250 artists displaying their work all along Juno's Ocean Drive, which runs along the Atlantic. There was a great variety of art on display, and to my surprise, quite a bit of photography, including a booth featuring Scanlan Windows to the World, as seen in the photograph on the left, and which is also a regular participant at the Cherry Creek Art Festival in Denver. 

The best thing about this festival is that it takes place right along the beach. Every so often there is an opening from the street, such as the one in the photograph on the right, letting festival goers see and even step onto the beach for a break before continuing on with the art. The beach around here goes on for miles, and this time of year it is very popular, especially on weekends. Every parking spot along Ocean Drive was taken as we drove toward the festival. When I got to the point where the road was closed off for the festival, I drove through several parking lots with no luck. Having given up on ever finding a spot and at a traffic light waiting to turn back onto Ocean Drive, I noticed that someone had pulled out of the lot I was just in. After a simple U-turn and almost running down a few senior citizens, I was finally able to park. And I must say, those seniors can really move fast when they need to.

And since this is Florida, there was, of course, a guy at the festival with a parrot on his shoulder, as seen in the photograph on the left. This is not unusual at all down here. I have seen people walking along the sidewalk on Ocean Drive in Miami Beach with those huge parrots on their shoulder, as well as at Hobe Sound Beach, but am not really sure why they do it. To get attention, to show that they are free spirits, because it is their support parrot? Who knows? In any case, I really enjoyed ArtFest By The Sea this year. It really was worth the fight for a parking spot. And yes, the City of Juno Beach did provide a shuttle service for people who wanted to park in a different county and spend a few hours getting to the festival, which I imagine some people did. But where's the fun in that?

The St. Lucie County Fair - Part II

As I discussed in yesterday's blog post, my sister Susan and I went to the St. Lucie County Fair, which takes place at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds west of Port St. Lucie, Florida this past Thursday. This is a traditional county fair that takes place in the middle of cow country, and a very well-attended event. Which is no surprise, since there is not much else to do in Port St. Lucie most of the time. In addition to lots of food booths and carne games where you can take a chance at winning a prize, the fair also has amusement rides, including 2 Ferris wheels and a ride seen in the photograph on the left which I would not recommend taking on a full stomach.

As I mentioned yesterday, the highlight for me was the petting zoo, where you can buy a cup of food for $5.00 and feed all the animals, of which there are many, including that hungry goat in the photograph on the right. I have never gone in much for taking video, but this past Thursday a video would have been the best way to capture those animals jumping over each other to get to that food. I suspect the fair people must hold off feeding the animals in the morning in order to get them to behave like that.

I was very surprised to find a number of camels at the petting zoo. It does seem strange that people would be raising camels in South Florida, but there you go. I have yet to see any camels making their way along the beach carrying a snowbird from up north, but when I do, I will definitely take a photograph to share on this blog. One thing I found interesting is that there was only one kind of food with which to feed a variety of animals, and it looked kind of like a potato chip. But no matter whether it was a goat or cow or even a camel, they all gobbled it up as fast as they could. I am not sure what was in it, but I do wonder if I might be able to get a bag of them at Walmart and try 'em out. 

In any case, today is the last day of the fair, which runs from noon to 11:00 P.M. I checked the schedule, and today's events include Andy Rotz's Wild West Showdown, whatever that might be, musical acts, Racing Pigs, and Laser Tag from 1:00 until 9:00. And I do have to mention that on Thursday I watched a mother and her three young children playing laser tag, and it felt truly weird watching them running around tagging (i.e. shooting) each other with handheld laser guns. Of course, this is Florida, a big gun rights state, and so I suppose that is considered perfectly normal down here. In any case, the St. Lucie County Fair is definitely worth a visit if you are in the area. Be sure to visit the petting zoo, buy a cup of $5 food, and feed my pals, the two goats in the photograph on the right. They will love you for it.

County Fair!

My sister Susan and I went to the St. Lucie County Fair this past Thursday afternoon. This was the first honest-to-God county fair I have ever attended. This event, which runs through this Sunday, takes place at the St. Lucie County Fairgrounds, located way the hell to the west of Port St. Lucie. And if you think Florida is not an agricultural state, think again. Once you get way from the coastline, whatever isn't swamp seems to be filled with cows and horses. And I must say, I enjoyed this fair very much. It seemed to me like a traditional county fair, the kind you see in the movies, with a midway, lots of food booths, and more carnival style games to test your skills and win a prize than you can count. There were also plenty of amusement rides, if you want to live dangerously.

The best part of the fair for me was the petting zoo. At the entrance, you can purchase food to feed the animals. I don't know what they put in that food, or if they simply don't feed the poor things before the gates open, but all of those animals were frantic to get those treats, as seen in the photograph on the right. They were literally crawling over each other to get to the person handing out the food. 

There was a wide range of animals at the petting zoo, ranging from goats to miniature cows to camels (Yes! Camels! In Florida!) to llamas and alpacas, which is what I think the animal in the photograph on the left that those children are feeding might be. After leaving the petting zoo, we headed to a number of barns featuring different types of animals, including goats, cows, horses, and small animals such as chickens, roosters, geese, and even a large turkey, which actually does go gobble gobble gobble. Who woulda thunk it? In the buildings featuring the cows, goats, and horses, their young owners, no doubt members of the local 4-H club, would be standing next to their animal ready to proudly tell you all about it. Amazing how different a lifestyle exists just a short drive west of here.

And yes, I think that goat in the photograph on the right has taken a shine to me, even if I didn't have any food to give it. I would consider adopting it and taking it home to our condo in Stuart, but the complex doesn't even allow dogs or cats, let along goats. And this particular HOA takes its rules and regulations very seriously. I can just imagine having to explain to them that this was a service goat. In any case, it was a fun afternoon, and both Susan and I enjoyed the fair very much. It was like a trip back to the America of old, a much simpler and happier time. And if you are in the area, I recommend going. Today and tomorrow are the last two days, with hours from 12:00 to 10:30 today and 12:00 to 9:30 Sunday. And be sure to buy food for the animals at the petting zoo. They are truly desperate for it.

Jupiter, Florida - A Paraglider's Paradise?

Jupiter, Florida is famous for having 3.5 miles of beautiful beaches along the Atlantic, with the shoreline bordered by dunes, mangroves, and sea grape trees. I was there the other day, taking some photographs, and was surprised by two paragliders zooming right over me, one of whom can be seen in the photograph above. They were pretty low in the sky, moving parallel to the water, and seemed to land a little further down the beach. It actually looked kind of fun, and so when I got home, I looked the sport up on the internet. The Wikipedia article seemed to go on for pages and pages, so I skipped that and simply googled whether it was safe, and how expensive it was to do it. One article I found stated that it is an incredibly safe sport, but "it can be fatal if you get into a severe accident." It went on to say that "most injuries and accidents that happen can be survived and prevented." I also found out that it can cost $10,000 for equipment and training. Enough said. Jupiter, Florida might be a paradise for paragliders, but I think I'll stick to photographing wild boars, of which the State of Florida has over 500,0000. Which I suspect is much safer, and cheaper, than paragliding.

Whistling Past Pierced Ciderworks

I was walking around Edgartown, the historic part of Fort Pierce, Florida, the other afternoon and found myself passing Pierced Ciderworks. I have never gone inside this place, since all signs point to the fact that it might indeed be selling cider, but I do like the building it is housed in. It was originally owned by photographer Harry Hill and is over 117 years old. I took the photograph on the left of the place with their delivery vehicle in the foreground. There is room in that truck bed for lots of cider and it obviously must be pretty speedy, so using it for deliveries makes perfect sense to me.

As I was passing by, I took a look at the entrance to their outdoor patio, as seen in the photograph on the right, and thought it actually looked quite inviting. I checked and found that Pierced Ciderworks does serve an IPA, from nearby Sailfish Brewery, and it seems to me it would be like having a beer in the middle of a tropical jungle. All in all, I thought to myself at the time, probably a good place to check out one of these days.

But then when I got to the edge of the house, I remembered what I learned last year about Pierced Ciderworks - it is evidently a hangout for zombies, as you can clearly see from the warning sign in the photograph on the left. It is well known that zombies crave cider, so it makes perfect sense that zombies would congregate there. Of course, if you do hang out in their patio after dark and have a few pints of IPA, that very well might be that. Of course, I myself have never socialized with zombies, and so perhaps what I have heard and seen about them in social media and films is simply "fake news." And so, perhaps I will have an IPA there one of these days. What could go wrong, right?

Even The Manatees Are Excited About St. Patrick's Day!

Almost every day I pass by the manatee in the photograph on the left. The owner periodically dresses it in festive attire based on the season and upcoming holidays. I first noticed it when it was dressed in full MAGA attire, topped by a Make America Great Again ballcap, during the last presidential election. This month, it is dressed as a leprechaun in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day. St. Patrick's Day is a pretty big holiday around here. In nearby Jensen Beach, Florida the St. Patrick's Day Festivities and Parade takes place annually in the downtown area, this year on Sunday, March 15th, with a parade, food, vendors, music, and entertainment. Last year, I tried to find a parking spot within walking distance of the parade route but just wound up driving around in bumper-to-bumper traffic until the parade was over, finally finding a spot right in front of Mulligan's, a local seafood restaurant. But it was still fun to walk around Jensen Beach Boulevard, the main drag, and watch all the festivities taking place.

Just a few blocks from that leprechaun manatee, in Willoughby Creek, a little past Manatee Bridge, are actual living, breathing manatees, but they are much less impressive than that leprechaun. I have seen them at Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach, by the Fort Pierce Marina, and here at Willoughby Creek, and the only damn thing you see is their nose for a second or two as they get a breath, or just a small section of their back, such as the two on the right in the photograph on the right, who didn't move once while I was there. If you don't see them, click on the photograph to enlarge it enough to see the two dark blobs. Talk about boring. I know they are gentle, endangered creatures, but entertaining they are not. And I suspect those particular manatees don't give a damn about St. Patrick's Day, although I could be wrong. Perhaps they will perk up when it gets closer to March 17th.

A Return Visit To The Peacock House

I stopped at the Peacock House up in Fort Pierce, Florida yesterday afternoon to see if there were any peacocks out and about in the lot across the street. The Peacock House, also known as the historic Crain Estate, offers tours of the house, the four outdoor gardens, an art gallery, and according to them, "peacocks o' plenty," which you can actually feed. However, I have never toured the place, mainly because the tours are limited to Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11:00, which is usually not a convenient time. Plus, there are supposed to be lots of peacocks running around that neighborhood, called the Peacock Arts District, that you can see for free.

Despite the promise of prides of peacocks all over the place, I only saw a single one, wandering around that lot across the street, and seen in the photograph on the right. Which is really not all that impressive. And that peacock was not that impressed with me, either. As I was trying to get a good photograph, it continued strolling around, pecking at the ground, totally ignoring me, refusing to pose for a portrait. And so, I think I am done photographing peacocks for a while. I have read that they are having a problem with wild boars in Tradition, a mixed-use development on the western outskirts of Port St. Lucie, and so perhaps trying to get some photographs of them might be a better idea. I am pretty sure I can get a wild boar to look me in the eye and pose for a portrait. What could go wrong?

Dinner At The Pirate's Loft With Linda And Rodger And Susan

I had dinner yesterday evening with my sister Susan, our cousin Linda, and her husband Rodger at the Pirate's Loft Restaurant in Port Salerno. Linda is the daughter of our Uncle Bill and Aunt Elsie, who moved to Stuart, Florida in 1972, and inspired my parents to move down there too 4 years later. When they were raising their families, Linda and Rodger, along with Judy, our other cousin (and Linda's sister) and her husband Cal would come down to Stuart each summer with their children and stay for two weeks at Ocean Village in nearby Fort Pierce, allowing them to vacation by the ocean and also visit with their parents. Linda and Rodger still stay at Ocean Village during February and March, while Judy and Cal head to Bonita Springs on Florida's West Coast, the traitors. In the photograph on the left, going from left to right, are Rodger, Susan, and Linda.

I like the Pirate's Loft very much. We have been going there for almost 40 years. The food is good, and the view from the patio, as seen in the photograph on the right, is great. Sometimes after dinner we would walk down to the docks at the marina below, and look at the boats, many of them fishing charters. It was especially fun when the boats came back from their trip and the crew started cutting up their catch, throwing the unwanted pieces to what seemed like hundreds of pelicans crowding around the table. My only complaint with the Pirate's Loft is that underneath the patio where we dine, they have installed a tiki bar, with a stage right on the dock, where they often have a band playing, which is disconcerting when you are trying to have a conversation. Fortunately, yesterday, the band stopped playing not too long after were seated.

And yes, that is indeed Susan and my parents, Nelson and Mary, on the right in the photograph on the left, and Linda and Judy's parents, Bill and Elsie, on the left back in 1977 in front of Uncle Bill and Aunt Elsie's condo at the Monterey Yacht and Country Club. Their condo was next to the 2nd hole tee, and when my parents and I visited them in 1975, every single golfer seemed to come up to their lanai to say hello. I think that was why my father decided to buy a condo across the road in one of the two buildings on the St. Lucie River side of the complex. Where all the other rebels lived.

Returning To The Sailor's Return At Last!

My sister Susan and I were finally able to have a drink at the Sailor's Return's outdoor patio yesterday afternoon. I was able to snag the last parking spot in the lot, and at the time, the last available table, which I consider quite the coup. We arrived just before 4:30 and it looked like it might rain (which it did, but only as we were leaving), which I am sure helped us get a seat. And despite the overcast sky, it was still pleasant having a beer and looking out at all those boats, many of them good-sized yachts. The Sailor's Return is located in the Sunset Bay Marina, and shares a parking lot with it, which probably adds to the parking problem, since many of the people living aboard those vessels also have cars that park there. Personally, I feel these liveaboards should be forced to park off-site and just have one of their people drive their car over when they need it. That's what I do when I moor my yacht on the French Riveria. Perhaps I'll have a word with the dockmaster.