Outdoor Hot Tubs

With the arrival of spring, the weather becomes more favorable for outdoor activities. If you have an outdoor hot tub, it is a perfect time to enjoy the cool fresh air while relaxing in warm water. All you need is a good hot tub cover to protect your tub from leaves, bugs, dirt and other unwanted debris and to keep it properly insulated to maintain water temperature.

Sunset at Pier 60

"Clouds come floating into my life,

no longer to carry rain or usher storm,

but to add color to my sunset sky."

-Rabindranath Tagore

Sailing off into the sunset..........

Clearwater Beach, located in the West Coast of Florida, is renowned for its powdery white sand beaches, pristine waters and the beautiful sunset at Pier 60. Here are some of the sunset shots I took last night on my first visit to Clearwater Beach.

On Home Fixtures

When I go with my husband to home improvement stores, I like to browse around the different sections of the store while waiting for him. My favorites are the kitchen and bathroom sections where I can see different styles of lighting, tiles countertops, cabinets, small appliances, showers and faucets. I particularly admire Kohler faucets for their innovative and unique styles and design. I am fascinated by the touchless faucets and the touchless toilet flushometers. They're not only creative but functional as well.

Sepia Scenes from our Backyard

Spotting the Supermoon

"Supermoon" is a term used to describe any new or full moon that is very close to the earth. Here are some of my shots of the supermoon which appeared last night.

Supermoon shots taken on March 19,2011

There are nights when the wolves are silent

and only the moon howls.

- George Carlin

Spring Vacation

Spring is around the corner. The weather's getting warmer and flowers are starting to bloom, giving color to our surroundings.

For students, spring break is something to look forward to when they can go an a week long "rest and relaxation". Hubby and I are spending our "spring break" in the Gulf Coast of Florida. It is one of the popular vacation destinations in Florida because of its beautiful beaches. For MLB aficionados, spring training has also began. The area is also perfect for those travelling by RV. They can find several really nice campgrounds, rv resorts and parks around the area. RV owners, it's time to prepare your vehicles for that much-awaited trip, do the necessary rv repair, rev up your engines and enjoy!

“RV travel is as relaxed a way to see the country

as there can possibly be:

Leave when you wish,

stay where you wish,

very convenient and getting better all the time.”

-Jim Kaat

Beautiful Swan

Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

My Visit to Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

Hubby and I visited the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park where visitors are given the rare opportunity to observe(and interact) with Florida's wildlife in their natural setting. Our day started with a 20-minute scenic boat ride (from the Visitor's Center to the park's wildlife park) on Pepper Creek. Along the way, we saw turtles and fish swimming on the clear waters of the river and different kinds of birds. I especially like the very colorful wood ducks.

At the wildlife park, visitors can stroll along nature trails and elevated boardwalks and see up close Florida's flora and fauna, birds, Florida snakes, alligators, animals like deers, otters, bears, bobcats, wolves, foxes, hippopotamus, and a lot more others.

A long-time wildlife park resident, 51-year old Lucifer, the hippo, used to be a movie and television star.

The state park is also a rehabilitation center and refuge to injured or orphaned West Indian manatees, an endangered specie.

Here are more pictures of our visit:

Tour of the Ruins

On our recent weekend visit to the Nature Coast, we toured the ruins of the Yulee Sugar Mill found in Homosassa Springs, Florida. Owned by the late David Levy Yulee, Florida's first U.S. Senator, the mill was a major source of sugar supply for the Confederate army during the Civil War.

Built in 1851 by 69 slaves, the sugar mill included steam-operated grinding or pressing rollers and large kettles for cooking down the juice squeezed from sugar cane.

Seeing from a Distance...but Feeling Closer

Whenever hubby and I would go on nature trips, I arm myself with my camera while he would bring his Bushnell binoculars and flip video camcorder. The binoculars have been very useful when we went whale-watching at Maui and during our recent Nature Coast weekend.

I read recently that another Bushnell product, the bushnell spotting scope, provides more clarity and depth for distant objects than an ordinary pair of binoculars. Bird-watching will be a lot more fun with this.

Meeting the Manatees

West Indian Manatees migrate to Florida during the winter season. A large number of these aquatic mammals are usually found in the Crystal River area of the Nature Coast of Florida.

It is estimated that only about 2,400 manatees are left worldwide which makes them an endangered species.

The Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park located at the Nature Coast of Florida serves as a refuge and rehabilitation place for injured manatees.

Manatees enjoying the cool waters of Homosassa Spring

These herbivores are fed four times a day.

Manatees enjoying their salad bar

Skeletal remains of a manatee at the park's Education Center