A Goodbye to Amber

Last week I lost a dear companion. Our oldest and first cat Amber left this life. She had suffered from cancer for a year or so. In the last few weeks her quality of life disintegrated drastically . She could no longer eat and seemed to be in great discomfort. As she died I held her and cried. She was the cat who slept with me every night and snuggled close. When I was upset, she was the cat that placed a paw on my leg and stayed by my side. More importantly she was the cat that taught us to love cats.

Every year on the Sunday before Fat Tuesday, Baytowne Wharf in Sandestin goes to the dogs. Guardians dress their canine family members in their Mardi Gras best. This year was no different. I always enjoy the pet parade because it's fun to watch and the animals seem to enjoy the attention. One of my favorite entries was Brody. Brody not only was dressed to the nines, but, he had his own transportation, a very small miniature sports car. Boy, I like this little guy's style. Alaqua Animal Shelter is the recipient of the proceeds from the event. Alaqua is a no kill shelter in Walton County.

Unconditional Love

It continues to amaze me when I read stories in the media about the services humans receive from animals, usually dogs. Our local paper had a story just today about a veteran that has a German shepherd that helps him in his struggle with PTSD. The dog wakes him before his nightmares become too intense and stands between him and other people if he is out and has an anxiety attack. A month ago I encountered a young woman in Petsmart with her service dog. The dog helps her with a medical condition. Anyone who has had a pet understands the special bond between an animal and its caretaker. The pet needs no special training to give unconditional love to those who care for and love him or her. I urge you to consider supporting the various shelters and animal care groups in your area at this year end, and if at all possible pay a visit to a shelter. There may be a very special animal waiting for you. You won't be sorry and you may be the difference in their living or dying.

What a great summer we've had on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Tourists came in record numbers, no hurricanes (knock on wood), and the water and beaches were beautiful. I photographed lots of new families and thoroughly enjoyed meeting and working with them.

The weather has begun to cool off a little and the pace is a bit slower. Next month the Destin Fishing Rodeo will get underway as well as the Destin Seafood Festival. If you've never participated in them, you have missed a treat. Consider a fall trip. It's the best time of the year and I would love to see you again.

Nesting time in the Gulf Islands National Seachore

Between Navarre and Pensacola Beach is an area that is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, a National Parks Area that shelters and protects migratory and residential birds and animals. During the nesting time of the year the speed limit drops to 20 mph, strictly enforced. and certain areas are roped off and restricted. These areas contain hundreds of nesting shore birds. Their nests are out in the open located on the sand and beach debris. The babies run everywhere as babies will do. Hence 20 mph, because they run on the roadway also. Last year with the oil spill, the nesting season was disturbed by all the big machinery and activity on the beach. I was anxious to see how this season is progressing and decided to detour through the area on my way to Pensacola Saturday. The birds seem be out in force and I was delighted to see many babies. I took pictures but the ones that showed up the best were the skimmers because of their coloring. The little sandpipers were barely visible in the sand.

Nothing brings the child in a person out like sand castles. There have been a number of sand structures along the Emerald Coast from Panama City Beach to Pensacola marking the anniversary of the Gulf oil spill and celebrating the beautiful beaches and the beginning of the tourist season. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin commissioned such a structure on the beach in front of Finz Restaurant. I couldn't resist a trip to view it and photograph it. Hope you enjoy the photographs and maybe it will inspire you to come on down and try your hand. We have beautiful sand to work with and beautiful weather to enjoy it.

One thing about living along the Emerald Coast of Florida is that there is always somewhere interesting within a short distance. As a photographer, I never run out of sights that intrigue and amaze me.

Sunday, I drove to the Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog outside of Foley. Gulf Coast pitcher plant bogs are among the most diverse habitats for flowering plants in North America. Bogs bring together an unusual combination of water, soil, and environmental conditions. Bogs contain very little organic material. Coastal bogs are highly acidic and very poor in nutrients. The carnivorous pitcher plants obtain their nutrients by capturing and eating insects and other small creatures. Many of the plants found in the bog are found nowhere else on the Earth. More than 90% of bog acreage along the Gulf Coast have already been destroyed or damaged. They have been drained or filled to make the land available for agriculture, roads, and construction.

The bog is located on County Road 17, one quarter mile north of U.S. Highway 98.