Sunday, April 26, 2015

My Journey to the Fountain of Youth

Saint Augustine is my favorite city in Florida, so far.  I love the Spanish architecture and steep history of our country.  It is very easy to get around.  You do not need a car. Old Town Trolley Tours is the best way to see the city, highlighting the best St. Augustine Attractions, with 23 stops and more than 100 points of interest. They have a tram that stops every 5 to 10 minutes to pick you up and take you to all the historical places in Saint Augustine.   You can also walk the town or rent a bike. They have a bus that takes you to the beach which is about 10 minutes away. There are plenty of restaurants with outdoor patios. I took a tour of Saint Augustine's distillery. They gave us all a sample of a drink called the "Florida Mule." It is made from Ginger syrup(or ginger beer) lime juice,  club soda and vodka. It is delicious!
St. Augustine, the nation's oldest city, also holds the distinction of being one of the nation's most charming.  Known as the "Ancient City," Saint Augustine is located between North East and Central East Florida and is convenient to Jacksonville, Orlando, and Daytona airports. North Florida boasts a year-round mild climate perfect for strolling Saint Augustine's delightful historic district, with its cobblestone streets, quaint cafes, bars, unique shops and bed-and-breakfast inns. 
http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/blue-peacock-joan-reese.html?newartwork=true                                                       
Experience the beauty of an early morning that slowly comes alive with locals and tourists setting out on foot to explore significant landmarks including the -Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park-Castillo de San Marcos-Flagler College-The Lightner Museum-St.George Street, City Gates, Old Village, Historic District, Bayview, and many more.
http://www.oldcity.com/what-to-do.php           http://www.oldcity.com/pages/st-augustine-restaurant-listings.php      http://www.oldcity.com/pages/complete-accommodations-listings.php    http://www.oldcity.com/beaches.php   http://www.oldcity.com/history-and-culture.php  http://www.oldcity.com/calendar.php  http://www.oldcity.com/camp-grounds-fish-camps.php           http://www.oldcity.com/historic-district.php

Friday, April 17, 2015

Kiddies love Blue-Eyed-Kitty!

                         http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/blue-eyed-kitty-joan-reese.html
 

A Kitten   Poem by Eleanor Farjeon

He's nothing much but fur
And two round eyes of blue,
He has a giant purr
And a midget mew.
He darts and pats the air,
He starts and cocks his ear,
When there is nothing there
For him to see and hear.
He runs around in rings,
But why we cannot tell;
With sideways leaps he springs
At things invisible -
Then half-way through a leap
His startled eyeballs close,
And he drops off to sleep With one paw on his nose. 

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Sleep Before Midnight

http://joan-reese.artistwebsites.com/featured/venus-illuminations-joan-reese.html

Sleep before Midnight
by Joan Reese

Hot chamomile tea, sipped from rose colored porcelain cup
Quiets my nerves, ensuring a deep sleep.

Rain drops beat windowpane like a steel drum.
Lighting cracks, slicing open my unconscious.

Departed souls wordless influence;
Their presence feels like Florida august sun.

My Egyptian cotton sheets scented with Channel No. 5
Holds a treasure trove of dreams.

Woke up and found a poem on my pillow,
The color of lake mist rising.

Wrapped the poem around me like a thick down comforter,
Strengthening me for the daily race…

Saturday, April 4, 2015

When circumstances force us to change....

“When one door closes, another door opens; but we so often look so long and regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us.”
Alexander Graham Bell
On March 26, I have just returned from a ten-day trip. I thought I'd get a bite to eat and come home and rest. I walked down East Seventh Street in the East Village, where I live; turned the corner and started to walk up St. Mark's place.  I heard a huge blast: It sounded like two Mack trucks smashing into each other.  People started to run towards the blast, I didn't, I knew whatever it was it was bad.
 I walked back to my apartment and called a friend who told me to hurry, pack a bag and get out of there. While I was packing, the police rang my bell and told me to vacate. I looked out the window it was smokey and the smell reminded me of 9/11. We lost three buildings that day and over a hundred people lost their homes and two people lost their lives.  Many times I have complained about how small my apartment is and the fact that I have to walk up four flights to get to it.  Now, I'm thankful I have a roof over my head and I pray that the people who lost their homes will be helped to find new ones. This showed me that it doesn't matter how old you are or what your circumstances are in life you never know what tomorrow will bring.   So, I try to live my life to the fullest and not sweat the small stuff.