Everything that I hold dear
will eventually be gone.
Subsequently, the quality
of my life will depend on
whether I choose to appreciate
those things now or wait until then.
...Craig D. Lounsbrough
It was a privilege to be invited to stay with my friend in this duplex cottage in Florida. She rented it for 17 years in a row with her husband. I was able to visit her from 2017-2023 for 10-24 days at a time. I visited in February, March and one time in April. It was heaven on earth to me.
Well, they finally tore the cottage down late last year to likely be replaced with condos. Slowly but surely the single family cottages are disappearing. This cottage sold a few years ago but they continued to rent it out...we were lucky to get these bonus years. I did try to take extra photos and soak it all in, knowing this could be the last year. I took two long walks a day on the beach and let the warm salt water cover my feet. I was able to stay for 24 days.
In this collage of photos from last February, I lined the private walkway with Pen Shells that I found all over the beach, after a storm. I gathers all those coquina shells and used some for my Sailors’ Valentine in white, light purple, dark purple and coral colors. The collage shows the two sides of the cottage, the picture window and sandy walk to and from the beach. The center pic is the church that looks like a bird or chicken called Church by the Sea.
The cottage was an old Coast Guard Station that was converted into a duplex. My friend rented the 2 bedroom/2 bath with a covered porch, just steps from the beach. You could hear the waves and watch the sunset every night. Another friend of hers would visit from Canada and play his bagpipes on the beach at sunset. They were "snowbirds" and enjoyed nice weather in Florida during the winter months.
We would take day trips to Tarpon Springs for sea sponges and Greek food, went to Weeki Wachee to see the underwater mermaid show, visited Sanibel and Fort Meyers before the devastating hurricane in 2022 and saw Ca' d'Zan, the home of John Ringling from the Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus fame.
I saw the gentle Manatee and some sting rays at the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, entered the St. Pete's Shell Show and won the People's Choice Award for my Sailors' Valentine, visited the Historical Museum at Indian Rocks Beach, saw the Church by the Sea that looks like a chicken and visited the George C. McGough Nature Center.
We went to Red Barn and the Wagon Wheel flea markets/farmer's markets, the Riverwalk and water Taxi in Tampa and the Chihuly Collection at the Morean Arts Center and Mirror Lake in St. Petersburg. We frequented Yellow Banks Grove for their fresh orange juice and amazing ice cream cones...and I am not an ice cream person but could not get enough of theirs.
I was with my friend when she got her new dachshund, Annie and stayed with her at the cottage after her husband passed away. I stayed longer the last two years to help out, run errands and make meals when she was unfortunately diagnosed with cancer.
My friend taught me how to make shell art and Sailors' Valentines. I took walks on the beach and collected various seashells and brought home the fine white sand. I also brought home coquina seashells, natural sea sponges that do not grow bacteria and many fond precious memories. We both loved the beach. I will miss seeing my dear friend and this part of Florida. I might post some photos from Indian Rocks Beach this month to reminisce since I will not be there. I am sad this visit/trip has come to an end.
https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1-4th-Ave-Indian-Rocks-Beach-FL-33785/81407326_zpid/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ca%27_d%27Zan
https://www.visitstpeteclearwater.com/article/chihuly-collection
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ringling_Bros._and_Barnum_%26_Bailey_Circus
https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/weeki-wachee-springs-state-park/mermaid-shows
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunshine_Skyway_Bridge
https://misstourist.com/sand-key-park-florida-usa/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sand_Key_(barrier_island)
Thank you for your kind words and concern. A lot has changed for my friend over the last seven years. She lost her beloved dachshund, Libby, but she did get another loving dog. She lost her husband of 50 years, Her cancer returned and metastasized. The final straw was the cottage being leveled. It was a place to go to take her mind off things, to get her out of the house and to warm her bones. It was her happy place for two months ever year. I do worry about her and call her often.
Like your shell lined pathway.
May you continue to see your friend.
https://365project.org/gardenfolk/365/2022-04-10
https://365project.org/gardenfolk/365/2023-03-06
My first one...7 inch with the lid on
https://365project.org/gardenfolk/365/2018-04-29
My 2nd one, a 10 inch without the lid
https://365project.org/gardenfolk/365/2019-02-25
My 3rd one, a 10 inch that won the People's Choice Award at St. Pete's Shell Show (without lid)
https://365project.org/gardenfolk/365/2020-03-17
I had to change this pic to a collage as I realized I posted this photo in February.
Here is one more shell project I made from broken shells collected at Indian Rocks Beach: https://365project.org/gardenfolk/365/2017-02-28
Ian