Dunedin, Florida: Autumnal Equinox 2010 - It's That Time Of Year: FALL

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Yes, the Autumnal Equinox has come again. It's that time of year. It's Fall. Wahoo! Time for cool dry air and the changing of the color of leaves. Time to get ready for the holidays that make this time of year so very special. It's a virtual trifecta of celebration!

Let's count them down... First comes Halloween. The night of terror. No, not really... it's the night of fun and candy and cool costumes. I always look forward to Halloween because, to me, it marks the first holiday of the cool season, and I always want it to be crisply cool for trick or treating. I suspect this is a childhood thing, as I grew up in Virgina and remember that trick or treating was often delightfully chilly and the air was all about Fall and hinting of Winter and the rest of the holiday season.

Then comes Thanksgiving, the wonderful family holiday that inspires reflection and gratitude for all the wonderful things in our lives that we take for granted all year. Turkey Day also marks the next step toward Christmas, and usually promises even cooler temperatures than Halloween. Not to mention, as an adult, I appreciate that Thanksgiving is the first of the three winter holidays that actually comes with TIME OFF! That's right, now we are talking about paid holiday time from work. Yippeeeee!

Finally, we get to Christmas. Now we are solidly into cooler weather (in Florida) and more paid time off to enjoy family and the holiday season. It's that time of year when so many of us become practically giddy with the spirit of giving and the joy of the celebration of Christmas. It's wonderful.

And then, in case you might have forgotten, we actually get ONE MORE holiday... NEW YEAR'S EVE!!! Yup, after all that good fun, we get a little more time off and another excuse to cut loose. Time to celebrate the successes, or survival, of the year just ended, and time to celebrate our optimism about the new year just starting. Perfect!

R & M Autumn Leaf 7 Piece Cookie Cutter Set
6ft Autumn Leaf Garland Decorations
Autumn: An Alphabet Acrostic
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Do you like TRUCKS? Check out We Love Truck Pics! Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Inviting Garden Swing Under A Shade Tree

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No, it's not a terribly elaborate garden, but I find it very inviting just the same. The bench swing, the plants, the cool shade. All framed under and within the welcoming arms of a beautiful shade tree. When you are walking around in the hot summer heat, that we all love so much, it's nice to feast your eyes on an oasis of cool like this one.

This is not my garden I'm afraid, nor is this garden owned and created by any friend of mine. I spotted it while on walking photo safari in Dunedin, and thought you may enjoy it like I did... from a distance, but with joy just the same. And as for the swing itself, I found two free plans, and one for sale, in just a few minutes online. The two free plans were from Build Eazy and Black & Decker, and the one for sale was from WoodCraftPlans.com. Check them out if you like, these are not affiliate links, and I can give no assurances as to suitability or safety of the finished products. :) There are lots more out there I'm sure, these are just some I found easily, so I thought I'd pass along the links.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: A Nice Day For A Bike Ride

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What's right about this picture? What's not right about this picture?

Well. among other things, I am still a chicken when it comes to taking pictures of people. Oh yeah, I'm a downright hero when it comes to taking pictures of their backs, or backsides. But I still have trouble taking a picture when they can see me taking it, and have only once had the courage to ask someone outright. Hahaha, and first I circled them three times like some kind of stalker.

Meanwhile, hurray for the man on the bicycle. Good for him. Of course, for all I know, he rides a bike because he got a DUI or something. In the meantime, hurray for him.

What's life about, after all? Any ideas? Not too sure myself. I have some ideas. Some inklings. Does it matter if we know? Are we just supposed to do our best to survive, and then die anyway? Higher purpose? I don't think we have access to any such thing as a higher purpose. I'd like to think so. But I have my doubts. Perhaps I'll go play a video game for a while to clear my head. Or go watch some more TV.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Beautiful Craftsman Style Bungalow Home Near Downtown

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I was enjoying a walking photo safari one day when I found myself in a small neighborhood of beautiful older homes, just south of downtown Dunedin. I think this might be considered a craftsman style bungalow. Although it may have outgrown the bungalow part just a little, what with being two stories and all.

There's not a lot about this house that I don't like. The architecture is beautiful. Well, perhaps I might not have chosen that color, but I can't say it really looks all that bad seeing it on the house now. But I have never been all that good at picking paint colors anyway.

If you're interested, it looks like Amazon.comhas a number of interesting books on The Craftsman Style. Some are 5-star rated. Here are just a few for example (hover over the titles to see a product preview):
Stickley Style: Arts and Crafts Homes in the Craftsman Tradition
Gustav Stickley's Craftsman Homes and Bungalows
Craftsman Style
Craftsman Bungalows: Designs from the Pacific Northwest
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: A Postcard Perfect Day At The Dunedin Marina

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No, I don't seem to be able to resist taking more pictures at the Marina, especially when it is a day as beautiful as this one. Talk about blue sky and fluffy white clouds! This is what we are talking about when we brag about how beautiful this area is.

And here's some cool news: I have opened a store on Cafe Press. That's right, as I expand the product available at the store, you will have the opportunity to buy postcards, calendars, note cards and so on featuring some of the best photographs from the Dunedin Daily Photo!

The name of the store is ABOCAI, which stands for A Bunch Of Crazy-Ass Ideas. :) And the first product available in my store are postcards featuring the photograph above. If you'd like to see what the image above looks like as a postcard, click this link: POSTCARD. If you like what you see, you can purchase a pack of 8 postcards for only $7.99.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Dunedin Marina: Hardware

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Ever feel like you just need someone to hang on to? Something you can really get hold of? That is what, in my opinion, HARDWARE is all about. Hardware is always there when you need it. What would the world do without hardware? The world would fall apart without it, that's what! Speaking for myself, I am a member of the Hardware Hoarders Club. That's right. I officially have more than I can probably ever use over the course of my lifetime... But I'm working on it! :)

What about you? Do you dig hardware too? Think about it, we use that word for all sorts of different meanings. Of course, there is basic hardware, like screws and nails and such. But sometimes hardware refers to weapons. Other times it's just computer equipment. I can remember using hardware to mean braces on your teeth. What else? I bet you have some more examples too. Don't you!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: International Optimist Logo: Regatta Club

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How do you feel about BLUE? Ever seen this logo before? No, it's not the Illuminati... It's the logo for the International Optimist Dinghy Association. IODA for short. And according to that website, "The optimist is, quite simply, the boat in which the young people of the world learn to sail".

So, if you have a child who is interested in sailing or sailboats, perhaps you want to check out the International Optimist concept of sailing. It seems like it might be a great way to get your child interested in something more than video games, not to mention the social skills and confidence they will develop while they're having all that fun. Needless to say, I am pretty sure they have a club in Dunedin, based at the Dunedin Marina.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Dunedin Marina: DOT Work Truck

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Work is everywhere. It makes the world go round. Even in our most basic form, we must work or die of starvation. Work. It's good for you. Really!

A nice day at the Dunedin Marina still requires someone to be working. In this case, it looks like there are some Florida Department of Transportation employees nearby. I'm not real sure if they have anything to do with the marina. They may be there, like I was, to enjoy the serenity of the small park, and to gaze upon the beauty of all the yachts and sailboats. If you're in the area, and have a little time, you might find it enjoyable to stop by the marina and go for a walk. The weather makes it quite appealing this time of year.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Dunedin Marina: Danger - There Is Work To Be Done!

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I guess I should have guessed there was work afoot when I saw this trailer full of lumber. But it was really more 'afloat' than afoot... hahaha. I can tell you, when I see a stack of wood like this at my house, it can only mean one thing: lots of hard work on the coming weekend. And sure enough, as you can see in the photo below, there was definitely some hard work going on. But I suppose I can see some appeal in a job like this. No, I don't think I would enjoy it year after year... but there are days when I am sitting in my office, wishing I was somewhere else. My friends and family are quick to remind me how lucky I've got it. And I suppose they're right, really.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Dunedin Marina Boats & Yachts For Every Taste

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All sorts of beautiful craft to see at the Dunedin Marina.

Sailboats, fishing boats, cruising yachts, speed boats, convertibles, they're all here at the Dunedin Marina. Lots of fun times and memories being made on all those nice boats.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Dunedin Marina Wider View

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What's not to like about more of the same as yesterday? Sorry, I can't help myself.

I'm sure it has nothing to do with that sexy allure of the water...
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Dunedin Marina Boats All Sitting Pretty

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It's pretty much always a nice time to stop by Dunedin Marina and check out the floating eye candy. Yes, lots more to come, as always.

Really, though, is it true, are boats simply holes in the water into which money is dumped? They are pretty though, most of them.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Some Ducks Are Such Posers!

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I snapped this total poser of a duck (that's Muscovy Duck) while walking around Lake Paloma. I tell you, he was totally posing! The more I snapped, the more he posed. Hmmm, come to think of it, it might have been a FEMALE duck! lol

I gotta tell you, when you see this little lake for the first time, Lake Paloma, you might think it's just another overgrown (barely) pond. I mean, it really isn't all that big. BUT... I see some of the coolest birds in the lake, or in the vicinity. Here's a list of all the different birds I have seen in my last couple of walks around and near the lake: Muscovy Duck, Mallard Duck, Mottled Duck, Wood Duck, White Heron, Great White Heron, Great Blue Heron, White Ibis, Kingfisher, Osprey, Crested Night Heron, Bald Eagle (FOR REAL!), Gallinule, Blue Jay, Starling, Crow, Grackle, Mockingbird, Cardinal, and I am sure I am forgetting at least two more.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Purple Heart Park, City Employees Keeping It Real

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A simple shot, a simple image, a simple thing. Keeping it real in Purple Heart Park. This is right in Downtown Dunedin. Not a big, sprawling, we're better than you, park. A simple small park to acknowledge the incredible sacrifice made by so many of our military personnel. After all, no park or monument is big enough, or grand enough, or heart-wrenching enough to do justice to their sacrifice. Good to see some of Dunedin's fine city employees taking care of this special place.

Hats off to all those serving or who served. Remember them with pride, respect and gratitude. For without the dedication and sacrifice of those willing to bear arms, we would not be living in such a wonderful (yes, even with its bumps and warts) country. Oh, and let's hear it for #44, P.B.O.!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Every Pretty Place Has A Back Alley

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Well there you go, I went and posted a picture of one of the back ends of Dunedin. Yup, it's like seeing behind the curtain, eh? But hey, we gotta have a place to put the trash so the garbage man can come and get it!

What about your town? Got any cool back allies? Of course, any back alley in Dunedin will be tame compared to many in the big cities. And that's part of what we love about Dunedin, isn't it?
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Alien Cloud Formations Over Dunedin: Invasion?

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Greetings from down in the hole. Life changes. Busy moves in. Leisure moves out. Time passes. Blogs suffer. If you love Dunedin, or Clearwater, or Clearwater Beach, how would you like to consider becoming a contributing team member to this blog, or one of my Clearwater blogs? If so, leave a comment with some way to get in touch with you, or find my email address on this blog and write to me. No obligations, no minimum participation frequency (well, at least ONCE in a while).

Susan, I got your number, busy as all get out. I hope you can wait until after the holidays. LH and CC, I don't know what I was thinking, that I could get a chance to contact you this week. Things are pretty A&E at work for the next two weeks. (The E stands for Elbows). I will get in touch soon, but please be patient if it takes until after the New Year.

Meanwhile, life has such a wonderful way of going from good to crap in no time flat. That's why people write songs like "Feelin' way too damn good". Merry Christmas one and all. And if Christmas is not your thing, just replace Merry Christmas with whatever is your thing, and then say it to yourself from me. Thanks.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Litter Sucks, And So Do The People Who Do It!

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Trash... garbage... litter... refuse... debris... junk... crap... I hate it. I hate the damned stupid morons who think it's okay to just chuck it out the window, or drop it onto the street. Who the hell do they think they are? Where are their parents?

Here are my ideas about this: Everyone, I mean EVERYONE, is issued a weapon. Some sort of gun. Then, whenever ANYONE sees ANYONE throw trash, or litter, or whatever you want to freaking call it, they MUST SHOOT THEM ON SIGHT! If they kill them, they get a bonus, if they simply wound them, they get a minimal bounty. All this would be backed up by the films from nearby security cameras (the ones the world is becoming more and more populated with).

IF you see someone litter and don't shoot them, we cut off one of your toes. In addition, if you are seen littering, we find your parents and cut off one of their toes. And another thing, look out Budweiser, we start penalizing companies if their product is littered more than others. Yeah, that's right, the cigarette companies would be in even MORE BIG TROUBLE!

And anyone who doesn't like this plan, or who refuses to participate (like refusing to carry their gun) would be chained to a damned garbage truck so they can pick up the freaking trash all day.

Next time, let's talk about licensing childbirth!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Decorated Light Pole At Casa Tina's

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Another picture, another post, another day of wondering why I publish this blog.

Perhaps because I can't resist sharing this neat place where I live and work and play. Mayhaps I have been working too much lately, and not playing enough. Yes, that may just be the case. Either way, this is Casa Tina's. I have posted enough about them before, eh?
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Voting Poll Lobbying Boundary

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Well, the big day has come and gone, and we are all watching and listening to learn just what it will really mean to us all. More voters turned out on that one day than most other voting days in history. More people were engaged with the process than ever before. Where you?

This is a shot I snapped on Voting day while on walking photo safari in Dunedin. I found it interesting to see the blue "X" on the sidewalk, and guess that it is there to make sure that anyone there to lobby for their candidate remained the legally determined distance from the entrance to the polling place.
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!

Dunedin, Florida: Dunedin Causeway To Honeymoon Island: Hot November

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What can I tell you... November 3rd, lunch time, Dunedin Causeway looking toward Honeymoon Island... beautiful, warm, sunshine. That's why people live here. It's just that simple.

So I post this shot for the pleasure of my northern friends and visitors. Yes, I will miss the concept of snow this winter, and wish we had more of a season, but I cannot deny that NOT freezing is not always all that bad. If you click to see the larger version, check out the squiggly lines from the heat coming off the sidewalk. Wow!
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If you would like to see more of this area, check out Clearwater Beach Daily Photo, and Clearwater Daily Photo. If you enjoy photography, check out my photography blog. Thanks for coming today, I hope you enjoyed your mini-vacation to Dunedin, Florida!