Inside the Mind of Isadora

Tag Archives: Florida


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Friday Fictioneers – Chocolate Eyes

She needed band for extra school credits. 

Pointing, Mr. Cohen said, “Pick out a clarinet. I’ll get a new mouthpiece.”

Her friend Dominique teased her about the cute boy near the instruments. 

“Stop! He’s probably dating.” 

“Nope, I heard he’s not. Besides, he’s looking at you.” 

“From who? Is he?” 

“I have my sources.”

“Well, I’m not interested.”

“I have my clarinet; see you inside.” 

As Dominique passed the boy, she winked and gave him the okay sign.

“Need some help,” he said approaching her.

“No, I do not,” curtly, while dying inside.

‘Oh, those luscious chocolate eyes are yummy.’

2021©Isadora DeLaVega

Friday Fictioneers Badge.web

Genre: Flash Fiction

Word Count: 100 words

Photo Prompt:©Dale Rogerson

 

To join Rochelle in her photo writing challenges

 and her Friday Fictioneers click here:

 


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At the Beach

My beach has a big umbrella casting shade over my empty chair.

Warm water touches my skin and soothes the ache within.

Palm trees are growing, warm breezes blowing.

Salty air in every breathe taken in.

I picture myself there day after day.

 My beach is my haven, my comfort, my care.

2019©Isadora DeLaVega 

At the beach, life is different.

Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment.

We live by the currents, plan by the tides and follow the sun.    


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Blue Skies and a Kite

Despite the severe high temperatures of the mid 90’s here in Florida,

a drive to our local marina / park in Punta Gorda is a nice way to cool

off while enjoying everyones activities.

The marina / park is a spot where children can play in one of the water spout areas

while adults can go fishing, ride a bike or enjoy a relaxing walk on a scenic path.

We’d been admiring the sailboats swaying on the calm blue water.

A young gal began flying this colorful kite in the grassy field

 directly behind the bench where we were seated.

It soared high while fluttering the edges of its’ wings. 

It was mesmerizing to watch. 

The colorful kite was  peacefully meditative.

A bit of artistic imagination with my photo created 

this marvelous image that reminded me of the old fashioned

 post cards I used to  pick-up when vacationing.

2018©Isadora DeLaVega

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Lens-Artist Photo Challenge – Blue 

to join in click here


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Cooling with Jazz

Enjoy a little jazz instrumental while you take a tour of our favorite town to visit: Sarasota, Florida.

In April, the jazz club of Sarasota has a cool jazz cruise along Sarasota bay.

We look forward to it every year. My husband is a former jazz musician.

He enjoys the club and all of its’ activities.

These photos of the jazz cruise are from last year. We missed it this year due to my daughters wedding in New York.

The ferry leaves from the Sarasota marina. Le Barge was the host boat. 

The glass mirrored mermaid mascot was our guide along the waterways.

A light menu if offered along with alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages.

Jazz Singer
Trumpet Player

The band changes from year to year. Unfortunately, I can’t recall the name of this band.

It was a bit cool for April as you can see by the bands light weight jackets.

The sky was a beautiful azure blue. The condos dotted the skyline like sculptural statues.

The once laid back cracker traditional Florida houses and cottages now gone to progress.

Boats await their captains for a day on the water.

This sailboat far off by itself created the perfect picture postcard

of a Florida boating vacation.Since the jazz cruise takes place in the beginning of April our rains hadn’t started.

This is a photograph of what happens when the waters are low.

Boats, birds and pelicans all vie for water. 

There are many nests on those dry mounds.Of course, the mansions along the way showcase the wealth of Sarasota.

The rich and the famous, yes, stars do have homes here.

Many are part of the summer stock theater productions and the arts.

Each home is as individual as the people who occupy them.

People dot the waters edge at the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens.

This is a favorite place I love going to visit. They  specialize in orchid growing.

They have lectures, different exhibitions every year,

greenhouses with unusual orchids,

concerts on their magnificent grounds; especially, on Mother’s Day

or you can enjoy leisure walks in their luscious gardens.

Speed boats race along the waterway creating sprays of salty air.

The white caps, their signature, left behind.

After a beautiful day of cool jazz on the water, a walk among the palm trees,

flowering trees and plants is a perfect way to end the day.

2018©Isadora DeLaVega

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Lens-Artist Photo Challenge – Cooling

Week #2

to join in click here


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Sunday Song – Summertime

Straw-660A Hat.web

AAAaaaahhhhh ….. the season of summer is upon us.
May the sun shine upon your life ….
And may the summer breezes gently sing a song of “LOVE”

2018©Isadora DeLaVega

A smooth jazz rendition of Summertime by Ray Barretto

A good one to grab you honey and take to the living room dance floor.

Now, that your legs are warmed up, time to have a sip of your Pina Colada.

It’s time for a beach song celebrating a favorite summer sound.

Grab that drink and sit back and rest with a little Janis.

Happy Summer …

 

*****

If you have a favorite Summer song, feel free to add it in the comments so we can all enjoy …..

*****

Florida’s been having temperatures in the low to mid 80’s. It’s summer.


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Heavy Hearts in Florida

Rose - Blue

They were people like you and me.

Students left the safety of their homes to attend school for a better future. The teachers were there to help guide them to that purpose.

It never crossed their minds that on that particular day their lives would change forever.

When we leave our homes, how many of us think that we’ll never return?

I think, none of us.

Our lives have been changed by a horrific tragedy that happened in Parkland, Florida.

Seventeen people lost their lives and another fifteen were injured, some struggling in hospitals to survive.

It must have been overwhelming for families to wait; transfixed on hearing news of whether or not their family member, child or spouse was okay.

It’s a scenario that’s happening too often.

The losses of innocent people has burdened us with heavy hearts.

I hear these news reports and it paralyzes me. I can’t believe the hate.

The angry feelings that can well-up inside someone to bring them to that level of the destruction of lives.

These are criminals with lack of empathy for others.  Monsters who have little regard for human life.

When will this end?

How will it be stopped?

To all who are suffering from this tragedy of lives lost in Parkland, Florida:

May your troubled hearts find peace and comfort in the knowledge that you are not alone.

May God’s presence ease your trembling spirit and give you rest.

He is there to cast sunlight into all of your darkened shadows,

to send encouragement through the love of friends and family,

and to replace your weariness with new hope.

Blessings to All …
Isadora
2018©Isadora De La Vega

 

John Lennon – Imagine

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T’was the Night before Christmas – Florida Style

Santa w-Flamingo

Florida Christmas Poem

T’was the night before Christmas, and all through the town,
No noses were frozen, nor snow on the ground.

No children in flannels were tucked into bed,
They all wore their shorty pajamas instead.

To find wreaths of holly was not very hard,
For holly trees sprouted in every backyard.

In front of the houses were daddies and moms,
Decorating hibiscus and coconut palms.

The slumbering kiddies were dreaming with glee,
Hoping to find surf boards under the tree.

They all knew that Santa was well on his way,
In a fiberglass boat instead of a sleigh.

He whizzed up the rivers, zoomed up the canals,
Delivering toys to good boys and gals.

The tropical moon gave the cities a glow,
And lit the way for Santa below.

Quite soon he arrived and started to work,
He hadn’t a second to linger or shirk.

He jumped from his boat and gave a wee chuckle,
He was dressed in deck pants, with an ivy league buckle.

There weren’t any chimneys, but that caused no gloom,
For Santa came in through the Florida room.

He stopped at each house but stayed only a minute,
As he emptied his sack of the toys that were in it.

Before he departed he had a long drink,
From the glass of fresh orange juice left by the sink.

He turned with a jerk and jumped into his boat,
Knowing that he still had more toys to tote.

He put it in gear and he opened the gas,
Then up the Peace River he went like a flash!

And I heard him exclaim as he went on his way:
“Merry Christmas, Punta Gorda, I wish I could stay …. Annonymous

Santa w- Surf Boards

This is turning into a yearly repost due to the Christmas festivities that are going on at this time.

I hope you enjoy it again. This was on the radio on Christmas Eve last year. 

Punta Gorda is a boating town 5 minutes away from me.

 

                                       Merry Christmas to all of my loyal followers.

                                     Thank you for having faith in what I do here.

                      May your hearts be filled with magical splendor of the Holiday Season.

                                         Blessings and many Hugs and Kisses to you !!!

                                                                                Isadora  😎


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Hurricane Irma

Blog Friends,

An update on my absence from my blog.

For the past week, we had been getting warnings of an impending hurricane.

Naturally, I began to prepare for it. I had gone through a hurricane in August of 2004. Although we were spared damage to our home, it was devastating for my daughter who lost her home. Recovery to our town took years. Florida is known for their hurricanes. It’s a way of life for us. Many homes are capable of tolerating hurricanes but there are still old Florida Crackers houses that are destroyed each time there’s a storm.

Fortunately, our home can manage the storms but it cannot withstand water. They’re predicting this storm to be of huge magnitude. Hurricane Charlie sustained winds of 165 miles per hour. This storm is sustaining 185 mile per hour winds with storm sugres of 225 miles. It is a BIG ONE.

It has pummeled many of the islands in its path during the past few days. The images are devastating. Warnings are being issued for residents of the Florida Keys, Miami and many areas on the east coast of Florida to evacuate. We are in the west coast of Florida but a hurricane can change from moment to moment. We are in the Sarasota area which is one hour south of Tampa. They predict we will be getting high winds and major flooding.

Our plan is to wait out the storm in our home. The exits roads are packed. The possibility of being on the road during the storm is high; plus, the slow traffic uses more fuel which our state is running out of already. We have prepared for days without electricity and water. We were without water and electric with Hurricane Charlie for 7 days. Our hurricane preparations are water, canned food, peanut butter, candles, battery radio, first-aid kit, medications, toiletries and our cat needs. We are preapring for evacution by packing a backpack with two day of clothing and personal necessities. Our home has been secured as best as we could secure it.

Please pray and sends your good thoughts to all who are being effected by this hurricane.

May Hurricane Irma pass quickly so that we may return to our beautiful tropical paradise.

Blessings to all,

Isadora 🙏🏻