Do you remember when you were a kid, and could easily be embarrassed by the type of car your parents drove? 

Daddy specialized in that. And the crazier the better. This is an electric car, the first one any of us in this little town had seen, and it went (or at least it felt like) 3 miles an hour and not only did Daddy insist on driving us around in it, he also had his FACE on it.....kept saying he was "ahead of his time", we thought that was SO funny...I mean really, what did he know?

This is a view from the other side...see how amazing the artwork is?  There was an airbrush artist named Bill Miller, and he was also the artist that did the picture on Daddy's famous black and white poster.  And I was lucky enough to be gifted with lots and LOTS of Tiger shirts..

Pardon the quality of the above photo, but there were also Lincolns, lots of Lincolns. I loved the Lincoln's because the rule was that i got the Lincolns on Saturday night, even if we just got the new Lincoln that day..I'm beginning to think that maybe I was spoiled? But on the other hand just how much can you get away with when your fathers face is on the car you are driving?  So here is Daddy posing with 2 of our dogs, Cutty Sark, J and B, and Bruce the Goose.  His favorite passenger to ride around in the lincolns though was Ruff, our goat.

Daddy loved nothing more than to pull up to some poor unsuspecting people in the Lincoln, and they would all Smile and say "Look - it's Capt. Tony", and then Daddy would roll down the passenger side window and Ruff would stick his head out and go MMMEEEEEEEHHHHHHHH! at them....quite the shocker, and conversation starter, and always got a laugh.  And that does not include the Dune Buggy, Army Jeep, and the actual Hearse that he had for quite awhile. He would let the boys on the dock make a little extra money cleaning the hearse  while warning them to "just shove any spare body parts you may find out of the way"...Oh yes, he loved to tease. I also had someone tell me Daddy just threw him the keys to his brand new convertible once, and told him to "take it for a spin".  It was something the "kid", now a grown man has never forgotten, and sounds just like Daddy. The guy was only 16 at the time.....

 As he "grew up" somewhat in his later years, he calmed down a bit with the car thing, but that may have only been because now Cape Air had captured his likeness on a plane no less..that's my adorable nephew Blake, and niece Brooke taken when the plane was first launched

It's still in use, and whenever I see it flying overhead it never fails to make me smile....usually when I need it the most...any of you have any unusual vehicle stories in your life?  Or better yet, any Capt. Tony's vehicle stories? Would love it if you feel like sharing!

XO
Smiles,
Toni

I was so excited to be invited to go fishing last week, I felt sorry for these little fellows but you gotta have bait!  You may not be able to see them but my favorite bait, shrimp,  are swimming around in there too.

Got to pass my old boat on the way out, she's looking good - riding nice and high...as you can see it was a little hazy that early in the morning......

I caught alot of these guys, yellowtails, it felt so good to catch some fish again.

And here is an old conch favorite, the Grunt.  Daddy said you could always tell which ones were the girls because they had lipstick on! 

And a teeny baby black (grouper), I want to eat his Granddaddy

And of course birds.  These cormorants were really raising hell, I never realized how NOISY they are..I guess because you mostly see them zooming by the front of the boat, or diving.  But they were talking, and arguing and cooing and carrying on. 

I swear they sounded like sea lions!  I didn't know they talked that loud, or if I did I forgot, which is ENTIRELY possible...

I made a new friend too! Not the barracuda, although I like him just fine...but this girl here..she is a Concierge also and any girl that will get up that early to go fishing is going to be a lifelong friend...Do you ever meet someone and just know? 

Aaaahhh...and HERE'S the real beach.  If you are on vacation and can budget it I highly recommend chartering and boat and coming out to one of our "islands". This is Boca Grande. I know some really great guides and you can do it all, fish, swim, snorkel.  It may cost a little more, but you feel like you are on your own private island.  I'd be happy to help you with that...

Isn't it beautiful here?  I grew up playing and camping and exploring and swimming on the islands up and down the Keys and it never gets old. Boca Grande is about 14 miles to the west of Key West

Here is an Osprey - giving us the evil eye...sorry the picture isn't real clear, salt on the lens I think

Flapping alot but not taking flight..

And this was why.  Isn't the nest beautiful?  A work of art....

Which is why we have these, which are NOT so beautiful, but I'm sure necessary...

Headed off the island fished a little more...nice sized bull shark...released of course...

Then sadly time to head back home...horrible commute, isn't it?

Goodbye open water!

Back to  Key West/Stock Island ....

And this handsome fellow, waiting just for me.  You don't think he loves me for my fish, do you?

XO
Smiles,
Toni