Another great rendition of the bar, love the diversity and the spirit of Daddy and Key West...

I just want to Thank Every One of you that have read my blog that I started just about 7 months ago and have been SO supportive of all of it, the Blog, the Art, and my still being worked on Concierge section (Promise to finish soon!)  and last but not least the Officiating I was honored to do. I love your comments and so appreciate you taking the time to visit me.

I Thank You ALL from my heart, and of course my family for being so patient and supportive!  I love you all  and I hope you follow me into 2013 for more of this Wonderful, Crazy, place I call home.  Here's to your Health, Happiness, and Prosperity!

And,  I want to credit the Artist of this picture, who's name I cannot quite make out, and ALL the unknown contributers that loved Key West and Daddy enough to honor us all by sharing choosing him as a subject and then sharing  that love with the family, and us all!

Cheers!

XO
Smiles,
Toni

We would all be rich....  That's always been one of my favorite sayings....and today I wish I COULD be fishing, so here's Daddy in his element with a boat full of tourists.  Have a wonderful day everyone, I will be at work where it is too busy for words...Season is Here!!!   P.S. And that was one of y

XO
Smiles,
Toni

Everyone loves a Parade, as this festive onlooker above can attest, and the Key West Annual Christmas Parade is by far the most popular. And for good reason, there is a great story behind it.  When I was growing up I lived right near the largest park in Key West, called Bayview.  It's still there by the way....  And I can remember going to a small Christmas Parade every year.  Over the years it seems to have faded out and I think for awhile we may not have even had one. Or at least not one that the WHOLE town felt compelled to go to.  Then an amazing thing happened...

Seems that the parade was being sponsored by entities that decided all were NOT welcome to participate, and that just does not work here, not in this town. 

We have this little thing called the 'Coconut Telegraph', and although it's become almost a joke, or a subject for songs, you see it really DOES work, and I have never seen it work so fast as I did that year...

Every single person that heard what they were trying to do decided to either join in the parade...

Or at least show thier support by showing up to watch it...

I have never been so proud of my little town as I was that first year..

And every year since. This parade is a symbol, and a reminder...

That we really are "One Human Family".    So to those who don't realize it...

It's just a small town Christmas Parade..

Cute and Quaint

And very diverse

But to those that know

It's not just about candy and toys tossed to the little ones..

It's a wonderful reminder

Of just how special

Many people have asked me over the years how we can celebrate Christmas in Key West when it doesn'
 FEEL like Christmas?

To which I always reply "What do your mean?  It FEELS like Christmas to US, just look around you"  Besides, this is all I know, and I think it's pretty wonderful..... you'll see...

Tasteful statements of the Holiday Season are everywhere...

Here you have the popular "back porch" tree, complete with ceiling fan to keep it cool....

And as you get closer into Old Town, things get a little more, "elaborate".  I love you Hello Kitty!

I don't even know what this means?  Other than it's Sponge Bob?  And penguins?  I love it though, it's just FUN!

And nothing like a fresh fruit smoothie on a warm winters night....

And then you have the Key West Bight

That never fails to dazzle...

With  lighted skulls and crossbones

And lobster trap trees.....

And countless beautiful homes/guest houses/businesses/ ......in old town.....

And fish....I know this is blurry, but I have given up on night pictures at the moment, lots to learn! And this guy just Would Not Stay Still!  But I love him so, and since Tom actually went downtown with me specifically to take a picture of said (#!+X@**!!)  fish, I incuded him anyway....And Jack Daniel's had nothing to do with the quality of the picture either, I swear.  It's a bull Dolphin, or Mahi Mahi by the way...

Wreaths on Duval...

Beautiful corner of Caroline...

More of the bight, I wish we could have lights like this ALL year long.....you could literally ride your bike around for hours and not run out of things to see..

But then you see, it WOULDN'T feel like Christmas because down here it never, EVER snows....  I hope you liked my little tour of just a tiny bit of the island.   The Christmas Lobster, and I wish you ALL.. Happy Holidays, wherever you are, no matter the weather.....Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men.  Please remember to look around you and LOVE one another! 

XO

Smiles,

Toni

It was foggy this morning...

Which is pretty rare in Key West, altho' it seems to be happening more and more

This is South Roosevelt Blvd

When I was growing up it was so rare we thought it was the coolest thing EVER

Judging by all the pictures I took today, maybe I have'nt grown up so much after all!


XO
Smiles

Toni

These are Old Soldiers, or Stone Crab traps.  As much as people love to eat Stone Crab claws, not too many have seen all of the work that goes in to catching them. Up North I think they call them "Pots", not a word we use down here, or not that I've ever heard ... altho' it's basically the same thing.  I was on the dock the other day, and seeing all of these brought back so many memories...

These are New Soldiers, each one built by hand.. Put together with slats of wood, with staple guns, piece by piece, ropes tied on each, concrete poured inside, with your tags that you pay for attached to each one..I could make a heck of a crab trap once upon a time....

The black things are the "funnels" or how the Stone Crabs get into the traps...

These lids are all open, so that when you close it the longer part is inside the trap...making it easier for the crab to just crawl right in to get to the "goodies" (bait) you've left inside, they like cat food and pigs feet, anything basically smelly and nasty once it's old. But then (hopefully!) they can't get out!

Here are two boats, coming and going, the one on the left has just dumped his traps, the one you can just barely see on the left is on the way out....loaded down.  You can hear them coming and going all day long at the beginning of lobster season, then for Stone Crabs, you just add your crab traps and take them along.  This sound always makes me miss fishing, altho' I don't miss all the tedium, or the hard work...altho' I couldn't do TOO much heavy lifting of course.

A few little Mom and Pop boats on the the docks....

Me with some bounty....

Don't they look good?

Key West Fresh!  Can't beat it!

XO
Smiles,
Toni

This is the entrance to the Botanical Gardens on Stock Island. It is a fantastic place, I've always loved the sign on the left...

Today my post isn't on the Botanical Garden, alot of people may not realize that when you go through the gate, and follow the bottom arrow and turn right...

You will have an opportunity to see an amazing testament to human will

These are various boats and rafts that were recovered from our surrounding waters by persons trying to make the 90 miles from Cuba, to Key West, to America, to freedom

No one knows for sure how many have actually made it

Or how many tried and did not

I try to keep my posts light, and point out things the normal visitor may not realize is here

But when seeing things like this....

It's really hard not to feel humbled, and grateful,

And proud to live in America

XO
Smiles,
Toni