Sharing My Key West Legacy
  • Home
  • About Toni
  • Blog
  • Weddings
  • Contact Toni
  • Places to go
  • Untitled

Sharing my Key West Legacy!

Scroll down to read the latest blogs...

Learn more about toni

 Happy New Year!  XO

12/31/2012

0 Comments

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

If Wishes Were Fishes.....

12/28/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
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
2 Comments

A Key West Christmas Parade

12/24/2012

2 Comments

 
Picture
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...
Picture
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. 
Picture
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...
Picture
Every single person that heard what they were trying to do decided to either join in the parade...
Picture
Or at least show thier support by showing up to watch it...
Picture
I have never been so proud of my little town as I was that first year..
Picture
And every year since. This parade is a symbol, and a reminder...
Picture
That we really are "One Human Family".    So to those who don't realize it...
Picture
It's just a small town Christmas Parade..
Picture
Cute and Quaint
Picture
And very diverse
Picture
But to those that know
Picture
It's not just about candy and toys tossed to the little ones..
Picture
It's a wonderful reminder
Picture
Of just how special
Picture
Our little island of Key West is....

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and Thank you to ALL the new friends I have met from this blog, I love each and every one of you and I wish you Love, Peace, and Happiness, but most of all I wish you Enough - now and always.

XO
Smiles,

Toni

2 Comments

Merry Christmas Key West Style!

12/18/2012

7 Comments

 
Picture
Many people have asked me over the years how we can celebrate Christmas in Key West when it doesn'
 FEEL like Christmas?
Picture
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...
Picture
Tasteful statements of the Holiday Season are everywhere...
Picture
Here you have the popular "back porch" tree, complete with ceiling fan to keep it cool....
Picture
And as you get closer into Old Town, things get a little more, "elaborate".  I love you Hello Kitty!
Picture
I don't even know what this means?  Other than it's Sponge Bob?  And penguins?  I love it though, it's just FUN!
Picture
And nothing like a fresh fruit smoothie on a warm winters night....
Picture
And then you have the Key West Bight
Picture
That never fails to dazzle...
Picture
With  lighted skulls and crossbones
Picture
And lobster trap trees.....
Picture
And countless beautiful homes/guest houses/businesses/ ......in old town.....
Picture
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...
Picture
Wreaths on Duval...
Picture
Beautiful corner of Caroline...
Picture
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..
Picture
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
7 Comments

The Fog

12/9/2012

4 Comments

 
Picture
It was foggy this morning...
Picture
Which is pretty rare in Key West, altho' it seems to be happening more and more
Picture
This is South Roosevelt Blvd
Picture
When I was growing up it was so rare we thought it was the coolest thing EVER
Picture
Judging by all the pictures I took today, maybe I have'nt grown up so much after all!


XO
Smiles

Toni
4 Comments

Stone Crabs!

12/8/2012

5 Comments

 
Picture
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...
Picture
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....
Picture
The black things are the "funnels" or how the Stone Crabs get into the traps...
Picture
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!
Picture
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.
Picture
A few little Mom and Pop boats on the the docks....
Picture
Me with some bounty....
Picture
Don't they look good?
Picture
Key West Fresh!  Can't beat it!

XO
Smiles,
Toni
5 Comments

Chugs at the Botanical Gardens

12/1/2012

1 Comment

 
Picture
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...
Picture
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...
Picture
You will have an opportunity to see an amazing testament to human will
Picture
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
Picture
No one knows for sure how many have actually made it
Picture
Or how many tried and did not
Picture
I try to keep my posts light, and point out things the normal visitor may not realize is here
Picture
But when seeing things like this....
Picture
It's really hard not to feel humbled, and grateful,
Picture
And proud to live in America

XO
Smiles,
Toni
1 Comment

    Archives

    July 2020
    September 2018
    August 2018
    September 2015
    June 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    November 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.