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Calm Between Storms

Rain poured from the skies, Florida’s version of a tsunami, as we dashed from our car and then splashed through ankle-deep water at the threshold of the restaurant. By the time we finished dinner, the rain had abated, leaving this rainbow as a consolation prize for our soggy shoes. The rain was gone for theContinue reading “Calm Between Storms”

Dog Gone

Several years ago we visited Moorea and admired the fish swimming in the shallows along Paopao Bay (aka Cook’s Bay). One afternoon we were surprised to spot this “salty dog” standing in the water. We have never seen him since, though we have returned to Moorea several times. The lower photo from our latest visitContinue reading “Dog Gone”

Fire in the Sky

The setting sun set the sky ablaze, a final burst of fire to end a sweltering day. More warm days are ahead, and we keep hoping for an afternoon thunderstorm to cool things down. In the meantime, Orion and other winter constellations are beginning to appear in the east at sunrise with the promise ofContinue reading “Fire in the Sky”

Morning Rendezvous

Jupiter has recently burst onto the morning scene, gleaming by the trees, seemingly in pursuit of the lovely Venus at the top of the picture. Indeed, he will close the gap, and by August 12, 2025, they will form a tight pair in the morning twilight. Alas, their encounter will be brief, and Jupiter willContinue reading “Morning Rendezvous”

Ammonite

Once upon a time this ammonite, a distant relative of the octopus and squid, drifted in a shallow sea where the Rocky Mountains now rise. During the time of the dinosaurs, its remains sank into sediments that fossilized and became Pierre Shale formation near Loveland, Colorado. Over half a century ago I attended high schoolContinue reading “Ammonite”

A Straight Story

There is always a soft, satisfying, sawing sound when I cut slices of bread off the loaf for the morning toast. Usually a soft thud follows as the slice falls over onto the cutting board. This time, however, both pieces remained upright, cut nearly to perfection. That seldom happens, but no matter what, I canContinue reading “A Straight Story”

Ripples of the Mind

Gentle waves lapped ashore like memories rippling the mind with visions of times passed. In the distance, the Aranui 5 rests at anchor in Bora Bora’s Povaie Bay as it had nine years earlier after carrying us to the Marquesas and Tuamotu Islands. Now this view, though only two weeks old is also a memory,Continue reading “Ripples of the Mind”

Resurrection

An unusually harsh winter froze most of our plumeria down to the ground, and the shoots that have since arisen seem unlikely to bloom this season, so our hopes of enjoying the beautiful flowers seemed to have died. However, young, potted plants that were sheltered from the cold are now blooming for the very firstContinue reading “Resurrection”

Coconut Telephone

Jimmy heard it on the “coconut telegraph,” but we heard our messages on what I refer to as the “coconut telephone.” Many cell towers in French Polynesia are disguised as palm trees to mute their visual effect on the scenery. Not only does it blend in better with the surroundings, there’s no worries about coconutsContinue reading “Coconut Telephone”

Capricious Crescent

Venus and an impish, grinning Moon in the twilight sky tried to entice us to head out on our early morning walk; never mind the clouds that covered the rest of the sky. But then a distant flash of lightning followed seconds later by a low rumble warned of an approaching storm. We returned toContinue reading “Capricious Crescent”