Florida Sunset Outing On A Cold Crisp January Evening

January 6, 2010 – I setup along the eastern shore of Lake Okeechobee this evening, expecting a fantastic sunset due to the dry cold crisp air mass in place for the recent arctic blast from the north. Sure enough a little after 5:30pm, it was a beautiful sunset rich in colors, with temperatures crashing once again with the fall of the sun. I continued to shoot pictures for about 40 minutes after the sunset, but began to freeze my butt off as temps feel into the 40’s quickly. Another freeze expected tonight, with widespread freeze warning for most of Florida. All in all, it made for a enjoyable photography outing on a cold South Florida evening.

Sunset Picture One: Breeze over lake waters with deep sunset colors.

Sunset Picture Two: Sabel Palm Florida Sunset Silhouette.

Sunset Picture Three: Wispy Cirrus Clouds and Contrails Sunset.

Sunset Picture Four: Sunset Colors Fade As Stars Emerge.

Related Sunset / Sunrise Posts:
Sanibel Island Sunset – Harvest Moon Coconut Palms
Final Sunset Of 2008 Over Florida Everglades – Okeechobee
Spur of The Moment Getaway Florida Sunrise Pictures

Support Team Weatherzine Organ Donation Miracle Walk

November 11, 2009 – Please join Team Weatherzine, and myself Jeff Gammons, in my efforts to support Transplant Foundation, Inc., in this years Miracle Walk / Run in Miami. As many of you know, I received a lifesaving kidney transplant back on Easter Sunday April 12, 2009. I would not be living a more normal life, and feeling great if it wasn’t for my organ donor. Please help me spread awareness about how important organ donation is, and support our team this weekend.

Team Weatherzine has 15 people walking in this weekends event. Our Team goal to raise for this years event is $1000.00. We have already raised $767.00, but still trying to reach our goal before this Saturday.

Two ways you can make a contribution online: You can make a donation towards Team Weatherzine as a whole, or your welcome to sponsor me. Please chose a link below that will take you to the Miracle Walk events website.

Donate Towards Team Weatherzine

Donate Towards Jeff Gammons

I will be listing everyone’s participation with our team, along with all of our sponsors. I want to thank you all in advance for your support, and look for a follow up blog post after the event.

Thank You – Jeff Gammons

Halloween Weekend Miami Beach Pumpkins and Footaball

November 1, 2009 – It’s so hard to believe it’s already November. At least for me, and Kersten said the same thing, the year has flown by so fast. We closed out October this past weekend starting off with a very nice and relaxing early lunch in Miami Beach. Kersten and I decided after taking care of some business, that we had the time to head down to South Beach along Ocean Drive for a walk and a bite to eat.

We walked Ocean Drive, and walked along the beach enjoying a fantastic late October day. It felt more like late Summer with a easterly breeze off the water and temperatures in the upper 80’s. We ate at Ocean’s Ten on a sidewalk table, enjoying drinks and food as we people watched. I shot a nice series of photographs along the beach and then we headed back north for home. Defiantly worth investing the few hours.

Halloween was also a warm and sunny day, and we pretty much lounged around the house watching horror movies and eating some junk food. Later in the afternoon we started to carve up our pumpkins for the front patio deck. By sunset, Kersten was off helping JJ get ready in his costume, while I setup the table outside with our pumpkins. We only had about 23 Trick-or-Treaters, so the evening went fairly fast. Ended the day with another movie and some burgers.

Sunday was pretty much a full day of sports for me. I watched the Miami Dolphins – Jets game, and about passed out in the 4th quarter. I was happy to see Miami pull it out at the very end for a win on the road, and to sweep the Jets. Now, as I type up this post, I have the World Series on behind me ending a great weekend.

Hope everyone has a great first week of November, because it won’t last long. These next 60 days will fly by, and we’ll all be ringing in the New Year.

Celebrating Six Month Anniversary Post Kidney Transplant

October 12, 2009 – Six months ago today I underwent a very successful Kidney Transplant in Miami after waiting 4 years for a kidney. This morning I awoke like everyday since very thankful for my special gift from the unknown 20 year old that lost their life to better mine. The last six months have been great, and I have been living life again to it’s fullest. I greatly appreciate everyday waking up feeling strong and ready to take on the world.

I’ve recently learned that I might be able to make contact with my donor family if they’re willing to make contact with me through a post-transplant mediator. I’d really like to know more about my donor and who they were. Were they female or male? What was their personality like? What were their interests? All I was allowed to know at the time of the surgery on Easter Sunday evening, was that the person was a young 20 years old, and they were very healthy. I hope to find out more about them in the coming months, and get to share a little more information about their life.

I want to also thank all of my family and friends, and Chaser buds for all their great support over the last half of year. The key for me over the last four years pre and post transplant, is to stay positive and focused.

To be continued…

Sanibel Island Sunset – Harvest Moon Coconut Palms

October 5, 2009 – Last night was our first evening on Sanibel Island, Florida. Kersten, JJ and I, are on a week long annual getaway trip along the southwest offshore Florida waters. Our first late afternoon and evening gave way to a beautiful Gulf of Mexico sunset along the white sandy beaches. We walked along the beach searching for seashells and taking pictures along the way as the light slowly faded. It was a nice end to the day after the pleasant trip over from the Florida east coast, and the awesome Miami Dolphins first (finally) win over the Buffalo Bills.

Just after sunset, the moonrise was also underway, as the bright October Harvest Moon broke the horizon looking back towards the east. Later that night the bright moon illuminated the coconut palm tree’s as they danced in the very warm southerly breezes.

My brother Craig made it over to the condo shortly after 10:30pm (after being at the Miami Game), to enjoy a few days with us as well. We fired up the grill again late into the night and had some burgers under the moon. Now as I write this post, it’s 3:00am and everyone is asleep as I edit a small sample of my pictures from our first day on vacation. Hope you like them DeeDee!

Afternoon Summer Rains Give Way To A Double Rainbow

August 25, 2009 – A beautiful rainbow encountered on my way into West Palm Beach, Florida recently. Heavy early afternoon thunderstorms developed along coastal sea breeze boundary producing heavy rains. As the storm moved east, the sun came out shining on the backside of the heavy rain core making a vivid double rainbow. I wish I had the opportunity to stop beside the intersection where this picture was taken for a better view and without the street lights and signs. Either way, it was a nice scene for the moment that I came across it.

Miami Dolphins Preseason Game Landshark Thunderstorm

August 24, 2009 – Kersten and I enjoyed our second Miami Dolphins preseason on Saturday night. It was Miami vs. Carolina, and Miami pulled out another win after a exciting game. Just like last Monday nights preseason game against Jacksonville, we were overtaken by a lightning storm for a short period of the game.

Skies clouded over Landshark Stadium during the first quarter of the game, with rain and lightning, but quickly moved northward into Broward County allowing the game to continue on. Kersten and I were having some much fun we stayed for the whole game watching the Dolphins grab another win.

Thanks to my Dad for the preseason tickets for both games, they were great!

Vivid Yellow Silk Banana Spider Photography South Florida

August 19, 2009 – Like the recent spider video I posted last week, I returned to the same location this afternoon in northern Palm Beach County. Once again there was numerous Yellow Silk Banana Spiders up and down A1A in Jupiter, FL. The steady breezes from former Tropical Storm Ana that was passing through South Florida today, had most of the spiders hanging out in more sheltered area’s of the Sea Grape trees. Above is a single picture of a large spider on the center of her web. I plan to edit and post a series of pictures from today sometime later this week. This photo was taken with a Canon EOS 5D.

Flower Box Florida Mourning Dove And Her Eggs Pictures

August 14, 2009 – Once again we have another Florida Mourning Dove, or maybe the same one, nesting with eggs in our flower box on the front patio deck. She’s extremely calm when we’re outside grilling, or near the box. She let’s me get very close for pictures. This is the exact place the last nest was back in early July, so I think it’s the same bird. The last two eggs hatched and we watch the chicks grow over two’s and then leave the nest. We never saw them again after that. I hope they did well.

Now about two weeks ago, it looks like she has returned for another round of nesting. She seems very comfortable where she has setup. There is a lot of foot traffic in and out of the house, which is right next to the nest. She doesn’t seem bothered by anyone walking by or spending time on the deck. I don’t know much about birds, and never really have been a Bird Watcher, but I have enjoyed over the last month or so seeing the nest and taking pictures. These pictures were taken with a Canon EOS 5D.

From what I have researched online, the eggs should hatch like the last ones in about two weeks or so. That time should be nearing now, so I’m keeping a lookout for some new mid-summer chicks. I shot some HD video of the last ones, but never put them on the site. I’ll try to put a video together for the site after these new babies come around, and include video from the first round too.

Kersten and I Enjoying A Mid Summer Day On The Coast

August 3, 2009 – Kersten and I enjoyed a nice afternoon along the beach in Jupiter, Florida. J.J. has been away the last several weeks visiting his family in Las Vegas, and we decided to just take off for the day and hang around along the coast.

After spending several hours driving and walking around, we took the long drive up US1 to Stuart, FL, where we had dinner at one of our favorite little barbeque restaurants. It was a great day of relaxing and taking in the sights we take for granted way to much. We live in this beautiful tropical paradise of South Florida, and sometimes you just need to stop and check out your local surroundings and enjoy them. It was a nice way to kick off August.

Next Page »