What a wonderful treat this weekend–a light baked confection hand delivered with a yellow post it note from my Ohio relatives–“This is from Darlene’s bakery”.  I met Darlene earlier in the weekend.  The coconut macaroon was the perfect blend of coconut, sugar, egg white and texture–flaky and moist.  We enjoyed every bite.

Thank you, Joanne and Jeff for the delivery and Darlene for owning such a wonderful  bakery.  If you live near the Columbus, OH area,  you need to visit her store or website–http://www.thesuisseshop.com. 

It is my view that people should never waste calories on grocery store baked, or mass-produced frozen, or boxed desserts.   Darlene Jones

It is the perfect quote.  The coconut macaroon was simply delicious.

This is the conclusion of my local community graffiti art project–The Bottom Series.  

There are different types and styles of graffiti.  It is a rapidly developing art form whose value is highly contested. 

For me, it was a moving experience using native Florida palm frond and enjoying the local “whodunnit” scuttlebutt.  Rumor has it the more desirable pieces were removed based on personal interest.

 Kite Beach–April 14, 2012

Feeding ducks, geese and swans at local ponds and parks is a controversial topic, but it is also an enchanting wildlife experience.  It was an essential part of my growing years at the Jersey shore. I do not believe any child, grandchild or great-grandchild of our family escaped the experience or activity with my Mom.  My Mother’s legacy continues and remains with grace and love (February 8. 1912 – April 18. 2011). 

My nature experience with The Hasson Girls (April 2012).

Equestrian’s First Place (April 14, 2012)

As a traditional part of the rodeo subculture, halfway through the bucking broncos and steer roping comes the boot scramble.  A boot scramble is an event where children are invited down to the dirt floor of the arena.  They remove both boots/shoes and they are tossed and mixed up in a pile.  The children then race from the opposite end of the arena to relocate and put on their boots/shoes as fast as they can to tag the mascot to win.

About 30 children participated in the boot scramble, with a handful sporting their own cowboy hats and boots, like true boot scramble veterans.

If you yearn for a foot long hot dog, an eight second bull ride, barrel racing, cowboys and cowgirls, you need to go the rodeo.  All the events are based on tasks required by cattle ranching.  In the arena, you observe team roping, bull, bronco riding and barrel racing which fitted the needs of the terrain and climate of the American West.  The skill of the rancher, rider, horse and bull are easily displayed.

Children participate in activities such as the boot scramble or ribbon chasing.  If a rodeo hits your town, attend.  You do not want to miss out on the western couture.

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Jupiter, FL at 35 (April 6, 2012)

Kite running is the practice of running after drifting kites in the sky that have been cut loose.  It is a sport that gained notoriety after the best-selling book by Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner and it is still an active sport for all ages in places like Afghanistan, India and Pakistan. The winner’s kite remains flying while the loser’s kite string is cut loose, drifting free with the wind until it falls to the ground.  The person who captures a cut kite can keep it.  

In our country, we indulge in a far less competitive sport of kite flying.  You play with wind and string and try your hand at a figure eight. The beach is the perfect place to pursue the activity with children (The Hasson Girls, April 2012).