A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....05-02-06....A Walk on the Beach

GodBlessUSA

[GodBlessUSA]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, Dolly Cali, GodBlessUSA, JustAmy ~

What do you look forward to spending your free time doing? I love to get out and visit the beach. I especially appreciate the beach before the crowds get here for the summer. Even on mild days during winter, we get out and take walks on the beach. I feel fortunate to live close enough to visit often. My kids, the dog and I enjoy taking long walks at the beach. We look for shells, watch surfers and view the sea birds.

Year round there are surfers out on the ocean. If a storm is coming, you can bet many surfers will be there to ride the big waves. It's exciting to watch them challenge the waves.

The below picture is from a day I took photos of surfers. It was a surprise to come across this one. Uh oh, is that what I think it is? LOL, Fortunately, no shark attacks were reported that day. I think, it's an optical illusion of a surfer.

Or was that just a surfer? :)

Below, on the left Seagulls, resting. The right, is a Spotted Piping Plover. (picture from websearch) They are always running at the shore line. They will run to the water and then away, as the tide comes in. In the spring, they block off parts of the beach so people do not disturb their nests. I get a kick seeing the little ones run about.

Above is The Great Egret. A gorgeous bird. I usually see them at the bay beaches and not as much at the ocean. (picture from a web search)

Above is the Great Blue Heron. We do have them on the beaches but I have yet to see one locally. I took this picture while I was visiting in DC last summer. The Great Blue Heron is a very impressive bird in person and much bigger than what I had imagined from viewing pictures.

03-28-06 ~ Hall of Fame #15

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 05-01-06 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[GodBlessUSA]

I love Texas. I haven't even been there. LOL Hubby was spending a lot of time for a while, traveling there for business. I'm going to TX someday to see it all! :)

You describe it perfectly. The little birds on stilts hurrying in and out always busy,busy..the gulls doing great dives

[snugs]

I love Greek beaches I have had several holidays on Greek Islands I think my favourite is Corfu because I have found it to have the most green vegetation.

CORFU 1998

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

I saw a blue heron at a creek here in MO a few years ago and several what looked like pelicans at a pond in north-central MO a few years ago.

When I was visiting Palm Beach FL several years ago there was a pelican sitting on a pier piling (? I think that is what they are called ?) as if were posing for a picture. There were also puddles of oil on the beaches in FL from oil spills. When I was in San Diego over 25 years ago I saw a couple of seals & body surfers in the water.

[Mama_Bear]

G'morning, GeeBee and Finest FRiends!

Now, look what you've gone and done! You've made me want to go to the beach today! My favorite weekend getaway is to the coast, even in winter. Bears love to go to the beach, you know. :-)

Wish I could stay and play, but have to go have lunch with my MIL. It's "Tuesday - salad bar day" where she lives....the best day for me to meet her for lunch. At least I know what I'm gonna get. LOL.

Have a great day at the beach, everyone!

[GodBlessUSA]

These are great pictures snugs! Maybe someday... an idea for a vacation . :)

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi :)
Good to see you PAL - Great picture. Look at the yellow color on his head. So lovely.

[GodBlessUSA]

LOL :)

Thanks. Have a wonderful day, Mama_Bear.

[EsmeraldaA]

I'm so impressed GB. ((HUGS))

[PreviouslyA-Lurker]

Hi GB! That isn't a picture I took, I just wanted an example of the pelican I saw which did not have a yellow head, but that is a cool picture I have to agree.

[LadyX]

It has been an incredibly wonderful and varied life, spanning so many major events in America's history.

Born at the end of The Great Depression in a quite different America, where doors were not locked, strangers welcomed and fed, and as litle girls (my sisters 5 and 9 years older), we freely and safely left home and either walked or went by Coral Gavles and Miami city buses anywhere we desired, without an adult.

WWII impacted us greatly, Pearl Harbor happening when I was 7 1/2 - sharpening my patriotism to the 'nth' degree. No time to indulge in fairy takes, instead playacting how brave I would be if I were a prisoner of the Germans or Japanese...collected scrap metal and newspapers to turn in for the War Effort...dug play foxholes in vacant lots with the little boys in the neighborhood...

Okay - it was a tad extreme to go into the U.S. Marine Corps!! LOL - I loved being a classroom instructor, though, and feeling useful to my country, during The Korean Conflict.

Spent 12 years as a military wife (Korean Conflict, The Cold War, Cuban Missie Crisis, Nam) - taught school one year - then spent 6 years in retail management, and after that, 18 1/2 years in and around medicine.
Crisscrossed up and down and around America (lived in 8 states, including Ohio twice and South Dakota) and in 1965-66, drove literally a line from above the Arctic Circle in Alaska to South Florida, and then up to South Carolina...in childhood, down the Florida Keys. Lived in Rochester, NY 2 years, and of course into that end of Canada...

Gypsy Woman is an All-American Woman...:)

[GodBlessUSA]

Hi Es!
Have a great day!
Hugs

[GodBlessUSA]

God Bless You for your service to America :) Your travels are facinating. You also grew up with what I desire to have now.

where doors were not locked, strangers welcomed and fed, and as litle girls (my sisters 5 and 9 years older), we freely and safely left home and either walked or went by Coral Gavles and Miami city buses anywhere we desired, without an adult.

[LadyX]

It was true that all of America (and the world) once was like that.
I had one especially adventuresome first cousin in Bristol, Tennesse. In our teen years, he hitchhiked to Florida to visit us for a week at a time in the summers.

Not only that, but he during his summers routinely hitchhiked all over the country, never having a problem being picked up even though he was a very sturdy 6'6" tall!
After college, he was a Navy officer, and after that service, he and three friends commissioned a beautiful sailing vessel to be built in Singapore, and they spent an entire year sailing around the world!
He found every port friendly and hospitable (latter 1950's), and always had hosts eager to have them "stay a while."

He finally settled in Seattle, Washington and married, and managed hotels.
He and his wife had twin sons - each baby weighing over 8 lbs..:)

[snugs]

[LadyX]

Wonderful photographs, snugs!
My younger son, Kevin, and his wife, Susan, traveled extensively the first 7 years of their marriage - BC - Before Children..:))

They systematically went to Europe - Greece, England, France, Germany, etc. - (took 3-year old Christopher on one trip, visiting the Lourve with him) - skiing at Vail and Gatlinburg and West Virginia (even after the two boys were born) - Time Shares all over Canada (Lake Banff, Calgary, Vancouver, etc.) and eastern Canada and Alaska.
One of their goals was to have been in all 50 states, and I think they are within about 3 of meeting that.

They also have a cabin cruiser and sailboat, but are not in the least "elitists."
After many years of frequent camping in tents all over Florida with other couples and their children, escorting the women to common rest/shower rooms at night, they invested in a 26' camping trailer with amenities.

They enjoy the best of both worlds, and their two sons have always attended a good Christian schol in West Palm Beach...are pre-enrolled in "any Florida state school of their choosing," at a price set years ago.

Mind you, he did this entirely on his own, as we were unable to foot college for him. He did it all himself, first in the Army (FAA training), and then finished college (lacked only 13 credit hours) when he got out.

The same was true of our older son, Steve - began college on his own (with wife's help) at 26, and went on later to The School of Medicine at the University of Florida, graduating as a Physician Assistant.
He also is in Florida, working in an Oncology Practice.

[LadyX]

Goes to prove children reared as "Service Brats" can be quite well-adjusted and confident, accustomed to constant changes in circumstance, location, and friends.

[Billie]

Good afternoon, GeeBee. I love your thread! We're not close to water, so I envy you a bit to be able to go there often and enjoy all there is to offer with a walk on the beach.

[Billie]

What a pretty picture - such a peaceful setting!

GeeBee, I really like the soft colors of your backgrounds! You did a great job, and I can't tell you how happy I am to see you *back*!!!!

[snugs]

For Phil's 50th birthday we visited Paris and went round the Lourve and yes saw the Mona Lisa.

Here is my photograph of it.

[Billie]

Here is a pix of Josy investigating if this smells bad enough to roll in.

Dolly, love the picture of Josy and the fish. There's something else in that picture that looks like some sort of animal's leg! :( I'm sure it isn't. I hope it isn't. It's about in the middle of the picture and just to the right of Josy.

Pretty, soft colors of this picture - would have looked great on GeeBee's opening post! :)