
Oooooooooh!
Fright is pervasive.
Terror stalks us in the news…
horror night and day.
Halloween has lost its bite.
Find something to celebrate!




Fright is pervasive.
Terror stalks us in the news…
horror night and day.
Halloween has lost its bite.
Find something to celebrate!




Together,
we face challenges
hand-in-hand.
We share
ordinary days…
laughter, smiles.
Gratefully,
I celebrate your
birth today.
One more precious year
sharing life with you.
Copyright© 2026 by Cheryl Batavia
Since May, I have been dealing with multiple health issues. Robert has been taking care of me, even though he is also experiencing health challenges. I like to think we are taking care of each other, but the truth is, he has been doing more for me this time around.
Thank you, Robert, for your wisdom, your humor, and your kindness. Thank you for always being there for me.
Happy Birthday and many more! ❤️
Love,
Cheryl






I pledge allegiance to the flag
of the United States of America
and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation, under God, indivisible,
with liberty and justice for all.














Theater of the Sea also has sharks, crocodiles, tortoises and other animals.
The Starlight boat tour included a spectacular sunset, stars, and bioluminescent seaweed. Fish in the boat wake were eating seaweed, an exciting sight. A very informative presentation. Our guide, who developed this popular new boat tour, was knowledgeable about the various constellatioons we saw and the mythological stories about them. She also told us about the history of the area. Coot’s Bay was named for the ducks that used to live there before engineering projects turned it to saltwater.















Caring and kind,
when Katey says she loves you,
you know she means it!
When Katey says she loves you,
you know it, ’cause she shows it!
Copyright© 2026 by Cheryl Batavia












Katey and the dolphin diving.

Photos by Theater of the Sea Photography, Islamorada, Florida

Welcome to my world!

Won’t you come on in?

Miracles, I guess, still happen now and then.

Step into my heart.


Leave your cares behind.

Welcome to my world, built with you in mind.

Ask and you’ll be given the key to this heart of mine.

I’ll be waiting there with my arms unfurled.

Waiting just for you… Welcome to my world!

Splish, Splash! I was taking a bath. Rub-a-dub-dub, just relaxing in the tub…thinking everything was alright.

Splish, splash! Well, how was I to know there was a party going on?

Movin’ and a grovin’, rockin’ and a rollin’! Flip, flop! They was doin’ the bop…(They all had) the dancin’ bug!
Photos are by photographers at Theater of the Sea, Islamorada, Florida.
Thankfully, Robert is feeling well enough for me to go away for a few days. It was wonderful spending time with my daughters again! We celebrated Ellen’s fifty-seventh birthday at an Asian fusion restaurant the night they arrived.
The drive across Alligator Alley and down the Keys the next day was spectacularly beautiful. The Key lime pie at dinner that night exceeded expectations.
The next day, we had breakfast at an open air restaurant on the bay and fed bait fish to the tarpon. I confess that I just watched. Tarpon are very large fish popular with Florida fishermen. After breakfast, we headed over to Theater of the Sea in Islamorada, FL.

Ellen and Katey sent me this Mother’s Day E-card. My swim with the dolphins and the photos are my Mothers Day present from my daughters.
Swimming with the dolphins at Theater of the Sea was a thrilling and heartwarming experience. I went on the shallow water dolphin encounter, a Mother’s Day gift from my daughters. We took in shows with parrots, seals, dolphins, and tortoises. Ellen and Katey went on the deep water dolphin encounter. Then we drove to Everglades National Park, eating snacks for supper as we drove, and arriving just in time to board our boat for the starlight tour.
The Starlight boat tour in Everglades National Park was fascinating, beautiful, and a very different experience. Our guide was the originator of this unusual tour. Going in late May, we had to contend with mosquitos and horse flies on the night boat tour. Bug spray was useless! The best time to visit the Everglades is from November-March.
The next day, we spent some time at a small museum in the visitor center and picked up some souvenirs in the gift shop. On the daytime boat tour, we saw many magnificent Florida animals and learned a lot about the wildlife and the history of the area. Our guide was excellent!
That night, we had supper at Havana Spice in Florida City, a delicious Cuban meal. The coconut flan was outstanding!
The next day, on our way home, we stopped at Robert is Here, our favorite produce market/zoo in Florida City. We fed the animals and bought some local fruit.
Katey and I took it easy, but Ellen went to the beach and discovered an opportunity to go parasailing! The next morning, the girls were on the road to Orlando to celebrate my great niece’s destination high school graduation.


No perfect parents,
no perfect children exist!
But love perfects us.
Love brings us perfect joy in
a world of imperfection.
Copyright © 2026 by Cheryl Batavia
Wishing a Joyous Mother’s Day to Mothers and Families Everywhere!
I am overjoyed to be celebrating Mother’s Day with my daughters on the annual road trip we have missed for the last two years due to Robert’s and my illnesses. My daughters are giving me the swim with the dolphins in the Keys that I missed last year as a Mother’s Day gift. My daughter Katey is making me photo albums with old and new family photos for Mother’s Day. We will be taking two boat tours in Everglades National Park. I plan on eating a little Key lime pie and hopefully, seeing some flamingos.
Our visit will be from 5/14- 5/20. I will share a post on our trip after we return.
I am also looking forward to a Mother’s day call from my son. We will celebrate when we can!

Ellen and Katey Meet Skipper, the Dolphin: Shallow Water Dolphin Swim, Theater of the Sea, Islamorada, FL

When the sun shines, I love you.
When the rain falls, I love you.
When the wind blows, I love you.
In the moonlight, I love you.
In the starlight, I love you.
In the dark of night, I love you.
In the hurricanes of life, you are there.
When all of nature smiles, you are there.
Every moment of my life is better
because you are there!
Copyright© 2026 by Cheryl Batavia
Love to our soulmates,
to friends and family,
to fellow bloggers.
Love and Joy to the world!

Winter Wonderland, Christmas Market in Old Toronto, Canada. Photo by Manpreet Singh from Unsplash.
We celebrate life
in the sad, dark days of wars…
an act of courage!
Believing in a future
of brighter, happier days.
Living in chaos…
We envision harmony!
Living in wartime…
We seek negotiation,
cooperation, and peace!
Whether Diwali,
Ramadan, Hanukkah, Christmas,
Kwanzaa, or Solstice,
we celebrate brotherhood
and one human family!
We celebrate life,
cherishing nature’s wonders ,
and our hopes and dreams.
Mindful of the light that shines
in the darkest hour of night.
We celebrate life
in the sad, dark days of war…
an act of courage!
Hope, like a glowing candle,
illuminates the new year.

Diwali lamp. Photo by Janardan Mahto from Unsplash.

Ramadan Lanterns. Photo by Rawan Yasser from Unsplash.

Hanukkah Menorah. Photo by Robert Thiemann from Unsplash

Advent Wreath, Christmas. Photo by KaLisa Veer from Unsplash.

Photo by Greta Hoffman from Pexels

Bonfire, Winter Solstice. Photo by Joe Batavia
Copyright© 2023 by Cheryl Batavia
“Let There Be Peace on Earth…”
Wishing You a Joyous and Peaceful Holiday Season!
Robert & Cheryl

Thanksgiving Day we gather,
turkeys of many feathers.
Together we celebrate
not being on someone’s plate.
Whatever our race or creed,
Thankful hearts are all we need.
Copyright© 2025 by Cheryl Batavia

Photo by Joanna Koskinska from Unsplash
Happy Holidays from Robert and Cheryl!
I am going to be off the blog celebrating the holidays. The holiday gift I want most is a world at peace. Let’s hope 2026 will be peaceful. See you in the New Year!