working together to make Earth a better place to live!
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Balroop Singh is a former teacher, mother, and grandmother, writer, and poet. I found eleven of her books on Amazon! Fusion: Poems of Life is the latest one. I read and thoroughly enjoyed this book of lovely poetry, and I enthusiastically recommend it! A huge thank you to Balroop for the very kind review of my book, Earthly Days, below. It was a wonderful surprise!
I have missed you. First, my 2013 computer died. I bought a new computer and got data transferred from the old computer. Two days later, our internet went off and stayed off for 10 days! No grocery deliveries, no TV, no computer, no house phone…When the internet came back on, I had 695 Emails. We are in the middle of many medical appointments, both for Robert and for me. I am also involved in a project that has been delayed by having no internet. I don’t think I will be up to speed for some time, but I will do my best!
Brazilian Pepper Tree, formerly known as Florida Holly. Photo by Ann Murray, University of Florida.
Christmas in Virginia
Poinsettias indoors.
Cardinals at the feeder.
Red holly berries.
Red bow on evergreen wreath.
Christmas time in Virginia!
Christmas in Florida
Poinsettias outdoors.
Red poison ivy, palm trees.
Red Bow on faux wreath.
“Florida Holly” berries.
Christmas time in Florida!
Photo by Gustavo Fring from Pexels.
A Little Chat with Santa
Q. I know you grew up in Virginia, Cheryl. Do you feel that Christmas is too hot in South Florida where you now live?
A. No, South Florida weather is lovely at Christmas, Santa.
Q. Why do you have a fake wreath on your door?
A. Real wreaths dry out and turn brown within a couple of days here. Fake ones last forever!
Q. Florida Holly Trees are so pretty! Why don’t you plant some in your yard?
A. Brazilian Pepper Tree, sometimes called “Florida Holly,” is an invasive alien species related to poison ivy. It is irritating to some people.
Q. Oh! Why do you even have such a plant in Florida?
A. Florida has outlawed Brazilian Pepper Trees, but birds eat the berries and spread seeds everywhere! Despite our best efforts, I think that tree is here to stay.
Q. Why don’t you have a bird feeder? Don’t you like birds anymore?
A. I love birds! But Florida birds can find their own food all year long.
Q. Don’t you ever wish for a white Christmas? Snow is so beautiful!
A. No! I enjoyed snow when I was younger, but it got old scraping the windshield. I am glad we don’t have snow here. I wear flip flops and shorts every day. No need to bring me any mittens, Santa!
Q. Don’t you ever miss Virginia?
A. Sometimes…although I have lived in Florida for thirty years.
Q. Thank you for taking time to chat with us today, Cheryl. Merry Christmas!
A. My pleasure, Santa. Merry Christmas to you! I am sorry we don’t have a chimney, but I will leave you a key in the poinsettia pot by the door.
Adapted from the traditional children’s song, “Old McDonald Had a Farm.”
Photos by Ellen, Katey and friends.
With a neigh, neigh here…
and an oink, oink there…
Here a mew, there a mew…
Everywhere a mew, mew!
Katey and Ellen visited a ranch. E-I-E-I-OOO!
On the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, my daughters from Texas and I visited Zoo Tampa and had a wonderful time. On Wednesday, they visited the ranch of some of their friends in nearby Arcadia. I stayed home to rest and prepare for Thanksgiving dinner the next day.
I love the photos Katey and Ellen shared from that trip. Katey and Ellen love horses and volunteer at a ranch in Texas that uses horse riding therapy for disabled children. The pig in the pictures is a rescued wild pig. Cats and kittens on the ranch are very affectionate. One in particular seemed to want to go back to Texas with Katey. They also fed peanuts to a friendly squirrel!
After a quiet Thanksgiving and a dinner of ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, and ice cream, we rested up for a boat tour and dinner overlooking the bay in Punta Gorda on Friday. Robert was supposed to go with us, but the weather was a little cool and windy. On Saturday, we took a water taxi to an island restaurant, then had decadent deserts in Boca Grande. The girls went for a swim at the beach near the lighthouse.
Katey Batavia, Ellen Maher, Cheryl Batavia on the water taxi.
I have been under the weather, so we didn’t take the road trip we had planned, just some day trips nearby. Allergies and a sinus infection, followed by 24/7 migraine headaches for several months have slowed me down. I recently had an MRI, which ruled out the most serious possible causes of the migraines. A neurologist’s visit is scheduled for March to follow up. Meanwhile, a prescription for migraines from my family doctor should ease my pain. Hopefully, next year, my daughters and I will take our usual road trip.
Cheryl and daughter Katey at the Miami Book Fair five years ago
I found these photos today and thought people might enjoy them.
Downtown Miami, night-time view from our hotel room. The two glowing buildings in the center are the beautiful concert hall and opera house. We attended the groundbreaking ceremonies for these two lovely buildings when we lived in Miami Beach. I later attended some concerts there.
The law firm where my late husband practiced law was located in the Intercontinental building on the left. The sculpture in front of that building is a monument to the Challenger Crew who died in a space mission accident. The tile we bought in support of the monument is still there.
Katey on the white marble slide near Bayside where she used to play as a child. She would slide over and over again until her face was flushed, and we made her take a rest. It looks as if a lot of children have loved it since then!
Katey met a new friend, “Clifford, the Big Red Dog,” at the Miami Book Fair. Katey and her brother had named our dog “Clifford” after him when they were very young.
Cheryl and Katey Batavia at the Miami Book Fair. The Hanging Out with Wild Animals books were on exhibit there.
House in Miami Beach where our family lived for seven years when our children were young.
Happy Holidays! It is the holiday season. I will be taking time out for Thanksgiving and a vacation with my daughters. When I return, I will share some of the festivities with a post. In December, we will be celebrating Hanukkah and Christmas!
Earthly Days is a beautiful collection of poems that resonates with the soul. The verses capture the essence of life, love, and family with a warmth that makes you smile and reflect. The nostalgia in some poems takes you down memory lane, while the love of nature and concern for the environment inspires contemplation. The author’s words linger in your heart long after you’ve turned the last page.
Havana/Miami mural at Havana Spice Restaurant portrays the family’s emigration to the US. Photo by Katey.
Light and crispy fried plantains at the Havana Spice Restaurant. Photo by Ellen.
Chickee hut breakfasts,
stone crab claws, Cuban cafes,
Indian fry bread.
A rooster turns a tortoise into a taxi at Robert is Here.
Geese on parade at Robert is Here.
Goats at Robert is Here seem to be having a difference of opinion, or maybe they are competing for the affections of the cute goat watching them from above.
Turkeys, tortoises,
emus, chickens, geese, and goats
at “Robert is Here.”
We enjoyed the fruit we bought at Robert is Here. Ellen made this fruit platter to go with cheese omelets Cheryl cooked for breakfast back home in Port Charlotte. Photo by Ellen.
Cheryl likes the antique tractors at Robert is Here. Photo by Katey.
Honey, candy, fruit,
antique tractors, kiddie cars
at “Robert is Here.”
Sunset at Gulf Coast Visitor Center, near Everglades City, Florida. Photo by Ellen.
Katey, Ellen, and Cheryl… wet and windblown after an exciting cruise on Biscayne Bay. Visitor center at Biscayne National Park.
Photo memories
of joyous days together.
Back home to Robert.
Katey takes a selfie at Englewood Beach.
Ellen captured this view of the surf at Englewood Beach.
Lunching with Robert
at breezy Englewood Beach.
Great day for a swim!
I wonder what antics the goats are up to back at Robert is Here. Are they remembering Katey and all the romaine lettuce she fed them? Photo by Katey.
Bye, Ellen, Katey…
warm smiles, warm hugs, warm wishes…
Safe trip! Come back soon!
The majority of these photos were taken by Ellen Maher and Katey Batavia with their i-phones. I am not sure who took some of the photos. A few photos were taken by Cheryl Batavia and kind volunteers. Thank you to Katey for emailing the photos to me.
Thank you to Ellen for driving several thousand miles on this trip.
Thank you to both of my daughters for making it possible for me to take a trip I could not have taken by myself. They were wonderful company!
The visitor center has a beautiful short boardwalk among the mangroves and superb indoor and outdoor exhibits about the history and ecology of the area.
Also available: backcountry hiking and camping.
Everglades National Park
We enjoyed the Ten Thousand Islands Boat Tour at Gulf Coast Visitor Center. Our guide explained the history of the area and gave information about various plants and animals we saw.
Also available are boat tours at Flamingo Visitor Center, the only place in the park to see flamingos and saltwater crocodiles. Shark Valley Visitor Center features a tram tour and an observation tower. Anhinga Trail and Gumbo Limbo Trail are at Royal Palm Visitor Center. Kayak and canoe rentals and tours are available at several locations in the park.
Biscayne National Park
Most of this park is underwater. We enjoyed a boat tour to Boca Chita Lighthouse. We spent an hour touring the lighthouse and the island, once part of the Deering Estate. Our guide gave a very interesting history of the park and talked about the environmental challenges the park is facing due to rising sea levels. We saw Turkey Neck Nuclear Power Plant in the distance and learned that the power plant is surrounded by warmer water that sustains a population of saltwater crocodiles.
Also available are snorkeling and diving tours where you can explore shipwrecks on the bottom of Biscayne Bay.
Robert Is Here, Homestead, Florida
This is a fruit stand founded by Robert in 1959 when he was six years old. Robert still works at his fruit stand, which features locally-grown vegetables and about one hundred varieties of locally-grown exotic tropical fruits, some from Robert’s own farms. Service is friendly and helpful. They made sure that we had chosen the best fruit and packed it on ice to make sure it got home safely. There is also a huge assortment of raw Florida honey, preserves, candy, and baked goods.
You can enjoy a lunch of tropical fruit smoothies and pulled pork barbecue while you are here. The fresh coconut water is awesome!
On the premises is a large animal enclosure where you can feed giant tortoises, Brahma calves, emus, chickens, geese, turkeys, and goats. Ellen had the emu eating pellets out of her hand. This is the most beautiful animal enclosure of its kind that I have ever seen! There is also an aviary with tropical birds and parrots who like to converse with visitors. Scattered throughout the grounds is Robert’s collection of antique tractors. Tricycles and kiddie cars are provided for young visitors to ride.
Miccosukee Indian Village
Outdoor exhibits are located in several chickee huts and demonstrate traditional Miccosukee life. There is an alligator show and an observation platform overlooking the marsh. There are picnic areas and a small indoor museum of Miccosukeee history. The gift shop displays hand-crafted traditional clothing and jewelry, books, and other souvenirs.
Across the road, you can take an airboat tour of the “River of Grass.” I have taken many classes to visit the village and to take an airboat tour. The guides were always knowledgeable and informative. Here, as in the national parks we visited, you will learn about preserving the natural environment.
Indian villages are scattered throughout Everglades National Park along US 41. There are multiple airboat operators and some small restaurants featuring traditional Miccosukee cuisine. Alligator and Indian fry bread are likely to be included on the menus.
Miami/Miami Beach
The beach is still lovely, but crowded and noisy. I did not enjoy the loud music, pervasive Jamaican cigar and marijuana smoke, constant racket of small planes flying up and down the beach advertising parties at local night clubs, and incessant chatter of other beachgoers. If you go to Miami Beach, you will see a lot of Brazilian bikinis and maybe some bare bosoms. Be prepared for horrendous traffic and very steep prices. We paid $20 for two hours of valet parking, $20 to rent an umbrella, and $20 to rent a chaise lounge. A large bottle of Pelligrino sparkling water was $9.
If you have a big budget and lots of time to spend, there are many great attractions in the surrounding area. I have listed a few that I enjoyed in the seven years I lived in Miami Beach and at various times in the twenty years since then:
Bayside in Miami, Miami Beach historic art deco district, Lincoln Road Mall in Miami Beach, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Jungle Gardens, Fairchild Tropical Gardens, Viscaya mansion and grounds, a gorgeous world-class concert hall and opera house in Miami, Miami Beach Ballet Company, Miami Beach Symphony, Miami Metro Zoo, Miami Seaquarium, and boat tours featuring celebrity homes on the islands. Miami holds an annual book fair which I attended five years ago.
There are glitzy, huge new cruise terminals. If you are a sports fan, you might enjoy Marlins baseball or Miami Dolphins football. If you like to wager, consider nearby jailai or horse racing.
This list just scratches the surface of things to discover in Miami/Miami Beach.
South Florida Restaurants We Love
Triad Seafood Market and Waterfront Cafe, Everglades City, Florida
We ate outside overlooking a lovely water view. Ellen and I split an order of very fresh stone crab claws with mustard sauce. Our hush puppies and sweet potato fries were great! We enjoyed a delicious salad composed of spring mix, walnuts, dried cranberries, red onions, tomatoes, and blue cheese dressing. Katey, not a fan of seafood, ordered a cheeseburger and salad, which she said were very good.
Roasters ‘N Toasters New York Deli, Miami Beach, Florida
Ernie and Richie’s was our neighborhood Jewish deli when we lived in Miami Beach twenty years ago. Roasters ‘N Toasters replaced it and maintains a similar vibe and menu. Katey and I split a delicious Reuben on rye sandwich. My Caesar salad came with a homemade garlic dressing. Ellen’s chopped liver sandwich was intensely flavored and good. The carrot cake with cream cheese icing that we shared had many thin layers and was suitably decadent. The flakey rugelach cookies were made with dark chocolate and flavored with cinnamon. Katey and Ellen liked the matzo ball soup. We all loved the well-prepared latkes with sour cream and apple sauce.
Havana Spice Restaurant, Homestead, Florida
This is a really wonderful Cuban family restaurant with fun, funky decor. We ate there twice. Ellen and Katey enjoyed Cuban coffee and expresso. I ordered my favorite, lechon asado (Cuban roast pork.) It is marinated with mojo (bitter orange) sauce and slow-cooked with onions. I also liked their maduros (fried ripe plantains.)
The second time we ate there, Ellen and I shared a big plate of sliced fried plantains that were unbelievably light and crispy. I tried guava cheesecake, which was very sweet. I wished I had gotten my favorite, flan (baked egg custard.) It looked great in the dessert case!
*Having gained several pounds on our vacation, I have returned to my usual low-carb diet.
Gulf Coast Poet 