Sunday, February 28, 2010

Afternoon at Ft. Pickens

It was such a gorgeous day that my husband and I decided to take another hike, but this time at Ft. Pickens. It had been several weeks since we had driven down to the west end of the island.


We hiked the path from the old fort to Campground B & C which crosses several canals.


Hmmm...you know there has to be some 'gators in there somewhere. They've been spotted before.


You may not be able to see it in this photo, even if you enlarge it, but there are several turtles sunning themselves on the second log in the background.

There were a lot of visitors at Ft. Pickens today, so I guess everyone had the same idea to get out and enjoy this weather while it lasted. Unfortunately we have another round of rain and colder temps heading our way this week. At least today gave us a taste of spring.

Sunday hike



At last the weather is the way it is supposed to be this time of year! It is an incredibly beautiful day on the island - temps should get near 60, the water is calm and the sky is blue. Ahhhhh, paradise!

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Mystic Krewe of Nereids receive trophy

As some of you know, I stay busy right after Mardi Gras compiling albums of photographs I took during the season, so I haven't been posting on my blog.

Below, however, is a forty-two second video clip I wanted to share with you of the Mystic Krewe of Nereids winning the Grand Marshals trophy after the Krewe of Wrecks Parade on Pensacola Beach. The ladies were totally shocked to receive the award, which made the occasion even more wonderful to watch.

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Krewe of Wrecks Mardi Gras pre-Parade

At last, parade day for the Krewe of Wrecks! Here are some of the photos from the Krewe of Wrecks Mardi Gras Parade on Pensacola Beach.


The Mystic Krewe of Nereids are known for their fabulous costumes and the ones this year were spectacular. This all-lady mermaid krewe (except for their king, of course) creates their own gowns. They even handstitched crowns to coordinate this year. It was impressive to watch it all come together. What a great group of ladies.


There are so many krewes represented on the day of the parade that it has almost become a tradition to do a pre-parade promenade down the line.


Some people are just Animals!


Mayoki in their colorful costumes.


I see the cat women are back on the prowl this year!


Daisy Dukes out and about.


Some people will use any excuse to get a few extra beads. Wonder if it worked!


Thirty years! Amazing.


Little Sophie is quite happy with her beads, too!


Krewe of Wrecks royalty for 2010 - King Lloyd Hess and Queen Shelley Waters Johnson head the royal court!


Love the new jester!


The Krewe of Junkanoo are boarding the float as parade time nears.


The Krewe of Flight.


Take a long look at this krewe because you will rarely see them standing still. The Krewe of de Feet was founded by Glenn Windham in 1989 and is comprised of joggers and walkers!


Krewe du Ya-yas! Mardi Gras is known for parties and fun times, but many of our local krewes work hard to support various causes. The Krewe du Ya-yas throw their time and fundraising skills behind the crusade against breast cancer. You may learn more about their krewe by clicking HERE.


Oooh, I'd love to have wings!


H2O once again offered crawfish to revellers!


"Howdy, neighbors!" Neighbors (left to right): Bet Ellis, Wes Singleton, Elaine Singleton, Joe Ellis, and their friend Tom Fitzgerald found a prime spot at the parade. We live next door to Wes and Elaine and across the street from Joe and Bet, so we see each other all the time (in warm weather), but it's still so much fun to run into friends and neighbors at the parade.

One extra note to my blog followers, in the 30 years the Krewe of Wrecks has been parading, it has never rained on them. That's not to say it hasn't rained on parade day, but each and every year to date, the sky has cleared by afternoon for the parade to go forward. This year once again (though we had heavy rain, high wind, and even a bit of sleet in the two days prior) the sky cleared, temps jumped into the upper 50's, and we had another beautiful day for our parade.

Krewe of Wrecks Mardi Gras Parade - Part II


The first float in the procession each year belongs, of course, to the Krewe of Wrecks. It is, after all, the Krewe of Wrecks' Mardi Gras Parade! Shaker Queen, Sandi Johnson, threw beads from the bow; atop the bridge was Don and Darlene Richards, the King and Queen of Coma ('til Tuesday night); and Tommy Grice, outgoing King of the Krewe of Wrecks.


Jim Cox, outgoing KOW ship's officer, throws some beads my way!


Patriotic Warriors this year.


Tossin' beads.




I enjoy the colorful costumes of the Mayoki Indians.


The Daisy Dukes!


Aye, matey, it's the Pirates of the Lost Treasure.


Krewe of Midnight Madness!


Krewe of Cutty B's.


I always enjoy getting this angle of the Krewe of de Feet float.


YEAAAAA! It's the Mystic Krewe of Nereids on their new float!


Beautiful Charlotte Spencer tosses beads from the Krewe of Nereids float.


Queen Doris (Courtney Winstead) and King Nerus (Jim Winstead), the Krewe of Nereids royalty toss beads to the crowd.


A fine-feathered friend.


Even tots enjoy the wigs and beads of Mardi Gras on Pensacola Beach.


Laissez les bon temps rouler, y'all

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Pensacola Mardi Gras

The Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade was held in downtown Pensacola this afternoon.


Oh, did ya not think we'd have a Krewe of St. Paddy's, my dear?


Now this is really what I call 'going green'!


The Krewe of Aphrodite float, sans goddesses, and it's still beautiful!


This Polly wanted beads!


I always love the Krewe of LaFitte floats with their pirates, parrot, dragon, and even an octopus!


Jailhouse rocker!


Liberty!!!!


Now this is scary...


But these two are scarier! Yikes!


You little devil!

Wow, you better watch this one! She's obviously hawg wild!

Ahhhh...the spirit of Mardi Gras, a pirate with a banana Moon Pie.


So how did that Moon Pie taste, Lloyd? Yep, a thumbs up! Lloyd Hess was named the new King (Captain) of the Krewe of Wrecks earlier today.


A couple of happy Ya-ya's!


Arrrggghhhh!!!!


And here comes the Krewe of LaFitte Octopus!


And you thought Mardi Gras was all frivolity!

Hiphuggers!


What a fun day!

Next up is the Krewe of Wrecks Parade at 2:00 p.m. tomorrow on Pensacola Beach!