Hurricane Milton

Been in the dark for a week.

Milton took down the old growth, and stripped the leaves from the trees. Siesta Key became the center of the storm, coming in at a Category 3 with 120mph sustained winds. When a hurricane "eye" passes over, during that short period of calm, some old-timers would say, "Good time to walk the dog."  And we did.

National radar with Siesta Key (blue dot) being at the center, as the 'eye' passes over.  (October 9th, 2024)

Hurricane Helene

Thursday, September 26th;  Flooding out on the islands from a historical storm surge.

"It may seem irrational to see some people stay with their homes to defend them, but consider coming home to a damaged house that an insurance company may never compensate you for." Jeff VanderMeer, NYT, Sept. 27th, 2024.

Finding the couches not in their right place, or the beds and furniture, the books, or family photo albums, the odd objects all tossed about, having all been floating the night before, upon returning home, found overturned or scattered across the floor, was bizarre, distressing.

One of a few items that was actually meant to float, I found perfectly upright the following morning. 

 

Interesting photo

 

For myself, it was an intense wind-filled night spent mostly holding a flashlight in hand in near chest-deep water. In the darkness from the outside, a four to five foot high Gulf surge had lifted our deck and thrown it up against the house trapping the outside exist of the sliding doors. By 8:00 pm a whirling brackish water ran (swam) through-out the home's interior. Prompted by a social media post, a neighbor luckily came by kayak and rescued me.

The day after, the long lost view looking out towards the lagoon where Hurricane Helene had left a devastated garden. And inside, a black muddy stench created by a toxic environment of a now thriving mildew and mold. Eventually the property will have to be cleared and our home pulled down, with all of it's remaining reminders permanently gone.

 

 

Downtown at Hotel Voco. The evening of the following day.

My wife's jewelry, my old Stetson and Lolly's reaching paw, from my first attempt at retrieving small carriable items after that first return back home. Many more days to come. There's thirty more years worth still there.

 

 

 

Another one, and they just keep comin' ....

Tropical storms, hurricanes, storm surge & flooding. Mandatory evacuations declared today for all Level A areas, our designated, Siesta Key island flood zone.

Now approaching Hurricane Helene. And it’s only been 6 weeks since the last flood (Debbie). We're all gettin' a little worn out, tired.

 

 

 

 

 

 

at Keelie's request

My niece is the archivist. One who reminds me that important items should always be documented.

In late 1977, I purchased a fine, Seminole woman's patchwork skirt off a used clothing rack from the old Miccosukee Cultural Center, then located along the Tamiami Trail down in the Glades. I was gathering material for a series that I had started, on documenting native American clothing.

The Hidden Seminole, (1978) - satin patchwork skirt with sheer translucent cape.

 

 

As for the skirt, I have kept it in my possession for over 45 years, rarely pulling it out from it's forgotten drawer. Recently I decided to return it back to the tribe for which it once belonged. So, I contacted the AH-TAH-THI-KI Museum's collections department - and they said they would love to have it.

Appears to be from the early 1950's. A rare satin, "ric-rac" patterned patchwork skirt, with a tied waist, worn by a female tribe member as daily wear (unlike those that were crafted later for the tourist industry). 

 

 

 

So I wrapped it up and sent it out yesterday.

 

 

 

An early photo of a Seminole homestead, showing a young family living alongside the old Tamiami Trail.

 

wet dream

 

 

 

High water

Big gators. 

A 10 foot road kill.

 

 

Woman's Tongue

Common name; Woman's Tongue (or Albizia Lebbeck)

Twenty some years ago, I tried my darndest to eliminate an unfamiliar sapling, weed like, as it continued to grow profusely under an old, mature, Buttonwood tree. 

The so-called 'Woman's Tongue' is a highly invasive, yet remarkable species, originating from tropical Asia and northern Australia. Named as such for its hanging dried seed pods which are often heard "rattling in the wind."

Now, and for the next several days this deciduous, mature tree will prove to be special in achieving its first ever massive bloom. I figure this Woman's Tongue must be happy. Or just maybe, someone's trying to tell me something.