CoActive Dreams Gallery

Bringing in the New Year!!

2012-01-01T13:09:00.017-05:00

I decided to bring in the New Year in of all places, St. Augustine! The City was having a "Beach Bash" and it seemed a fitting end to the year: Watching fireworks on the beach. As usual, click each photo for a better view.A good number of people felt the same way as the St. Augustine Beach pier was packed with a well rounded group of young people out for a good time, families enjoying an evening

Lights on the River

2011-12-04T17:36:00.011-05:00

The weekend after Thanksgiving was truly a joy due to the Jacksonville Boat Light Show. If you get a chance pop over to the regular blog and read how the event almost didn't happen. As usual click each photo for a better view and be sure to enjoy the video.The show began with a long blow of a horn and the slow entrance of the first boat. Kids squealed with joy and adults were pretty close behind

How Blue Are The Angels!

2011-11-26T14:09:00.015-05:00

I had planned to do this post near Veteran’s Day, but no matter, photos of the Blue Angel Air show are great anytime. The local naval air station was hosting the event and despite a cold (for Florida), overcast day I grabbed the camera and jumped at the chance to go. As usual, click each photo for a better view. The Blue Angels are a flying team known for their precision flying and the planes

Anyone Want a Beer?

2011-11-06T15:25:00.019-04:00

I had planned to visit the Budweiser plant here in Jacksonville during the month of October and do an Oktoberfest post. But, time and tide were against me. I took the tour only in November. As usual, click each photo for a better view.As you take the factory tour the thought that jumps out at you is the story of beer and Budweiser is a German and yet uniquely American tale of immigrants who came

Butterflies in October... Oh My !

2011-11-02T00:50:00.021-04:00

I recently purchased a new camera and wanted to test it out. After giving it some thought, what better place to put it to the test than the Butterfly Museum! It had been awhile and driving to Gainesville should make for a grand adventure. As usual, click each photo for a better view.I have featured the Butterfly Museum before so I will omit background detail and simply say that it is a great

To Study War No More...

2011-10-25T00:18:00.007-04:00

I heard the news over the weekend that the President had decided to declare the war in Iraq officially over and remove all troops from the area.The thought of our troops coming home brought to mind all the men and women who would not be returning and I decided to visit the local Veteran's Memorial Wall. As usual, click each photo for a better view.What I find particularly poignant about this wall

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors

2011-10-01T12:09:00.015-04:00

Frost truly was right that good fences make good neighbors and since the purchase of the house over eight years ago, I have been talking about replacing the fence that faces my corner lot. As usual, click each photo for a better view.I promised myself I would do it during the Spring this year but the time passed without movement on my part and the fence remained. Now the prospect of the Florida

For the Love of Marjorie and Cross Creek

2011-09-28T22:42:00.017-04:00

Is it possible to be in love with someone you have never personally met? I found out a few weekends ago that it really can happen. On the trip to Tampa back in June of this year, I passed a sign that pointed to the Marjorie Rawlings Museum and made a mental note to return and visit Cross Creek. As usual, click each photo for a better view.There is something about the way she described rural life

The Sun Also Rises...

2011-09-23T05:45:00.005-04:00

I now understand the full implication of working in a school with children. One day a child told me he had a sore throat and a few days later I was feeling faint and down with some type of flu.It made the rounds and then made the rounds again. And now, two weeks after being a member of the living dead I can say I am finally back.Right now I am in the process of editing pictures from a recent

Impressions at the Beach

2011-09-05T08:28:00.019-04:00

Despite the heat, Summer is slowly winding down and a day at the beach becomes precious. The Labor Day holiday offered a chance to spend some leisurely time enjoying a quiet day of play in the still refreshing waters of the Atlantic. What surprised me as I took pictures was the results I received near the end of an almost perfect day. As usual click each photo for a better view. I never use

The End of a Child's Summer

2011-08-20T12:53:00.011-04:00

Last weekend we went to the beach like we normally do, but now that I am working at a school, this visit took on a totally different meaning. The calendar may say that Summer is still upon us but for a child the approach of the return to school signals the unofficial end of Summer as they officially know it. As usual click each photo for a better view. I like to visit the beach in the cool of

Men Who Run Toward Fires

2011-08-14T23:46:00.016-04:00

I always love when I stumble upon something amazing and today's blog is a perfect example. During my visit to the World of Nations Celebration I happened to see a sign that mentioned the Fire Museum. I made a mental note and with some free time one day, it offered the opportunity to visit the museum. As usual, click each photo for a better view. Have you ever wondered what makes a person run

Gloom and Doom

2011-08-11T00:29:00.006-04:00

After a 500 point drop in the Dow here in America, rumors about financial problems in other countries, and general despair all over; I thought it only fair to add my two cents to the mix and give everyone a reason to smile among the wreckage. Below is a video clip that I think perfectly fits all the economic woes we have been experiencing. So gang... enjoy the gloom and doom! Now... don't you

Old School

2011-07-16T19:58:00.012-04:00

I have been away but not gone. At this point I guess I should disclose that I have been involved in developing an innovative new school that incorporates technology, and self paced group learning as a new model for education.My relationship in the process is funny from the stand point that I was attracted to the project by the fact that it is a new concept. However, the most difficult part

When Worlds Collide: Houdini and Conan Doyle

2011-06-28T23:22:00.015-04:00

One of my favorite spots for adventures, the Karpeles Manuscript Museum, has a current exhibit that I just had to attend. Writings that detail the meeting of Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. It offered the potential for high drama. As usual, click each photo for a better view.Despite being the author of the very logical and deductive detective Sherlock Holmes, Conan Doyle held deep beliefs in

A New Beginning...

2011-06-21T00:43:00.012-04:00

This last weekend was full of activity. Among a lot of things there was a grand reopening of one of the iconic sites in Jacksonville. As usual, click each photo for a better view.Friendship fountain was completed in 1965 and became a tourist attraction because of it's size and height. The fountain’s basin is 200 feet (61 m) in diameter holding 500,000 gallons of water. And, had three pumps with

The Tampa Conference: A Dedication to Those Who Provided Knowledge and Understanding

2011-06-16T00:17:00.034-04:00

Attending a conference is always a time to let your hair down, but it also provides a golden opportunity to learn about trends in your profession. In addition to doing my own conference presentation, I went with a select group of trainings in mind and wanted to highlight those trainers I thought hit the mark and in the process really impressed me. As usual, click each photo for a better

Sights Around Tampa

2011-06-13T15:38:00.013-04:00

I mentioned in an earlier post that I attended the Social Work State Conference in Tampa and really learned a lot. But, when visiting any place you know my motto: "Be sure to look around, and if possible take a picture." In that spirit, I have created a multimedia video to highlight some of the sights around Tampa.Next post, my impressions of the Conference.

Tampa On My Mind...

2011-06-11T18:24:00.008-04:00

Despite the fact Alex and I went to Sarasota back in December of last year, we did not have a chance to visit Tampa. And then, the opportunity presented itself.My professional organization (National Association of Social Workers - NASW) was having their State Convention and I was selected as a presenter. Tampa here I come!My presentation "Money Communication For Couples in Conflict", was

The Final Days... 2011 Jacksonville Jazz Festival

2011-06-05T12:12:00.009-04:00

I really hated that I missed the first day of the 2011 Jacksonville Jazz Festival. But, the final day more than made up it by its shear ability to make you want to shake your head and tap your feet.What kept going through my head was the slogan of the event: "Can you hear it yet?" because David Sanborn and George Duke gave performances that confirmed why they have remained so popular all these

If You Build It... They Will Come: Jacksonville Jazz Festival 2011

2011-06-02T00:45:00.018-04:00

In a previous post I mentioned that the slogan for the 2011 Jacksonville Jazz Festival was "Can you hear it yet?" and it really fit the tone for the event. As usual, click each photo for a better view.Stage venues where set up at various points throughout downtown and music was everywhere. All you had to do was bring a chair to be part of this swinging street festival.I chose the "Groovin " stage

Scene at the Jacksonville Jazz Festival

2011-05-30T22:38:00.031-04:00

Every year since moving here from Denver, I have promised myself I would attend the Jacksonville Jazz Festival and somehow missed it. So during Memorial Day weekend this year I resolved to attend. What I discovered is that the event is the second or third largest Jazz festival in the nation, depending on the reporting source; one of the few that is free, and some really big names in Jazz have

The Constant Gardner Returns: The Wonders of the Harvest

2011-05-26T19:13:00.025-04:00

I have to say that there is a lot of work that goes into being a Constant Gardner, but after all that work is the post at the end of the rainbow of the harvest.Even Sunny-Girl has become a constant gardener assistant in that she oversees my work (while sitting in the shade I might add) and even enjoys bits of the veggies I cook almost daily. As usual click each photo for a better view.It does not

A House That Put It's Arms Around A Family

2011-05-19T23:02:00.031-04:00

Another St. Augustine adventure and one with a sentimental note. I read a little about the Pena-Peck house and was surprised by my reaction seeing it in all it's glory. The house has stood through several generations, watching families come and go and reminds me of the Joyce Kilmer poem: "The House With Nobody In It"But a house that has done what a house should do,a house that has sheltered life,

Grief on Mother's Day

2011-05-12T14:13:00.007-04:00

I purposely waited almost a week after Mother's Day to write this post because somehow it touches a raw nerve: Having to visit a cemetery to celebrate the day. My Mother was always my champion, background cheerleader, and all round person of wisdom best friend. And, I always experience a sense of sadness when I have to acknowledge the fact that she is no longer in this world. The thought of

Crazy Over The Moon: The Best Laid Plans

2011-05-09T23:39:00.014-04:00

Just when I figured a way to get more magnification for my moon shots... Mother Nature steps in to thwart me.You may have heard about it on the news, A rapidly growing wildfire in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge has burned more than 96 square miles of the swamp and is still going. I knew there was a smoky haze when I awoke this morning that lasted the entire day, but I hadn't thought it

Crazy Over The Moon

2011-05-08T01:05:00.026-04:00

I guess my thoughts about backyard gardening by the moon and the planets being aligned has made me a little crazy because it isn't often that I am of a mind to take out the tripod. But I was up late, happened to look outside and there was a beautiful crescent moon. It was then that I got the wild thought to go out and try a shot. As usual, click each photo for a better view.What I got was a

The Constant Gardner Returns: The Tortoise Awakens

2011-05-07T12:31:00.024-04:00

I have been basking in the glow of my garden and a constant stream of harvested veggies and one day spied on my competition to discover that the tortoise has finally jumped into action. As usual click each photo for a better view.Daddy has grown all his seedlings from scratch and in a little corner of his back yard has a big group of young plants ready to begin his garden. He is a slick old devil

It Really is A Small World

2011-05-05T02:01:00.006-04:00

Every year since moving to Florida I have heard about the World of Nations Celebration and this year we decided to finally go. What I learned is that different immigrant groups work to put together a booth featuring things that would be of interest from their countries of origin. I applaud each of them because it truly did open a window to the world right from people who had lived it.We went on

A Promise Is A Promise

2011-04-29T11:02:00.004-04:00

When I transferred all my posts on the main blog, Coactive Dreams blogspot, over to my website I promised that you would "see" more of me because I would begin to do more videos and interviews. As the title says, a promise is a promise and I have finally gotten around to uploading several videos to establish my You Tube channel. I am registered there under "aussiebat1" and thought I would preview

Know Them By Their Fruit

2011-04-19T17:55:00.023-04:00

Life, I've found, involves continual learning. And, there is no knowing where that learning will occur. I recently attended the funeral of a very dynamic woman, Dr. Jean Temple, and was amazed by both her achievements and the people she chose to surround herself. As usual, click each photo for a better view.Dr. Temple was an educator and a scholar who received her Masters at the Medical College

There is Always a Way Back...

2011-04-14T00:49:00.004-04:00

I ran into this video and had to post it. Yes, it is about Yoga but also about the human spirit. That no matter how trapped we may feel from time to time... there is a way back. We simply have to hold on in order to find it.

The Constant Gardner Returns: The Tortoise And The Hare

2011-04-10T12:41:00.016-04:00

The race is on in the garden competition but pleased as I am with my results so far, it also feels somewhat like the "Tortoise and the Hare." I have gotten off to a blazing start and yet Daddy seems strangely unconcerned. As usual, click each photo for a better view.True, I am still somewhat a novice but I learned a good deal last year so you would think he would at least consider me a threat

A Dog's Life !

2011-04-09T19:00:00.016-04:00

I was going through some pictures and could not help but put a few on the blog. Whoever talks about a dog's life does not know about this little Dachshund. As usual click each photo for a better view.Sunny-Girl loves to take a break on the patio just watching the world go by while she lazily patrols the back yard. Cats and squirrels have been put on notice.When not on sit-down patrol, she has a

Aaaaah... A Taste of St. Augustine

2011-04-05T17:53:00.038-04:00

It's that time of year again! The Taste of St. Augustine has returned and if you are a foodie it was the place to be.Mojo's above was really taking the event very seriously... well maybe, but the food was great . What always amazes me about these tastings is how each restaurant is able to maintain a high level of presentation despite all the obstacles that accompany setting up outside, but

My Gift To You...

2011-04-03T20:58:00.009-04:00

Have you ever stumbled on to something that was so wonderful that you could not wait to share it with someone else? Well I did! Like all of us have done from time to time I clicked the "next blog" button and stumbled on to a photography blog I found amazing!What was amazing is that the photos were not just the usual beautiful pictures, and they are beautiful, but possess the unusual quality of

The Constant Gardner Returns: Liftoff !

2011-03-31T15:22:00.011-04:00

I feel like an old hand at this gardening stuff now after my bumper crop last year. And, I am pleased that I got my seedlings into the ground and things are moving along.However, I am also finding out there is still more to learn this time around, despite my new found knowledge. As usual click each photo for a better view.Despite a continuation of drought conditions in this area, my seeds have

A Walk in the Clouds

2011-03-29T11:40:00.006-04:00

Who would have thought that clouds could be so interesting? I was reading about a man who calls himself a "cloud collector" which seems odd on the face of it. But, as I continued reading he made an excellent point that: "You don't have to own something in order to collect it.""The Cloud Collector's Handbook" is a wonderfully beautiful book that provides visual excitement while also teaching you

Do We Really See ?

2011-03-27T11:46:00.009-04:00

Was working in the yard the other day and came in tired but happy that I had made the necessary fixes and could now rest. While I was taking my breather I looked around me and in a strange moment of clarity realized there are unbelievably interesting things all around us.I quickly grabbed the camera and took a picture and have posted it here. I've posted it in order to ask what do you see?

The Sacred Acre

2011-03-24T22:33:00.020-04:00

While neither Alex nor I am Catholic,we read a little about this historic shrine in our favorite place, St Augustine, and thought it would make for a great afternoon of picture taking.The Nombre de Dios Mission is said to be one of the oldest churches in the new world. And, recently discovered artifacts only added to it's allure. As usual, click each photo for a better view.You walk across the

The Return of the Constant Gardener: The Garden Takes Shape

2011-03-20T16:06:00.012-04:00

The hectic pace of late has not given me a good deal of time but the garden has begun to take shape. I pulled out the irrigation system I created last year and shortened it. In this way I am able to saturate a lot more of a smaller space. The greens and tomatoes have responded in kind and begun to stand tall againt the rising heat of the noon day sun here in Florida. The cucumbers in the front,

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!

2011-03-11T12:31:00.007-05:00