Sending you some Dragonfly Hugs!  Here are a few of my favorites that I have taken over the last few months - they always make me smile!

Florida has wonderful preservation areas that are a joy to visit!  Hopefully, funding will not be cut to these areas that give the wildlife of the wetlands a place to be as their natural areas shrink and also give Floridians places to walk and enjoy seeing the wildlife.  Recently, I visited Wakodahatchee wetlands in Delray Beach - it was 50 acres of utilities land that was given for a created area - which is why the name means "created lands" in Seminole Indian language.  I met up with several Flickr contacts there and we had a great evening watching the birds and the other wildlife and snapping lots of pics!

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

Zach and I attended the July 4 Tea Party in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  It was an absolute blast!  I am disappointed in our government and elected officials (both parties) and I am horrified at the trend that began in the Bush Administration and has zoomed out of control with the Obama Administration. 

I like the message that we do not have to be democrats or republicans or liberals or conservatives but we can be Americans and we need to send the message that we are going to hold all sides responsible for spending our tax dollars recklessly and ridiculously.  At any rate - here are some pics from the day - lots of smiling faces and lots of Patriots!

ok so no dragonflies!  and no hurricane band pics!  We did have some fun so here is my submission for the Photo Quest - Loosely titled Megan in Motion although there are a few of her super handsome older bro!  This is my niece and nephew that are hamming it up for me and I fiddled with the settings and I was using the motion and sports settings.

My heart is breaking for the people in New Orleans.  Gustav is a Category 4 hurricane and expected to hit a 5 and is making a beeline for New Orleans.  It is horrific.  Gustav is a pretty large storm as it is only just now coming off the western side of Cuba and we have been seeing the bands all day.  Mostly very cloudy with some menacing storm lines and a few rumbles and some lightning but no rain so far.  Tomorrow should rain plenty.  Winds on the beach were approximately 20-30 mph sustained and getting gusty when we left my parents late this evening (they live on the beach).  I saw that the Keys are sustained at 50+ with 70 mph gusts already.  It is amazing to think how far away the storm is and affecting us!
So here are a few from today - Hanna will be the one to watch for us about mid week I think.  Gustav has been holding her off til he moves further north.  I am trying not to feel too panicky.  I just remember the horror of Katrina and we are not worried about that her with these two storms - Hanna may get to a Cat 2 MAX before she arrives but when I think of what the people up north are going to go through, well, prayers - lots and lots of prayers.  It also defines sharply the possibility of the situation here if a hurricane of that magnitude were to hit.
SO - cool pics but not so cool reason.  bittersweet. 

It has been a bit of a long week so I am looking forward to Monday off and getting out this weekend.  I have been a bit grumpy and offish since last night.  Two hurricanes (well Hanna is almost there) in the Atlantic basin tend to give everyone a bit of nerves - especially as one projected path had them converging at the same time!  One to the east and one to the west!  Forward pushing bands of Gustav will be coming into South Florida tomorrow.  sigh.  Another day in paradise.  But!  The dragonflies are here and hanging even though the evil mowing bastards have been at it all week and have mowed down the canal and everything.  The population has thinned quite a bit.  I saw distantly another area to check out this weekend and again, depending on the weather, perhaps I can make it to the Botanical Gardens in Miami this weekend.

SO - my Friday wish is this - have a FABULOUS weekend!  Have fun, get sunburned, have too much beer wine or margaritas, get tipsy, laugh alot and make memories!  and then take pics of them!  LOL - Cheers to a good weekend!

Yesterday was a long and intensive work day.  I was on the phone from 10am to after 8pm with no more than a 3-4 minute break in between calls.  ooooophhhhh.  Today has been slightly calmer with paperwork and nice follow ups.  The Fax machine has its knickers in a twist so I had an excuse to go up to the business office for the complex and took some pics along the way.  For some reason, there are fake geese in our little lake here.  and apparently - the turtles got VERY confused.  poor things.  I suppose eventually they will realize that the fake goose is not the shore - or something.  and of course, dragonflies everywhere!  Happy Thursday and is everyone ready for a holiday weekend???  I am!!!!!!  I got more front shots so the hat is still holding its luck!

Earlier, I posted some pics of my hat.  and of me in my hat.  I was quite excited this afternoon to wear the hat and  take my walk.  My son tagged along but when he saw the hat, he said:  Do I have to walk with you?  hmmmm he apparently does NOT get his fashion sense from Mommy.  So, off we went to see what the dragonflies thought.  It was quite windy today so lots of blurry pics but I also got lots of straight on pics - which RARELY happens.  so it must be the hat and that makes me happy.  For anyone who missed the hat fashion show - please tune in here:  Dragonfly Hunter Fashions
and for the rest, well here is the truth from the peanut gallery.

I will have a few pic intensive posts this week to share my pics from the weekend.  I really had a blast.  I was coming up through the field on Sunday - day two of sunburn, tromping through canal grass and a bit of mud and lots of stickers, etc...basically, I was sunburnt and filthy with a big grin.  I ran into a neighbor and he did not even recognize me and then apologized when his dog ran right over because HE knew who I was.  I kind of laughed to myself as I always used to see this neighbor on my way into the office in full corporate gear with makeup and heels and all.  Sorry guys, but typical male as he expressed surprise that I was marching around "dirty fields"  LMAO...yes I am and loving every minute!  So here are a few from the weekend!
Now the first photo, I think, is some kind of shell that something emerged from - Anyone have any thoughts?
The pin-tailed pondhawk is only the second time I have seen him so that was cool!  I only had one previous pic.  The Immature male four spotted pennant gave a bit of a run for my money in ID'ing him but he is a first.