Eight Years in Coming. . . . Shelf Liner, that is

Members of my family are busy at work on house projects. The New Englanders have very bold aqua wooden chairs in their gray dining room. The French contingent has used fuschia accents against the backdrop of a white and black living room. When I moved to my current location nearly eight years ago, I was not so bold or courageous and instead painted the interior of my house in a “realtor off white,” a color that does not offend prospective buyers. Most of the furnishings are bronze or brown. Not at all bold.

The one place I could go bold is in shelf liner, which I planned to replace eight years ago when I moved in. At the time, I told myself the shelf liner could wait, given that I’d redo my kitchen. So the circa 1968 shelf liner remained. It has remained while I had tenants living in the house. Now, that I am back in my house, I am motivated. But Home Depot, Lowes, Target and other local stores offer only affordable monotone or conservative patterns. Maybe if I checked online. . . . but another few months, maybe years might go by before I replace my circa 1968 shelf paper. Maybe I should wait until I redo my kitchen. . . . And for now just go with colorful pillows and lamps.

Un pause café - a coffee break intermission!

Join me for a coffee a bit later on the Rue Bijou.

West of Calle Ocho and into the Glades

I’m embarrassed to admit it. After all these years, I finally visited the Everglades. The trip was prompted by my daughter’s boyfriend, who wanted to see some alligators, and my sister, an artist, who has explored and sketched in many of the state’s natural parks.

Boardwalk at Oasis Visitor Center - We began our travels at La Carreta, a Cuban restaurant on Calle Ocho--café con leche, Cuban toast and omelets—then headed for Loop Road in the Big Cypress National Preserve. It’s a straight shoot along Southwest Eighth Street (US 41), 50 miles west of the Miami business district. Past forests of dead melaluca trees, planted years ago to soak up swampy waters and now eradicated. Past the Miccosukee casino and tourist attractions, advertising airboat tours or fried gator meat.

Alligators at Oasis Visitor Center - The boardwalk at the Oasis Visitor Center extends above a canal where large alligators sun and water birds seek food. Nearby is Loop Road, a narrow, 24-mile limerock road with culverts, which allow water to flow. Alligators lay on the banks. Herons, ibis and wood stork moved silently through these cypress swamps. Anhinga, perched on branches, spread their wings. Cypress have lost their leaves. Tufts of air plants, some with a bromeliad flower, cover tree trunks.

Cypress and air plants on Loop Road, Big Cypress National Preserve - We were cautious—gators move quickly and silently. But at one point my sister decided to go down the bank to put her hand in the clear waters. A loud thrashing! She had not slipped but an alligator emerged from the culvert, churning waters with his tail. Defending territory or seeking prey?

Juvenile ibis with brown markings on Loop Road - On our return to Miami, we sampled gator nuggets—chewy and only slightly reminiscent of chicken but not particularly appetizing. The scenery was spectacular, but we had had enough gators for one day.

Drainage Ditch Jewels

Snowy Egret If you walk or bike, you have time to appreciate those “jewels” of drainage ditches. Just along a short segment of Eber Road in Melbourne (Fla.), herons, egrets, ducks, sandhill cranes and a wood stork flock here.

Great Blue Heron I won’t say that water birds thrive in our “created” environment. Runoff from roads and residential and commercial lawns pollute waterways with oils, grease, metals, nitrogen and phosphorus (from fertilizers) and sediment.

Lance-Leafed arrowhead with spiderwebs Communities are taking more action. An increasing number of retention ponds in Melbourne have vegetative buffers that filter many toxic products and improve water quality. Still, numerous opportunities exist. Along NASA Boulevard, high-tech corporations could work toward environmental protection by creating shoreline buffers that reduce the amount of pollutants that enter waterways. Clean waters will attract more wildlife and make the workspace sustainable.

Crane Creek

An opportunity for more sustainable practices . . . . Note: If I have inaccurately identified flora or fauna, please let me know.