Alex Fir asked:

Every year, a lot of kids die from drowning. Numerous drowning deaths take place in residential swimming pools. For this reason it is vital that you not only learn the importance of pool safety, but also to learn how to put it into practice.

However, when it comes to swimming pool safety, a large number of adults are misinformed. A lot of these adults think that as long as their pools are equipped with safety equipment and devices, their kids are safe. Do not have faith in this common mistaken belief. It could be the greatest mistake of your life. In addition to pool safety equipment, you should use your common sense.

If you are looking for pool accessories that will help you in pool safety, you may want to consider buying lifejackets, arm floaties, or baby floats. While lifejackets are most commonly used with boating, you can get smaller lifejackets that are perfect for swimming pools. For infants, a baby float is an excellent way to enjoy the water. Arm floaties are perfect for kids of all ages.

In most pool supply stores, you can find a large assortment of pool toys. These include swim rings, beach balls, basketball hoops and volleyball nets. If your kids are playing a water game, you need to keep a close eye on them. Remember that the competitiveness in a swimming pool can be dangerous or even deadly.

There are also pool fixtures. These items include deep end diving boards and pool slides. These items are typically securely fastened to the pool or the side of the pool. Pay very close attention to those that are using these items. A lot of young kids believe that they look fun. If a young, non-swimmer uses a pool slide or deep end diving board, a tragic accident can happen.

Swimming pool safety does not just mean keeping an eye on your children, but it also includes making sure that pool toys and accessories are in the proper working order.

Kansieo.com

Rana Burr asked:

Contrary to what the “experts” say, you can teach your baby how to swim. When I say baby, I mean 12 months or older. Six-month-olds can be taught to flip over and float, but it is a bit trickier. Most parents are led to believe by well-intentioned pediatricians or swimming instructors that either they have to be at least 3 to start or that they must be taught by a professional. I am here to tell you that I have taught all four of my children to swim, and it is very do-able.

There are a few things to consider when you are preparing to be a swimming instructor for your own brood. Number one: You have to understand that swimming is a skill, like any other that your child undertakes to learn. Like learning to walk, there will be times when the baby is apprehensive. However, after a while, as he or she gains confidence, frustration and tears diminish and delight and enjoyment take their place. Number two: There will be people who disagree with you for attempting to do this and who will try to persuade you to stop. I know it sounds crazy, but I am reminded of several occasions in which I was literally accosted by onlookers who did not have an understanding about what I was trying to accomplish. This can be avoided by choosing a private setting for your lessons.

Before I go any further, let me just comment on floaties by saying this right up-front: If you want you baby to learn to swim, you must never put even them on their little arms. Floaties provide a false sense of security to a young child. I will never forget one day at the public pool in Kirksville, Missouri when a young child about 4 years of age jumped right into the water next to me at a depth of 4 feet and proceeded to sink straight to the bottom. Luckily, I was right there and I grabbed him before the lifeguard even had a chance to jump in the water. His mother apologized and said, “He usually has his floaties on. He must have forgotten that he can’t swim without them.” I held my tongue then, but now you know. The other thing about floaties is that they encourage an upright position in the water which is counterproductive to the learning of the swimming posture which is horizontal.

The lessons themselves should be short–ten minutes at the most. Your baby will be working very hard during this time, so keeping it short will control for the fatigue that will naturally take place. Be disciplined about this. Make sure that you have a clock to keep the minutes for you. The lessons should also be frequent. I like to do four or five days a week whenever possible. If you have more than one child, you can have them sit out while you work with each one until they can swim well on their own. I make it a rule that they cannot interrupt each other’s swim lesson. Also, make sure that your little swimmer has not just eaten and that he or she is not over-tired (nap-time).

In waist high water (for you), start out by making sure that your baby can grasp the wall at the side of the pool. Do this a few times so that they understand that their job is to get the wall. Move away from the wall an inch and tell your baby to get the wall. If she slips under the water, that is okay. Just watch that she reaches up and grabs it again. By this time, she may be crying. That is okay, too. Now you will be able to hear when she takes a breath more easily and will know when to have her grab for the wall again. Tell her what a clever baby she is for getting the wall. She is learning that she cannot breath under water and that she must hold her breath. She is also learning that the wall is where she is safe. Sometimes the water level is too low, so that it is too far for the baby to reach the edge. This is easily corrected by talking to the owner of the pool.

Three times catching the wall is plenty for this first lesson. Later, you will introduce variations like turning her so that her side is facing wall so that she must turn to get it, having her “fall” into the water with her back towards the wall so she has to turn all the way around before she can reach it and even trying different orientations to the water (ie. head first, entering on her side, etc) when she gets really good.

You want to take her out to the middle of the shallow end now and, holding her on one shoulder, show her how to kick her legs. Do this for a few minutes while saying “kick, kick, kick.” Then hold her out in front of you, pulling her through the water towards you and tell her to get your hand under the water. Right after she inhales a breath, release her and let her glide toward you for a brief one or two seconds. Praise lavishly. Two more times, and that should do it for the first lesson.

Do this for several days until your baby is holding her breath predictably and you feel comfortable taking cues from her. After a week or so, you should be able to tuck her legs under her and let her push off against your thighs to propel herself toward the wall. From that point, you will be able to end her lessons with one or more of these “big swim” to the wall. Your baby will be swimming, and you will have helped her learn.

At that point, you can add more variation to the swim routine. You can add a flip over to a back float to take a breath in the middle of her swim to catch your hand. You can also add floating on her back and flipping over to resume her swim to catch your hand or the wall. By this time, she will be having so much fun, she may even jump in to the water from the side and swim over to you. This is fun to show off at the public pool, especially if you have been shunned there before. I have had people who criticized me when I started come up and remark what wonderful swimmers my children were and that they were surprised at how much they could do at such a young age.

Of course, no matter how well your baby and children can swim, you will never stop watching them very closely around the water–but you knew that. If any of this makes you feel uncomfortable, by all means don’t do it. This is certainly not what I think you should do. All I am saying is that if you really want to teach your baby how to swim, you can. I did. Four times.

Caffeinated Content

Kelly Swanson asked:




I’m a sucker for those “As Seen On TV” kitchen gadgets.

Show me a woman in a dated hairdo and a pantsuit, waving her hand over a seventy-five-piece plastic monogrammed food packaging and storage system, and my pulse starts to race.
Show me the whole family frolicking (is that still a word?) through the meadow with the dog and the handy dandy monogrammed food packaging carrying case on wheels with the drink holder and solar radio, and I’m diving for my credit card.

Tell me that for just an additional dollar, I can get a complete set of stainless steel knives guaranteed to cut steel and to outlive three generations, and it is no longer a want – no longer a need – it has become an I must have this or I will die – forget braces for Junior, Mamma needs a food storage system.

My husband tried to block the channel after I ordered him thirty-seven button-me-easy kits that promise to replace your button in thirty seconds without the need for needles or thread. He said it would have been a good idea, if most of his shirts had buttons.

It happens again yesterday. Just when I’ve barely recovered from the ramifications of ordering a lifetime supply of under-the-bed sweater organizers that emit a lilac scent – I see her white teeth and that familiar pantsuit, and I’m under her spell again. This time is different. This gadget is the king daddy of all gadgets – the Air Sucker 2000 – breaking all records in high tech kitchen gadgetry. Put your food in the bag, slide the bag through the sealer and it sucks all the air out of the bag and keeps it fresh for the rest of your life – just as fresh as the day you put it in. We’re thinking of using it on Great Uncle Fred. You can seal pork chops, chicken, steak, salad, soup, and even a pint of your dog’s blood should he ever need a transfusion. This would have been a handy thing to have when Uncle Skeeter cut off his toe with the weed whacker and we needed something to carry it in.

This is revolutionary. This will save us millions of dollars in wasted food. This, I have to have. I decide to order three – just in case they stop making them. “What are you doing?” my husband asks in an accusing tone as I’m reciting my credit card number to Susie who swears the Air Sucker 2000 changed her life. How does he do that? I have to yell for help four times when I super glue my foot into my new shoe (long story). It takes ten minutes for him to come to my aid when I get my hair caught in the drain (even longer story). We have a dead squirrel on the front porch for three days and he doesn’t even notice. Pick up the phone to try and place a tiny little credit card order and it’s like I blew a dog whistle.

I tell Susie to please hold, roll my eyes, and explain to my husband, while trying to be patient, that this is one of those necessary purchases. “You do NOT need that,” he says, gritting his teeth. He should really learn to handle stress more effectively. “Yes. I do.” “Like you needed the battery operated Bug-Be-Gone for the pool?” He can be quite sarcastic when he wants to be. “Hey, you said yourself that was good idea,” I point out. “We don’t have a pool!” he growls. I hang up the phone before Susie can call 911 to report domestic violence and follow my husband to the kitchen where he’s standing with his arms crossed, wearing that look he gets when he’s about to win an argument. Uh-oh.

“Open that cabinet,” he barks. “Come on. Open it. And tell me what you see.” I don’t appreciate his tone. “Let’s see,” I murmur. “There’s the green pepper spiraler….the vegetable blender with the pasta attachment…the six-speed juicer with the sleeve to hold the morning paper…oh, here’s that cute serving tray with the ceramic pigs in bikinis on pool floats…and the pasta colander that turns into a centerpiece…and I’m not really sure exactly what this thing is…” My voice trails off as I crawl deeper into the cabinet. “What’s that behind the silver-plated cake stand that sings happy birthday?” he asks while I drag out a dust-covered contraption and read the words on the side: Air Sucker 2000.

Suddenly it comes rushing back – November, two years ago. I still remember the day it came in the mail. I was so excited. I was convinced that this revolutionary item would change my life. I never could figure out how it worked. It was missing three pieces, wouldn’t work on any speed but high, made an awful screeching noise, blew a fuse, and was wider than my counter top. I wrapped one piece of chicken (which is still in my freezer, thank you very much) and decided it wasn’t worth the effort.

Okay, okay, so maybe my husband has a point. He’s still a little mad. It’s probably better that I don’t tell him there are three more Air Suckers in the basement.

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John J Thompson asked:




So you want to know how to build a tiki bar? Well building a tiki bar actually is not that hard if you follow some simple guidelines. In this Article I give you the basics to building your tiki bar within 24 hours. Here are the basics:

You want to build a tiki bar within 24 hours?

This really is not a hard task to achieve, you can go to your local home depot to get everything you need pretty much. You need to realize it’s very possible to build a professional Tiki Bar in only 24 hours. Want more advice on how to build a tiki bar? Well here are some basic supplies you need to build your tiki bar:

-You need a sturdy table for the bar; you can use any table or even make your own. Use your imagination here and remember you can cover the surface with a laminate, plywood or straw.

-Lots of straw, if you do not live near the coast this could be a little harder to find locally. You can check out local plant nurseries or even stores like Wal-Mart depending on the season. Another place to look is pool stores.

-The roof of the tiki hut can be made from large leaves or palm fronds if you can find them, and you can attach them to plywood. I advise you put together your tiki bar roof on the ground then attach it to the rest of the bar.

-Bamboo of course is something you need, whats a tiki bar without bamboo? You can find bamboo at most local plant nurseries.

-Be creative with your tiki bar design, be sure to use sand and sea shells if you’re going for the tropical look (almost all tiki bars have a tropical look.)

These are just some basic guidelines on how to build a tiki bar in 24 hours. I have a lot more information on my blog on building a tiki bar; you can check my bio box for the link. I hope this guide has helped you some, good luck!

Kansieo.com

Gregory Fort asked:




Excessive toy clutter upon a swimming pool deck or the areas around a built-in pool can lead to falls and serious injuries. Keeping the swimming deck areas clear will help reduce the risk of unnecessary falls. Children tend to pull out all of the pool toys then swap their preferences all day long. Moms and dads, doubling as life guards, have the constant job of tidying up while the kids play.

Wooden decks adjacent swimming pools are notorious for being slippery. With children getting in and out constantly, the pool deck can quickly become an ice skating rink. If the deck is also cluttered with multiple rafts, noodles, beach balls, ducks and float rings, the chance of slipping on the deck increases.

Many people choose to throw their toys over the side of the pool into the yard. The toys may be out of the way, but when the kids use them again, they bring grass and dirt back into the pool. An alternative to throwing the toys overboard is to somehow neatly store them near the swimming area.

If your deck is large, and you don’t mind giving up deck space, products are available both locally and online. A bench seat with storage underneath or a container product, similar to a cooler, both allow for storage of smaller toys and accessories. Larger toys such as rafts and plastic boats require a different storage solution. Decorative netting is now being utilized to hold pool toys of all sizes. The advantages of using a net are many. They save precious deck space. They are attractive and convenient. They are available in many sizes to accommodate large and small families.

Whichever pool toy storage solution you prefer, remember to teach your children to help keep the deck areas clear. This will help take some of the work off your shoulders and teach them valuable pool safety lessons.

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Andrew Caxton asked:




You can give your swimming pool a new and different look simply by adding pool lights. A backyard pool is a lucky thing to have and if you have one, then you should enhance this area to the fullest by landscaping around it. You will find that there are several different landscaping ideas that can help to enhance the pool and patio area so that it becomes an extension of your home and offers you a place to have fun and relax.

Around Your Swimming Pool
In some swimming pool areas, the landscaping may not do anything to enhance or increase the beauty of the pool. It may be boring or even cluttered, which takes the focus away from the beauty of the swimming pool. You can help give the area around your pool added interest by doing some simple things. Add some plants and flowers to the area surrounding the pool to add color and interest. You can even add decorative stones, rocks, or even mulch between the plants to help it look neater.

If you love spending time outside by your pool, then you should treat it just as you would if it was a room inside your home with special decorating touches and attention.

Furniture Positioning
You may think that it does not make much difference where your furniture is placed, but it does. You can add a sense of welcomeness to your pool area just by how you place the furniture. Adding accessories is an important thing to consider as well. You can make it feel more warm and welcoming by adding pillows to your pool furniture, candles, garden statues, and potted plants to your furniture.

Canopy
If your swimming pool is in an open area of your yard, then you may want to install a canopy or other covering that goes over your deck or patio area. This will give you a more comfortable area for entertaining and can keep the rain off of you in the case of bad weather.

Gates and Fences
Safety is an essential thing to consider if you have a backyard pool. A fence that includes a gate that locks is something that you want to seriously consider if your yard has an inground pool, especially if there are small children in your home. You will find that there is a great variety of fences to help it become a cohesive part of your home’s decor and feel.

Pool Privacy
If you have a pool, then you know that privacy is very important. By adding a high fence with close slats, you will be giving your pool area more privacy for you and your family to enjoy the sun and the pool.

Pool Storage
If you own a pool, then you know that there are many chemicals and accessories that you need to help keep your pool clean. You also know that you will need a place to store all of those floats and toys that your family enjoys while in the pool. Adding a storage building will help you to keep all of these items safe and organized. You can choose a storage unit that meshes well with the outside of your home to help make it a cohesive part of your home and yard.

baby pool floats

Allen Cunningham asked:




If you’re curious about buying a pool, you aren’t alone. Every year, 1,000′s of homeowners make the conclusion to purchase a pool. Many of these pools are in-ground pools, while others are above ground pools. No matter which pool you are interested in obtaining, there is one thing that you ought to keep in mind. It is often challenging or impossible to buy just a pool. As well as a pool, you may need to acquire additional pool accessories or supplies.

When it relates to obtaining pool accessories and pool supplies, they’re many people who are dubious exactly what they’re, in addition to not to mention where to pay for them. If you are about to buy a swimming pool, it may be a great idea to familiarize yourself with some of the hottest and most necessary pool accessories and supplies. Even though you don’t plan on obtaining anything quickly, you are still advised to think about what is for sale for your pool. Familiarizing yourself with all of your available options is a good technique to not only find quality pool supplies, but find affordable ones.

Possibly, one of the first things that you ought to consider obtaining for your new pool is cleaning supplies. In most cases, cleaning supplies will not be not left out of the cost of your pool. This implies that you will require to purchase your own personal. Whether you buy your pool from an online retailer or a local pool supply store, you may what to consider obtaining your cleaning supplies and equipment at the same time. This will be of assistance to ensure that you do not forget these important items.

When obtaining a swimming pool, it is essential that you examine all of the fixtures that they’re included in your package. Most pool packages will include steps, for in-ground pools, or ladders, for both types of pools. In spite of the fact that these fixtures are frequently included; it is still advised that you check before making your final obtain. In the occasion that these things aren’t included, you will would like to consider obtaining them at once. Dependent on the variety of pool you have, you may be incapable to go for a swim without a means to enter or out of your pool.

Pool fixtures and cleaning supplies are the pool accessories that you should be the most concerned with. Once you have those items covered, you can begin to think about other accessories. These accessories, may incorporate, but shouldn’t be limited to, pool toys, pool furniture, and other fixtures. When buying these items, it is important to remember that they are optional. While you may relish having floatable furniture or fun pool toys, they aren’t required.

If you are curious about obtaining pool toys, you will see that you have an almost limitless number of different options. Pool toys come in a broad variety of different sizes, shapes, styles, and designs. By shopping online or by visiting your local retail store, you should be in a position to find a large selection of pool toys. These toys may incorporate, but should not be limited to, arm floaties, swim rings, baby floats, beach balls, dive rings, and other floatable toys.

While trying to find swim toys, you may likewise want to look at pool furniture. This furniture may comprise, but should not be limited to, traditional floating chairs, floating lounge chairs, or floating rafts. While pool furniture could be a bit bit more costly than most traditional pool toys, you should be able to acquire them from the identical locations. Many retailers, both online and offline, will carry a choice of floatable pool furniture. By purchasing your pool toys and pool furniture together you may not just be in a position to save time, but money as well.

The previously discussed pool supplies and accessories are simply a couple of of the numerous items that can you can purchase for your in-ground or above ground pool. For additional products ideas, you may like to visit your local pool supply store or visit the online site of a familiar retailer.

Kansieo.com

Eric Taubert asked:




Pine Island lies just west of Cape Coral. In addition to the excellent fishing, talented artists, and ancient archaeological sites…there are also several utterly unique “Old Florida” experiences not to be missed. Chief among these is the Tarpon Lodge Sportsman Inn, Restaurant, and Bar located on the northwest coast of Pine Island in Pineland.

From Cape Coral, the ride to Pineland is scenic and relaxing. A straight shot down Pine Island Road takes me past thick native vegetation. Fishermen and artists bump shoulders with photographers and eco-tourists amidst the hallucinogenic colors of Matlacha. Then it’s a quick and quiet jaunt through the stark alien landscape of the Little Pine Island wetland restoration area.

From the four-way stop sign at the center of Pine Island, I turn right onto Stringfellow road. Grand entrances to half-built subdivisions encroach on the scenic space, threatening the future of long enduring roadside vegetable vendors and the lush, desolate labyrinths of palm tree nurseries. The onward push for bigger, better, faster, more is visible, even here.

A fish-emblazoned sign at the corner of a side street points the way to the Tarpon Lodge. Magnificent shell mounds raise the ground on the right side of the road. Sparkling Pine Island Sound soon comes into view on the left. A short distance ahead stands the stately Tarpon Lodge Sportsman Inn and Restaurant. It’s right across the road from the Calusa Heritage Trail and practically next-door to the home of New York Times best-selling author, Randy Wayne White.

The main building was originally built in 1926 by the Wilson family. Later on it was owned and operated by I.B. and Mary Hunt Jones as the Pine-Aire Lodge. In 1986, an additional dormitory building was added to the former Pine-Aire Lodge property. For the next ten years the property was known as The Cloisters, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center. It wasn’t until 2000 when Robert and Phyllis Wells (who also own the restaurant at Cabbage Key) purchased the complex. They renovated the main building and dormitory into a restaurant and hotel…the present day Tarpon Lodge. It opened for business in June of 2001. When Hurricane Charley made landfall on Pine Island on August 13, 2004, it severely damaged the roof of the main structure, flooding the main dining room. Most of the windows were shattered and all of the docks were destroyed. After the storm, work ensued, and the property was restored again. The restaurant reopened on December 15, 2004. The Inn reopened during the New Year’s holiday and immediately hosted a family gathering for former President Jimmy Carter and his family.

Royal palms and banana tree leaves shade the front entrance. Red flowers and green leaves come alive in the soft breeze as I walk by them on my way to check in to an overnight room. A quick tour and gracious hospitality are immediately offered by the kind woman behind the desk. After my Tarpon Lodge orientation, it’s out to the car to gather the wife and belongings…we’re officially on Island Time.

Pineland is as laid back as it gets. This isn’t glitzy-neon Florida. This isn’t sweaty South Beach, or posh Worth Ave, or tacky Panama City, or plastic Orlando. Even Sanibel and Captiva look overpopulated and hectic when compared against Pineland. People who visit the Tarpon Lodge don’t end up here on accident…they usually come here looking for one of a few things: fishing, history, nature, romance or solitude. If they’re lucky, they’ll get a mixture of them all.

There are several types of rooms available at the Tarpon Lodge, but space is limited…especially during the tourist and tarpon seasons. The small number of rooms available adds to the allure of the lodge, and allows the staff to accomplish their goal of hands-on, personal service for each guest they host.

The 1926 historic house has nine rooms. Even though this building has been renovated several times, you’d never know it. A lot of antique materials still exist. Most rooms even still have the original hardwood floors. Some of the rooms in the main building have water-views. All of them have convenient access to the restaurant and lounge. Another major selling point is that these rooms offer the distinctive opportunity to become a part of Pine Island history by staying overnight in one of the oldest buildings on the Island.

There is one cottage and a restored 1926 boathouse. Both have kitchenettes, porches, and fantastic water views. These options are perfect for those planning extended stays.

Our room is in the Island House, a stilt building behind the main building. There are twelve rooms in this building. Six of them have a water-view. All of the water-view rooms in the Island House have small balconies facing west, allowing a one-of-a-kind vantage point to mind-blowing, Pine Island Sound sunsets. We’re lucky enough to have snagged one of the water-view rooms even though our visit is halfway through tarpon season.

The room is comprised of a comfortable bed, a lamp, an armoire with a small television and a private bathroom. The most important feature is the balcony overlooking the pool, the tropically-manicured grounds and Pine Island Sound. There’s no phone in the room. There’s no wireless internet access, either. Both of those can be had in the main building…but I’ve come here to disconnect from the electronic ties that bind me everywhere else.

Once every thing’s lugged up from the car and we’re settled, it’s out to the balcony with a freshly popped bottle of red wine and two glasses. A couple wicker chairs and a table await us, along with all the glory of unspoiled Southwest Florida.

A steady, cooling breeze caresses our skin and flirts with our hair. Alternating patterns of bright sunlight and cloud shadows intermingle on the well-kept lawn stretching towards the water. A few errant seagrape leaves blow across the grass. Love bugs mate mid-air. A green anole extends its brightly colored dewlap and bobs up and down. Our entire view is of an unhurried and idyllic paradise…swaying palms, huge watercolor skies, and the wide expanse of Pine Island Sound.

The horizon is occupied by steadfast and uncelebrated islands and keys. Wood Key. Black Key. Part Island. Inaccessible by foot or car, these unspoken-about places play at the imagination. Who owns them? Does anyone live on them? Minds wander to the ancient Calusa heritage of this area, filling in these blank islands with colorful and storied pasts. Shell mounds. Unfound Indian art. Sacred burial grounds. Untold secrets.

Birds break the surface of of the water, diving beneath to hunt for fish. Fish break the surface of the air, jumping up to grasp at bugs. Small boats ride the borderlands, skimming across the rumpled surface of Pine Island Sound, sometimes docking at the Tarpon Lodge, sometimes heading for the Pineland Marina conveniently located nearby.

An excited couple, in their early forties, emerge onto a balcony a few rooms away. They’re on vacation, and they’ve just checked in at the Tarpon Lodge. Within minutes they’re down at the pool in bathing suits, all huge smiles. This is the place they’ve been looking forward to visiting, marking big black X’s each day on their calendar, an excruciating countdown. Now they’re finally here and they immerse themselves into the experience of Southwest Florida as quickly as they immerse themselves into the outdoor pool. That’s all it takes. A commitment to relax.

I love watching them gaze in wide-eyed wonder at the newness around them. With the curiosity of babies, they’ve emerged from the womb of their normal lives into the wonder of a place so utterly different. Their heads rotate in wide arcs, taking the scenery in. When you find yourself gazing skyward in appreciation you’ll know you’ve begun to unwind. Wild eyes absorb the tropical moments, romanticizing, writing to memory. Between playful splashes in the pool they reconnect in ways only a change of scenery can allow.

The lure of the landscape is strong. Before long we’re out of our chairs and exploring the Tarpon Lodge grounds by foot. We walk beneath flowers and foliage, low-hanging leaves and blossoms tickle our exposed skin. The rejuvenative scent of salt water is pervasive, massaging us with aromatherapy. The material of a shaded hammock hungrily grips at the curves of our bodies as we gently sway back and forth. Then it’s off for a tryst with the virgin-white gazebo. We escape the sun by running beneath long-fronded coconut palms. We gaze up at their clusters of exotic fruit and run our hands along the ridged terrain of their stone hard trunks. Out on the dock, it’s tongues of water lapping at wood, birds singing suggestive mating songs, and fish frantically splashing…all beneath the tattered linen of Egyptian cotton clouds. In less than a half hour we’ve gotten intimate with nature.

In the Tarpon Lodge dining room and lounge it’s come as you are or as you want to be. This is a Sportsman Inn on Pine Island. It can be a colorful melting-pot of an affair at times. It’s a place where millionaire boat enthusiasts bump shoulders with young couples looking for romance. Vegan eco-activists dine in the same room as crusty fishermen and archeology professors. Differing styles of dress and speech are the backdrop of the social scene at the Tarpon Lodge. Some of the guests want to engage in polite conversation, others want to be left alone with their books and thoughts.

The service staff adds its own tones to the lively and vibrant mix, tones of the varied places they’ve ventured from on their journey to end up here, tones of the high level of service the management expects them to provide. For a place off the beaten path, and on an island known for the carefree nature of its service employees, General Manager Rob Wells III has amassed a staff he can truly be proud of. In all interactions our needs were anticipated and catered to, most often with a mind-boggling accuracy.

The lounge at the Tarpon Lodge is reminiscent of an old-fashioned New England style pub, something from Revolutionary War days. Magnificent dark wood floors run past a cavernous bar towards a primitive brick fireplace. Tasteful tall vases filled with beach sand and lightning whelk shells serve as candle-holders for large white candles which glimmer dimly every evening. Trophy fish are mounted on the wall, along with the hideous saw of a small-tooth sawfish (now a protected endangered species). Simple photographs of ancient fishing conquests abound. Sack-back Windsor chairs line several tables, and personalities from all across Pine Island come to indulge in the libations and excellent food.

Three unshaven men, fresh from a day on the water, crowd the small bar trading emphatic fish stories. A married couple, from nearby Bokeelia, dine from the lounge menu. From across the room they engage my wife in conversation…life on the island, trips to Hong Kong and Dubai, the presidential race. Between the twists and turns of an animated discussion, the wife and I share a Caribbean Shrimp, Mushroom and Spinach Dip appetizer. Topped with Monterey Jack cheese and served with seasoned croutons, the subtle curry flavor of the dip was a pleasant surprise.

The amiable hostess introduces herself and explains how the Chef at the Tarpon Lodge, Jethro Joseph, hails from Grand Cayman. He loves to blend fresh Southwest Florida ingredients with Caribbean spices when creating his unique menu items. The end result is some of the region’s most innovative food. Traditional classics given a South Florida update share menu space with fresh catch delicacies, while exotic flavors of the Cayman Islands reveal themselves in surprising and unexpected places.

The Tarpon Lodge Restaurant is consistently rated at four stars by visiting food critics. Live music, of the easy listening variety, is scheduled a couple times a week. There is an exquisitely appointed indoor dining room, but the tables you want here are out on the screened dining patio overlooking the postcard-perfect sunset on Pine Island Sound.

The hostess seats us at a corner table on the patio with an unobstructed water view. The live musical guests this evening are the David Sarchet Trio. Their blending of classic and modern jazz stylings mix with the fresh Florida air and provide the perfect atmospheric backdrop for a magical dining experience.

Within moments, our professional server provides proper wine service on the bottle we chose from the limited and affordable wine list. Glasses full of Steele Pinot Noir are raised for a toast in the dusky light. Crystal clinks, and our leisurely-paced meal begins.

Salads, bigger than life, appear before us. My wife goes with a Green Leaf Spinach Salad made with baby spinach leaves topped with roasted red pepper and mushrooms, finished with a warmed sweet bacon vinaigrette. The fluctuation of temperatures plays with our senses. Crisp cool spinach collides with the warm bacon dressing…absolutely stunning.

Mine is a Hearts of Palm Asian Salad. Tangy hearts of palm and sweet snowpeas tossed with mixed field greens and crispy fried wonton strips, which add an extra crunchy texture to the salad. All of it is lightly smothered in an Asian vinaigrette with sesame and ginger tones. Magnificent.

My wife’s Pine Island Sound Crab Cakes definitely live up to the legendary word-of-mouth status they’ve earned over the past couple years. Jumbo lump crab meat combined with Chef Jethro Joseph’s inimitable blend of seasonings, formed into two gargantuan crab cakes and sauteed until done. They are wisely paired with a garlic aioli which complements the flavors of the crab cakes nicely. This is Southwest Florida food done right.

My choice is a sought-after fresh catch special that’s hard to track down, but oh-so-worth-it when it’s found…Sauteed Local Tripletail. I was so delighted to hear our server verbal the dish at the beginning of our meal. Tripletail is something of a closely-held fisherman’s secret here in South Florida…delicate, flaky, pearly flesh with a mild, slightly-meaty flavor completely unique unto itself. The Tarpon Lodge is one of the few local restaurants which offers this fish regularly. If you ever see it offered – get it, you will not be disappointed.

Chef Joseph did it right, again, with the tripletail…just a gentle saute with salt and pepper. That’s all it asks for. This is a fish which doesn’t need to hide beneath sauces. It’s enjoyed best out in the open, on it’s own merit, minimalist, and pure….and enjoy it I did!

Somewhere along the line the sun dips below the horizon and a pastel explosion splatters across the sky. Long shadows fall beneath the palm trees and the playful jazz music wanders out into the darkness of nightime air on the coastline. One by one, the other diners leave the screened patio until we’re the last two people there, our only company a few sips of red wine and what remains of a decadent chocolate dessert. Island-induced bliss.

Back at the room, my wife takes a long, hot shower. I decide to wait for her on the balcony. Nighttime is in full bloom and a wall of spotlights shine up from the ground illuminating the undersides of several palm trees and the gazebo. The closed swimming pool still glows against the darkness. Is there anything more inviting than the computer-blue glow of a swimming pool at night?

Within seconds I’m stripped to my boxer shorts and jogging down the Island House hallway. I descend the set of stairs and surreptitiously slip inside the gate surrounding the pool. I look nervously around, but no one’s watching. I break the hotel rules by sliding into the refreshing neon water of a pool closed for the night.

My surroundings are as vivid as a pleasant and otherworldly dream. Majestic, dark palm trees show in silhouettes against the night-tide sky. The tropical air has cooled drastically. A soft chlorine scent emanates from the water, then disappears each time the light breeze of pristine air picks up again. Fresh air. Pine-Aire.

Off in the distance, purple and white electricity dances in the form of silent heat lightning. Twinkling, white Christmas lights ride the perimeter of the historic inn, strung along the full length of the eaves. The blue-tinted haze of half-watched TV screens smolders from the windows of overnight rooms, where adventure-weary travelers drift off toward dreams.

The pool light reflects off the gentle waves I’m creating and flashes across my skin in streaks and blurs. The only sound is the desert-island rustle of palm fronds in the invisible breeze and the electric whir of an improperly balanced ceiling fan on the porch of the Island House.

I ease onto my back and let the water support me. Weightless, I float on the surface, eyes aimed skyward. The stars above glow with a ferocity and brightness I’ve never witnessed before, huge burning spheres, floating in the sky as I float in this pool.

I look at the heavens and look back in time, witnessing antique light finishing its impossibly long journey towards Earth. The starlight I see tonight began its trek long before the Tarpon Lodge existed. Before the Cloisters. Before the Pine-Aire Lodge. Before the Wilson family cleared this land or built this house. The starlight I see tonight was formed when Calusa Indians ruled this piece of land, when the only other light was thrown forth by campfires, and the stars were looked to for guidance and wonder.

Tonight I’m in an ancient place, watching ancient light arrive the way the ancients saw it….and it’s so quiet it’s almost as if I’m the last person on Earth.

Then the noise of a sliding door breaks the silence, and I see the shadow-outline of my loving wife on the balcony, patiently waiting for me to come back to the room.

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Paul Bluestone asked:




How many times have you been sitting at home in your recliner thinking: Man, wouldn’t it be great to be surrounded by water right about now? Don’t worry; you’re not the only one. In fact, people have made their water-recliner dreams a reality with pool floats.

Swimming around the pool is overrated. If you wanted to exercise you would have gone to the gym and jumped on the treadmill, right? Why would you want to move your arms and legs all day immersed in water when you could be lying perfectly still on top of the water instead? Doesn’t that seem to defeat the whole purpose of having a pool? If you’re looking for a way to settle down and relax a little bit in the soothing waters of your backyard pool you should invest in a pool float.

Pool floats come in a variety of styles and forms. You can find everything from your basic foam pool float which rests like a mattress on top of the water’s surface to intricate inflatable pool floats and floating pool chairs. It doesn’t matter how you want your body situated floating out on top of the water, there are different types of floats for you.

When you combine different kinds of pool floats you can enhance any pool party. Mothers can keep a close eye on their babies with baby pool floats and college students across the nation are realizing that you can float a keg of beer in the pool with certain beer floats. Now you can sit around the keg, your solo cups in the cup holders of your floating pool chair, sipping the finest microbrews out on the water.

Before the next summer comes around do yourself a favor and go find some really fun pool accessories. A pool without an assortment of pool toys is hardly a pool at all.

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Judith Allison asked:




It’s one thing to toss a bunch of gear in your car and drive to a spot to take landscape photos. However, if you’re hiking to that spot, put a backpack on your back that’s suitable for hiking long distances. In this case, less makes more sense. For the lowdown on what to pack, here are some tips to lighten you load including the gear you’ll need and the techniques you’ll use to get the perfect shot you’ve always wanted.

Don’t Leave Home without Your Cosmetic Bag

What?!! No, not the bag you put your mascara in, but the one that carries your memory cards, filters, lens cloths and the cleaners for your sensors. Use a plastic, lightweight, organizer that has lots of zippered sections and compartments. It should be modifiable and flexible enough to fold into odd places in your backpack.

Use Your Head and Not Your Heart

To find the right place for that absolutely wonderful shot, use your head and read the map. If your map shows you a promising spot that will might give you spectacular sunrise shots, think about how you’re going to get there. If the spot is 1,500 feet above where you’re camped. In order to get there, you’ll need to get up at 4:30 a.m., grab your photo gear and hike two hours to reach that spot before sunrise. You’ll need something to light your way using something like a Petzl Tikka 3-LED Headlamp, that’s only weighs 2.5 ounces and takes three triple A batteries. It only costs about $30 retail and you can probably find it online for less.

Lighten Up Those Legs

Cut your pack weight by using a carbon fiber tripod like the Pro 813 CF II Carbon Fiber Leg Set. It only weighs 3.4 pounds, and the equivalent Slik tripod in aluminum weighs in at 5.5 pounds. The carbon fiber model runs around $250 dollars retail, while the aluminum model sells for only $140.

Pack Soft Not Hard

Think about using CD sleeves instead of synthetic filter cases. While this could save you an ounce or three, it’s also flexible for easy packing. While an ounce or two might not seem like much, it all adds up and at 3,000 feet up, it may mean a lot.

Crossing Rivers and Streams

If your climb takes you through deep, slow moving, rivers or you need to swim across slot canyons, you’re going to want to carry an inflatable, lightweight, baby pool with you that is large enough to float your equipment across. All you need is one of those cheap multiple tubes at the Dollar store or from places like Sunset Glob Inflatable Baby Pools which comes in different sizes and weigh about 2 to 5 pounds. They sell for about five dollars, and you also want to invest in a waterproof pack like a SealLine Dry Case (sealinegear.com), that comes with an enclosure that’s submersible. The largest sized one only weighs around three ounces, and will set you back around $20 bucks.

These are just some of the things you should take along with you when going after those beautiful landscape shots in the wild. They will allow you to get the shot, preserve your gear and not weigh you down in the process. Add a Petzl Tikka 3-LED Headlamp and you’ll be set to go.

baby pool floats