Cocktails in Paradise.....CC #12

After the Worldwide PhotoWalk last Saturday several of us ended up here including Martha of Color Carnival and myself.

Round 5.....ABC Wednesday

~~ Alphabet ~~ found while on the Worldwide Photo Shoot,

Sarasota, Florida

This Way Thurs-Way #18

It's obvious that the sidewalk ends so why is there a sign unless of course you're blind in which case you couldn't read the sign anyway! Another waste of taxpayer $$ I suppose.

Ruby Tuesday

Spotted this in front of O'Leary's Tiki Bar & Grill while Martha-Menagerie and I were doing the Worldwide Photo Walk in Sarasota last Saturday. Check out her blog
martha-menagerie.blogspot.com/ to see the fantastic lightning shot she got!

Mellow Yellow Monday #28

Spotted this in a shop in Mount Dora, Florida and loved how the artist painted a reflection in this clown's sunglasses.

Monochrome Monday July 19....2009

"Strangler Fig" taken at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary & Blair Audubon Center, Naples, Florida

The roots of the strangler fig are often thought to be vines growing on a host tree. Strangler figs can grow like a normal tree from the ground up; they also may start hight up in another tree and send roots down to the groung. As the roots grow, they wrap around the host tree, sometimes killing it. At Corkscrew, frost limits strangler fig growth and they do not kill their host trees. The fig fruit is a favorite of pileated woodpeckers.

(This information is from the brochure purchased at the Sanctuary)

Macro Monday July 19...2009

I know this is a bit fuzzy but I was amazed that it came out at all. This was taken at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary down in Naples, Florida

click to enlarge so you can see the detail of the web itself

Shadow Shot Sunday #61

Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Naples, Florida

Pink Saturday.....July 11

Can't you just imagine the fragrance from this frangipanni/plumeria? It is heavenly. My white ones seem to be more fragant than the pinks for some reason.

SkyWatch Friday.....July 16, 2009

Taken after a rain storm.

Color Carnival #11

Stained glass in one of the shops in Micanopy, Florida

My True Colours....Peach....16 Jul 09

This is my double peach hibiscus........

This Way Thurs Way #17

Are they kidding? Helloooooooooo, it's summer ~ I took this on July 2, 2009! Why would anyone close an ice cream shop in the middle of summer, especially in SW Florida?

ABC Wednesday......Z

This is what wildflowers look like through a camera lens when you are Zooming down the interstate! Next time I'll have to pull over:~)

That's My World issue XL

Warm Mineral Springs in Sarasota County, Florida.

The Springs is the only warm mineral spring in Florida. It's water has the highest mineral content of any warm springs in the world, evem more that the famous spas in Vichy and Aix les Bains in France, Baden Baden in Germany and the Hot Springs in Arkansas.

It is a water-filled, hourglass shaped sinkhole. It is about 80 yards in diameter and 230 feet deep where warm, heavily mineralized water enters from regions far below.

The Spring's 87 degree water can provide relief for muscular problems, arthritis and rheumatism. A curiosity of The Springs is that the water contains no dissolved oxygen, except at a layer of 15 or 20 feet thick at the surface, where some garfish and a few minnows manage to live.

Some say The Springs was the spot Ponce de Leon searched for, fought for and died for, believing that here, indeed, was the Fountain of Youth.

In the second photo the green plaque (which you can't read) says....

THE ORIGINAL FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH

Ruby Tuesday...........July 14, 2009

One of the many miniature railroad cars from the Ringling, Barnum & Bailey Circus Museum in Sarasota, FL .. the people figures are maybe 1.5-2" tall. If you ever get a chance to visit this miniature circus museum please go because this exhibit is amazing!

It is the world's largest miniature circus created over a period of more than 50 years by Howard Tibbals, master model builder & philanthropist. They say it took over a year to set up the diplay!

Ellipsis #46 seen in summer

This is definitely only seen in the summer ~ daughter's birthday July 6 (she is the one in my header photo). A friend made this beach themed cake for her and I made the shell and sea turtle candies. The sand is just colored sugar. Enlarge the photo and you can see the sea turtle tracks and the sea turtle at the top of the tracks.

Blue Monday #42

Found this not so plain bicycle rack while visiting Mount Dora, Florida

Monochrome Weekly for week of 7-12-09

Taken at Radcliffe Plantation, South Carolina

Mellow Yellow Monday #27

Another piece of artwork by a local (very talented) high school student.

Round Robin Photo Challenge: Silence

Leatherback returning to the sea ~ hopefully, she'll be back in a couple of years !!

Shadow Shot Sunday #60

Shadows along the 'road' on Little Gasparilla Island. There are no automobiles on this island because you can only get there by boat. The locals use golf carts and four-wheelers are used by the Division of Wildlife.

Our Weekend Memoirs (OWM) #1

Went over to Punta Gorda (Florida) this morning to photograph the 20 or so murals they have around town. I'm posting this one and you'll notice (if you click on the photo to enlarge) the time and temperature above the mural and that doesn't take into effect the humidity we have down here! Punta Gorda has built itself back up since Hurricane Charley hit there on Friday the 13th in August 2004. We didn't move here until about 6 weeks later.

Camera Critters #66

I've got the tripod set up (inside the house) because there has been quite a bit of activity from the cardinals, morning doves, blue jays and red-bellied woodpeckers. I no sooner got it set up and look what I found in the feeder!

Pink Saturday ... 7-11-09

Happy Pink Saturday everyone...

Wildflowers earlier in the spring along I-75 near Tampa, FL

Camera Critters #66

Don't know what it is about south Florida but this is the second albino animal I have found since moving here '04. The first was a squirrel which I posted quite awhile ago. I don't know if people throw food out or what but these raccoons are all over the place near one of the small marinas we use on Boca Grande Island, Florida

Color Carnival #10

Strolling thru the flea market and spotted these colorful array of flowers.

Friday "My Town" Shoot Out & Sunday Stills....Textures

Enlarge the first photo and read the description then enlarge the second so you can really see the spikes.

Brenda's Photo Challenge.....Shadows

The 'shadowed' mirror image is what drew me to take this shot.
Father's Day 2008 kayaking trip

Tagged!

I've been tagged by blogging buddy Vicky of Beauty for Ashes.

Here are the rules:

1. Go to your photo files....select the 6th photo folder

2. Select the 6th photo in that folder

3. Post that photo along with the story behind it

4. Then challenge 6 blogging friends to do the same!


Look what I found!! While on an early morning shelling expedition while visiting Little Gasparilla Island I found this washed up puffer fish. I don't think it had been there very long because it still looked quite moist and not dried up at all.

Thanks Vicky...that was fun.

Now I'm challenging six of my blogging friends and/or anyone else who wants to play along:

1. Ebie of the main ingredient
2. Pam of Southern Journeys
3. Maya of A Beach Lovers Place
5. Imac of Photos from the Minds Eye
6. Pacey of This Way Thurs Way (a Thursday meme)

ABC Wednesday ... Y = Yellowstone

Watery Wednesday #43

Spotted this starfish while walking to the boat....the water isn't normally this clear but was glad it was this day or I wouldn't have seen this small starfish! Of course, when we got back from boating it was gone.

This Way Thurs Way #16

Venice, FL is quite pet friendly according to this post. Actually it is a very pet friendly town, where everyone has their dogs (large and small) with them at the local art shows and sitting with them in the outdoor restaurants. I found this fountain near the newspaper office not far from downtown. The area actually has a sidewalk that follows the intracoastal waterway.

Ruby Tuesday....7-7-09

While driving down a neighborhood street last spotted this very patriotic home. They must order these inflatables online because I've never seen them anywhere, not that I'm looking for them to display in my yard. The first one was displayed to the left of their driveway and the others were in their front yard as you can see.

Mellow Yellow Monday - July 6

Metal sculptures spotted in Mount Dora, FL

Color Carnival #9

Colorful Beanie Babies everywhere at the flea market!

Pink Saturday....7-4-09

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY everyone and of course, PINK SATURDAY...

I found this 10 ft flamingo standing in someone's yard in

Big Pine Key, FL and thought it quite whimsical. I guess if you

live in the Keys anything goes!

Sky Watch Friday...July 3

This is what a sunset looks like in Key West, FL!! Taken June 08

Camera Critters #65

Daughter's BF works in the African area at the Brevard Zoo and this is he and Max the rhino getting a little massage;~)

This Way..Thurs-Way #15

While driving with friends on a back country road I noticed this abandoned old pool hall and had my friend turn around. I think the Please Honk For Assistance sign is what caught my attention.