Watery Wednesday #57

These were taken last week while visiting Little Gasparilla Island, FL (gulf temperature at the time was a mere 84 degrees!)

Ruby Red Tuesday....tomatoes anyone?

We have a dear friend who is heavy into decorating with tomatoes....her husband is a tomato broker and they make their living in the tomato industry so I guess that's why there are so many tomatoe items in their home some of which are very expensive as in this first picture. If I'm not mistaken this set cost over $500 but it does have 8 tea cups to go with it!

Extra shelves were put up all around their kitchen, dining room and living room to accomodate a fraction of all the tomatoes they own.

They even commissioned someone to make this lamp ... it started out to be a ceramic pumpkin but they saw the vision of making it into a lamp and as you can see it worked out great.

Blue Monday ~ Unique Blue Things

Found this mermaid on a 'party type' boat that does sightseeing cruises out of Sarasota, FL while on the WorldWide Photo Walk this past summer.

Mellow Yellow Monday #39

Check out more Mellow Yellow Monday posts at

http://mellowyellowmonday.blogspot.com/

Stained glass art I found in a shop in Micanopy, FL

Color Carnival #24...."Never Give Up"

The painting below is done by Tony Ryals ....

see his story below this painting.

Tony Ryals was born with a rare, crippling disease robbing him any use of his arms and legs. At a very early age Tony was sent to a foster home, raised with LOVE and understanding, with a high standard of work ethics, mainly to always try to earn your own way in life. He was taught that everyone in this world will need help sometime in their life, that the human race is like a two-way street! (Always try to Give and sometimes Receive.) Not the Other way around! Meaning we ALL have our very own capabilities to give or help each other. No Excuses!

Tony is making it! His life is proof that even extreme obstacles can be overcome, and that dreams can be achieved. With a wife and two kids plus now a grandpa, he lives a happy productive life. Through his life and his life story, Tony encourages others to have Hope and to enjoy living, no matter what comes their way.

With a head ful of Dreams, and a Heart full of Hope, Tony was able to reach deep inside of himself and find peace. He was touched by the true Master Creator of all, GOD! These inspirational feelings give him the willpower and determination to develop this GOD given talent.

The Painter of Hope uses the finest artists tools, grasped in his teeth. Bringing a canvas to life with detail ranging from the smallest feather on a humingbird's wing, to the colors of a brillant sun setting on a tempestuous sea.

He feels the need to change the word disability to a brand new word Diff-Ability! His message to all of us is "Never Give Up".

check him out at http://www.artbymouth.com/

Shadow Shot Sunday....#73

Check out other great shadow shots at http://heyharriet.blogspot.com/

This is the way all playground parks for children should be....in the shadows....especially down here in SW Florida where the equipment can get blistering hot. This particular park is located at the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park in Cross Creek, FL (near Micanopy, FL).

Camera Critters #79...a seagull's breakfast tale

Captured these on Little Gasparilla Island, FL yesterday

Notice the fish under the seagulls foot

Picking it up...

trying to get it into mouth...

still trying....

got it in...

it's going down...

down a little farther ... but wait

oops, gag, guess it's just a bit too big!!

Color Carnival ..... #23

I really don't think words are needed to describe this photo except maybe OMG! I will say she is quite noticeable in all the color though.

This next one is blurry but you had to see she dressed up her ankles too!

For more Color Carnival click on the

Ellipsis..Monday Photo Shoot #58: Bridges & Walkways

Myakka River State Park in Sarasota, FL and a little history of the Canopy Walkway....

The Myakka Canopy Walkway was the inspiration of tropical rain forest canopy biologist Dr. Margaret Lowman (http://www.canopymeg.com/) .... world expert in canopy ecology using these walkways to study insect-plant interactions. This suspension bridge is 85' long and 25' high....it connects 2 towers, one of which is 35' high (you climb this one to get to the bridge) and the other is 74' high which you can climb to get a great view of the park. The trees along this walkway are live oaks, laurel oaks and cabbage palms.

Though her experience was with tropical ecosystems, she realized that Florida's forests were as imperiled as many of the legendary rainforests.

She began studying Myakka's treetops with traditional methods that included ropes, ladders, and pulleys. Then she devised a plan to build a walkway through the treetops, as had been done at several of her previous research stations

ABC Wednesday ..... the letter L

While daughter, Leslie was preparing her breakfast her per caique, Lucy, decided she wanted to know what was in the bowl so she flew over to her and decided that what was in the bowl was pretty good stuff!

Whenever you sit down on the couch or chair one of daughter Leslie's cats, Lily, will jump up in your lap just so she can lick you .... one of her favorite things to do, which drives me crazy, feeling that rough tongue on my arm. Guess she likes the salt from our skin.

Shadow Shot Sunday #72

Reflection/shadow on friends infinity pool with the Little Manatee River in the background.

visit more SSS photos here heyharriet.blogspot.com/

Color Carnival # 22

I went to the Charlotte Harbor Bird Show last weekend and found these very colorful bird toys

and this very pretty, colorful finch from Australia!

I knew better than to go to this show because now I want another bird, DH is not so sure yet! I did fill out an application to foster a small parrot or cockatiel and this way we'll know whether or not we really want a bird for the next 20 or so years!

Check out all the other Color Carnival posts at http://colorcarnivalmeme.blogspot.com/

This Way Thurs Way #25.....beware the pirates!

Actual "road" signs on Little Gasparilla Island, Florida. I say "road" because they are made up of sand, gravel and shell not blacktop roads because everyone uses golf carts on this island which is only accessible by boat.