My brother in Indianapolis sent me home with a knot for a pot of my favorite tea - jasmine. And as the package and he promised, with some just-about-boiling-water it blossomed. And over a steaming cup of incredible smelling tea my daughter and I shared secrets on a sunny afternoon. Not just tea, but time too. It was so much fun I thought I'd share it with the world. On a plate as it were.
Barbie is checking out the dinosaur. Yup. She is looking over to check him out. How could I resist the tension? This Children's Museum is the coolest looking building I have ever seen. If only I had gone inside...
Rich and I just experienced the bone-chilling cold in Indianapolis and Chicago. It was well worth suffering a little cold to have the chance to visit with family and it can't be denied that Santa's reindeer were creating quite a scene as you can see in this picture over the hood of our car! What kind of decorations are taking over your neighborhood?
There are those who suggest that the warm Florida air and the spirit of Christmas might possibly be mutually exclusive. I beg to differ. Just check out these Black Skimmers. Now are they not suggestive of penguins in the snow? I find sand to to be remarkably similar to snow in a number of respects. It is quite lovely to see the wind blowing sand into the footprints, gently covering one's tracks. And it does not get dirty, messy, and slippery. Well, except when the seagrass deposited by the tide begins to rot...
We were thrilled to have some of our friends from Prague come and visit us in Redington Shores! And as we were beach walking this nonchalant Great Blue Heron was hanging out as if to emphasize that wildlife is ordinary on this stretch of beach. And it is. Next I'll have to capture some of the unusual looking sea gulls that are really terns.
We finally had a chance to visit Bok Tower Gardens. It was truly tranquil. We did not tour the Singing Tower carillon, but we did meet this eager bench. We walked behind the tower and there opened before us a great expanse of Florida. Such a surprise! And leaning forward in eagerness was this simple but fun little bench. There had also been a wedding that day and we caught a glimpse of the bride posing for pictures.
Now who might that doctor fellow under Jason's arm be? My date! Friends had a hopping Halloween party and then we hopped on down to Sarasota for a big bash. The band was good, but I don't think we'll be back. It was a long drive for a bit of fun dancing. But it was fun! Jason in the palm trees...
On October 18, 2009 Rich and I joined the Suncoast Blues Society. How could we not? They hosted the International Blues Challenge and our favorite musician from Mahuffer's, Lee Pons, won the solo spot! Now he's off to Memphis and I think he really has a shot at winning. You should see his hands on that keyboard!
Everyday the beach changes and everyday it is the same. There are always tourists and there is always a sunrise and sunset. And the flood of people on the beach on Fridays, together with my personal daily status as tourist has conspired to make me believe that every day of my life is a Friday. Like today. Can you feel that release of joy? Yum.
When we were staying at friends I decided to wander around the property. I came across this cement pool. It didn't occur to me at the time that it was a swimming pool, but that's what it is. The water was clear through to the bottom - if you could find a spot to see through all of the vegetation growing in and on it. With the right background music it would have made a fabulous scene in a horror film!
Did I mention that the grandchild came to visit Dressage at Devon? Boy and Wilhemine have fun saying hello. They have a few grandchildren running around at home too. And there was no fear-of-the-beard going on at all. But then again, who could be afraid of Boy's jolliness? It helps too that he has the coolest parents who take him to meet everyone everywhere!
Rich is a true gentleman escorting judges, answering the phone and other duties as assigned. Even in the rain he perseveres and smiles.
And how much fun I get to have sharing the company of Boy & Wilhelmine de Winter, the famous hat maker and his wife! An old craft, lively friends and gorgeous horses. A good week and a fun day.
Yes, I have fallen into Fall in Pennsylvania. Rich and I had the pleasure and privilege of visiting with friends in Chadds Ford for a couple of days. They have a warm home with a bosom of a back porch and a few acres of backyard that is very green with cool evenings, warm afternoons and ample rainfall. Fascinating people actively living. Love it!
There is this storm drain in front of our building that is a lie. It does no draining at all, but does provide ample opportunity for a reflection photo. What I have not been able to photograph are the storms that we have had the past couple of days. The otherwise calm Gulf is choppy and the wind whistles through our windows. It is also quite something to see the lightning over the Gulf. Rich and I walk the beach most days and on calm mornings we are privileged to witness hundreds of sting rays gliding in the surf with their wingtips occasionally poking through the water surface.
Well, we missed the Andy Warhol exhibit, but we did have fun in the "activities" area of the museum! Turns out we are likely to visit the Museum of Fine Arts again. I liked their photography collection and otherwise it was a comfortable mix of art in a very pleasant building. We happen to live very close by too!
The Suncoast Blues Society hosted its “10th Annual Beach Bash” at the Lion's Club Beach House in Sunset Beach in Florida and this handsome gentleman was willing to have me take his picture. The music was too loud inside but outdoors was quite enjoyable, if a bit warm in the afternoon sun. And what lovely sun it is!
Now that Rich and I have committed to living on the beaches, has our lifestyle changed? Do we have a new "bundle of behaviors"? I'm not convinced. When wandering the building I do wear my lime-green Crocs, but you still won't see me with them outside, even at the grocery store. And since the beach is in my backyard, I change out of my bathing suit before going to the bar for Friday happy hour. After all, *I'm* not on vacation even though many of the people around me are. I have decided I need to have a whole lot more sundresses in my wardrobe, though. Next weekend I will be shopping!
Rich and I decided to try somewhere new for drinks in our neighborhood yesterday. The Red Lion is a billed as an English pub and it does have that dark, cool, working class vibe that I enjoy. As you can see from the picture, it is a bit run down. We sat outside because it was a comfortable time of day, but the street was a bit noisy. Tomorrow we are going to get cultured and see a museum instead.
So I've been a little absent from my blog these days. This picture is a little piece of why. Settling into the new condo while working full-time has been a challenge. But just before we left for Prague this year Walgreen's gave me a coupon for some free prints (it's a benefit of getting on lots of "new neighbor" lists) and as I was unpacking I came across them. There's nothing like pictures on the refrigerator of one's favorite people and things to make a place feel like home! What do you have on your refrigerator?
We arrived in New York from Prague and after visiting with children and the grandchild started our drive south to Florida. In North Carolina we decided to check out Moore's Barbecue for lunch. I think it was the least healthy meal we had the entire trip! Fried chicken, canned green beans, coleslaw and hush puppies. Yup. Hush puppies. As far as I can tell they are fried dough and quite bland. The building was a re-claimed fast food joint with a hodge-podge of furniture inside and out. It was fun to hear people talk with the thick North Carolina accent and who could resist this little bitty pink van?
I spent the day wining. It is my last day in Prague - we fly out to New York tomorrow - and I spent it with friends. And wine. Why? It just seemed to happen. Who needs lunch when there is a lovely glass of white wine - summertime aroma, light fruit flavors and not too sweet - that reflects the garden patio of an old family retreat on the castle hill? And after dinner we met another friend and she wanted to share a bottle of wine. Later we toasted again with dear friends. Now I think I'll have some sweet wine-free sleep!
This flat is full of some very interesting and varied artwork. Sitting on top of the television is a replica of the statue by Otto Gutfreund titled Anxiety (how fitting for the TV). And reflected in the window is a large, unsigned painting that hangs on the living room wall. There are all sorts of pictures on the walls - oils, watercolor, drawings, photos - most of them featuring Prague. It is an inspiring city!
The weather in Prague this summer has been chaotic. One day it is hot and the next it is raining all day. This day it rained and then the sun popped out. Which means that there were puddles everywhere amongst the cobblestones reflecting the gorgeous facades in the historic city center of Prague. (Oh, and you can fuhgeddaboudit-smoking and rain are not compatible.) How many puddles have you admired lately?
The Zwinger Palace in Dresden is expansive. And at noon on a warm summer day, it is not for the faint of heart. In the sculpture gallery each piece commanded its space.
Rodin's oversized bust against the window reveals the other side of the inner courtyard. Rich was delighted to find The Little Fourteen-Year-Old Dancer by Degas. It is always fun to find sculpture that is dressed appropriately.
Rich and I took a trip to the old city center of Dresden. It was a quick and pleasant 2-hour train ride through the country to get there. After walking 15 minutes along a very modern shopping thoroughfare we arrived in the old town. The first thing that impressed me was this sculpture. The pose and the elongation of the limbs and other distortions were moving.
But we didn't see a single photograph. It didn't seem anything like the description I had read. On the upside, we ended up purchasing some sort of multi-pass so we visited a few different museums in the Zwinger Palace complex. As you can see, all sorts of people were browsing. The square in front of our flat notwithstanding, it was some of the best people-watching we've had in Europe so far this year!
My friend Dagmar and I were taking a Saturday morning walk up Petrin Hill when what do we spy by the fountain? PUNK ROCKERS! Speaking American English and acting like a tourist I was completely ignored by and delightfully included the punkers in my photos! It is heartening to discover that some things never change and people are people the world over.
Even though I work each day, I try to live every day as though I were on vacation. Living in a different country for a couple of months helps, but today I was inspired by the frolicking tourists on the square below my flat window. These two lovely young women were being coached by their camera-toting friend to jump around a bit for a photo. I am a big fan of silliness!!
We took a trip to the National Gallery in Prague at Veletržní Palác. Rich and I both love it there. It is a very fun and lively modern art museum. And you thought I was obsessed over reflections? This artist more so! Can you find Rich in the picture? He is ever so kind to pose endlessly for me...
Rich and I were passing by this restaurant as a medium-sized herd of tourists (seen trailing on the right) were headed into the old Jewish section of town (you can see a synagogue on the left). I was dazzled and had to snap a shot. One's daily visual experience is so complex! My goal is to capture some of the complexity so that I can examine it with care - and share of course ;-D
I have been persistently traversing the old town streets in order to put each boulevard, street, avenue and alley into an ever growing map inside my head. This day was no exception.
We went to visit the ruins of Hrad Okoř, but it was the lunch that made the visit most memorable. At the foot of the ruins lies the castle gates, guarded by fierce lions.
So the day was overcast and later it poured rain, but while we were witness to these fiercesome gargoyles there was no rain and they were silent. They guard the town hall in the quaint city of České Budějovice.
We arrived in Český Krumlov in time for a late lunch. And what should a girl spy in the soup spoon? Why Budvar, of course. It certainly tasted mighty fine with a traditional Czech meal. And then it rained.
We went to visit Rich's friend Eva and her husband Bob for dinner. Not only was conversation fun and lively, but they served us a home-cooked meal as well! Ahhh. The taste sensation! It was really comforting food. Especially the soup made with fresh mushrooms he hand picked. Like many people in Prague, they have a country cottage to escape to where the wild things grow.
Their daughter is studying chemistry and was preparing for an exam. She came out of her room to ask for her father's help. My days of equations are long since finished and I make no pretense of any lingering knowledge. Rich, the ever curious, wanted a peek. Here he is telling her that it all looks Greek to him!
At the top of Petrin Hill is a magnificent rose garden. Not only are the flowers beautiful, but the scents are unusual and delicious! It seems a bit offbeat to remember the lovely, constant buzzing of thousands of bees who were also enjoying the rose garden whilst hearing the drone of the man in the street below our flat's windows, advocating the pub crawl. Unfortunately, this boisterous event is very popular and has provided us with unpleasant colors and odors on occasion! Now, back to the rose garden...
...maybe they could give me directions! I had made yet another wrong turn and had just passed this garage door when I went back for another look. It was an amazing door. Prague may confound me, but it also astounds me. The door had multiple panels covered in identical heads facing different directions. This particular shot shows you how it is rolling into the wall as it opens. I can't say as I've ever seen a garage door with this much craftsmanship. Have you?
Last year we had difficulty getting the internet in our flat to work consistently. This year it is the same. When I am too frustrated I walk to a local kavarna and order coffee or tea with my wifi. What goes best with your wifi?
So my daughter is here in Prague at the same time as I am. She came to visit me yesterday for the comfort of familiarity and some home-cooked food. As we passed this glass door on the old town square the sun was actually shining and lighting up the buildings so we stopped on our way to the metro. We are the figures in the far right of the reflection. My daughter is on the left, and it is fascinating how much she looks like I did only a few years ago... (except of course I wasn't in Europe traveling!)
Richard might go for the whiskey, but we were in Vinohrady after all, so I went for the red wine. We had wandered out looking for an after dinner drink, but were suddenly disenchanted with the old city. Strange, huh? Here we are smack dab in the middle of one of the oldest, most enchanting cities in Europe (don't dispute me here, let's keep going with it) and it's not as if we don't appreciate it. Every time I pass through the square and look up at the Chram Tyn towers I can't help but agree with all of my fellow tourists pointing their cameras at them. But it is not a neighborhood and as we have discovered, Rich and I crave neighborhoods. Especially ones with a lovely, woody kavarna.
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