400th Post and Farewell...

Big Hickory Island Beach

"The sun... has gone... to bed and so must I...

So long...farewell...auf weidersehen... goodbye...

Goodbye...Goodbye....Goodbye...."

(from The Sound of Music)

Dear blogger friends,

After year and a half and 400 posts, I will be taking an extended leave of absence from this forum. Hopefully it is not a true "goodbye", but rather "until we meet again one day".

If you find yourself missing the brilliant Florida light (and you know you will ;-)), please drop in on my many fellow CDP bloggers around the Sunshine State.

Thank you for your visits, kind comments and friendship. I will miss you and the images of your hometowns and promise to visit, whenever possible. In the meantime -

LIVE. LOVE. LAUGH.

Isabella

Remember me

off Key West, Florida

"Ships that pass in the night,

and speak each other in passing,

Only a signal shown, and a distant voice in the darkness.

So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another.

Only a look and a voice;

then darkness again and a silence."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Tales of a Wayside Inn

*

Tomorrow, Sunday, I will celebrate my 400th post and more. Today's post is a sign of things to come...

Grumpy Bird

"Bird wakes up feeling grumpy. Too grumpy to eat or play - too grumpy even to fly."

I wonder if Jeremy Tankard had this bird in mind when he wrote his book;-)

No regrets

"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,

Old Times is still a-flying:

And this same flower that smiles today,

Tomorrow will be dying."

Robert Herrick To the Virgins to Make Much of Time

Reflections

Reflections fascinate me. It's like a big puzzle - can you find all the pieces that make up 2 completely diverse pictures? Like this one, taken of an art gallery in Key West.


Or this one, of a funky art gallery in downtown Naples.


And my favorite, yet another art gallery in...can you guess where?

Monochromatic

To celebrate Earth Day 2008, I am going green...

How will you mark the day?

Passages

Small alley behind a garden shop, downtown Naples.

I spy Sunday

I spied an Anhiga, surveying his territory, but if you enlarge the photo, you will spy something else in the water...

Little helper

The rabbit on the right (please click to enlarge) is on our payroll - he trims the arbor so we don't have to.

(Sorry, can't visit, I am travelling).

Standoff

"You wanna piece of me?" challenged the Hawk.
The pair of Blue Jays, chasing him away from their nest, took notice.

Needs grooming

Who is more hairy - Truffles or his keeper?

Stop the World - I Want to Get Off

Rest stop along Florida Turnpike (taken from a speeding car).

"This big old world is spinning like a top
Come and help me now and make it stop
All you have to do is live for now
Come along with me I'll show you how..."

It's one of those days...You know what I mean?

Quiz Tuesday part 42

Another strange appendage I came upon near the beach. What the heck is it?

TOG? ANYBODY?

My destiny

"Just beyond the sunset

Someone waits for me

Just beyond the sunset

Lies my destiny

Where the purple mountains

Lie in deep tranquillity

There I’ll find the treasure

Of love eternally

Just beyond the sunset

Waits someone so fair

Just beyond the sunset

All alone they wait there

Their hair is golden

The colour of the sand

Their eyes sparkle in the night

Like diamonds in your hand

Just beyond the sunset

Lies a home for me

Where the world is peaceful

Like a paradise should be

Just beyond the sunset

Someday is where you’ll find me"

David Harris

Tipsy

This should serve as a reminder: Please don't drink and drive fly!

(I caught this Cardinal just as he was about to spread his wings and fly off)

At first glance

Another participant in the Third in Bloom competition

When I first came upon C.W. Smith (seen in the background), I mistook it for W.H Smith, the English Bookstore on the Rue de Rivoli in Paris (that's the place to get English newspapers and The New York Times, best sellers and a wide range of English paperbacks).

This Smith, however, is "a direct importer of 17th, 18th and 19th century antiques from China and the former British, Dutch and Portuguese colonies in Asia".

That's a whole different kettle of fish, isn't it...

Quirky

This fellow would not give up his seat for me...What happened to chivalry?

And this place opted out of the "Third in Bloom" competition. I don't blame them - exactly what kind of gardening would go with ''Bad Ass Coffee"?

Flowery welcome

Man, it's a jungle out there!

My favorite gift boutique, A Mano, was one of the entrants in the "Third in Bloom" competition, where storefronts are decorated with container gardens.

You like?

Canine oasis

John Craig Clothier, downtown Naples, consistently wins top honors for their "timeless menswear for the sophisticated man".


I would like to bestow on them one more - my own Animal Lover award.
See that doggie water dish in front of the entrance?
From what I could see, it was very much appreciated on a hot, sunny day.
A lot of happy tail wagging...And I don't mean me ;-)

The town is jumpin'

There's been a lot going on downtown Naples lately. Like the "Third in Bloom" festival, where the Garden Club judges the best decorated merchant' windows on Third Street South. I will show you some of them this week.

Also, the ever popular Naples Art Festival on Fifth Ave South.

All you need is some comfortable walking shoes and a bottle of water. Baby, it's hot out there!

Just another day...

Big Hickory Island beach

Sunday, 6 April

Naples air temperature 89°F/31°C

Gulf of Mexico water temperature 81°F/27°C

Nuff said.

Fiery end

Photo taken through the screen of my lanai

"After a day of cloud and wind and rain

Sometimes the setting sun breaks out again,

and touching all the darksome woods with light,

Smiles on the fields until they laugh and sing,

Then like a ruby from the horizon's ring,

Drops down into the night."

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

More blooms

This post is dedicated to Tog of Coral Gables for 2 reasons:

1. He keeps me on my toes. Every so often he emails me privately and basically points out "YOU IGNORANT GIRL, YOU GOT THE WRONG PLANT NAME AGAIN", but in a very nice way ;-)

I've lived in SW Florida for only a few years and am still learning about its fauna and flora, so his guidance is very appreciated.

2. He saved the life of the orchid above. Last year, after it bloomed and reverted to its dead stick stage, Tog advised me to tie it up to a tree and forget it. Well, guess what - six months later the orchid is on my patio, happy and thankful for a second chance...

And this showy Spider Lily is blooming in my garden...at least I think it's a Spider Lily. Tog?

Neapolitan Spring

If you take a look at the CDPB portal you will notice it right away: Spring has sprung! We are regailed with splendid photos of apple blossoms, cherry trees, redbuds and tulips.

Since South Florida enjoys summerlike weather all year long, it is a bit of a challenge to find some legitimate signs of Spring. But I did! This African Tulip tree is in bloom right now...

and the Tabebuia chrysantha (not a Yellow Poinciana!) beckons under its shady canopy.

more tomorrow...

Lost and Found

You can always tell whenever small children have paid a visit to the Canoe Park. There are (not so subtle) reminders scattered all around. Like these rose colored sunglasses left behind on top of a canoe...

or this highly fashionable picture book, forgotten on a bench.

Were we ever that careless about our possessions as kids? Don't think so. I did not have much...but what I had, I cared about. Maybe that's the secret.

Naples own

"You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time."
Abraham Lincoln (attributed)16th president of US (1809 - 1865)

Most of you guessed my April Fool's joke in yesterday's post : it was one of the famous fountains from the Gardens of Versailles, France. Bravo Olivier, you were the first to identify it!

It's not like Naples lacks in that department - this fountain from the Third Street South even has some horses - but it does not pack the same punch, does it?

Theme day - water

Combining the love of horses and fountains, this is my take on today's theme: water.

Now all you have to do is figure out the April Fool's Day element to this post ;-)

***
Please visit the other 170 bloggers participating this month:


Adelaide, Australia by Gordon, Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by Digger, Arradon, France by Alice, Ashton under Lyne, UK by Pennine, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Guntur Purwanto, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Paja, Belgrade, Serbia & Montenegro by Bibi, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Fenix, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Boston (MA), USA by Sarah, Whit, & Leyre, Brighton, UK by Harvey, Brookville (OH), USA by Abraham, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Cape Town, South Africa by Kerry-Anne, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chicago (IL), USA by b.c., Christchurch, New Zealand by Michelle, Clearwater (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Clearwater Beach (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Cleveland (OH), USA by iBlowfish, Coral Gables (FL), USA by Jnstropic, Cypress (TX), USA by Riniroo, Dallas/Fort Worth (TX), USA by A Wandering Soul, Dunedin (FL), USA by Smaridge01, Durban, South Africa by CrazyCow, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Evry, France by Olivier, Glasgow, Scotland by Jackie, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Guelph, Canada by Pat, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Inverness (IL), USA by Neva, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jakarta, Indonesia by Santy, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jogjakarta, Indonesia by Jogja Portrait, Joplin (MO), USA by Victoria, Juneau (AK), USA by Gwyn, Katonah (NY), USA by Inkster1, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lake Forest Park (WA), USA by Azure, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, Lodz, Poland by ritalounge, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Mainz, Germany by JB, Maple Ridge, Canada by Susan, Marseille, France by Alex, Mazatlan, Mexico by Kate, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Memphis (TN), USA by SouthernHeart, Menton, France by Jilly, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Mexico City, Mexico by Poly, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minsk, Belarus by Olga, Monrovia (CA), USA by Keith, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Montego Bay, Jamaica by Ann, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Moscow, Russia by Irina, Mumbai, India by Kunalbhatia, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Nancy, France by yoshi, Naples (FL), USA by Isabella, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, Niamey, Niger by Dinabee, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norman (OK), USA by Chad & LaCresha, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Nottingham, UK by Gail's Man, Odense, Denmark by ania odense, Omsk, Russia by Nataly, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Oslo, Norway by Lothiane, Paderborn, Germany by Soemchen, Paris, France by Eric, Paris, France by Gordio, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Pont-à-Mousson, France by Tintin-j, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Elizabeth, South Africa by Sam, Port Townsend (WA), USA by raf, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portland (OR), USA by NWgal, Portland (ME), USA by Corey, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Quincy (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Riga, Latvia by Prokur, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Saarbrücken, Germany by LadyDemeter, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by Eric, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Shanghai, China by Jing, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, St Francis, South Africa by Sam, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Nathalie, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tacloban City, Philippines by agnesdv, Terrell (TX), USA by Bstexas, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, The Hague, Netherlands by Lezard, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Toruń, Poland by Torun Observer, Toulouse, France by Julia, Turin, Italy by Livio, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by Rachel, Wassenaar, Netherlands by Rich, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn

Big Al

I wanted you to experience Al up close and personal. This image was obviously zoomed in...

...however, this was the distance between us.

Fearless or foolish? You decide ;-)

Couplehood V

Mourning Dove: "For a relationship to work, you need good communication...but I feel like I'm doing all the talking!"

This is the last of my "Couplehood" series. Hope the course of your relationships run smoother ;-)

Couplehood IV

To celebrate the arrival of Spring (and all that it implies), I am continuing with the series titled "Couplehood".

Glossy Ibis (leaving in a huff): "I can't believe you won't share your catch with me..."

Little Blue Heron (munching on the fish): "If I've told you once, I've told you a thousand times - what's yours is mine, what's mine...don't touch!"

more tomorrow...

Couplehood III

mallards in my pond

To celebrate the arrival of Spring (and all that it implies), I am continuing with the series titled "Couplehood".

Female duck: "We still have so much to do today: preening, fishing for dinner, feathering the cove for the night...
Male duck (disinterested): "I know you are talking, but all I hear is "quack, quack, quack..."

more tomorrow...

Couplehood II

fish in my lagoon

To celebrate the arrival of Spring (and all that it implies), I am continuing with the series titled "Couplehood".

Fish 1: "Did I ever tell you about the fisherman I got away from?"

Fish 2: "Yes, many times. And each time you tell the story, the hook grows bigger and bigger!"

more tomorrow...

Couplehood I

Even the pelicans enjoy Naples white-sand beaches

To celebrate the arrival of Spring (and all that it implies), I am starting a series titled "Couplehood".

Pelican 1: "I can't believe you forgot the towels again!"
Pelican 2: "Oh, stop nagging and just flap your wings to dry off!"

More tomorrow...

Double trouble

photo taken through the screen

As I was debating which photo to post today, not one but two bunnies hopped into my yard (which explains the sorry state of my plants!).

What could be more appropriate?

HAPPY EASTER!

Predator

Dragonfly: A Haiku

"Blue mosquito hawk
Swooping in to catch your prey
Mighty dragonfly"

Melyssa Sprott

St. Patrick's Day hangover?

And you think you're having a bad hair day?

Blue and red

Bougainvillea branch, hanging over the lake

In 1768, when Admiral Louis de Bougainville (a French navigator and military commander) began his long journey to the Pacific Ocean and discovered the vine that now bears his name, it was the botanical highlight of the voyage.

Through the ensuing years, this Brazilian beauty has assumed its rightful place as one of the most popular, spectacular and beautiful tropical plants.

And a perennial favorite of mine...

Fish story

I caught this wood stork catching a fish...

...now fish for my catch here ;-)

Hem cat

So by now you probably heard that when Hemingway settled in Key West, Florida around 1931, he was gifted a six-toed (polydactyl) cat by a ship's captain. Today there are around 60 descendants of that cat roaming freely around Hemingway's Home and Museum on the island.

Most of them are named after a famous artist (Pablo Picasso, Emily Dickinson), but I could not find out the name of this black beauty so I baptized him Nikon - for our fellow blogger and lover of cats and all things Hemingway...

Day 5 and a quiz

For the past 2 weeks we hosted our good friends from Germany. We knew that they were both athletic and adventurous, but they totally wore us out!!! For the next few days I will show you just some of the things we did on their vacations!

I will end this series with our weekend escapade to Key West. What can I say about the Conch Republic besides its being the southernmost city in the continental United States?

It assaults all of your senses: it is funky and sexy and oh, so tropical...For more, visit here .

I will combine this post with the old perennial favorite (!) - Quiz Tuesday# 41. Today's question: Can you guess where this photo was taken?

Here are some clues: 1. yes, we are still in Key West, and 2. some of those cats are polydactyl...