Give me a break...please!

From the storefront of "The lady from Haiti" boutique downtown Naples.

This is exactly how I feel today...well, maybe not so chipper ;-)

Let me explain. For the past 2 weeks we were hosting 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 vacation!

(BTW - this was their first visit to the States and with the euro at an all-time high, they were...well, like kids in a candy store! Our food, gas and clothing seemed ridiculously inexpensive to them!)

The signs of spring...

A pair of Stinkpot turtles feeling frisky in the marshes...

Are you getting spring fever?

Naïf

There is a funky Caribbean art gallery and gift boutique in the heart of downtown Naples, called "The lady from Haiti".

This painting is just one of many vibrant works by the artist E Jean-Louis.

To see more paintings (and read about "the lady" herself), you can visit here.

The art of sharing

brown pelicans off Naples Pier

Continuing Thursday post...

Here's what happens to mild-mannered pelicans when one of them snags a fish - the rest attack with fervor, forcefully prying open his gullet and stealing his catch.

How rude!

Catch me, if you can...

brown pelicans off Naples Pier

Belle of the ball? Ring around the Rosy?

No, just a gang of youngsters trying to prevent the mature pelican (in the middle, with yellow plumage) from stealing the fish scraps thrown to them by the fishermen. He seemed to outwit them every time!

Hey, age has its privileges ;-)

The edge

The Anhinga is the classic bird many people visualize when they think of a swamp; a place of Spanish moss draped trees in a watery environment.

It is a bird that is frequently seen sunning itself on a snag with wings spread and long neck outstretched. Its behavior of frequently bobbing its neck and making primitive calls adds to the mystique of its setting.

The Anhinga, also known as "water turkey" and "snake bird", is a regular on this blog...

Fuzzy golf

community golf course shrouded in morning fog

"Through early morning fog I see

visions of the things to be

the pains that are withheld for me

I realize and I can see...

that suicide is painless."

Do your recognize the quote?

Here is the same gazebo in the sunlight...

A tale of 2 frogs

This little froggie went to market,


and this little froggie stayed home ;-)

Ribid!

Fancy this?

Do you have some extra cash ly(on)ing around?

Is your den large enough to house a bronzed horse?

If the answer is yes to both, you might want to visit the American Art & Antiques downtown Naples.

Don't worry - they deliver ;-)

Seeded

This is the same Cardboard Plant (Zamia Furfuracea) I posted a photo of here. When ripe, the female cone breaks to reveal an array of tightly packed, bright red seeds.

Just goes to prove - you can never judge a book by its cover!

Btw - can you guess why the seeds are not eaten?

Have a seat

Fifth Avenue South, Naples

Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits.

~ Satchel Paige

However you do it, enjoy the weekend!

Winners and losers

Do you remember The Tortoise and the Hare fable? Well, this is the Florida version: The Turtle and the Gator (please enlarge the photo for a closer look).

As you can see, the turtle won the race...or did he? Draw your own conclusions ;-)

Not totally off topic: I've been under the weather lately and, as it usually happens when I run a fever, I've had some interesting dreams/nightmares/ hallucinations...

In one of them I was teaching a large snapping turtle how to climb a ladder so he could reach a microwave (precariously balanced on the top step), get inside of it and press the right button to "reheat" himself whenever he felt cold!?

In another dream nightmare, George Clooney was regretting that he cannot marry me, because "he does not feel worthy of me". Bugger!

Quiz Tuesday part 39

My brother owned one of those beauties and cried like a baby when it came time to let it go...
I never had such a strong connection to any vehicle I owned...with the exception of my first bike!
How about you?

Today's question is: can you name the car? and for some extra points: name the year.

The Answer: 1962 Corvette! The year was supplied by a friend (not the owner) so I cannot be absolutely sure. I guess we should ask Kate who seems to be an expert (or is married to one;-)).
Congratulations to Kate and all who guessed right.
(Ex- dream on! This beauty goes for $160,000!)

Simple things

Mangroves at Estero Estuary

"Heaven above was blue, and earth beneath was green; the river glistened like a path of diamonds in the sun; the birds poured forth their songs from the shady trees; the lark soared high above the waving corn; and the deep buzz of insects filled the air."

~Charles Dickens Nicholas Nickleby

Theme day - what your city is known for

To help you remember what Naples is known for, I came up with this acronym:

B.L.I.S.S.

Beaches

Leisure

Indulgence

Shopping

and Sunsets


Sadly, we are also known for hurricanes :-(

135 Daily Photo Bloggers are participating in today's theme. Please pay them a visit here:

Portland (OR), USA - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Memphis (Tennessee), USA - Manila, Philippines - San Diego (CA), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - New York City (NY), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - San Francisco (CA), USA - Mumbai (Maharashtra), India - Mainz, Germany - Weston (FL), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Turin, Italy - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Bicheno, Australia - Durban, South Africa - Joplin (MO), USA - Nashville (TN), USA - Stockholm, Sweden - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Brussels, Belgium - Chicago (IL), USA - Montpellier, France - Seattle (WA), USA - Mazatlan, Mexico - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Toulouse, France - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Susanville (CA), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Helsinki, Finland - Pilisvörösvár, Hungary - Lisbon, Portugal - Mexico (DF), Mexico - Trujillo, Peru - Dunedin (FL), USA - Albuquerque (NM), USAPort Angeles (WA), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - London, UK - Baziège, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Selma (AL), USA - Mumbai, India - Naples (FL), USA - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Setúbal, Portugal - Stayton (OR), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Arradon, France - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Athens, Greece - Austin (TX), USA - Singapore, Singapore - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Jackson (MS), USA - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Budapest, Hungary - Rotterdam, Netherlands - St Malo, FranceChandler (AZ), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Cleveland (OH), USA - Nottingham, UK - Kansas City (MO), USA - The Hague, Netherlands - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - Wrocław, Poland - Chateaubriant, France - Cheltenham, UK - Moscow, Russia - Monrovia (CA), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - Toruń, Poland - Grenoble, France - Lisbon, Portugal - New Orleans (LA), USA - Sydney, Australia - Boston (MA), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Montréal (QC), Canada - Wichita (KS), USA - Radonvilliers, France - Buenos Aires, Argentina - Christchurch, New Zealand - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Wailea (HI), USA - Aliso Viejo (CA), USA - St Francis, South Africa - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Seattle (WA), USA - Pasadena (CA), USA - Vienna, Austria - Orlando (FL), USA - Torun, Poland - Delta (CO), USA - Santa Fe (NM), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Paris, France - Stavanger, Norway - Niamey, Niger - Le Guilvinec, France - Bogor, Indonesia - Saarbrücken, Germany - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Juneau (AK), USA - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - Glasgow, Scotland - Chicago (IL), USA - Jakarta, Indonesia - Adelaide (SA), Australia - Sydney, Australia - Riga, Latvia - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Terrell (TX), USA - Terrell (TX), USA>