Sunday, April 27, 2008

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

Saturday, April 26, 2008

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...

Friday, April 25, 2008

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;-)

Thursday, April 24, 2008

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

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Reflections

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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.

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

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

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Monochromatic

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

How will you mark the day?

Monday, April 21, 2008

Passages

Small alley behind a garden shop, downtown Naples.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

I spy Sunday

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

Saturday, April 19, 2008

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).

Friday, April 18, 2008

Standoff

hawk

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

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Needs grooming


Who is more hairy - Truffles or his keeper?

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

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?

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Quiz Tuesday part 42

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

TOG? ANYBODY?

Monday, April 14, 2008

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

Sunday, April 13, 2008

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)

Saturday, April 12, 2008

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...

Friday, April 11, 2008

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"?

Thursday, April 10, 2008

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?

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

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 ;-)

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

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!

Monday, April 7, 2008

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.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

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

Saturday, April 5, 2008

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?

Friday, April 4, 2008

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...

Thursday, April 3, 2008

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.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

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?

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

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 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