Art muse

Coconut Point Festival of the Arts

If ever a Genie offered to grant me one wish, I would not hesitate for a second! I'd wish I could paint! My entire family is very artistic - painters, sculptors and designers. I am the only misfit - I can not draw a circle...And sadly, I do not have any other talents to compensate for it ;-)

I was musing on the subject this week-end, while attending the Art Festival at Coconut Point. The pure talent and the creativity of some artists is astounding. But in the end, what drew me the most was this booth; it was the only one that stirred a myriad of (private!) emotions in me.

Sure, a photograph might preserve the moment, but only a painting can safeguard the
sentiment...

Update, in response to many of your comments:
Well obviously, I did not express myself well enough, as happens often ;-).
Undeniably, I can be moved by viewing a photo as well as a painting. But I am talking about the creative part of it - by taking a photo I capture the moment, but if I was to paint the same scene, I would put my own interpretation into it…my own feelings…my remembrances...my own spin on it...Do I make sense?

Uptown, downtown #4

When you visit Naples - and you will ;-) - do not expect me to chauffeur you around town. I have a life, people, I am much too busy: the alligator needs his teeth flossed (there are bits of turtle stucked between them), the snake has to be oiled for easier slithering, the lizard needs his claws clipped and the anhinga has to be towel dried (poor thing can't take off).

So I offer you an alternative solution. Take the 2 hour sightseeing tour on the Naples Trolley.
This is just one of their many stops throughout the city. See the best of Naples on board a vintage trolley and enjoy their fully-narrated tour, covering over 100 points of interest.

Then give me a call, and we'll do lunch...

Quiz Tuesday part 18

The dog day's of summer? I guess you can say that - we've been in the 80's (30°C) for many weeks now...But we've been warned today that a cold front is approaching; next week-end the temperature will only reach the mid 70's (24°C) ;-)

Today's question: what is the lady offering Fifi?

Airmail

Just in case you are suffering from withdrawal symptoms after overdosing on mail boxes yesterday...here's one more ;-)

This was my alternative post, but I could not come up with a good story to convince you that this stork (OK, egret) just delivered my mail...Well, you accused me of having a pet alligator, snake and lizard...why not a trained stork?

So, would you believe...

Theme day - A Public Mail Box

Oops! I thought you meant "a public male box" ;-)

April Fool's Day!*****Poisson d'avril!

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64 Daily Photo sites are participating in the 1st April theme, "A Public Mail Box", please use the links below to visit them.
London (UK) -Grenoble (France) -Rotterdam (Netherlands) -Greenville SC (USA) -Hyde (UK) -Villigen (Switzerland) -Albuquerque NM (USA) -Mazatlan (Mexico) -Montréal (Canada) -Stayton OR (USA) -Shanghai (China) -Jing -Arradon (France) -Sequim WA (USA) -Newcastle upon Tyne (England) -Seattle WA (USA) -Kim -Bastia (Corse) -Minneapolis MN (USA) -Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) -Joplin MO (USA) -Sharon, CT (USA) -Cottage Grove MN [USA] -Houston, TX (USA) -Candice & Megan -Singapore - by Keropokman. -Guelph, ON (Canada) -Menton (France) -Monte Carlo, Monaco -Naples, FL (USA) -Kyoto (Japan) -Tokyo (Japan) -Aliso Viejo, CA (USA) -Cape Town (South Africa) - Jakarta (Indonesia) -Kitakami (Japan) -Tel Aviv (Israel) -Vantaa(Finland) -Guadalajara (Mexico) -Auckland (New Zealand) -Nelson (New Zealand) -Tuzla (B&H) -Brussels (Belgium) -Anderson, SC (USA) -Lubbock, TX (USA) -John, Melbourne, (Australia) -Stavanger (Norway) -Tenerife (Spain) -Stockholm (Sweden) -Boston, MA (USA) -Not Strictly Seattle, Susan -New York City, (USA), Ming the Merciless -Paris [Eric], (France) -Ampang (Selangor) -Sydney (Nathalie) Australia -ailea , HI (USA) -Manila (Philippines) -Sydney (Sally) Australia -Cork (Ireland) -Saarbrücken (Germany) -Saint Paul MN (USA) by Carol -San Diego, CA (USA) -Mexico [POLY], (Mexico) -Budapest (Hungary) -Singapore (Singapore by Zannnie) -Madrid [Dsole] (Spain) -Nottingham (England) -Bandung (Indonesia) -London - Jonemo (UK) -

Snowbirds-in-training

Well, you didn't expect another downtown photo, did you? It's the week-end, for Pete's sake, and I'd like to enjoy some R&R (rest and relaxation) at the Hyatt Regency. Soak up in the jacuzzi, cool off in the pool, work on my tan and sip some umbrella drink...

I'd like to do all that - but I can't.

'Tis the season in Florida and my place is full of visitors from the North. So this week-end, I'll be cooking, cleaning and chauffeuring, while my guests will be soaking in the jacuzzi, cooling off in the pool...you can fill in the rest ;-)

Hope your week-end is more relaxing.

Uptown, downtown #3

We are back in old Naples and it's approaching lunchtime. Since this is Friday, what do you say we indulge a bit, maybe some Italian?
Il Posto Cafe in the Plaza oozes that Mediterranean charm and the menu looks promising.

"Hailing from northern Italy, Il Posto specializes in cuisine from that region and lists among its more popular specialties a very flavorful veal rack piamontese that is prepared with porcini mushrooms, white truffles, white wine and a bit of veal juice. They also make excellent homemade pasta. The cavatelli is supreme and is served with extra-virgin olive oil, mushrooms and white wine sauce. Il Posto's desserts are shipped directly from Italy from a company called Fruta di Bosco, which makes beautiful and fine-tasting fruit tarts. Beer and wine is available, giving you a great excuse to sit and sip a little longer at your cute cafe table topped with fresh flowers." Naples City Guide

Anyone want to share a fruit tart with me?

Close encounters

A couple of days ago, Nathalie entertained a hairy spider in her home office. Soon after, Dave was greeted by a scorpion at a friend's house. The next day Wellspring fought off a 2-foot (!) cockroach in her kitchen.

This morning I went out to get the paper and had my own encounter of the scary type - the black snake in my driveway. Before you inundate me with your comments on how beneficial and harmless black snakes are, let me just reiterate: I am half-asleep and bare footed - this is not the best time for a nature wake-up call!

But I can't complain, considering...My neighbor went out to her garage one morning, raised the garage door and was greeted by a 6-foot alligator in her driveway, smiling ear to ear (they have ears, don't they?). She quickly lowered the doors and waited for the gator to mosey on, which he did after about 10 minutes. When she told me the story I asked that if it happens again, could she take a photo for me, before fleeing. She looked at me as if I was a few French fries short of a Happy Meal...

Clearly, she's not one of us ;-)

Uptown, downtown #2

Americans refer to Wednesday as "hump day" - that little bump in the middle of the week that you have to get over...I'm hoping this particular photo will help you do just that ;-)

This famous building, dating back to 1921, is one of the oldest in Naples (I can hear all you foreign visitors laughing out loud!). Since its inception, the landmark served as a movie theater, church, city hall, development firm, county library and an ice cream parlour. That certainly gives me pause: what kind of imagination is needed to walk into a church and decide "yes, this is the perfect place for an ice cream store"?

This week, for some inexplicable reason, the front courtyard is filled with water fountains and pool sculptures. Any of them catch your fancy?

Quiz Tuesday part 17

If it's Tuesday - it must be the Quiz! I believe that this one will be a challenge, which makes me
tickled pink ;-). As you know by now, nothing makes me happier than stumping you (which happened once here).

Today's question: What the heck is that thing?

Update: It is a dead "air plant" . For more info see "comments", for a look at a live plant, please click here.

Uptown, downtown #1

Well, it's Monday. New work week begins...Seems like good timing to start my downtown Naples series, just to give you and the alligators a break ;-)

This is Third Street South in Old Naples, which abounds in rich landscaping, attractive courtyards and parks that blend Mediterranean, European and Caribbean influences.
The area is filled with art galleries, restaurants and exclusive shoppes.

Downtown attire: very casual. That's how we do "corporate" in the Tropics ;-)

The fan

Strelitzia, a native of South Africa, is one of the most unusual and attractive members of the banana family. This popular South Florida plant bears a unique flower that resembles a brightly colored bird in flight, giving it the common name, Bird-of-Paradise. Two of the blue petals are joined together to form an arrow-like nectary. When the sunbirds sit to drink the nectar, the petals open to cover their feet in pollen. Pretty clever for a plant, don't you think?

"Came down the sky

To sit amidst the garden greens

Bird-of-Paradise"

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Haiku by Meenakhsi Madhur