Bill's Blog

A few weeks ago a new guy moved into the neighborhood, right next door to us. Mostly he just sits on the concrete pond square watching the world go by. Occasionally he goes for an underwater hunting swim, with his head popping up around the pond. He has occasionally been mistaken for an aquatic snake, much to the chagrin of those seeing him.

New neighbor airing it all out.

The longtime resident quackery shares space, mostly ignoring him.

Off to find a snack

Is that a stick... no, it moved... IS IT A SNAKE??? Nah, it's just the new guy.

September 14-15, 2021

Three more images from the Westgate River Ranch Resort south of Orlando last month...

Three Birds

View from the front of an airboat

Pink flower from a moving airboat

August 2021

St. Petersburg night

St. Pete, harbor left

September 4, 2021

The Lee Miller Exhibit at the Dali in St. Petersburg is a beautiful and wonderful spotlight on an amazing woman- Model, Photographer, War Photojournalist, Surrealist Photographer. 

The Woman Who Broke Boundaries

Sept. 3, 2021

An afternoon storm leads to...

An outstanding sunset.

Coming in to watch the sunset (and drink wine)

Sunset Progression

August 13, 2021

A trip to Bok Tower Gardens, Lake Wales, FL

I have been driving by signs to Bok Tower for years when headed to other parts of Florida. Last month, with Ruth, we decided to stop. The gardens and the Singing Tower were beautiful. Since it was during the week, there were very few people. Unfortunately, it was a summer day in Florida: very hot, and very humid. They advertise a tram, but it was closed due to COVID so a lot of walking and we only covered a small part of the grounds. Well worth it, but if we go again it will be during cooler weather.

The history of Edward and Mary Louise Bok, the Singing Tower, and the Gardens are the subjects of many a book and website. Click here for the Wikipedia short version.   

The Singing Tower is about a half-mile walk through the gardens

Reflecting Pond

Approaching the Tower

The Gothic Revival Tower is the highest spot in the Gardens. Named the Singing Tower because of its 60-bell carillon, it is built with marble from Georgia, and coquina stone from St. Augustine, FL. The tower is surrounded by a moat that is now a koi pond. 

Trivia: there are carvings and paintings of flamingos. Unfortunately, attempts to introduce live flamingos failed because of the "cool" central Florida weather. 

A working sundial on the side of the tower.

Sundial closeup, with dedication by President Calvin Coolidge.

Views from the base of the tower

Lots of things left to age gracefully

Off to the side and below the tower is an Exedra commissioned by Edward Bok's neighbors.
Amidst all the meticulous landscaping, it looked oddly neglected.  

Carved into the marble.

View from the Exedra

At the visitor's center, we were surprised by a demonstration of a unique Florida activity: Gator Wrestling, updated with the introduction of a cell phone.

'Sorry about the quality, it was a very bright day.

August 13, 2021

Wandering the Westgate River Ranch Resort south of Orlando
(we stayed in Deluxe Teepees)

Where the buffalo roam...

"Water" Buffalo

Being ignored

Surly "Water" Buffalo up close

Herd 'o Buffalo

The front one is a youngster without full plumage

Don't get too close: sharp beaks and they spit

August 9-12, 2021

Tropical Depression Fred arrives at Anna Maria Island, Florida

August 14, 2021 approximately 3:30pm Eastern

Chihuly Collection
from a visit in May 2021

Very strange: lighting in the room was solid blue but the camera added the stripes

Jodi and Ruth in Chihuly!

Four days wandering around Apalachicola

Starting with some signs...

Random Catch, including Rubber Duckies (lower left)

So, not technically a sign, although it does say Eat at the Grill

Buildings

Two buildings I shot before (search "Apalachicola" on my blog... there are 1/2 dozen or so posts with Apalachicola images)

The old Coin Operated Laundry has been undergoing renovations for years. Walls are stabilized, new doors and windows, but no roof. It's a closed-in outdoor venue.

Joe Taranto has been closed ever since I started coming to Apalachicola in 2015. I've shot it several times and the building is a little more worse for wear every time I come by.

Another building I've photographed, the old Volunteer Fire Department. In the past, the doors have been closed. Now they look like H. Michael may have gotten them, so a peek inside.

Two now- closed landmarks:

The Tin Shed- a quirky tourist trap. Good news: they relocated a bit inland to get away from the water. 'Love the windows.

All that is left are cats (black blobs). The yard used to be filled with maritime good junk.

This used to be the entrance to the Apalachicola Maritime Museum, "founded to celebrate and preserve the maritime history of Apalachicola."  A local told us that after H. Michael struck, devastating the museum, and when the Pandemic hit, the owner and his girl bought a sailboat and sailed off into the sunset. Rumor has it he will return one day to reopen the museum.

A boat behind the museum you could tour is covered tightly, waiting for the reopening.

The Museum, despite being closed since 2018, still has an active Facebook page. Click here to see it. 

Miscellaneous "wandering" images...

The Billiard Room at the Gibson Inn

A Stump Mermaid... or a Mermaid Stump?

A Brick (the post office is a block or so away)

As I said in a previous post, Hurricane Michael and the Pandemic were not kind to Apalachicola. The Good News is the town is coming back to life!

No more cabinets from the Cabinet Shop

Worn out from hard days. 'Bout sums it up.

End of day pictures

Just before sunset

We stayed at the Gibson Inn. This is from one of their 2nd-floor patios.

Another from the Gibson Inn, looking at the former owner's residence that has been refurbed to guest rooms.

My four preceding posts have more images from this trip to Apalachicola.

June 23-26, 2021

Apalachicola, FL
June 2021

In memory of those who served, those who came home, and those who didn't.
Lest it is all forgotten.

Flower Rider

Red & Yellow

Chapman Botanical Gardens
Apalachicola, FL
06/26/21

Hurricane Michael and the Pandemic have not been kind to one of my favorite Florida towns, Apalachicola in the Panhandle.

The Apalachicola River Inn and Caroline's Restaurant, including Boss Oyster, were some of the victims. Closed in 2018 after Michael, the property never reopened and went into bankruptcy. A Federal Bankruptcy Judge approved the sale in 2020. The Pandemic came along and stopped work on the property. The new owners also own the recently renovated Gibson Inn and locals say they are going to start work back, initially on Boss Oyster.

We were in Apalachicola over a weekend recently and one of the places we visited was the River Inn complex.

One of the first restaurants I went to in Apalachicola, in 2015, was Caroline's Restaurant. Excellent dinner looking out over the water.

A view into the dining room; I sat on the left side by the water.

The walls between the rooms have been knocked down. The only thing left in the rooms is the toilets.

Tables and chairs neatly stacked in the parking lot.

Next to the 24-room Inn and restaurant is Boss Oyster and the Inn registration.

Still "Opening Soon"

Regstration, with Christmas decorations.

Waiting to light up OPEN again.

The namesake boat is not quite seaworthy anymore.

The script below the cabin windows says, "Shut up & Shuck."

    June 25-26, 2021

Apalachicola, FL
06/26/21

A local hotel in Ocala, FL yesterday reported an outbreak of little people. Guests returned to the hotel in the evening to find swarms of high-pitched, noisy little people throughout the hotel. A guest stated, "My God, they were everywhere... in the bar, on the elevator, in the halls, they took over the entire pool area making bystanders fear for their lives. The noise level caused by the little people was unimaginable." Hotel staff appeared overwhelmed by the hordes and were unable to maintain any degree of control.

Experts remain baffled, suspecting that an unusual atmospheric condition may have caused the abnormal swarm. One sarcastic subject-matter professional was heard stating, "It was definitely a disturbance in The Force."

Local officials urged calm, cautioning that historically swarms of this nature are short-lived. Law enforcement professionals were quick to announce that the swarm was not typical of Ocala, better known as the Horse Capital of the World, and that all steps were being taken to control the swarming. A full investigation by a high-ranking committee was announced the next day. The President was overseas on his first trip out of the country, but staff said he was briefed about the swarms and the potential damages that could occur.

June 11, 2021 

A heavy downpour...

... led to a peacefull sunset

Ocala, FL
May 2021

St. Augustine, FL
May 21, 2021

View from the bar:

View from across the street:

May 20, 2021

Redington Beach, FL., for those of you who have never been there, is a long strip of hotels, motels, condos, and tourist resorts with a beach on its outside border. If you want to do Florida Tourist and the traditional hangout at the beach, it is great. Just enough bars and restaurants to make evenings interesting but not overwhelming. If you are looking for something other than the Florida Tourist experience, not so much. On the side away from the beach are very nice island resort-style residential areas; lots of Florida homes with boats tied up out back. 

Walking down the street bordering the beach, some local signs rendered as paintings or drawings:

As with the rest of the world, COVID-19 rule signs are everywhere. Done in colored pencil.

Blue lizard atop a traditional motel, with a sign to the beach. Done in watercolor.

Blue lizard closeup, done in oil

Closed, but still has a mask sign, done in oil

Dolphins on a wall 1, done in oil

Dolphins on a wall 2, done as a pencil sketch

Well dressed dolphins, done in oil

Local restaurant, done in watercolor

Monterey Wi-Fi, done in watercolor

Benchmarker, done in watercolor and enhanced.

Multiple entrance signs, done in watercolor

The Long Pier, closed and fading away, done as a detailed painting.

The Long Pier's parking lot. No parking! Done in watercolor.

Siesta Motel. $Pets OK. Done as an enhanced watercolor.

Sign Post 1, done in charcoal.

Sign Post 2, done as saturated watercolor

Political statement, done in oil

Finally, a cautionary notice

If you take this picture after walking beside the coffee shop, beware...

A troll lives in the little building who will come out... twice. He will tell you to leave because he is tired of people trespassing in his backyard. He will threaten to call the police if you try to take a scenic of the docked boats.

March 27, 2021

Reddington Beach, FL
March 27, 2021