The painting above is truly awesome, Mac. I really like not only the color variations, but, the way it flows off the canvas, and allowing a good deal of space around it. Excellent!
Although previously I posted that leaving the big white spaces on each side of where you painted was not in my opinion the best method, in THIS case, I believe that by using white spaces in the main part of the painting you have tied them together, and it looks much MUCH better. and in fact I think that painting is a prize winner.
Very beautiful - a Navajoe influence. The use of the distinctive colour of turquoise has always been attractive to me, and I had long ago bought a heavy turqoise and silver neclace for my ex-wife. There is something soothing about the colour of turquoise.
Thank you, Buzz. Even as a youngster I have been fascinated by the beautiful jewelry crafted by the Navajo. There are several varieties and colors of Turquoise, depending on where they are located. But, the color chosen in my artwork here is my favorite. and even the patterns in that color are a work of art in themselves.
Took this photo earlier today. My next-door neighbor was hollering at the top of her lungs so I went over to see what was going on. She is from NJ and has never seen a live snake this size before.
It's a black southern racer. Non-venomous and great to have around they get rid of a lot of pests. It's breeding season for them so around here you're apt to see them quite often. This one is around 3 to 4 feet long and headed into the bushes.
It's a wildlife day in addition to the photos posted I've seen rabbits, squirrels, ducks, pelicans, and a neighbor spotted six wild boar in the meadow in back of us.
Ah thanks. Yep, just read an article about invasive species. Said the python most likely wouldn't move out of there. Did say there was some kind of toothy lizard that has moved into Georgia. And something about a Brazilian berry bush.
Sadly, Florida has numerous invasive species and the python is one of the worst. The damage they are doing to the bird and animal life in the Everglades is devastating.
I have a family of lizards that hang around my abode. There are lots of their deli critters that come out this time of the year. I love the babies. They sneak in when the door is opened, so I have to be careful where I step. My Yoda Girl kitty lets me know where they are most of the time. So does not know what they are, but, they are fun to chase. She does not hurt them, and won't eat them, but, when she finds them and lets me know, then I pick them up and put them back outside with their Parents.
Another way I can tell when one or more of them is in the house, is when the Mother is climbing up my screen door and looking inside. Then I know I need to find the baby/babies and return them to her. They are so cute. They are not at all afraid of me, so that makes it easier to catch them.
The common side-blotched lizard is a species of side-blotched lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to dry regions of the western United States and northern Mexico.
I have a fairly good knowledge of wildlife, but, do not suffer from REPTILE DYSFUNCTION.
I lived in Fl for years we had little lizards that would come in and show up at the worse times in the worse places. And these ran like hell from people and were harder than hell to catch.
My dogs did chase and catch them sometimes. One bite though and the dogs would leave the dead lizard alone. They must have tasted bad.
More than once I got startled by those damn things popping up where you'd least expect .... lol
One night I sat on the throne and was not alone, one of them was swimming in the toilet. In the dark. eek !
While I was showering one day I found one of the lizards had joined me. It was during a very dry summer and I guess it was looking for a wet place to hang out. (grin)
"A snake came to my watertrough, on a hot, hot day, and I in pyjamas for the heat..." (D.H.Lawrence)
As a kid I used to play alone in the ravine behind our home and I was never afraid of garter snakes and played with them, but thankfully I never came across a rattler.
What a cuttie...ahh at least it is non venomous... brother and sister in law went for a walk y'day ran into a 5 foot Tiger snake. Gave it a very wide berth. Had not gone into hibernation yet. One of the top 5 deadlies here..
Years ago I was hiking with a group on a fire road in the coastal hills. As the road descends the sides were raised due to erosion. We came down the hill and there on the high right side was a black rattle snake, coiled up, hissing and rattling then about 6 or 7 yards down the hill, high on the left was a brick red colored rattle snake. It too was coiled up, hissing and rattling. We began to walk single file past them and one of the ladies (kind of a nut) said "We're passing through the gates of Shiva". I had to agree, lol.
I live in L.A. Irises definitely grow here. I have Bearded Irises and Dutch Irises. There are also some varieties of Iris that grow in cooler climates and some that like wet soil.
My Aunt had a cluster in her yard that she had stopped along the highway on the way to Louisiana and dug them out of the ditch on the side. They were yellow.
Thank you! I love Irises. I joined a local Iris Society 3 years ago to learn more about them.
There are five species of Irises called, as a group, Louisiana Iris, which are native to Louisiana and the surrounding Southeast regions. They like wet or damp soil.
Irises are beautiful. One of my faves. I don't know the specific types, but I have several not in bloom yet. Lots of a light purple one that I just love, and a few other colors as well. I think I have a multi-color one that looks just like yours, too. Mostly I have the light purple, though. They spread so easily. There's even some coming up on the edge of the woods where I've tossed what I thought were dead bulbs in the past.
I have some "antique" irises that bloom every year, but I noticed recently that the rabbits have been eating some of the leaves. I hope they still bloom.
I've never noticed rabbits eating irises. Weird. I don't think anything eats mine, at least not when they're growing. I've seen deer chewing on the dead brown leaves in the middle of winter, but that's about it.
There was once posted an article asking that if we could live anywhere in the world, where would it be, and I posted that I wanted to live in Nikki Ferrano's (Cary Grant in the movie An Affair to Remember) grandmother's home overlooking the Mediterranean in the south of France (or Monaco?), where I could eat my breakfast at a table on the terrace overlooking the sea, and sip some brandy there after dinner at that table. This is what I meant....
Is that columnar basalt, the stringy, ropy dark looking stuff? I can't really tell from the picture. I would think that it might be tilted sedimentary formations from the region that it is in, which is why I ask.
This is part of my Bosson head collection. Bossons was a company in England that went out of business in 1996. They produced chalkware art that was unique in its exquisite detail. The sculpting and painting is in a class by itself, with particular attention to skin pores, wrinkles, teeth, eyes, and whiskers. I have about 30 pieces on display. Chalkware scratches and chips very easily so I typically only buy ones that have been well cared for. Some of mine are older than I am, so it’s pretty impressive to have survived that long intact. If your looking for a reasonably priced collectible to start as a hobby, these can be found on eBay and in random antique stores. Real Bossons are hand labeled and dated on the bottom, so don’t fall for crappy knockoffs (I’ve seen quite a few). This one is “Pierre”.
Where I grew up my bedroom window looked over the back garden, and it was always a sign of Spring there when I woke to the chirping of the first Robin of the season. It always pulled me out of bed to look for the bird. Happy memories. Thanks for that reminder - I've seen no Robins here, other than Robin Hood.
On Qing Ming JIe (Tomb Sweeping Day) last Sunday afternoon we went to a park we had not been to before. Unfortunately is wasn't a sunny day. Other than the few photos I had taken of the oyster kiosk in the outdoor mall adjoining our building, it was the first opportunity to give my camera a workout for more than a year. So prepare yourself for an extensive photo essay.
1. We arrived at the front gate to the park. This is a long building in which some guy who thought he was Pavarotti was echoing LOUDLY through it.
.
2. The walkways in the building were ornately and beautifully decorated.
.
3. Looking up was a treat.
.
4. A map of the waterpark
.
5. We had to cross this bridge over a pond.
.
6. Looking down there was a guy fishing.
.
7. We then encountered this fountain.
.
8. We took a path to this green "blanket" at the side of a pond.
.
9. Continuing up the pathway the flora was magnificent.
.
10. Flowers growing out of the water - yellow Iris'?
.
11. A boardwalk led to a small pavillion where we rested and enjoyed the beauty of the waterpark.
.
12. Wait a sec - this isn't Florida.
.
13. Across this pond was a rock face.
.
14. Surely those aren't fossils.
.
15. This guy really looks angry - maybe he looked back at Sodom.
.
16. Flowers along the path.
.
17. We encountered a small empty vintage building that had these magnificent windows.
.
18. On the way out - don't ask me what it says.
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19. The exit face of the building we entered - pretty well the same as the front.
Hope you enjoyed accompanying us on our walk in the park.
That is a fantastic series of photos. I first learned about Ching Ming many years ago from my friend in Hawaii who is of Chinese heritage. His family would always clean their ancestors graves on Ching Ming. As I recall, he told me that "Ching Ming" means "clean and bright". His family name happens to be Ching, also.
That is a very Spiritual photo, Kavika. The many gifts of Mother Earth bathing in the lingering warmth of Father Sky before the gentle glow of the rising moon descends upon them. A very inspirational moment in time so awesomely captured.
Pretty sure that's a wild goose plum in bloom on the left.
.
Closer.
.
Closer.
.
Missouri gooseberry (wild berry).
.
Bird's foot violet (wildflower).
.
Plainleaf pussytoe (wildflower).
.
Rue anemone (wildflower).
.
Cutleaf toothwort (wildflower).
.
Eastern tiger swallowtail (male).
.
A bit hard to see, but my asparagus has started coming up.
.
Another angle.
.
Apple tree in bloom.
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An apple blossom, with a crabapple and a redbud blooming behind.
.
Crabapple and redbud.
.
The sun came out after I'd already taken a bunch of pictures, of course.
.
And finally, here's some test video from Thursday night, taken by my new dual lens, no-glow trail camera. My old one was crap and the videos were worthless. This one is much better.
I'm pretty sure that's a fox running across the screen in the second clip, and I'm thinking he caught the rabbit off-screen.
You sure do live among the flora and fauna, and you know what everything is. It was quite fascinating to spy on the wildlife. Interesting how the eyes glow in the dark, reflecting the light.
Well, I know some of it. I have to look the rest up and hope I get it right.
Interesting how the eyes glow in the dark, reflecting the light.
Yeah, critters that are active at night all seem to have highly reflective eyes. Pretty sure the light is invisible to them, though, and only registered by the camera. I know I can't see it. The wavelength used by that particular camera is 940nm.
Great photos, Dig. I spotted what looks like a house protector wandering around in some of the photos.
I don't know about the house protector thing. More like a one dog welcoming committee. She doesn't bark at strangers, she gets all happy and excited and wants to meet them. The other day she ran up in the back of a UPS truck to meet the driver and sniff all the boxes, tail just a wagging away.
I think that I spotted a bat zipping across the screen two different times.
I think that was some kind of moth. The bats around here got sick from a deadly disease a few year ago and I haven't seen very many since. They used to be really common in the evenings, but I only noticed a handful last summer. It's sad. Hopefully they'll make a comeback. I was thinking about hanging a few bat houses in the woods to maybe help them out.
I was thinking about hanging a few bat houses in the woods to maybe help them out.
Excellent idea, Dig. The bat population is suffering from that disease worldwide any help they can get they need.
Your house protector was checking to be sure that the UPS guy didn't have any contraband on board. Things like Greenies, milk bone, doggie toys, that really dangerous stuff.
It's my understanding that Polly is a member in good standing in the Screen Actors Guild. There may be serious repercussions if Sweet Polly decides to pursue the matter.
I think asparagus will grow in most places. It's almost maintenance-free, too. It pretty much grows itself, and just keeps coming up from the roots every year. It's great.
That is very cool. I would like to try to grow some, except the rabbits will probably eat it. I don't know if I can grow enough to make it worthwhile just in a large pot where the rabbits can't get at them.
Yeah, it does need protection if there are critters around. Lots of things will eat it. It also needs space, both for the roots and for the summer greenery, which gets pretty big. I don't think it's something a person would want to grow in a pot, even a big one.
It might not have been anything you did, Sandy. It could have been bad crowns or seeds, producing weak plants. If you still have the space available for it you could try again. I'd suggest crowns and not seed, with the soil worked loose to about a foot deep under them, amended with some kind of fertilizer worked in at the bottom (but not in direct contact with the first new root growth above). You could maybe have your son dig the trench out for you. I'll bet there's crowns in the stores now.
I'm all out of space this year. I only have 3 raised beds for my garden. One is for strawberries, which have been established for several years now. And I planted the other two yesterday, before we got some heavy rain last night. They were either well watered, or the seeds have washed completely out of their rows.
I'm running behind, myself. I'm going to do another blog this year but I still have a little prep work to do, and some seeds I ordered a month ago haven't even arrived yet. I did finally finish rebuilding the fence, so I shouldn't have any rabbit problems now.
My dad is coming to visit in a few weeks, and is going to help me replace the fence. This time last year, we couldn't find fencing material anywhere. The old fence should keep the rabbits at bay for a few more weeks.
That's a beauty, Mac. Stunning colors all. And I see a Halloween skull mask at the top left, a bird with a very long beak, or what could be a pelican's head and beak in the center, and the eyes and nose of a seal at the bottom left.
The great thing about abstracts is that you can not only enjoy the beautiful colors, but, have fun finding the various shapes hidden within the painting.
I thought I saw that as well, Buzz, but, was not sure. So your seeing it as well confirms what my eyes were seeing. Looks sort of like a Spaniel or Lab.
the calf seems to me to be somewhat three dimensional,
Being as it is the primary subject of the artwork, and with all the surrounding colors and objects, it really needs to take the spotlight. And its seeming to jump right out of the image at you is part of the visual effects.
For that I will need a drivers license, birth certificate (still debate on long form or not), a bill in your name, marriage license (if applicable), and a passport.
Addendum, the drivers license has to be the new enhanced version. Just look for the star in the top corner. If you do not have the newer license please go to your local DMV and follow instructions there.
I will be placing this with my paintings when participating in art shows; I am hoping it will evoke the reaction of viewers to go ahead and "see" what they will "see".
That is an excellent idea, Mac. One of the things I like about artwork of all kinds, especially abstract artwork, is being able to not only enjoy the beautiful colors, but, to be able to allow my imagination to see what the various shapes and color combinations let my eyes see in them. As a young girl I used to accompany an older Cousin on trips to the local art gallery when new artwork was added, and I would sit in front of them and try to see how many different things I could find. It was such fun back then, and it still is today.
Seeking such interpretations adds to the enjoyment of observing modern art. I never had any interest in the works of Constable, for example, and many have discussed the contrast of his works with those of Turner, and in much of Turner's works emotion and interpretation come into play.
Show time! Show your CREATIVITY.
The painting above is truly awesome, Mac. I really like not only the color variations, but, the way it flows off the canvas, and allowing a good deal of space around it. Excellent!
Although previously I posted that leaving the big white spaces on each side of where you painted was not in my opinion the best method, in THIS case, I believe that by using white spaces in the main part of the painting you have tied them together, and it looks much MUCH better. and in fact I think that painting is a prize winner.
That's a beauty, Mac.
very nice!
Springtime in Stone Creek, Ocala Fl.
The wild turkeys and geese are out strutting their stuff.
Great photos all, Kavika. And the proud geese/goose parents are taking the kids to the pond to play.
Very cool photos, Kavika
I see the top pic caught a majestic crane in the background. Haha
Yes, they're doing some repairs or changes to the golf course.
The big yellow ones are kinda rare though.
I guess that turkey was smart enough no not show head or tail anywhere NEAR Thanksgiving.
A new artwork to share...
That is a beautiful image, Raven Wing. Really nice.
Thanks, G. It shows the Navajo's artistic talents in both their traditional blanket weaving and beautiful Turquoise jewelry artistry.
I think it is just terrific.
I'm very glad you like it, G.
A stained glass window if ever there was one, RW!
That would make a great one.
Thanks Ender.
Thank you, Mac. I had not thought of that. (smile)
Very beautiful - a Navajoe influence. The use of the distinctive colour of turquoise has always been attractive to me, and I had long ago bought a heavy turqoise and silver neclace for my ex-wife. There is something soothing about the colour of turquoise.
Thank you, Buzz. Even as a youngster I have been fascinated by the beautiful jewelry crafted by the Navajo. There are several varieties and colors of Turquoise, depending on where they are located. But, the color chosen in my artwork here is my favorite. and even the patterns in that color are a work of art in themselves.
Love the turquoise.
Thanks Pat. As you can tell, the blue turquoise is one of my very favorite colors.
Wow!
Thank you pink.
great work RW.
Thank you dev.
Took this photo earlier today. My next-door neighbor was hollering at the top of her lungs so I went over to see what was going on. She is from NJ and has never seen a live snake this size before.
It's a black southern racer. Non-venomous and great to have around they get rid of a lot of pests. It's breeding season for them so around here you're apt to see them quite often. This one is around 3 to 4 feet long and headed into the bushes.
It's a wildlife day in addition to the photos posted I've seen rabbits, squirrels, ducks, pelicans, and a neighbor spotted six wild boar in the meadow in back of us.
Do you get the pythons by you? I was wondering if you see one of those if you are supposed to call someone.
I usually hate snakes but the black racer is kinda cool looking.
No, they are down in the Everglades. Nowhere close to us.
Ah thanks. Yep, just read an article about invasive species. Said the python most likely wouldn't move out of there. Did say there was some kind of toothy lizard that has moved into Georgia. And something about a Brazilian berry bush.
Sadly, Florida has numerous invasive species and the python is one of the worst. The damage they are doing to the bird and animal life in the Everglades is devastating.
This guy was hanging around two days ago.
I have a family of lizards that hang around my abode. There are lots of their deli critters that come out this time of the year. I love the babies. They sneak in when the door is opened, so I have to be careful where I step. My Yoda Girl kitty lets me know where they are most of the time. So does not know what they are, but, they are fun to chase. She does not hurt them, and won't eat them, but, when she finds them and lets me know, then I pick them up and put them back outside with their Parents.
Another way I can tell when one or more of them is in the house, is when the Mother is climbing up my screen door and looking inside. Then I know I need to find the baby/babies and return them to her. They are so cute. They are not at all afraid of me, so that makes it easier to catch them.
The common side-blotched lizard is a species of side-blotched lizard in the family Phrynosomatidae. The species is native to dry regions of the western United States and northern Mexico.
I have a fairly good knowledge of wildlife, but, do not suffer from REPTILE DYSFUNCTION.
LOL, Raven.
I lived in Fl for years we had little lizards that would come in and show up at the worse times in the worse places. And these ran like hell from people and were harder than hell to catch.
My dogs did chase and catch them sometimes. One bite though and the dogs would leave the dead lizard alone. They must have tasted bad.
More than once I got startled by those damn things popping up where you'd least expect .... lol
One night I sat on the throne and was not alone, one of them was swimming in the toilet. In the dark. eek !
lol
We always have lizards scampering around, but at least they stay outside.
Did you see what the lizard did to the shelves of milk cartons at a store in Florida?
While I was showering one day I found one of the lizards had joined me. It was during a very dry summer and I guess it was looking for a wet place to hang out. (grin)
The adults don't come inside, just the babies. Their curiosity gets the best of them and they have to check things out on the inside.
LOL!! That would indeed be rather disturbing. The Loo is one place that a person would likely prefer to be alone. (grin)
No, but here is a good one:
"A snake came to my watertrough, on a hot, hot day, and I in pyjamas for the heat..." (D.H.Lawrence)
As a kid I used to play alone in the ravine behind our home and I was never afraid of garter snakes and played with them, but thankfully I never came across a rattler.
like a canadian diamondback?
What a cuttie...ahh at least it is non venomous... brother and sister in law went for a walk y'day ran into a 5 foot Tiger snake. Gave it a very wide berth. Had not gone into hibernation yet. One of the top 5 deadlies here..
I saw a number of venomous snakes when I was living in OZ. You have a lot of very venomous snakes, best give them a wide berth.
Years ago I was hiking with a group on a fire road in the coastal hills. As the road descends the sides were raised due to erosion. We came down the hill and there on the high right side was a black rattle snake, coiled up, hissing and rattling then about 6 or 7 yards down the hill, high on the left was a brick red colored rattle snake. It too was coiled up, hissing and rattling. We began to walk single file past them and one of the ladies (kind of a nut) said "We're passing through the gates of Shiva". I had to agree, lol.
wtf? you couldn't find a car with a window down?
Iris from the garden this week.
That's a beauty all around, G.
Thank you, Raven Wing.
Nice to see the white tinged with purple - next to the orchid, it could be my favourite flower.
I didn't think you could grow Iris in this climate.
I live in L.A. Irises definitely grow here. I have Bearded Irises and Dutch Irises. There are also some varieties of Iris that grow in cooler climates and some that like wet soil.
I had some that liked damp and shady, were blue.
My Aunt had a cluster in her yard that she had stopped along the highway on the way to Louisiana and dug them out of the ditch on the side. They were yellow.
Yours are beautiful though.
Thank you! I love Irises. I joined a local Iris Society 3 years ago to learn more about them.
There are five species of Irises called, as a group, Louisiana Iris, which are native to Louisiana and the surrounding Southeast regions. They like wet or damp soil.
Irises are beautiful. One of my faves. I don't know the specific types, but I have several not in bloom yet. Lots of a light purple one that I just love, and a few other colors as well. I think I have a multi-color one that looks just like yours, too. Mostly I have the light purple, though. They spread so easily. There's even some coming up on the edge of the woods where I've tossed what I thought were dead bulbs in the past.
I have some "antique" irises that bloom every year, but I noticed recently that the rabbits have been eating some of the leaves. I hope they still bloom.
I've never noticed rabbits eating irises. Weird. I don't think anything eats mine, at least not when they're growing. I've seen deer chewing on the dead brown leaves in the middle of winter, but that's about it.
I always loved them too. So did my Aunt. Haha
I just always thought of them as like a wildflower. They love marshland. In the more northern parts of our state you will see them on the edges ponds.
I tried to cultivate some of my blue ones but never with success.
Another thing I could grow at my old yard was the bleeding heart bush. Was the only place I ever had success with those as well.
portrait of an iris, nice
Thanks, dev
Monte Carlo Harbor - A Study in Blue
A beautiful photo, G. And a very nice frame as well. Very well done.
Thanks!
Very cool, G. Here is the Neiman painting entitled, Harbor at Monte Carlo which I have and its companion piece ''Casino at Monte Carlo''.
© 2021
Those are nice.
You have a great collection.
Nice. I remember seeing a car collection like that.
those are great. they seem to have a french impressionist feel to them.
I loved my visit to Monaco. Playground of the rich and famous - just wish I was one of them.
We had a fun afternoon in Monaco, mostly wandering around the old town. It was a day trip from Nice, where we were staying for a few days.
The view from our hotel room in Nice.
Was Princess Grace alive when you were there? Did you at least do a little gambling in the casino?
I was there for a visit. I remember the VIP parking area in front of the casino was filled with one high-six figure car after another.
There was once posted an article asking that if we could live anywhere in the world, where would it be, and I posted that I wanted to live in Nikki Ferrano's (Cary Grant in the movie An Affair to Remember) grandmother's home overlooking the Mediterranean in the south of France (or Monaco?), where I could eat my breakfast at a table on the terrace overlooking the sea, and sip some brandy there after dinner at that table. This is what I meant....
The south of France is really nice.
Is that columnar basalt, the stringy, ropy dark looking stuff? I can't really tell from the picture. I would think that it might be tilted sedimentary formations from the region that it is in, which is why I ask.
cool. which way to the clothing optional beaches, and what about a photo essay?
Of course you would ask, dev...
You chose a frame that's a perfect match for that photo.
Thanks
Really nice shot and frame, G.
Thanks, Dig.
cool
This is part of my Bosson head collection. Bossons was a company in England that went out of business in 1996. They produced chalkware art that was unique in its exquisite detail. The sculpting and painting is in a class by itself, with particular attention to skin pores, wrinkles, teeth, eyes, and whiskers. I have about 30 pieces on display. Chalkware scratches and chips very easily so I typically only buy ones that have been well cared for. Some of mine are older than I am, so it’s pretty impressive to have survived that long intact. If your looking for a reasonably priced collectible to start as a hobby, these can be found on eBay and in random antique stores. Real Bossons are hand labeled and dated on the bottom, so don’t fall for crappy knockoffs (I’ve seen quite a few). This one is “Pierre”.
A fascinating work of art, Hal. And the background and frame really compliment the artwork. Very nicely done.
Very nice, Hal.
Bonjour Pierre. I'm starting to think you need a warehouse for your complete collection.
And we are on our way! Great start to the weekend.
Spring.
© A. Mac/A.G.
Where I grew up my bedroom window looked over the back garden, and it was always a sign of Spring there when I woke to the chirping of the first Robin of the season. It always pulled me out of bed to look for the bird. Happy memories. Thanks for that reminder - I've seen no Robins here, other than Robin Hood.
That's a beauty, Mac. Looks like it is about to shuffle its feathers, or take flight. Reminds me of the song "Rockin' Robin."
"Rockin' Robin" Love that song.
I met Round Robin a couple of years ago at a friend's house. Really nice guy.
Rockin' Robin was one of my all time favorite songs.
On Qing Ming JIe (Tomb Sweeping Day) last Sunday afternoon we went to a park we had not been to before. Unfortunately is wasn't a sunny day. Other than the few photos I had taken of the oyster kiosk in the outdoor mall adjoining our building, it was the first opportunity to give my camera a workout for more than a year. So prepare yourself for an extensive photo essay.
1. We arrived at the front gate to the park. This is a long building in which some guy who thought he was Pavarotti was echoing LOUDLY through it.
.
2. The walkways in the building were ornately and beautifully decorated.
.
3. Looking up was a treat.
.
4. A map of the waterpark
.
5. We had to cross this bridge over a pond.
.
6. Looking down there was a guy fishing.
.
7. We then encountered this fountain.
.
8. We took a path to this green "blanket" at the side of a pond.
.
9. Continuing up the pathway the flora was magnificent.
.
10. Flowers growing out of the water - yellow Iris'?
.
11. A boardwalk led to a small pavillion where we rested and enjoyed the beauty of the waterpark.
.
12. Wait a sec - this isn't Florida.
.
13. Across this pond was a rock face.
.
14. Surely those aren't fossils.
.
15. This guy really looks angry - maybe he looked back at Sodom.
.
16. Flowers along the path.
.
17. We encountered a small empty vintage building that had these magnificent windows.
.
18. On the way out - don't ask me what it says.
.
19. The exit face of the building we entered - pretty well the same as the front.
Hope you enjoyed accompanying us on our walk in the park.
The turtle is my favorite.
Very nice Buzz, Thank you for sharing them with us.
Wonderful, Buzz.
nice tour.
That is a fantastic series of photos. I first learned about Ching Ming many years ago from my friend in Hawaii who is of Chinese heritage. His family would always clean their ancestors graves on Ching Ming. As I recall, he told me that "Ching Ming" means "clean and bright". His family name happens to be Ching, also.
"Treehouse Condominium"
© CZG 2021
That is so cute!
Thanks G2
So creative and unique - love it.
Thank you
Wow! I love it. So whimsical and colorful!
Thank you
Once again, a highly publishable image for a children's book!
Thank you
Really very nice painting, pink. And the vintage looking frame really compliments it. Well done!
Thank you
That's great. Are you a digital or hand painter?
Thank you. Hand painter, mixed media.
Awesome. You're talented.
I'd like to live in the world you create in your paintings.
Lol, me too
all it needs is a story to go with it.
That is a really fun painting, Pink.
Thank you Kavika. Totally fun doing it.
Stand bye … for Saturday.
Downy Woodpecker, Male
© A. Mac/A.G.
A really great photo, Mac. Such a very beautiful bird.
That is a beautiful bird.
Last night's sunset, Stone Creek, Ocala FL. The photo was taken by my neighbor.
That's a stunning sunset.
I wonder how many people living in Florida actually even pay attention to such beauty.
That is beautiful.
Nice!
That is a very Spiritual photo, Kavika. The many gifts of Mother Earth bathing in the lingering warmth of Father Sky before the gentle glow of the rising moon descends upon them. A very inspirational moment in time so awesomely captured.
Thank you so much for sharing it with us.
cool
Alyssum.
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Close up.
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The woods.
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Mayapples coming up.
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Pretty sure that's a wild goose plum in bloom on the left.
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Closer.
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Closer.
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Missouri gooseberry (wild berry).
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Bird's foot violet (wildflower).
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Plainleaf pussytoe (wildflower).
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Rue anemone (wildflower).
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Cutleaf toothwort (wildflower).
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Eastern tiger swallowtail (male).
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A bit hard to see, but my asparagus has started coming up.
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Another angle.
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Apple tree in bloom.
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An apple blossom, with a crabapple and a redbud blooming behind.
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Crabapple and redbud.
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The sun came out after I'd already taken a bunch of pictures, of course.
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And finally, here's some test video from Thursday night, taken by my new dual lens, no-glow trail camera. My old one was crap and the videos were worthless. This one is much better.
I'm pretty sure that's a fox running across the screen in the second clip, and I'm thinking he caught the rabbit off-screen.
You sure do live among the flora and fauna, and you know what everything is. It was quite fascinating to spy on the wildlife. Interesting how the eyes glow in the dark, reflecting the light.
Well, I know some of it. I have to look the rest up and hope I get it right.
Yeah, critters that are active at night all seem to have highly reflective eyes. Pretty sure the light is invisible to them, though, and only registered by the camera. I know I can't see it. The wavelength used by that particular camera is 940nm.
Great photos, Dig. I spotted what looks like a house protector wandering around in some of the photos.
I think that I spotted a bat zipping across the screen two different times.
I don't know about the house protector thing. More like a one dog welcoming committee. She doesn't bark at strangers, she gets all happy and excited and wants to meet them. The other day she ran up in the back of a UPS truck to meet the driver and sniff all the boxes, tail just a wagging away.
I think that was some kind of moth. The bats around here got sick from a deadly disease a few year ago and I haven't seen very many since. They used to be really common in the evenings, but I only noticed a handful last summer. It's sad. Hopefully they'll make a comeback. I was thinking about hanging a few bat houses in the woods to maybe help them out.
Excellent idea, Dig. The bat population is suffering from that disease worldwide any help they can get they need.
We used to have a couple of small bats that came out in the evening, but now that you mention it, I haven't seen them for a few years.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!" says the dog. "Don't I get any credit?"
LOL. Oh, yeah. I guess I forgot to mention her. That's my sweet Polly.
It's my understanding that Polly is a member in good standing in the Screen Actors Guild. There may be serious repercussions if Sweet Polly decides to pursue the matter.
Nah, she didn't have any spoken lines.
Woof is a spoken line...LOL
Great pics and video, thanks for posting.
Thanks, Pat.
Really great photos, Dig. It is very cool that you can grow asparagus. The deer in the video are beautiful.
I think asparagus will grow in most places. It's almost maintenance-free, too. It pretty much grows itself, and just keeps coming up from the roots every year. It's great.
That is very cool. I would like to try to grow some, except the rabbits will probably eat it. I don't know if I can grow enough to make it worthwhile just in a large pot where the rabbits can't get at them.
Yeah, it does need protection if there are critters around. Lots of things will eat it. It also needs space, both for the roots and for the summer greenery, which gets pretty big. I don't think it's something a person would want to grow in a pot, even a big one.
I tried to grow some a few years back, and it never really did anything. I have no idea what I did wrong.
It might not have been anything you did, Sandy. It could have been bad crowns or seeds, producing weak plants. If you still have the space available for it you could try again. I'd suggest crowns and not seed, with the soil worked loose to about a foot deep under them, amended with some kind of fertilizer worked in at the bottom (but not in direct contact with the first new root growth above). You could maybe have your son dig the trench out for you. I'll bet there's crowns in the stores now.
They were crowns.
I'm all out of space this year. I only have 3 raised beds for my garden. One is for strawberries, which have been established for several years now. And I planted the other two yesterday, before we got some heavy rain last night. They were either well watered, or the seeds have washed completely out of their rows.
Did you put some cukes in? If you did I hope they work for you this year.
Yes, three hills, which usually produces more than my son and I can eat. And thanks.
I'm running behind, myself. I'm going to do another blog this year but I still have a little prep work to do, and some seeds I ordered a month ago haven't even arrived yet. I did finally finish rebuilding the fence, so I shouldn't have any rabbit problems now.
My dad is coming to visit in a few weeks, and is going to help me replace the fence. This time last year, we couldn't find fencing material anywhere. The old fence should keep the rabbits at bay for a few more weeks.
please do, I liked the one last year
Awesome place, nature in bloom!
Thanks, Pink.
Truly beautiful photos all, Dig. And the vid is a great insight into what we may not see in the darkness of night. Real life never takes a break.
Thank you for sharing them with us.
Thanks, Raven Wing.
bunnies and foxes. your trail cam just may catch some night carnage. cool video
Thanks, dev.
Once again, the GROUP is looking good! Keep it going and thanks to all.
Spring comes to a mountain, woodland stream.
And so do I.
© A. Mac/A.G.
Beautiful scenery. Mac. It looks almost like a poster. Awesome photography!
I can just see you standing on that rock at the far left with a flyrod in hand.
Beautiful location. Beautiful photo.
A little something from yesteryear..........
Beautiful, RW. Is that a giant snake or something showing its fangs on the right, just above his hip, or am I seeing things?
Thank you Dig. The fangs you see are those of as Wolf. The Wolf is protecting the dancer from any evil Spirits.
Oh, I see the wolf now. I didn't pick up on the whole thing before. Looks almost like a bear. I also see some other animals that I missed before.
Stunning as usual.
Thanks Buzz.
That is quite amazing, Raven Wing.
Thank you, G.
powerful RW
Thanks dev.
A brilliant use of linear perspective with numerous, strong diagonals drawing the viewer’s eye to the face of the subject.
Any serious graphic artist, photographer, etc. could learn something about the importance of composition by studying this work!
Congratulations RW! This is a classic!
Thank you very much for your very in-depth assessment of the artwork, Mac. I truly appreciate your very professional critique and your compliment.
When camping in Florida it's best to be alert. Not being alert can result in you being breakfast.
The funniest bumper sticker I have ever seen:
Ehhh....are the 'greeters' trying to tell the campers something? ??
"....................!" - Harpo Marx
The funniest graffiti I have ever seen. Written on the side of a building when I lived in Berkeley in the early 70s.
LOL.. That IS a good one.
Gators have learned to write our road signs.
LOL! Just doing their part to ensure the safety of the hikers and bikers..........(grin)
That is so funny.
Sunday comin' up!
© A. Mac/A.G.
Springtime in Zijingshan Park in Zhengzhou, taken at least a decade ago.
A very beautiful photo of Mother Earth's gifts of nature.
Mother Nature and I both thank you. LOL
Last night's sunset, Stone Creek, Ocala FL.
A perfect sunset wherein even the clouds stepped back in awe.
Luminism at its best!
Awesome, Kavika. A great shot that shows the transition from daylight to twilight. So beautiful.
Ahh yes.....That's a long time favorite. Thanks Ender.
For Sunday. New painting.
© A. Mac/A.G.
That's a beauty, Mac. Stunning colors all. And I see a Halloween skull mask at the top left, a bird with a very long beak, or what could be a pelican's head and beak in the center, and the eyes and nose of a seal at the bottom left.
The great thing about abstracts is that you can not only enjoy the beautiful colors, but, have fun finding the various shapes hidden within the painting.
A truly awesome display.
I see a dog's head in profile near the top.
I thought I saw that as well, Buzz, but, was not sure. So your seeing it as well confirms what my eyes were seeing. Looks sort of like a Spaniel or Lab.
That's right, a Spaniel or a Lab.
Another oldie I hope you enjoy.....
An oldie but a goodie.
Thank you Buzz.
One more for Sunday....White Buffalo Calf Woman......
For some reason the calf seems to me to be somewhat three dimensional, coming at me right out of the picture.
Being as it is the primary subject of the artwork, and with all the surrounding colors and objects, it really needs to take the spotlight. And its seeming to jump right out of the image at you is part of the visual effects.
We had rain most of the day today but this is the sunset we got tonight.
Another day, another glorious sunset. Welcome to Kavikaland.
That is certainly what it is becoming, and happily so.
I love that name, perhaps I can get the city council to change the name from Ocala to Kavikaland.
Actually, Ocala is an Indian name. The Timucua Indians had a village here in the 15th century and it was named Ocali.
I will send in my mail in vote for that name change.
For that I will need a drivers license, birth certificate (still debate on long form or not), a bill in your name, marriage license (if applicable), and a passport.
Addendum, the drivers license has to be the new enhanced version. Just look for the star in the top corner. If you do not have the newer license please go to your local DMV and follow instructions there.
Nothing like a bit of going overboard, eh. (smh)
Me? Neva.
LMAO
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I will be placing this with my paintings when participating in art shows; I am hoping it will evoke the reaction of viewers to go ahead and "see" what they will "see".
That is an excellent idea, Mac. One of the things I like about artwork of all kinds, especially abstract artwork, is being able to not only enjoy the beautiful colors, but, to be able to allow my imagination to see what the various shapes and color combinations let my eyes see in them. As a young girl I used to accompany an older Cousin on trips to the local art gallery when new artwork was added, and I would sit in front of them and try to see how many different things I could find. It was such fun back then, and it still is today.
Seeking such interpretations adds to the enjoyment of observing modern art. I never had any interest in the works of Constable, for example, and many have discussed the contrast of his works with those of Turner, and in much of Turner's works emotion and interpretation come into play.
Once again, a THANK YOU" to all who make our GROUP the success it has become.
I will lock it down tomorrow morning.
You must have forgotten - I'll do it for you.