Saturday, November 30, 2013

The Wind in the Willows


This dapper gentlefrog welcomes customers at a
major intersection in Naples' main shopping
street, Fifth Avenue South.


Friday, November 29, 2013

Chihuly Ceiling



The Baker Museum in Naples has a ceiling
made from the wonderful brightly colored glass
of the studio of Dale Chihuly.
The ceiling casts reflections on the plain white walls below.

Click here for more photos with reflections.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!


Happy Thanksgiving to my American viewers.

Thanksgiving this year is being spent with daughter Susie and son-in-law Wes
in Johannesburg, South Africa.  Right now we are at the lovely
Cathedral Peak Hotel in the majestic
Drakensberg Mountains east of Johannesburg.


We eat well here, too, thanks to Jerome and the rest of the staff!
All the best to everyone.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Traditions


This old-fashioned restaurant sits on the beach
on the lovely island of Sanibel.

It brings the mind back to the Truman and Eisenhower
administrations.  The food is great.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Young Love


This teen-aged couple sit on a bench
outside a community building in Bonita Springs.
I didn't see the sculptor's name.
The bicycle is a nice touch, isn't it?

Monday, November 25, 2013

Susie is 30!


Happy birthday, Susie.

Amazing cake by mother-in-law, Annette.


Sunday, November 24, 2013

Alvin's Island


Alvin's Island seems like a store for people
who wear beach clothes that glow in the dark.


I don't shop there.

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Pitbull


The Mucky Duck is a very popular restaurant and bar on the island of Captiva.
Parking is at a premium.  Pitbull patrols the parking lot and assures
that only patrons use the valuable parking spaces.

If Pitbull tells you to move your car, you move.

Friday, November 22, 2013

JFK


President John F. Kennedy was assassinated fifty years ago in Dallas.  Anyone my age can tell you exactly where they were when they got the news.

The Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford pairs two Kennedy artworks.  On the left is Retroactive I, a  1964 oil and silkscreen by Robert Rauschenberg that includes a reference to the space race and a photo of Kennedy and his characteristic pointing gesture.

On the right is Bluewald (1989 - 90) by Cady Noland, a silkscreen on aluminum with fabric and wood.  It is based on the newspaper photograph of Kennedy's assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, as he was shot by Jack Ruby.


Thursday, November 21, 2013

The Pelican Lady


Jean is The Pelican Lady.  Check out her earring.
She heads the volunteers at the wildlife rehabilitation program at the
Conservancy of Southwest Florida.
They take in injured turtles and panthers and raccoons . . . and pelicans . . .
and restore them to health before returning them to nature.

This is an iPhone photo.  Not as sharp as some, but not bad.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Bruno



At my local coffee shop, you better like dogs.

Dog owners huddle together to discuss Bruno's latest trim.  And the parentage of their dogs.  And the dogs' diets.  And the dogs' inoculations and operations.  And their foibles.

Nancy and Leslie and their dogs sat down beside me while I was having a coffee and reading a book.  They had a lovely conversation, which I can quote verbatim if you would like.

Bruno was bored by the conversation.  He cuddled up next to me and helped me read my book until he fell asleep.

Nancy and Leslie agreed that I am a very patient man for sitting so calmly with Bruno sleeping on my leg.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Mike and the Girls

Mike was at Barefoot Beach with his family.


Mike's family is originally from Ohio.  He is a financial planner who also participates in triathlons.


Jo is a sand artist and castle builder.  Abby likes to bury her feet in the sand.

Monday, November 18, 2013

Everglades Wonder Gardens


The Wonder Gardens were an old-style Florida attraction operated for 77 years by one family.  It closed last year and the animals have been sent to other locations.  A local photographer is 
working to re-open the Wonder Gardens, while the family is trying to sell it and 
the city of Bonita Springs is considering whether to buy it.



This post is linked to Monday Murals.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Judy


Meet Judy from the admissions desk of the American Clock
and Watch Museum in Bristol, Connecticut.

Over the winter when I run short of Naples photos,
I will show some more clocks and watches from this museum.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Roger


As a youth in Maine, Roger was a boxer.  Today
he lives in Naples and rides a bicycle about 150 miles a
week, 20 - 30 miles a day.

Not bad for an 82-year old man.

Friday, November 15, 2013

Reflections at Mel's Diner


Just about everything at Mel's Diner is
polished and reflective.

Easy pickings for Weekend Reflections.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Inside Mel's Diner


Mel's Diner is a colorful place.
Charlie Chaplin and Betty Boop greet customers.

Charlie is cruel, mocking the posture of the unsuspecting customer.


Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Mel's Diner


In southwest Florida, there are five places called Mel's Diner.

This one is in Bonita Springs.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Monday, November 11, 2013

Naples City Dock


 Naples City Dock is on Naples Bay, 
about six blocks south of the heart of Olde Naples.


Sunday, November 10, 2013

Trees


Many Florida trees are beautiful.
They are very different from the ones up north that I grew up with.

I could do a daily photo blog of just the trees.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Trova


Ernest Trova painted and sculpted a series of armless male figures over five decades.  
One of his highly polished metal sculptures sits in front of Naples' Baker Museum.

Friday, November 8, 2013

Hanneke Beaumont II



This sitting figure currently greets visitors at Naples' Baker Museum.
The 2003 sculpture by the Dutch sculptor, Hanneke Beaumont,
has the highly descriptive name of Cast Iron 61.

Please visit James' blog Weekend Reflections to see other photos with reflections.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Hanneke Beaumont I


This figure sits atop a column outside Naples' Baker Museum.

The sculptor is Hanneke Beaumont, a Dutch-born sculptor with a current show at the Baker.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

Sand


Naples beaches keep having their sand washed out to sea.
Replenishing the sand is expensive . . . and controversial.

We are now about one third of the way through the current beach renourishment project.  
360,000 tons of sand from an inland pit are being trucked to
Collier County beaches in 18,000 truckloads.

18,000!

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Lavender


Just pull up a rocking chair beside me.  I'm sure the owners won't mind.

Olde Naples.

Monday, November 4, 2013

Kiss


Because I still have not seen any Naples murals, here is
one from my mid-September walk along the
High Line on the west side of Manhattan.

Eduardo Kobra is a Brazilian artist who based his mural
on the World War II photograph called 
V-J Day in Times Square, by Alfred Eisenstaedt.
Cool, no?

This post is linked to Monday Mural.

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Big House


Here is one of Naples' many big, beautiful houses.
This one is on Gulf Shore Boulevard South. 

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Cottage


Naples is an odd mix of wealth and poverty and everything in between.
Fourteen mansions are currently available for more than $10 million each.
Some well-located houses are bought for more than a million dollars and
leveled to build the next mansions.

And, some well-maintained old cottages sleep contentedly 
where they were placed 50 - 75 years ago.


Friday, November 1, 2013

Heights?

Florida is a very flat state and Naples is a very flat city.

Heights?  You've got to be kidding!


How about a new high rise building in Pelican Bay?

Click here to see other interpretations of "Heights" by City Daily Photo bloggers.