The Dancer

Dancing for the joy of moving.

Back in Florida for a couple of weeks, but this is from Connecticut, to make me happy.

Historic South Main Street

South Main Street in South Windsor runs along the Connecticut River, but high enough that it is not affected by seasonal overflow of the floodplain.  There is a mix of lovely old houses, farm land, modest modern houses and falling down relics.  I photograph only the nice houses.

OK, sometimes the wrecks, too, but not today.

Gingerbread Houses

Wood Memorial Library and Museum in South Windsor, Connecticut, has an annual 

holiday show of gingerbread houses.  

Happy Birthday

Susie turned 34 on Saturday.  Hazel and Willa were ready to help blow out the candles.

Wonderful daughter.  Wonderful mother.

Lighting Up Main Street

There was a big turnout Friday night on Ridgefield's Main Street for the 

lighting of the trees for the holiday season.

Happy Holidays!

The pages get turned fast around here.  Last night in Ridgefield, a choir welcomed the Christmas season at Town Hall in front of a big crowd before the Thanksgiving turkey had been digested.

Hydrangea

I'm kind of fond of the look of limelight hydrangea after the blooming season is past.

Happy Thanksgiving

In Connecticut for a week.  Sharing Thanksgiving with Susie and her family.

Before they arrived, I drove around Elizabeth Park on a wet, overcast, late fall day.

Old Route 41

Old Route 41 runs through the City of Bonita Springs.  The City leaders upgraded it from a rickety old local road to an attractively landscaped street that might -- they hope -- stimulate economic development.  They even installed a traffic circle that the locals are struggling to figure out. 

Setting the Pace

This sculpture by Colorado artist Jane DeDecker sits in Riverside Park in Bonita Springs.

Everglades Wonder Gardens

The Everglades Wonder Gardens is an "Old Florida"-style attraction that has been on life support for a decade or more.  The City of Bonita Springs stepped in two years ago, provided funding 

to rescue it, turned it into a nonprofit and hired a new executive director.

The Wonder Gardens was clobbered by Hurricane Irma.  But, with more help from the City and 200 volunteers, fifty truckloads of fallen trees and debris were removed from the park.  

The park opened again last week.  Today's post is linked to Monday Mural.

Doctors Pass

Damage to roofs and pool cages and uprooted trees, along with the debris piles, are the most visible damage from Hurricane Irma.  But, in many cases the storm redistributed beach sand.  Friends on Sanibel have had their beach doubled in depth, receiving sand lost by Captiva.

Doctors Pass is at a vulnerable location in Naples, where Moorings Bay joins the Gulf of Mexico.  Collier County has approved a $2 million project to rebuild and extend a jetty and replace the 

beach sand that was lost.  The project has already begun and will take four months.

Sunset

This is the sunset that led to the afterglow I showed yesterday.

Gulls and pelicans roost on the further pilings.

Afterglow

The pilings on Naples Beach at Third Street South are a good spot to view the afterglow

that follows a sunset.  Weekend Reflections.

Two Greeters

The Baker Museum at Artis-Naples suffered water damage in Hurricane Irma.  It will be closed all season.  Greeters are posted at the courtyard entrance to steer visitors to the parts of Artis-Naples
that are still open.  I was there for the changing of the guard.

Sally Ann is proudly in her 80s.  Originally from Buffalo, NY, she has 11 children (not a typo).  After the last child left home, Sally Ann went back to college, got her degree and became a teacher.

She lives now in Florida because New York winters are too cold.  Sally Ann is an avid kayaker.

Caroline is a high school senior.  This is her first job.  She plays saxophone in the high school band and likes working here so she can see the concerts for free.  Caroline plans to go
to college next year, maybe the University of Florida.

My laptop is back.  The operating system was re-installed and it has a new battery.  Whew!

Some Recent Pics

While I wait for my laptop to be repaired and returned to me (fingers crossed), here are some recent pics that I was able to get to.

A boy climbing.

Two pre-teens giggling about a selfie.

Yabba Island Grill, a Fifth Avenue South casual restaurant.

Irma Again

When I posted recently that Naples doesn't look as bad as I expected post-Irma, I didn't mean to imply that there are no visible signs of damage.  Scenes like this are everywhere.

My laptop has been with the Apple Store since last Thursday.  Until I get it back, I will be marking time with the photos that I can reach without accessing my laptop . . .

Fifth Avenue South

Fifth Avenue South is the most prominent shopping and restaurant street in Naples.
A building boom is going on.

 Simple, low-rise buildings are being bought and torn down, to be replaced by bigger and fancier buildings.  Rents go up, small stores and restaurants can't afford them and move out.

I do worry about killing the goose that laid the golden eggs . . .

Stop Light

He pulled up next to me at a stop light.  I will never understand.

I Met a Colorful Naked Lady

At "Oh My Gauze," a Naples store for casual women's clothes.

A Man with a Message

Or many messages.

Bikers for Babies

On Sunday, about 900 motorcycle riders took a half hour ride from a Naples park to Harley Davidson of Ft. Myers.  The event raised money for the March of Dimes, to fund care for sick newborns.

A police honor guard led the procession.

A metallic blue Corvette convertible led the rest.

A big pack in day-glo shirts promoted the safety message "Look Twice." 

There were some characters.

Some grandmothers.

But mainly just some generous and friendly folks out to ride with their buddies, 

check out the other bikes, wave to the crowd, and raise money for a good cause.