Art Show

There was a small art show at the Promenade shopping center in Bonita Springs.

Don Waterhawk and his wife create works with pearls, shells turquoise and silver-finished pewter embellishing glass decanters, champagne flutes and similar items.

 Carolyn Currie is a Connecticut landscape painter whose works emphasize sky, water and birds. 

Dennis W Stuart is a Connecticut artist with a subdued palette.

Jane Vallejo is a Naples artist who paints but also designs and makes 

dresses and other clothes based on her paintings.

AJ and her husband Jack Ferrell are artists who work with ceramic tiles.

Jack makes his own glazes.

Dolly

Dolly operates an unpretentious (but very good!) restaurant on Bonita Beach Road.

She started ballroom dancing a dozen years ago to have something to do in the evenings.

She has gone on to compete (and win) in numerous national and international competitions.

When paying my bill, I asked Dolly if she had won any championships recently.

"Yes, last month I won a national championship."  She is not much bigger than a

postage stamp, but her warmth and magnetic personality are huge.

Congratulations, Dolly.

Egret

There is something elegant about Florida shorebirds that makes them fascinating.

Ricardo

Seeing only the first photo of today's post, you would think Ricardo is a dour man.  

Admit it.  You did, didn't you?

In reality, Ricardo is a happy man who laughs and smiles a lot.
Note to self:  Get a little more data before making judgments. 

Ricardo meets in Riverside Park on Sundays with his friends to talk about their love of Christ.

Shangri-La

The Shangri-La resort and spa is hidden from Old Route 41 by a high fence and row of trees.

Peeking in, a big white hotel comes into view.  

Built in 1921 and progressing through a series of owners, the hotel and spa 

have been renovated in recent years.

There are the usual spa services along with an organic farm and restaurant.

Shangri-La is also a popular wedding venue.

Holiday Craft Show

I walked around a "Women of Faith" church holiday crafts bazaar and bake sale in Naples.

Mary Lou was standing with some other women, with a never-ending friendly smile on her face.
If I didn't already have two grandmothers, I would have asked her to be mine.



Linda does beach paintings in addition to making Christmas ornaments.  She paints these glass bulbs from the inside.  They have to be turned every 20 minutes so the  paint doesn't pool.



Joanne makes "comfort dolls" from socks.  Her husband keeps her company.



Mary is the teacup lady.



Anne retired two months ago and now spends her time making items like this night light
 from shells.  She is so happy to be retired that she glows.

Gift

This is from Connecticut, too, and it makes me happy.

To see other City Daily Photo bloggers' interpretations of the December theme,
"Gift," please click here.