Some More From our UK Trip

I can't really explain why the sky looks like it does in this photo of the Edinburgh Castle from our hotel window except there was mist and fog. In any case,  it was lovely to see in person. Then too, imagine how many, many nights this same view has been experienced from that room in a building from the middle 1800's. Solid as a rock, or so the saying goes, and I think the same can be said for the Castle built on the rocky hill.

The weather seems to be the theme in many of my photographs from Edinburgh...wonder what these ladies were chatting about? From the looks of their gear, I'd say they must be locals.

Most of the buildings in Edinburgh are stone with very little color, except the side of this building which kind of took me by surprise. It was across the square from The Writer's Museum ,which I very much enjoyed visiting. Seeing some of RLS's handwritten pages from "Treasure Island" was quite the treat.

Then there are the red doors of churches which must have some kind of significance that I'm unaware of.

The Scots seem to make up for the lack of outdoor color with intense indoor color. I suspect most of you have heard of "The Fringe Festival" begun in Edinburgh in 1947. The headquarters are housed behind that red door, and take a look at the color inside!

Stunning, right? The photographs on the wall were taken during the 2013 rehearsals showcasing the myriad of talent you can see at the festival.

When we'd had all the soaking we could take, we visited The National Gallery, a must see if you are visiting there. The red walls took my breath away...

as did the variety of art. Massive painting are the best! Then again, smallish ones are great as well.

The blue wall was good, but oh my--that red was really something. I took the following photo because it depicts twins, a subject not often seen in paintings.

They look like little nun babies don't they?

We went into a lovely department store, John Lewis, mostly to use the restroom, and were struck by how attractive the window displays were, even for something as mundane as cleaning supplies.

In Edinburgh I was so delighted upon seeing the sink in our hotel room. I know that sounds crazy, but if you'd seen the one in our little London flat, you would know why I was pleased.

I was trying to think of something to compare the little sink with, coming up short. Bruce just gave me the perfect comparison--a small shoebox! That said, if you look at the above sink you will see one of the quandaries facing you--how to get warm water? Not hot, not cold, but warm. We are so accustomed to mixing valves in our faucets, I hardly knew what to do! A minor problem for sure, but as an adult I figure I should know how to do these kinds of things, including how to flush the toilet--another challenge.

I'm pretty sure I've already explained how very old York is--take a look at the inscription on this monument in front of the York Minster.

I love everything about the photo above and I'm pretty hard to please. The green grass, the oxidizing statue, the black wrought iron, stacked stones, arches, and a tiny interior light. I wish they all would turn out as well.

In the York Museum Grounds, we came across these crumbling Abbey walls. We were goofing around--when Bruce started to photograph me, I did the same!

During our walking tour on top of the city walls, we followed the path behind the York Minster which sounds very exciting right? Just messing with you....

Anyway, Fred, our spry octogenarian guide, explained that the building you see below with the pointed roof was called the "Chapter House," and I'm sure you're just dying to know why. Here's why--the priests would use that space to read a chapter of the Bible every day. Or so he said...

and we had no reason not to believe him!

In Windsor there were a lot of swans doing their thing in the River Thames which divides Windsor from Eaton, home to the famous Easton College. While looking through my trip photos, wondering what to share, this one begged to be shown, if only because I was imaging how very many cygnets they spawn in the Spring!

Thursday I met Bonnie and Bev for lunch in Winter Garden (more on this in another post), and our conversation turned to what Bev should do during her upcoming five day stay in London. Well, there's just so much to see and do, it makes for some hard decisions. I mentioned that having a local to guide us, sometimes we see things differently than a typical tourist. Maybe, maybe not. In any case, we all agreed that it would be a fine thing to do to take in the Royal Parks, and Buckingham Palace, which sits adjacent to these gates.

Covered in gold leaf they are hard to take your eyes off of! Just the other day I got a call from Sun Dance asking if I had any photos of the World Trade Center. Why, yes I do, but only taken from the air, years, and years ago. On Sept. 11th, I took that photo out of the shoebox, and put it on my fridge bulletin board where it stayed for years and years. I mention that because most Americans remember the day as if it were yesterday. In London, there are many monuments to the Great Wars, and I suspect that there are folks that remember those horrible times as if they were yesterday, and if they don't the inscriptions and sculptures are there to keep the memories alive.

London is such a big, vibrant city that you never can be totally sure what you will see next...

Don't know why there was a fractured green egg on the sidewalk but it was cool, as was this street art taken from the window during a bus ride.

If you visit the Spitafields Market, you might see this fun display outside one of the shops...

and if you are walking down to the docks, you might see this:

Brick Lane and Shoreditch are a treasure trove of street art, and I do mean street art. This guy has multiple ones throughout the area. Not charming like Stik mind you, but on the other end of the spectrum, more like a colorful Banksy disciple.

Lots of folks in London are in a hurry, and in this instance, Jane was as well! I love this photo of her purposeful walk.

We also discussed the merits of riding the London Eye, something we did years ago, and I highly recommend. Bonnie was not sold.

I am a huge fan of the SouthBank area, doing my best to make a case! We should have taken Matt up on his suggestion to ride it at night during this visit. Alas, I imagine we will be back one day, and that will be a "must do."

So many to share, so little time to do so. And there is you, my dear readers who will give up on me if I don't quit already! Hope you've enjoyed a different look than you might see in the guidebooks....

The Nicest Season of the Year

In some parts of the world, Spring can be nice, however, there is still the threat of very cold weather, not to mention, lots of rain. In Florida, on the other hand, Spring is the best--not too cold, not too hot, low humidity, and lots of sunshine. What better time of the year to hang out one's laundry? Plus, don't you just love all the springy colors?

Bonus points for grass! For years, this tiny section of our yard has been woefully short of grass, so I could not be happier with how it looks now!

On the other side of this path, a big pot holds an hibiscus plant with bright orange blooms. Much to my surprise/delight, a yellow one appeared, somewhat reminiscent of the clothes line!

Then too, all over the neighborhood, the magnolia trees are in bloom, perfuming the morning air as I go on my bike ride.

The other day I said to Bruce, my goodness, our oak tree is really starting to grow. I went back in my photo library, looking for a photo when it was newly planted, coming across this one taken in April of 2011.

Look at that grass! I knew it had come a long way, but wow....

what a difference more than 100 grass plugs will make! I think the tree is getting taller, but more than that, it is getting fatter, finally providing some shade to that side of the house. These photos also really show what a difference the windows make.

So, we've been out and about now that I'm nearly over my flu. Last Thursday night we went to Maxine's, to support my friend Dlynn who was showing her paintings there.

Which, now that I've put these photos up in this order reminds me of something pretty crazy. In 2005, when this place was still called Bravissimo, Bruce and I sat on the patio eating dinner late on a Thursday night. He'd only just returned from a business trip. During our meal he asked me "what are they saying about the hurricane?" Ever the optimist, or head in the sand, you choose, I told him, "you know how they always hype these storms; I don't think we have anything to worry about." Nonetheless, when we got home, he did put our patio furniture in the pool to keep it from blowing away if the storm did come our way. Boy, was I ever wrong!!! Hurricane Charley hit us with a vengeance the following night, which, in a round about way, precipitated our need for a new tree some year later. So, there you go....

As well, the previous Saturday afternoon, when I was still in recovery mode, we went to a Kentucky Derby party over at Lake Pineloch, the complex where Dave and Michelle live. Their friend Burch did a very nice job.

Michelle and Fallon wore their best Kentucky blue!

Speaking of parties, I had the most wonderful surprise Sunday afternoon. Dave and Michelle brought all kinds of food and wine to our home, setting it all up, and cooking while I was still at the market! Adding to that, Matt came home for a visit, albeit short!

Bill was there, as well as two of their friends, and it was all just perfect! I can't remember a time when Matt has been here that he hasn't done some sort of tech upgrade, and this visit was no exception. 

Unbeknownst to me, my internet connection to the computer I am writing this on was unacceptably slow. That is no longer the case.  About 24 hours after arriving in Orlando, he is off to spend 10 days in New York City on a business trip. The next time he will be back is when he and Tom fly to Seattle to begin a two week train journey across America for their honeymoon. How cool is that?

Bruce picked Matt up at the airport just before it was time to take down at the market. When they arrived I dragged Matt over to see some brand new cygnets, not too far from my booth.

We have no idea who provided the tub for their swimming hole--Mamma swan was keeping a close eye on them while still sitting on an egg. Darn they are cute!

I can't tell you how excited I am about the new frames Bruce has been making. Happily I sold another one first thing Sunday. Here's a look at the painting production line...

Plus, I got an order for another one! After so many years, it feels good to have a new product line.

The other morning I heard a rapping sound, quite loud, which I figured was someone nearby using a hammer. Not so, as Bruce pointed out this woodpecker, or I guess in this case, metalpecker, tapping away at the light pole across the street from our house.

Perhaps the metal is softer than the concrete pole?

Finally, just a reminder of this refreshing salad, made with shredded carrots, diced radishes, lime zest and juice, and olive oil.

Aside from some salt and pepper to taste, you are get to go....just delicious!

You might enjoy clicking on this link...I was going to close with a poem about the nicest season of the year, however, they've gone and done it for me!

Who Doesn't Want to See Baby Swans?

You may be happy to learn that I am back in the saddle, and I mean that literally! Today was the first time I've ridden my bike in over two weeks--woohoo!

Sunday, Bruce insisted on staying with me at the market, knowing how easily I was tiring, and it was nice to have him there. Lots of friends stopped by for visits making the day go pretty quickly. Happily, one of the small canvases, with the new frame Bruce made from scratch, sold, so that was worth the whole day as far as I'm concerned.

Our friend Ha stopped early on with a new camera in her hands. She'd bought it for a trip and was doing a little practicing around Lake Eola. I see loads of folks with cameras every Sunday, and I am one of them, however, my focus (!) is only on photographing the market. WELL, Monday I saw Ha posted a photo of some baby swans from her Sunday adventure, and that got me very excited to see them for myself.

I hope you will enjoy my stroll around Lake Eola in search of the cygnets. A Florida Spring can be quite beautiful because, although it is beginning to get pretty darn warm, the humidity remains low. Oh how we wish it were always so!

With camera in hand, I began my stroll, coming across a black swan on her nest with just one egg that she seemed to be trying to move into a more comfortable position.

I mention the one egg because before long, I came across a white one who is expecting a half dozen!

While I was taking a photograph of a blue heron chilling in the cool water of Lake Eola,

the white swan settled back onto her nest.  Keep in mind the big mound for later....

I have no idea if they are related or not, but some turtles were hanging together.....

none of which look any too young, so forget the Spring business here! This blue jay looked a little small to me, so perhaps it is a spring youngster.

Generally I am not a big pigeon fan, don't know why because they do have a lovely coat of feathers.

In fact, they are pretty darn colorful, aren't they, what with the red feet, orange eye, and all that iridescence around head and neck?

The vantage point below is probably everyone's favorite these days.

You might recall that Darden donated the sculpture. There are all brand new swan boats, replaced last year with models that have a roof if one cares to use it. In storage, they keep the tops down.

Well, this is all just fine and dandy, but where are the cygnets??? As I was getting close to where the market is held, I took a photo of the "bridge" which is filled with tents every Sunday.

Lovely, right? Well, lo and behold, as I carried on, I turned around, and THERE THEY WERE!!

A half a dozen darling cygnets! Now, remember that nest you saw? Well, their nest is up the embankment and I watched them scramble up and into the nest. Adorable!!

Time for a little rest after all that exertion!

Then back down they go again...

Obviously, I could got get enough of their cuteness; eventually I tore myself away, but it was not easy!

There are a lot of swans at Lake Eola, and it is hard to know how many of these adorable new ones will survive. Then too, swans can be kind of mean, as this poor little woman discovered.

She was hardly bigger than a minute, bless her heart!

Lake Eola is lovely, especially on a Monday morning when the crowds are thin to non-existent. Nothing like those beautiful parks in England, but it's what we've got! There is another side to Lake Eola which is all too sad, the homeless, who live in the park, or try to anyway.

Sadly those are probably the only possessions the man on the bench owns. :(

Working in the yard with Bruce this morning, I finally cut back my Paperwhite stems, something that I've wanted to do for ages, however, one must wait for them to start dying back if one ever hopes to have blooms again! This one was finally clipping away when I came across this little cutie sitting atop a weed.

Now that was exciting. A little later, putting the tools away, a Monarch came to say hello.

Can you stand any more cuteness for one day?  Of course you can't--it would just be too much!

I hope this has brought a little smile to your face....

Until we meet again,
Gail