11 January 2010 // Filed under January
JD called me this morning on his way to school, and told me to grab my camera and take a shot of the ocean. “It’s steaming,” he said. “You have to see it.”
I did. Lighting is everything in photography, and it probably took me 10 minutes to get to the beach, so the steam was not so apparent. However, I could still see it.
Anyway, don’t think I’ll go swimming today.
:: Share or discuss :: 2010-01-11 :: admin
2 October 2009 // Filed under Places
This summer, as part of my freelance writing and photography, I was able to see three Palm Beach estates circa 1920s. I’ve written about them on my other blog, if you want to find out more.
Here are some photos with short descriptions.
Cielito Lindo
Cielito Lindo was built by dime-store heiress Jessie Woolworth Donahue in 1927. It was palatial, ocean to lake, with 45,000 square feet, a 30-by-50-foot living room, a 4-story tower, six master bedrooms, 10 staff rooms, houses for the chauffeur and gardener and a tap room.
Hogarcito Bell Tower
Hogarcito was built by Marjorie Meriweather Post. She decided it was too small and built Mar a Lago. This photo as taken from its bell tower.
On Middle Road, the home below, Casa Juanita, is a 1925-landmarked estate built by Sterling Postely, and named after his wife, Jeanne.
Living room, Casa Juanita
:: Share or discuss :: 2009-10-02 :: admin
27 June 2009 // Filed under Places
And that’s a good thing!
Here are some adventures I’ve had this spring… To think I thought I had to go to Chartres to walk the labyrinth! There are two right here in Delray Beach and they are based on the Chartres Labryrinth.
At the Duncan Conference Center, you can enjoy them at your liesure, or be part of monthly guided meditations.
These two were envisioned by retired Duncan Center director, Father Steve Fregeau, and were designed by landscape artists, Steven and Michele Benner. A labyrinth, they say, is a symbol, a tool, a passion, or a practice, which can provide gentle relief, meaningful purpose and quench the desire for calm, insight and peace. I walked the labyrinths on World Labyrinth Day, May 2, as part of a worldwide effort to create a “rolling wave of healing labyrinth energy in unison as the earth turns.”
Actually, it was a very peaceful and centering experience. Different from a maze, a labyrinth has no forks in the road or confusing dead ends. A unicursal, the path never crosses over itself and culminates in only a singel cul-de-cac — its center — where “walkers” are invited to rest awhile, meditating, centering, quieting, before taking the same path out.
I learned that on life’s path, I cannot get lost. It may turn and seem confusing at times, but the way is distinct, and like Theseus, the thread is there, and all you have to do is walk along.
To go back to my site, here’s the link: Travelers Palm Inn
:: Share or discuss :: 2009-06-27 :: admin
24 April 2009 // Filed under All Season + Photo Ops
We took a day trip to Sebring this winter. All of us enjoyed the day, and we had fun taking photos at Highlands Hammock State Park.
The park was established in 1935, and is one of the four original state parks created by the Civilian Conservation Corps. It is part of Florida’s Statewide Greenways and Trails System.
On 9,250 acres, It has a dense, subtropical jungle of hardwood trees, cabbage palms, ferns, bromeliads, orchids and other airplants.
Due to the diversity of the plant communities, many varieties of wildlife are found here including Whitetail Deer, River Otters, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red Shouldered Hawks, Barred Owls and Swallow-tailed Kites. Florida Panthers, Bobcats, and Bald Eagles may also be seen on occasion. I, however, only encountered a spider…
1 comment :: Share or discuss :: 2009-04-24 :: admin
10 March 2009 // Filed under Places
This past Saturday, we toured the Nike site in the Everglades. This is one of four in the area, and each site has two components — a command center as well as a launch area. THe launch area includes three launch pads, each with a building large enough to contain three missiles, along with a bunker. A fourth building on the site was used for assembling the missiles.
After touring, we decided to hike a short path, before heading home. The Everglades was crawling with critters!
:: Share or discuss :: 2009-03-10 :: admin
13 January 2009 // Filed under All Season + Kids
I’ve passed this place zillions of times.
Here’s the address:
8031 North Military Trail, Palm Beach Gardens,
Phone – 561-691-9880
It was the day before Christmas, and we wanted to do something with Zoe, Hannah, Max and James (ages 6 through 3), and we decided to check this place out. We all enjoyed it.
My son, Ted, grandsons, Max and James and I were playing with the knights and dragons. One little girl wanted to take over the castle, literally. She wanted to move it off the table. Her dad was not in favor. STTOPPP ITTT, he said. Of course, he was fairly well ignored.
Later, my son remarked that he rarely heard a dad whine at his kid. Here’s some photos…
1 comment :: Share or discuss :: 2009-01-13 :: admin
9 December 2008 // Filed under All Season + Places
I am.
For many northeners, South Florida is the next best thing to Utopia, especially in the dead of winter. Heating up those bones after being chilled to the bone is a wondrous experience! At least, that’s what my visitors at my vacation rental, Travelers Palm, tell me.
At the turn of the 20th century, one group headed to Florida to establish their Utopia. You can still visit the site — it’s an easy drive and on the west coast of Florida.
OK. Maybe the facilities aren’t exactly five stars luxurious. But, I have to say, Koreshan had something to do with the stars in a way. Go see for yourself — here’s the site.
Here’s the real deal according to this Utopia — We live inside the globe, rather than on it.
Now a state park in Estero, Fl, the Koreshan Unity Settlement was founded by Dr. Cyrus Teed, who brought his followers to Estero in 1894. This settlement was to be the New Jerusalem, a Utopia, where members lived communally working for the good of all.
Here’s how Dr. Teed, in charismatic fashion, proved his viewpoint that we live inside our Earthly globe rather than on it. He said, take a look at the horizon; you can clearly see that it actually curves upward – wow. I never saw that!
His followers believed that he was immortal, so, when he died, they laid him out on the banks of the Estero River, waiting for his awakening. After several weeks, his remains were placed in a bathtub, just in time to be washed away by a hurricane. I guess you could say that he did, at least, make a clean getaway in the end.
:: Share or discuss :: 2008-12-09 :: admin
5 December 2008 // Filed under All Season + Events + Places
After strolling around and people watching, we had drinks at the Sundy House and enjoyed its lovely gardens, stuck our feet in its natural swimming pool, complete with fish, said “hello” to the resident parrot and wandered around its meandering paths. http://www.sundyhouse.com
In January, Fotofusion comes back to Delray Beach. The Palm Beach Photographic Centre hosts this annual event for photographers – it’s one of my favorites.
Check out Delray Beach events by visiting the town’s Web site http://www.delraybeach.com
:: Share or discuss :: 2008-12-05 :: admin
27 November 2008 // Filed under Events + March + Photo Ops + Places
A day at the Rodeo
Cowboys in Florida are called Cracker cow hunters. Want a taste of the Old West? Just head to Okeechobee! Just west of Lake Worth, and about an hour away, we had a very nice day trip, took photos of the rodeo and the carnival. For dinner, we stopped in Indiantown. Unfortunately, we did not see Miss Ida…
It’s coming up — check it out — March 15.
http://www.okeechobeecountyfair.com/okeechobee-county-fair-schedule.htm
:: Share or discuss :: 2008-11-27 :: admin
