Thursday, December 31, 2009

Entrance to the Stone Creek community


As most of you know, over the holidays we moved from our home in southeast Ocala to a new villa in the Stone Creek community in southwest Ocala. This is the main entrance leading into the community.

Even though we've been absent from the blogosphere for a few weeks, we want to thank all of our special friends in the photoblogging world for wishing us well at Christmas and giving us such great support during our move. We deeply appreciate your concern and your kind words.

In return and in gratitude, we send our best wishes to each of you for a wonderful New Year!

[While posting/commenting will be sporadic for a time, we hope to soon be back blogging as usual and sharing in the visual wonders you provide from around the world!]

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Merry Christmas from Ocala


This week we are in process of moving to the southwest side of Ocala. Thus, I'll not be able to post or comment. But our best wishes to everyone for a wonderful holiday and we hope you have a very merry Christmas!

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

H1N1 Vaccinations



The Marion County Health Department set up a vaccination center for the H1N1 virus in Ocala's Forest High School cafeteria. The center was staffed by volunteer nurses and other folks and the vaccine was free. We took advantage of this fine program along with many hundreds of other people!

This was a delightful expression of a community caring for one another. Perhaps it could also be seen as representative of the meaning of this holiday season.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Monday, December 14, 2009

Ugly Blue


I thought this was a really ugly car, sitting roped off in the mall. But some folks must have liked it, for they oohed and aahed and took pictures of it. Wait, I took a picture, too.

I think it had something to do with a charity drawing. Buy a ticket and win the car.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Sushi Bistro in downtown Ocala


The Sushi Bistro is a new restaurant in downtown Ocala, located just across from the town square. It is one of several new restaurants designed to revitalize the old downtown area.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Horse at the Appleton Museum


Another of the horses connected with Ocala "Horse Fever" program.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Mural by Ed Graves, an Ocala artist


We posted a partial and different view of this building yesterday. It faces Magnolia Avenue and is called Ritter's Beer Garden. The owner, Scott Ritter, wanted a "Bavarian-looking" mural on the Fort King side of the building, and thus contracted with local artist, Ed Graves, to paint it.

I think Ed did a great job. By the way, those windows and doors don't open!

Tuesday, December 8, 2009

The Square - downtown Ocala


Decked out for the holidays with a great big tree and lots of lights, the downtown square is especially pretty at night, which means I'll have to go down there and take a couple of photos.

Click to embiggen.

Monday, December 7, 2009

A Stone Creek view


This was taken in front of the Stone Creek Restaurant and Grille a couple of weeks ago...the golf course is out of sight on the left. Stone Creek is a plus 55 development by Del Webb on the southwest side of Ocala.

Click on the photo to embiggen.

Sunday, December 6, 2009

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Could this be the "missing" Santa


You may recall that the Santa hanging on the Griffin's sign has gone missing. I think we may have found him at the mall. Bored to tears. Waiting for another kid to climb on his lap and cry for mama! What a great job!

For some reason this photo will not embiggen with a click. I have no idea why it is so stubborn!

We are very busy selling our house and moving to another part of town. If the past couple days are indicative of what lies ahead, I'll probably be able to only post and comment sporadically for the next few weeks. But I will do the best I can because I hate to miss all the great photos of our CDP friends!

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Table decoration at Stone Creek restaurant


Real flowers decorated our luncheon table at the Stone Creek restaurant. Click on photo to embiggen.

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Griffin's Santa is gone!


You may remember the post about Griffin's, a long-time Ocala store which sold all kinds of crafty things but was forced out of business due to the lack of business.

In front of the store was a sign with Santa hanging from it. Santa hung there all year long. But Santa is gone now. No one knows where. Maybe the North Pole?

Click on the photo if you wish to embiggen.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Waiting on the tee box at the Stone Creek Golf Course


This month's theme is "Waiting." Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

You will enlarge the photo if you click on it.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Elegant mailbox and Best Blog Award


In Ocala, we have the usual blah mailboxes, we have some funky mailboxes (but not as funky as Fort Lauderdale) and we have elegant mailboxes, like this one! If I had taken a better picture, you would see that the brick of the mailbox matches the brick on the house.



Our thanks goes to Sashindoubutsu at Snapping Panda for this wonderful Best Blog Award. We are honored and grateful. Please visit Sashindoubutsu and her beautiful blog here.

Friday, November 27, 2009

Owen Patrick Fitzgerald


Last Tuesday, we headed to South Florida as our granddaughter, Amber, who was with child, had entered the hospital with the expectation of delivering said child. Soon. But it didn't happen on Tuesday. It happened on Wednesday, November 25.

And so we greeted our first great-grandchild, Owen Patrick Fitzgerald, and welcomed him into the world.

Not that we're proud, nor prone to exaggerate, but Owen is about perfect, as you can see.

Our family's celebration of Thanksgiving, however, was upended by Owen's arrival, and other factors. Suffice it to say, we did not do the usual, "traditional" thing, but instead, Lois Anne and I gathered with our two daughters (one from Colorado), and a son-in-law, and celebrated Thanksgiving at what's known as the 84 Diner in Davie, Florida. The 84 Diner gets its name from the fact it's located on old Highway 84.

But the omelets, hashbrowns, pancakes, bacon, salads, bagels, and pieces of toast were wonderful!

Thank you all for your kind greetings and well-wishes. It is so nice to have such great friends all over the world!

Monday, November 23, 2009

A neighbor's yard attraction


You will find this interesting display just a few blocks from our home. The same yard also contains other unique artifacts and sculptures. I don't know why.

We will be out of town for a few days. I may not be able to post or comment during that time, but we shall return and resume!

Sunday, November 22, 2009

The last of the bougainvillea


Last year at this time we were blessed with three beautiful bougainvillea plants which produced the most gorgeous leaves. Then we experienced the coldest winter since moving to Ocala with two back-to-back nights in the 20s. That ended the bougainvilleas. They've since been replaced with flora less hazardous and easier-to-care-for, but not quite as pretty.

If you click on it, the photo might get bigger.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Ascension Lutheran Church


Actually, this church sits on a small rise and is more attractive than the photo would suggest. It is, however, of a thoroughly modern design.

Friday, November 20, 2009

The Christian religion is big in Ocala


In Ocala, some folks don't wear their religion on their sleeves, they wear it on their trucks! This photo will embiggen. The other will not.


In Ocala, some folks "home-school" their kids believing the public schools are full of socialism and Darwinism and other isms. These folks need supplies and help in their home-schooling endeavors, so other folks establish stores with supplies and materials that teach the godly truth. Believe it or not.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

A salute to B Squared's mailboxes


There's a very funny photo blogger in Fort Lauderdale, Florida known as B Squared. Lately, he's been posting some very funny mail boxes he's located around his city. The other day, I happened upon these two mailboxes standing side by side chatting about the load of mail they have to bear and mentioned B Squared's Fort Lauderdale mailboxes. Well, they were so impressed, their little red flags flew up in unison in a salute to the mailboxes of Fort Lauderdale!

Naturally, I had to take a picture of this phenomenon.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

One who makes a difference and the You Made a Difference Award


The other morning, while on her usual 4-mile run, Lois and I ran into our mailman delivering mail in a nearby neighborhood. He faithfully delivers the mail and often goes out of his way in order to do his job well. For example, if a package does not fit into the box, he carries it to the front door!

He is one who makes a difference!


The You Made a Difference Award


Thank you to Tricia from Bluff Area Daily for this beautiful and meaningful award. Her postcard photos of southern Missouri are always a delight and we appreciate so much her kindness!

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Home from the war!


This happy home is located about six blocks from our house. Click to embiggen.

Monday, November 16, 2009

On the road for Jesus



We discovered this traveling "evangelist" in the Walmart parking lot. Note the New York license plates.

We get all kinds in Florida when the weather cools up north!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Ghost car and Friends award

Some people, for various reasons, cover up their cars with special "sheets." Sometimes they do this because the car is very valuable and they don't want anything untoward to happen to it. Other times, the car must be left out in the weather and so by covering it they hope to avoid dirt, bird droppings, acorn droppings, sleet and snow. Wait, we don't have sleet and snow here. Rain, then.



Our thanks to Kcalpesh at Pixellicious Photos for sending us this "friends" award. One of the great things about City Daily Photo is the opportunity to make friends with people around the world. Please check out Pixellicious Photos here.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Kept on a short leash


This vicious dog had to be kept on a short leash at the Ocala Arts and Crafts Festival. He wanted to lick everybody to death.

Click on photo to embiggen.

Friday, November 13, 2009

Our backyard orchid bush (with a painted effect).



Three shots of floral arrangements available at Publix Supermarkets.



Thursday, November 12, 2009

I heart...


Please embiggen the photo to read the messages more clearly. This couple "hearts" each other, they love their church, and the fish symbol indicates they love Jesus.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

An Indian grocery store in the heart of Ocala


This Indian grocery store is a testimony, I think, of the changing demographic here in Ocala.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Southern living


About a mile from our home stands this graceful example of southern living, surrounded, naturally, by magnolia trees.

Click to embiggen.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Smart mobile advertising


Photo enhanced with an illustration effect. Please click to embiggen.

Sunday, November 8, 2009

And I told you he was no good...


Photo enhanced with a posterizing effect.

Click on photo to embiggen.

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Friday, November 6, 2009

Florida fall foilage


We do have one or two trees on which the leaves change color...a little bit.

Click on photo to embiggen.
"Photographers deal in things which are continually vanishing and when they have vanished there is no contrivance on earth which can make them come back again." — Henri Cartier-Bresson