Break Time

Ocala (Florida) Photos and our other photoblogs are on a break.  We will, however, be posting occasionally on our blog at L & L Photography.  Best wishes to all of our wonderful friends in the photo blogosphere!

The Olive Garden's bar

Nothing fancy, but it appears to be a nice place to have a drink with a spouse or friend.

Mini barn mailbox

It only seems right that a mini horse farm ought to have a mini barn mailbox!

Carmine's Cafe

Carmine arrived in Ocala from Palermon in Sicily a little over five years ago and started his own restaurant, called, naturally, Carmine's Cafe. It specializes in Italian cuisine, also naturally, and we would definitely give it a thumbs up.

Carmine's Cafe is located in a nondescript little strip mall but what it lacks on the outside is more than made up for on the inside.  What makes this such a great place is that Carmine himself is there to ensure that his patrons receive the best in food and wine and the best in service!

You can find out more about Carmines on their website here. Back in 2009, we did a similar post on Carmine's which you can view here.

Lovebuggy

In this part of the world, during the spring and fall we are plagued with Love Bugs. Love Bugs swarm in the warm weather. Individually, they don't live very long but mate madly everywhere and get into everything. They taste foul so have no natural predators. Fortunately, they don't bite and are not harmful to humans, but if you must drive during love bug season, your car will soon be covered with their remains.

When that happens, it behooves you to clean them off immediately for their innards can permeate the paint on your car and create nasty scars.

The Toyota above is an example of what can happen in just a few miles.

One of Ocala's finest thorougbreds

Reading material...

...appropriately placed!

Silver Springs aka Alligator Alley

I'm just kidding about "Alligator Alley," but you will see a number of gators sunning themselves as you glide quietly down the river in one of the glass bottom boats.

Out and about on the Silver River

Flamingos - Silver Springs Park

Photo by Lois Anne.

Glass bottom boats - Silver Springs Park

The State of Florida has purchased the famous Silver Springs park and is in process of making into a Florida State Park. Changes are in the wind and I've heard that the zoo will be removed along with some other attractions.

But the price will drop. The previous owners have charged $44 per day, whereas the state will charge just $8. And the glass bottom boats will remain.

The first photo was taken with a Nikon F4s (film camera) using Fuji Reala film. The second photo was taken by Lois Anne with a Nikon D40 and was cross-posted to our blog on our L & L Photography site yesterday.

Hawk eye

We are taking a break but will post occasionally on our blog at L & L Photography which you can access here.  Our best wishes to all. 

The above photo was cross-posted to L & L Photography today.

Father & son ...

They may have been shopping for a Mother's Day gift. But it looks like they're heading home empty-handed. :)

Windows 8 is here!

Windows 8 has been "here" for some time. The sign has been taken down recently. Do you care? Have to upgraded your Windows PC to Windows 8?

Some of use Macs so it's a moot issue. Well, not entirely, I still use two Windows PC's in tandem with the Mac. But I don't intend to upgrade to Windows 8 in the near future.

Spotted horses plus one not spotted

I spotted these horses a few weeks ago on a horse farm in Ocala. It seemed appropriate to post this photo as I read today that fourteen of the horses entered in the Kentucky Derby this year have roots in Ocala, which is, as you know, the "Horse Capital of the World"!

doing dinner

Okay, it's the weekend. You've worked hard for 5 days. (Unless you're retired like some people I know). You need a break and you certainly don't feel like cooking. But the restaurants are going to be jammed. So, go to doingdinner.com. I think they can help! Maybe.

Ocala's Scientology center - downtown

Word is that John Travolta, who owns a home in Ocala, provided the funding necessary to get this Scientology center set up. Aren't we lucky?

Your Wife Knows...

Knows what? There are two of these signs on SW Highway 200, one on either side of the highway. Whatever do they mean? Who put them there? So many questions.

Krazy Kid

This young man lives dangerously. Driving well over the speed limit, weaving in and out of traffic, he crossed double-lines to pass our car. Stymied by a red light, we pulled up behind him. I was able to snap this picture before the light changed and he roared of in a cloud of dust. Hopefully he's got some guardian angels as he's going to need them!