Medical Center

This building was a Sims Furniture store for years. It didn't look like this then. The entire building has been extensively renovated and remodeled and is soon to open as a medical center.

At the Silver River

Parked

This truck has been parked in the same place in Micanopy for several years and it does not appear to be going anywhere anytime soon. It is backed up to the mansion that was used as the hospital in the "Doc Hollywood" movie starring Michael J. Fox.

A Ghostly Presence...

Songbird

Meeting ground

This is where the corporate trees meet to decide where they wish to branch out...

Reflections in a post office

This is our local post office. One nice sunny day the reflections seemed appropriate to photograph. They provide a little bit of color.

Survivor practice

...on the Silver River.

Skool Bus

I find it quite amazing that school buses have changed so little over the past 75 years.  If you've seen one, you've seen them all! 

Coming out of hiding; looking for you!

Florida kitsch

Kitsch is a word with varied meanings, but when you speak of Florida kitsch, you're referring to funky, colorful items such as this palm tree, plastic pink flamingos, etc. Actually, there is less Florida kitsch here in Ocala, and this palm tree with the purple trunk would be more like what you'd find in south Florida, which is inundated with kitsch!

Birdhouse in water color

The birdhouse is located in Homosassa Springs and you'll note is constructed high enough to be safe from certain predators - like gators.

Sculpture at the University of Florida

These two photos are of the same sculpture. They provide an example as to why "eye-witness" testimony is so unreliable (especially in a criminal trial where lives are at stake). What we "see" depends upon where we stand, the light, the complexity of the subject, and what our mind wants to see. Photographs can also be unreliable when it comes to getting the "real" picture.

The Leaning Tree of Silver Springs

Abandon hope, ye who enter here!

This is an abandoned house on the southeast side of Ocala, near where we used to live. It's been abandoned for a number of years and is slowly being swallowed up by Florida flora. There's a smaller house near this one that was abandoned just a few years ago and is now completely covered by bushes and trees.

Three New Horse Fever Horses

Ocala, being the "horse capital of the world," has the honor of hosting a "Horse Fever" program, which has resulted in over 100 beautiful horses being constructed and placed at various sites around the community.  The program has lost some of its initial pizazz but new horses show up every so often.

One of the newest is this beauty that sits in front of the Latinos Y Mas restaurant on Highway 441.  We've patronized Latinos Y Mas on a number of occasions and found both the service and the food to be excellent.

The second of the three is located in the downtown square, and the third horse can be found near the Marion Theater, also downtown.

Hawk attack!

I wasn't sure I was going to get away with this - the hawk was watching me intently. Have you ever heard of someone suffering from a hawk/heart attack?

Birdhouse

...painted by Triqui.

Butterfly bench...

at the Butterfly Rainforest, University of Florida.

Fishing in the Intercoastal Waterway - Ormond Beach

Ghanian Fashion Show

At the Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida.

El Diablo Golf Club

This is the El Diablo Golf Course club house. Or it was. Some months back the club house burned and although you can't see the damage in this photo, the interior was ruined.

One day I played the course with some friends.  The club house had not been repaired and the course itself was in disrepair.  It is a very difficult course and none of us did very well.  So, naturally, we decided to try again.

When I called a few days later to reserve a tee time, I was informed that El Diablo had closed.  The owner had walked in that morning and shut down the entire operation. 

So far as I know it has not reopened nor are there any plans to do so.  And that's a real shame!

Swimming with gators can be dangerous to your health

These friendly critters were found at Homosassa Springs State Park in one of the ponds. I can't imagine why those signs are needed, but there are some pretty dumb people in the world.

Harn Museum of Art - University of Florida

Lois Anne checking out the art.

Paranormal Investigation Team

...follow that van! These people are "dead" serious. Check out their website at Xtremeghosts.com.

A tangle of trees and their reflections

...on the Homosassa River - Homosassa Springs State Park.

Sallie M. Quinn

Sally showed up one day, perched on a little post at one of the Paddock Mall kiosks.

I tried to flirt with her a bit but got no response. Finally, I asked her name, thinking that might break the ice. Still nothing.

But the owner of the kiosk said, and not in a nice manner, "Her name is Sallie Manny-Quinn.  Now bug off, she doesn't want anything to do with you, you old *&%#@!."

Calusa Indian Chief's Hut - Florida Museum of Natural History, University of Florida

April 1st Theme - My Camera-shy Self Portrait

Someone saw this photo and said, "Now, that's simply comical.  I think you can do better than that!"

 I said, "No way.  It's funny enough."

Go here to see other takes on the theme.