Something To Croak About

Countryside Presbyterian Chuch

Countryside Presbyterian Church is located in southwest Ocala.  It is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA), which is the largest and most liberal of the several Presbyterian denominations in the United States.

There's more on the church's website, here.

Sculpture at the College of Central Florida in Ocala

I posted a fisheye view of this sculpture a few years ago. One of the folks commenting at that time said this about it: "The previous owner was a gambler and it is suppose to represent dice, a marker, and a ball from roulette. It was previously at an estate off of 11th ave but was donated to the college."
I'll gamble that is the truth!

Highway Dressing Room

We don't know who this guy is or where he came from. But we noticed, while waiting at a stoplight, that he was struggling to get out of some kind of white shirt. That's not an unusual thing for a man to do, but he was doing it on the sidewalk adjoining one of Ocala's major thoroughfares. And he seemed oblivious. Fortunately, the light changed to green and we scooted out of there before he finished undressing.

Chester and Homer

There are two cats in this cage, Chester and Homer. I'm not sure if this is Homer or Chester. The cage is located inside a local pet store and there are a number of cats available for adoption. They are sponsored by our local Animal Humane Society.

That works out well for people who shop at the pet store and are lacking in cats. Notice, though, that this kitty seems to have something wrong with its eyes. I'd certainly want to have it checked by a vet before I'd take it home.

A Sampling of Ocala Homes

The first three homes are located in the Historic District near downtown Ocala.  As you can see, not all the homes in the Historic District are mighty mansions.

The second trio are representative of the homes you might find in any number of our subdivisions. The first is a home in our neighborhood.  The second houses an avid golfer, as you can see from the lawn ornament.  The last is a smallish home which backs up to the Summerglen Golf Course.

Posted

This road runs behind our house.  What's beyond the fence is a mystery.  We think the road leads to a couple of horse farms.  We believe, in view of the fact that this is central Florida and everybody and their dog has a gun, that it would be wise not to venture past the gate.

Please note:  Yesterday AOL saw fit to try to destroy my ability to participate on the Internet, so I set up another email which you can use to contact me:  yanson3@yahoo.com.

AOL finally fixed the problem, and yanson2@aol.com is back working so you may use that also.  It's nice to have choices, though, so I'll leave the yahoo email active, too.

Walmart Neighborhood Market - Ocala, FL

It is now 3:35 pm on August 8 in Ocala, Florida.  Please note that my AOL email, yanson2, is not working.  Your comments will therefore be sent to my new address:  yanson3@yahoo.com.  If you need to contact me or send me huge amounts of money, please use the yahoo email.  Thanks!


Walmart, in an attempt to bring in more revenue, is in process of opening 600 neighborhood markets in various cities around the country.  The Ocala store, south on Highway 200, held its grand opening a few days ago.

This neighborhood market is substantially smaller than the other three Walmart stores in Ocala.  Ocala's neighborhood market is about 42,000 square feet.  It operates in much the same way as our traditional supermarkets.  Although it showcases a wide array of products, it focuses on food and sundries and therefore does not offer very much in the way of hardware, automotive supplies, sporting goods, home goods, etc.

Additionally, it's reported the neighborhood markets will have better prices than their giant-sized stores and after a brief shopping spree at the Ocala store, we can say that was true to our experience.

I could mention that not all the shelves were stocked and that more checkout clerks are needed, but they've just opened and are still in process of getting things right.  We'll check back later when the store has been up and running for awhile.

Following Walmart tradition, the neighborhood market does have a gas station in front, which many customers will find helpful.

Trilogy

Once upon a time a developer decided to develop some property in northwest Ocala.  It didn't work out.  A few structures stood for several years surrounded by the remnants of a dream.

Then a couple of years ago, a group named Trilogy (they have other properties in Florida and a few other states as I recall) showed up on this same property and now you have a development of sorts.

We couldn't get in to see the development or the houses.  The girl guarding the gate said it was Sunday afternoon and no visiting was allowed.  Well, could we see the golf course, we asked.  No, that wasn't possible.  How about the

clubhouse.  She hesitated.  I don't think there is a clubhouse per se.  

We could see some homes from afar and I've read about a golf course where non-residents can play on Friday afternoons and Saturdays.  No thanks.

Back near the entrance where you see that covered silo (1st photo), we found a wee lane that led to a courtyard with tables and chairs (2nd photo) and a outside sitting area (3rd photo).  We also found a building.  We entered the building.  A young lady offered a lackadaisical greeting so we ventured further unimpeded.

Aha!  There was a counter with some golf stuff.  Seems that might be the clubhouse.  Then there was a "restaurant" or cafe.  A few people were eating and some guy was plinking out favorite tunes on an electronic keyboard. (4th photo).

That's it.  We left.  We will not return.  Yikes!

Walking the Master and His Friend

Vintage Bentley

I'm not sure, but this looks to me like a 1973 Bentley or thereabouts.

New Mexican Restaurant - Downtown Ocala

The Palm Before the Storm

Jesus Then Brunch

Found in a gift shop.

My City's Skyline

The City Daily Photo theme for August 1, is "My City's Skyline."  

So I drove to Ocala's downtown area.  

That's when I realized my city has no skyline!

Therefore, I stopped in a downtown pub to have a beer with some friends.

You've got to say I tried!

Note:  For more takes on this theme, click here.