5 ft at Center

Merry Christmas

Posting a photo of a Christmas decoration has been a tradition on this blog for many years. This years "sleeping santa" has a special meaning to me as it was a gift to my mom from me and my brother over 50 years ago. We bought the santa at a downtown department store with our saved allowance money, probably for about a dollar.

Mom is now gone, and recently so too has my brother left this world.

Christmas is a holiday that is steeped in nostalgia and this little decoration surely is a good example.

Stairway

Reflection on the floor

For some reason I noticed the reflections on the floor and that along with the walls, light and art compelled me to photograph the composition. Not sure anyone else would find it interesting but I am posting anyway.

Not to detract from graphics, the two framed artworks are by Denise Green, an Australian born artist.

The fragility of the promise

Green boy

Under the oak

Columns and shadows

Tiffany glass

A composite image from my visit to the Cummer Museum and the current exhibit of Louis Comfort Tiffany art glass objects. Backlit glass is always impressive as are the blow pieces.

Pond reflection

Eat Fresh Seafood

Where I now live there is a type of restaurant that is called a "fish camp". I guess these can be found throughout the south. They serve fresh local fish and shellfish with a southern twist and in a lively atmosphere. This particular establishment is known as the North Beach Fish Camp and I can highly recommend everything on the menu, although I always order the same thing each time... shrimp and grits.

I just can't figure out how they make it so delicious.

Cresent

Stuff in the tree

I usually don't have a problem titling posts, they seem to just pop into my head, but this time nothing came to mind. Consequently I have provided this inelegant inscription.

This tree was overtaken by so called "Spanish Moss" which is neither Spanish nor a moss, but created a tangle of subtle color and form.

Converged windows

Sometimes things just look better in black and white.

Retention pond

All over Florida you see these ponds as buffers for holding rainwater, but they also are constructed to help drain the land, making it more suitable for buildings and roads. That does not mean that developers and engineers can randomly decide to create these pools without restriction. I know that county and state governments have strict rules about such things.

For example, in the community where I live, a section of protected wetland needed to be filled to connect a road. To compensate for the loss it was determined that a new wetland needed to be constructed in an adjacent area. Wildlife depends on the diversity of land for survival. These rules are in place to protect the essential character of the region.

Eye

Trunk

Taking photos at a zoo is always a challenge because there is always clutter around and behind the animals that take away from the subject. Close-ups are a a way to deal with this problem... in this case, an extreme close-up.

Wrapped up

Main Street Bridge

Jacksonville's unofficial nickname is River City. Indeed the St. Johns river flows through downtown which means there are quite a few big bridges over the wide river, but almost every city I can think of has a river running through it.

My first cross of this bridge resulting in a delay. Just as I approached the structure red lights lit and a gate closed. The lift bridge rose alloying one ship to pass. Twenty minutes later I was on my way. The other major bridges on the river are high enough to avoid the need to cut off vehicle traffic for river traffic.

Downtown architecture

Peoplemover

Jacksonville has a downtown transportation system that is pretty unique as far as I know. It is called the Jacksonville Skyway. I has been in operation since 1989 but has been expanded and upgraded several times since then. It has 8 stations, some on both sides of the St. Johns River, and is free to access... no charge to ride.

Of course the photo above does not show the peoplemover, only one of the brightly painted pillars that hold up the elevated monorail. The photo below is a view of the two car train navigating its way through the business district.

Dumpster

Jax beach

The calendar says autumn, yet the beach says summer... but then this is Florida.

Public scupture

Stop and smell the roses

Even robots need to take time to appreciate the nice things in the world.

This large sculpture stands in the parking lot of Meow Wolf, a expansive and unique art installation in Santa Fe.

Detail

Sunflowers

When sunflowers almost make your home invisible.

Radio Plaza

White

During my days in Santa Fe I spent quite a bit if time walking the streets exploring and photographing and saw mostly earthy brown buildings, so it was almost a surprise to see this white-washed structure... a bit of variety.

Keeping it cool

La Fonda window view

My hotel

Maybe I am posting too many images from Santa Fe but it is a really and interesting town. We stayed at the La Fonda right on the old Santa Fe plaza. The hotel is historic having being built in the '20s, but compared to the native pueblos in the area, it is a modern youngster. Those pueblos are several thousand years old!

Having said that La Fonda has been updated, restored and thoughtfully modernized and is indeed a first class operation even though it looks like it could have been standing for much longer than it has. It is filled with amazing original and authentic art.

An example of how much effort has been made to keep it looking authentic... here is a photo of part of the hotel, but the structure in the foreground is actually a parking garage.

Through the screen

Santa Fe Doors

New Mexico Museum of Art

Alley

Museum of Contemporary Native Arts

Looking up

On the street

Santa Fe rooftops

It's a state, not a country

I am just back from Santa Fe New Mexico, quite a nice place to visit. I am amused that many people are confused by New Mexico, thinking it is not part of the USA, but the American flag in this photo proves otherwise.

Also I did not have to deal with customs, immigration or a silly wall.

Banyan

Screened

I was drawn by the composition but could only shoot it through window screen, which added diffusion and a subtitle texture. Something a little different.

Pier

Tinted glass

Ca' d'Zan

John's pool

No, not mine... John Ringling's pool.

It is located on the grounds of the Ringling Museum and near his former mansion, Ca' d'Zan.

The pool was originally deep enough for swimming but was recently restored but at a shallow depth for safety of the visiting public.

Rubens at the Ringling

One of the highlights of the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota Florida is several large (huge?) paintings by the Flemish artist Peter Paul Rubens. This canvas it titled The Triumph of Divine Love.

The museum was a gift to the state of Florida from the man famous for his circus, John Ringling. Today the art collection is made up of over 28,000 items covering a wide variety of periods and styles, and well worth a day-long visit.