Holidays

I will be taking a blogging break until after the holidays so I can have more time to spend with my family. I leave you with this photo of my youngest grandson decorating the Christmas tree.

Pavilion

The pretty little pavilion is located in Kleman Plaza downtown and houses the spiral stairs leading up from the underground parking garage. Those are poinsettias in the planter in front of it.

Linking to SkyWatch Friday.

Holiday concert

Today I am thankful for my grandchildren, who bring so much love and happiness into my life. Here is a photo taken last weekend of my granddaughter singing at a holiday concert.

Linking to Thankful Thursday.

Bike share

Since there were only two bikes available, I guess this program must be used quite a bit. You can see the reflection of one of the downtown buildings across the street in their sign.

Linking to signs, signs.

Towers

Built in 1910, the James D. Westcott Building houses the main administrative offices of The Florida State University and is also home to Ruby Diamond Auditorium, the primary performance hall for the University. James D. Westcott was a former Florida Supreme Court justice who left a large part of his estate to the school in 1887. Ruby Diamond was one of thirteen graduates of the class of 1905 and a philanthropist who established scholarships for disadvantaged students. Much of the interior of this building was destroyed by fire in 1969, but the historic collegiate gothic exterior was preserved during the renovation that was completed in 1973. The fountain located in front of the building was built in 1917. In the second photo, the building can be seen through an arch on one side of the main gate of the University and the last photo shows the arch stretched across the entrance with part of the building behind it. The 1851 date near the top refers to the year the University was established.

Linking to Tuesday's Treasures and Our World Tuesday.

Side by side

Two murals next to each other on the side of a downtown building. I can't decide which one I like best. I could not find the names of the artists.

Linking to Monday Mural.

Blooming Cactus

I've had this cactus for several years now and this year it decided to really put on a show. It used to bloom around Thanksgiving, but now it seems to bloom a little closer to Christmas. It was on the floor, but I put it up on that stool to get better photos and also to try and keep my teenage cat (she's almost 8 months old), Cecelia, from being too obsessed with it.

Linking to Saturday's Critters and Camera Critters.

Wispy clouds

This is what I wish our weather looked like today, but it's cold and rainy. I took this photo about a month ago at Maclay Gardens State Park.

Linking to SkyWatch Friday.

Foggy morning

Looking east down College Avenue toward downtown Tallahassee early on a recent Saturday morning. I was standing in front of the main gates of the Florida State University campus and there was no traffic on this usually busy street.

Gator tail

I took this photo when I was getting out of the car to enjoy dinner out with my daughter and grandkids over the Thanksgiving holidays. It was the week of a big rivalry football game between my alma mater, The Florida State University, and that other school south of here known as the "gators". I'm happy to report that my FSU team won the game for the fifth year in a row 38-22. By the way, I have tried fried gator tail before and it tastes like chicken only a little chewier and no, I didn't order it for dinner that night.

Linking to signs, signs.

General Store

This old combination general store/post office/gas station was built in 1916 in the small town of Overstreet on Florida's gulf coast. It was moved to its present site along with several other historic buildings to form a quaint little village on what is now known as White Dog Plantation, a charming retreat that serves as an event venue and also offers rooms for overnight guests. It is located just north of town. My daughter attended a wedding there over the weekend and took this photo.

Linking to Tuesday's Treasures and Our World Tuesday.

Mural

Another pretty mural from the same building as the last few I have posted. This time the artist's name is clearly visible and her name is Laura Powers.

Linking to Monday Mural.

December Theme Day: Gift

My interpretation of this month's theme is of course a photo of these three cuties, my precious grandchildren. They are my heart along with my grown children. By the way, the most extraordinary gift I ever received in my life was when my son was born just after midnight on Christmas morning almost 36 years ago. Hard to top that one!


The first day of the month is Theme Day in the City Daily Photo community and the theme for December is "Gift". To see other participants' interpretations of the theme, visit the CDP Theme Day gallery here.