Photos from Florida's Capital City (and occasionally a few from other interesting places I have been fortunate enough to visit in my travels!)
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Ibises
I noticed these ibises when I was driving past a pond near my house. They were a little camera shy.
Note: I'm taking a little break from blogging for a few days. I had surgery on my wrist yesterday and it has been a lot more painful than I anticipated! Trying to post and especially comment on other blogs is difficult to do when I can only use one hand. Hopefully it will get better soon!
Linking to Saturday's Critters, Camera Critters, and The Bird D'Pot.
Friday, February 23, 2018
Hovering
A television news helicopter hovers over the Florida state Capitol while taking video of the #neveragain rally being held by student survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The students were in town this week to meet with lawmakers about what can be done to prevent more shootings. I attended the rally and showed photos of it yesterday here.
Linking to SkyWatch Friday.
Thursday, February 22, 2018
Speaking out
This week students who survived the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida came to Tallahassee to meet with lawmakers and hold a rally at the state Capitol downtown. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend yesterday and see these amazing students in action.
Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Medical marijuana
In the fall of 2016, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment approving medical marijuana. Afterwards, state lawmakers grappled for months on how to enact the wishes of the voters. It took a special session of the legislature to finally pass some rules regarding the new law. This sign is in the window of one of the new clinics.
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Antique appliances
I was shopping with my daughter-in-law yesterday for a new dishwasher when I saw these antique appliances near the entrance of a locally owned store. Who knew that Frigidaire was made by General Motors and how about that old Maytag washing machine? My grandmother had one of those wringers on her washing machine when I was a kid. My grandmother also always called any refrigerator a "Frigidaire" no matter what the brand was. I tried to get a look inside both but I couldn't get them open.
Linking to Tuesday's Treasures and Our World Tuesday.
Monday, February 19, 2018
Gremlins
This mural is located on the side of a local bar and restaurant. I couldn't find the name of the artist.
Linking to Monday Mural.
Saturday, February 17, 2018
More signs of spring
I saw a flock of robins in town yesterday. I stopped to watch them but I had forgotten my camera. A few came close enough to my car for me to take these photos with my phone. They were busy eating those berries you see on the ground. In this area, robins usually only stick around for a few weeks this time of year and then move on further north.
Linking to Saturday's Critters, Camera Critters, and The Bird D'Pot.
Labels:
Camera Critters,
Saturday's Critters,
The Bird D'Pot
Friday, February 16, 2018
Half mast
This was the first thing I noticed yesterday when I arrived at my grandson's elementary school to pick him up in the afternoon. The flag had been lowered to half mast because of the horrific mass shooting at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The first thing my grandson asked me when we were walking to the car was ""Granny, why is the flag down?" I couldn't answer him. He is in kindergarten. He's only 5 years old. I admit I cried a little on the drive home.
Linking to SkyWatch Friday.
Thursday, February 15, 2018
Signs of spring
Today I am thankful to be seeing some signs that spring is almost here.
Linking to Thankful Thursday.
Wednesday, February 14, 2018
Sweetheart kitty
Shortly after I adopted my kitten Cecelia last summer, I noticed she had a misshapen heart on her right shoulder. As she has grown, the heart has become more noticeable. Is it any wonder that she is such a sweetheart? Happy Valentines Day!
Tuesday, February 13, 2018
Maclay House
This house was built in 1909 and was used as a winter home by Alfred B. Maclay and his wife, Louise. It is located in the heart of Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park and is surrounded by 1,176 acres of gardens which were developed by the Maclays over their lifetimes and later donated to the State of Florida. The house was closed the day I was there.
Linking to Tuesday's Treasures.
Monday, February 12, 2018
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Goose parade
These geese were not an any hurry to cross the street and I didn't mind waiting on them.
Linking to Saturday's Critters, Camera Critters, and The Bird D'Pot.
Labels:
Camera Critters,
Saturday's Critters,
The Bird D'Pot
Friday, February 9, 2018
Thursday, February 8, 2018
A nice place to walk
There is a small park not far from my house with a nice walking trail. It looks pretty this time of year and sometimes you can get a glimpse of a great egret stalking its lunch in the water. I've been trying to get out and walk every day and I'm thankful to have nice places like this close by.
Linking to Thankful Thursday.
Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Time Capsule
This plaque is located just inside the entrance on one of the brick walkways in Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park. The time capsule underneath was placed here in 1995 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Florida State Parks system and is to be opened on the 100th anniversary in 2035.
Linking to signs, signs.
Tuesday, February 6, 2018
Biglow-Helms Mansion
I took these photos a few weeks ago when I was visiting Tampa, Florida. This beautiful old house is located on the corner of Bayshore and Gandy Boulevards. It was built by my great-grandfather, Silas Leland Biglow, in 1908. My grandfather (who was one of his sons) used to tell me and my sister many fascinating stories about growing up in this house. My great-grandfather came to Tampa in 1884 from Brooklyn, NY and became a successful merchant and real estate developer. He also was active in government, serving as president and one of the founders of the Tampa City Council. He was the first chief of the city's sanitation board and was also a member of the Ybor City Building and Loan Association. He died in the house in 1913 and later my great-grandmother sold it to Dr. John Sullivan Helms, a prominent surgeon at the time. Dr. Helms used the house as a residence until adding a wing in 1920 and opening it as Bayshore Hospital, a small private clinic serving residents of the Hyde Park and Bayside areas of Tampa. The hospital closed in 1927 and the house became the Helms' residence again. Dr. Helms died in 1932, but his widow lived there until her death in 1974. The house sat vacant for a number of years, but was later sold and has since been used by various businesses as office space. In the last photo you can see the original carriage house, which is located on the side of the house.
The second set of photos I am showing below are some old photographs I have that were taken by my grandfather when he was 13 years old and living in the house.
The front of the house as it looked in 1914. Notice in this photo that there are not as many steps leading up to the front porch as there are now. The house originally sat further back on the property and sometime after it was sold, the entire building was lifted up and moved forward to accommodate additional structures being built behind it. An additional floor was also built underneath the house and more steps were added so that the porch could still be reached from the front.
This interior shot shows the front hall as it looked when entering the house from the front porch. It also shows part of the staircase leading to the upper floor. This photo was taken on July 9, 1914.
A photo of my great-grandfather's library as it looked in 1914.
This photo shows my great-grandmother, Mattie Lucas Biglow, and two of her children riding in their automobile, which is decorated with palm fronds because they were participating in a parade in downtown Tampa.
Linking to Tuesday's Treasures.
Monday, February 5, 2018
Dreaming
This pretty mural is located right next to the one I showed last week. Again, I could not find the name of the artist.
Linking to Monday Mural.
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