Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Southern Women Go To A Show

I have heard about the Southern Women's show for a number of years and this year decided to take the camera and give it a look see. As usual click each photo for a better view.


The thing I love about Americans is that we are a very friendly people on an individual basis. You can walk up to anyone and ask them questions and they are more than happy to help or tell all about something they are interested in. I say that because all of the people in the following photos were more than happy to take time to tell about their exhibit.

There were the expected exhibitors offering weight loss alternatives. I asked questions to test this young woman's knowledge and she was more than gracious and passed the test as well!

I didn't ask questions, but simply watched as this young woman was transformed. It was interesting to say the least to listen to the beauty tips provided.

I also learned a good deal by talking with a number of exhibitors. A longer distance trip is in my future to visit the town of Helen, Georgia. Helen evidently is an alpine village nestled in Northern Georgia. It is a seven hour drive from Jacksonville, so during a long weekend it should provide a chance to really get away and experience a little bit of Europe right here in America.

I will also admit to having a bit of misinformation corrected by a very informative gentleman from the Florida Peanut Producers Association. I thought Georgia produced most of the peanuts we consumed in America. I found out that yes, Georgia is the largest producer but Florida is a very close second. He recommended several recipes using peanuts that were simple and allowed peanuts to add spice in terms of dressing up a meal. So take that Georgia!

Speaking of recipes, Publix (the local grocery chain) had a presence and their attendants worked to out do the peanut guy and were a fun group as well.

And speaking of fun groups, I was surprised by the number of men in attendance. Groups like the Fraternal Order of Police who gave new meaning to "Officer Friendly" in that they provided info and also made our talk more than a lighthearted event.

These guys pointed out to me that a women's show is not just about makeup and weightloss. Women now own their own homes and they were there to show how such a major investment could be protected by adding something as simple as gutters. It seems simple, but in a place like Florida where there is substantial rainfall, gutters can prevent foundation problems. They too were a fun group and a fitting end to a great show!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Night Clouds

It really is funny how you start out to do one thing and stumble upon something else quite by accident. The other night I decided to take Sunny-Girl my little Dauschund for an early evening walk. It gets dark sooner now and as I looked up in the sky, the moon and a beautifully strange formation of clouds presented the heavens in a manner that seemed wide open and magical. That feeling made me go back and get the camera to record this overhead vision. As usual, click each photo for a better view.

The photo above is what I call a "big sky" view in that the expanse of clouds with the moon peeking out made the horizon look huge.

I let sunny-Girl off the leach and she found something to investigate that allowed me to watch in awe as the clouds formed and reformed around the moon. This formation I found amazing because it resembled some of the galaxy or gas formation shots captured by the Hubble telescope.






Don't believe me? I found this shot that I think is a good comparison.











Strange too how this one, a variation of the first, is almost as if we had been transported into space and were now looking down on the earth. At any moment you almost expect to see the earth rotating into view below the clouds.











And, just to add to the mix, a storm is brewing in the Atlantic and day time clouds have formed to compete with the specticule from the night before. Another chance to run get the camera before they drift away...

Monday, October 1, 2012

It Came In Through A Window

I know it is late in the season in a lot of places, but here in Florida it still feels like Summer or should I say a lighter form of Summer because we are down to mid-eighty degree days. A break from the heat filled days means sleeping with the windows open and gentle breezes late into the night. As usual, click each photo for a better view.


Yesterday a butterfly flew in and settled on a chair. She did not seem inclinded to leave and try as I might, I could not help it find a way back out. It was then I figured as long as I had a visitor I might as well take a picture.




Looking at the enlarged picture later in the day I realized what a magnificant thing a butterfly is. Watching them flutter through the foliage you grow to think of their wings as very much like bird's feathers. But, on closer inspection I discovered each wing is composed of very fine tiny hairs.

And then I thought about adding another just to illustrate the point.

I don't know how long my visitor will be able to last because time after time she refuses my help and will not leave. So I guess you could say the "dye" is cast, but now you have a view of my visitor too!