Today I’m sharing photos taken on 3 separate days here in central Florida. The first is the foggy gray morning that can happen in winter. Warm moist winds off the Gulf blow in on cooler moist ground and fog appears. I no longer worry about driving in it since I’m retired. I’ve always enjoyed watching fog and think of Carl Sandberg’s poem. It’s one of my favorites.
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Words and images to inspire your travel, nature photography, my dream spots, historical places to explore, and healing nature
Celebrating The Restored Hacienda Hotel
The HACIENDA
5621 Main St, New Port Richey, FL 34652
On March 4, 1926, James E. Meighan, brother to Thomas Meighan, leading man of the silver screen throughout the 20s and 30s, donated land for the construction of a new Spanish Colonial Revival-style hotel befitting New Port Richey’s growing popularity with arts, society, and sports luminaries. 96 years ago on February 5, 1927, Ed Wynn acted as the master of ceremonies for the grand opening and ribbon cutting of The Hacienda Hotel in New Port Richey. The Hacienda and New Port Richey became known as “Hollywood East” due to the celebrities that enjoyed the town and hotel, including reported sightings of Thomas Meighan, Gloria Swanson, Lupe Velez, Charlie Chaplin, and Ann Harding, among other notables. The Hacienda was a popular gathering spot for sports and entertainment figures for many years.
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Beverly’s January of Orchids & Sky
Today’s photos were taken by my friend, Beverly, who lives in tropical Plantation, Florida in South Florida. She’s shared her beautiful orchids before. I love orchids, but I can’t grow them!
I’ve shared Beverly’s orchids several times before. She has plants hanging around the outside of her home in Broward County which is a tropical growing zone. (Ft. Lauderdale, FL is in Broward.) This last month has been a wonderful time for orchid blooms. The light purple with a dark center started blooming at the end of December and has continued right up to this week.
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Christmas Decorations Display Palm Harbor
Photos to day are courtesy of my friend, Maryce. She drove to Indian Trails, Palm Harbor, Florida to see a popular Christmas decorations display. This is where local weatherman, Denis Phillips, lives. Annually he has such a fabulous display that at night cars clog all roads to the area. Slowly you stop and go to see displays. He more importantly raises LOTS of money for charity selling hot chocolate and cookies. Maryce went before dark to avoid the crowds but it’s sure to be worth a trip back when the lights are on.
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Lunch at Catches Waterfront Grille
Catches Waterfront Grille
7811 Bayview St, Port Richey, FL
The Pithlachascotee River, often called the Cotee River by locals, is a blackwater river in Pasco County, Florida. The name originated with the Creek tribe meaning a place where canoes were dug out. The river meanders for 23 miles through Pasco County before it makes its way out to the Gulf of Mexico at Miller’s Bayou.
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Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
1000 East Beltline Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525
Photos by Lisa & Robert Murphy
Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opened in April 1995 after 13 years of planning and fundraising by the West Michigan Horticultural Society. In 1990, Fred & Lena Meijer were asked by Betsy Borre for their support, and they embraced the concept of a major cultural attraction centering around horticulture & sculpture. The original vision has turned into a top cultural destination in the Midwest, known internationally for the quality of the art and gardens.
During the weekend of October 14 to 16th my nephew, Robert, and his wife, Lisa, had a short holiday in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They enjoyed several special events and spent a day at the Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. Thank you Robert and Lisa for sharing your photos from your visit to the Meijer Gardens. Let’s start with inside art.
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Visit to Glacier National Park, Montana
Today’s photos are shared by my nephew and his wife, James and Heather. They celebrated their 10th Anniversary with a trip out west to Glacier National Park in Montana’s Rocky Mountains. Glacier National Park is a 1,583-sq.-mi. wilderness area with glacier-carved peaks and valleys running to the Canadian border. It’s crossed by the mountainous Going-to-the-Sun Road. Among more than 700 miles of hiking trails, it has a route to photogenic Hidden Lake. Other activities include backpacking, cycling and camping. Diverse wildlife ranges from mountain goats to grizzly bears
Sunset in Florida
My weather has been filled with rain and storms for the last few weeks. We are in the wettest part of our wet season. August is always nearly daily rain. I haven’t seen a great sunrise or sunset lately, and I’m re-sharing this post from 2019. That evening the skies were like fire.
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