Mom's visit to Orlando

My mother's birthday is always close to Mother's Day so she decided to come visit me in Orlando and make an event out of it. I enjoy having her around so we hit the town.

For her birthday dinner I took her to Lake Eola Wine Bar. We had some samples of white wine and split a cheese plate with three fancy cheeses from all over the world. We felt very cosmopolitan as we sat on the patio and enjoyed some people watching. The clouds above were thick and gray but only a light mist of drizzle fell from the sky. The small glistening lights hung throughout the awning pointed the way to the heart of downtown. 

After dinner we took a walk around Lake Eola and got to enjoy seeing the many small baby swans who had recently hatched. The colorful and stormy clouds above the city provided for a beautifully impressionistic reflection over the water. 

The following day we went walking around the Antique District of North Orange Avenue. We found ourselves in Washburn Imports - a store specializing in wooden imports from Asia. I found this serene statue in front of one of the windows toward the back of the store. The bottom half is rough wood and the top half blooms into this intricate carving. The screen behind the statue gives the impression that it is radiating its own life force. 

The outside patio of Washburn Imports. If you look very closely you can see the reflections of my mother and I in the piece of glass behind the chairs. 

An ornately jeweled chandelier handing from the warehouse ceiling. At first I was disappointed that the image came out a bit blurry, but the more I looked at it the more I loved it. The angle and slight blur help ignite some fire and life into a traditionally static object. 

Some large pots on display outside of a garden shop. I love the look of the rich clay against the glossy  sheen of the cobalt blue glaze. 

Animal Kingdom

Curtis has an immense love for animals so for his birthday we went to Animal Kingdom.

As we were waiting outside the park to get tickets I spotted this man checking his phone. I loved that the leaves of the palms resembled falling rain. 

A sleepy little Spoonbill.

This was the arena on which the staff held a bird show. I loved the architecture and the giant quilted canopy. 

I decided to take a picture of this large Tambaqui (a.k.a - Pacu) as it swam past me. I didn't realize until later that I had caught my own reflection within the silhouette of the fish. 

I love the way the colorful fish playfully arch over the water fountains. In a strange way it almost reminded me of the stylized paintings on cave walls. Ancient and without words the message is still clear - "This way to water". 

I affectionately refer to this particular Painted Stork as "The Old Soul". Curtis and I were bouncing from one enclosure to the next when this unlikely creature caught my eye. He was only about two feet tall with a fence between us that was just a little taller than he was. I practically could have reached out and touched him. He would have been easy to overlook, and many people continued to walk by without even slowing down. But their was something so commanding about this little bird's presence. All the other Painted Storks were further back in the enclosure but he was right next to the fence looking out as if he was standing guard. Even as I approach he did not move away. He only tilted his head so he could get a better look at me. I sat down in front of him so that we could get a better look at each other. His face was rich with texture and intensity. We sat still and examined each other for a long time. I saw many animals that day but "Old Soul" still stands out. 

One of the  monkey's climbing to his look out tower. 

A soft pink Hibiscus set against the ruffled leaf of a large palm. 

I took this photo of Curtis as we were riding around the park. I love this photo because I was able to capture the moment of anticipation right before he saw one of his favorite animals. 

A little gem of a Kingfisher perched during the sudden downpour. 

Curtis at the Hippo tank admiring some passing ducks who seemed at home in all rain. 

Fishing on Thanksgiving

These photos were taken on my trip home to visit family. I spent Thanksgiving at my aunt and uncle's house in St. Petersburg. They have a beautiful home with a fantastic backyard.

The view from the living room complete with Christmas ornaments.

A close up shot of my uncle's bait box loaded with shrimp.

Ben, one of my little cousins, trying to wait patiently for his fist bite. 

Charlotte, another little relative, wants to explore all the excitement on the dock. 

Ben catches his first fish!

Ben proudly showing off his catch. 

A photograph of my grandparents from 1975 at my parent's wedding. 

Little Charlotte making faces. 

I went out on the dock one last time before I left and found this Blue Heron waiting for me.

The Sea Bird Sanctuary

On a recent trip to Indian Shores I was able to go to The Sea Bird Sanctuary. It is a rescue center for injured birds. It is unique in that it is a mostly outdoor facility that is home to hundreds of recovering birds. In addition to the captive animals the sanctuary also attracts a great deal of wild birds who seem to be visiting loved ones.

All the elements mix together for a lively experience. The birds seem unaffected by the human traffic and their chatter fills the air. I had been many times before with my family and it is a place I always enjoy visiting when I go home.

A Brown Pelican. 

I caught this little guy looking straight up at me through the mesh fence. 

This is a large Black Vulture - one of the wild birds that roams freely through the sanctuary. He was playing with the leaf in the middle of the path until I began to walk towards him. He abandoned the leaf in favor of inspecting me. 

This is a close up shot of a White Pelican. I love how the streaming sunlight illuminated the interior structure of her pouch. 

Another close up of the White Pelican. I wanted to focus on her pale blue eyes. I can't help but think about how closely she may resemble a pterodactyl. 

A very proud Red-Shouldered Hawk. 

This beauty is a Red-Tailed Hawk and she seemed quite happy to pose for me. 

Such striking features. It was very inspiring to be so close to such a powerful bird.

Central Park

I was lucky enough to go to New York in fall of 2007. New York has an energy like no where else on earth. My sister Jenny and I spent almost an entire day walking around in Central Park just taking it all in. Shortly after we got to the park I took this picture of a statue covered in birds. I love that in the middle of this energetic city you can still lose yourself in moments of serenity.

This was a path in Central Park. It was right around Thanksgiving and I was lucky enough to see some green as well as the changing of the seasons. It was such a perfect fall day. 

This was towards the end of our walk through Central Park. I love the way you can see the accomplishment of man and the beauty of nature in the same picture without either one taking over. They work together in perfect harmony.