ABC of Florida

Its time to open my suitcase and get ready to head home.  Here’s my ABC of my last week in Florida. 

Alligators.  Apparently if they’re relaxed with claws splayed and legs flat you’re not bothering them.  If their claws are dug in the ground and the legs raised – move.  Personally I’ll keep my distance and use the camera zoom. 

Blue Skies – in the parks and on the beaches.  Sunscreen, insect repellent and hats have been needed. 

Colourful sunsets at the local park.  I usually like to watch the sundown over the beach, but the local beaches aren’t open and we’re happy to have found the park with the super sundown silhouettes.  It’s also been nice chatting to the locals as the day cools, leaving the sunscreen and hats behind ( insect repellent still in use – sorry about the smell people ). 

Until we return.

Week 1 - Stateside

We were treated to a lovely sunset over a local lake to mark the end of week 1 and saw our first gator.

Venice beach is open and still beautiful, but quiet except for the sound of workmen making repairs to the pier buildings.  Englewood is decimated.  No photos, we simply turned round.

My holiday sketch book is in use.  Here’s the locals and the back of the house.

Florida

After being quite poorly on our visit to Florida earlier this year, we arranged to return.  2 hurricanes later, finding that our accommodation was OK, we made the decision to travel.  The view from the rear of the house is stunning both daytime and evening.  

We have a visiting Iguana ( so google lens tells me) along with frogs who cling to the pool cage in the evening and take a swim during the day. 

However, what has saddened me over the last couple of days is seeing the devastating amount of storm damage at the coast. Hubby once again has developed a cold so I’m reading and painting and handing him cold remedies from a distance.

French Lavender

The 2nd from “My Garden” series. View the work in progress from here.

Ravestonedale Red

aka Splendid Waxcap ( according to google lens )  I think this is the most colourful fungi I’ve ever encountered.

Stones Re-Visited

I was sorting out some work for a refresh when I cam across some stones at the bottom of a box.  Realising I rarely showed these because I didn’t like them, a sand down and design change, and I’m much happier.

Fungi, Leaves and Mud.

Decided on a quick fungi hunt this afternoon.  Well as quick as I can be.  90 mins later I returned before it went dark.  I found some pretty and some not so pretty fungi. 

The prize for the most colourful leaf went to a bramble.  I got the muddiest jeans award.

Dahlia Trio

With the flowers from my Garden project, I decided to have a play with coloured pencils as a learning exercise.  After starting ordinary pencils on black paper, I soon changed to metallic ones.  Quite pleased with how this has come out.

You can see the work in progress from here.

Ink Drawing experiment/experience

I agreed to have a go at drawing the Kirby Stephen Post office building in ink.  As I usually use the ink pens for sketching it was an experience and learning exercise.  Work in progress from here.

Nature at Ullswater

A visit to Ullswater today didn’t produce any nice landscape pictures but there were some nice fungi.  

One young herdy responded to my entreaties to smile for the camera and a chaffinch enjoyed the remnants of my scone.

Ouch

Prepping for a change of work at the EVAN Gallery in conjunction with the Open exhibition is proving cumbersome after grating my thumbnail on the cheese grater yesterday.  Combined with the flu and covid jabs this week, I’m feeling a bit sorry for myself.

At the South of Ullswater.

Headed for the South of the Ullswater in my Abstracted Poster Style images.
In my Landscape Gallery. Prints and cards available.

Scottish Sunset Sketches

Painted the last 2 scottish sketches this week.  Then filled up the paint pans ready for the next trip.

Sketches from Scotland

As the weather was so good over the last couple of weeks on the Moray Firth there was a lot of walking and photography. However in the quieter evenings the sketch book came out.

View from Rosehearty

Eider Duck and Seal

Top left Fraserburgh Lighthouse. Top Right Fraseburgh Dunes. Bottom left Cairnbulg shore. Bottom Right Cairnbulg Beach.

Seals

A visit this evening to the Port Gordon seals ( with full zoom on from a distance to ensure I didn’t disturb them ).