Basket Class

I'm getting a Private basket class w/Master Basket Maker Charlotte

Here we are checking the pattern

Here I am with my basket teacher & mentor Charlotte I think she is a basket case after this lesson with me!

Andrew goes kayaking at HomosassaSprings w/the manatees

We drove 90 miles from St Petersburg to the Homosassa Springs to kayak w/the manatees
We took our friend Terry and Andrew Andrew has never seen a manatee It was a solid good day for kayaking and manatee viewing

Rod & Andrew
a little local color along the river

Andrew sets off from the shore launch...very steady

Here we (Terry in the back Andrew up front) stop at a little pool area for our lunch







Andrew navigates the water...note how clear the water is

Then we went to see the Statue of Liberty

and mess with a local elephant

Sunset Evening at Caddy's with Roderick & Huguette

Sunset at Caddy's St Pete Beach

Before the last flicker

Roderick-Roderick-Hugette-Nancy + multiple beers & margarita's = a fun sunset

Valentines Day 2/14/11

For more years than I can remember Nancy & I have spent Valentines Day with our friends Molly & Terry always having breakfast at Skyway Jacks and then going off on a days adventure. could be yard sales, drives to far off Bealls stores, viewing the manatees, kayak trips & other crazy stuff. This year Molly & Nancy to Terry & I that they were taking us to the Ring Ding Museum...how great going to see where these tasty devil food treats are made....but noooooo...it turns out they said the Ringling Museum in Sarasota!

We always have some stranger take our picture w/the Skyway Jack Egg Guy

Notice the waitress logo...the waitress wear these t-shirts...kind of like Hooters only on waitress that have been working here for 20 plus years

Do you think the scrambled brains are fresh!

T has basic heart attack breakfast

Nancy & Molly have the breakfast pie


I have 3 dropped eggs, hash, salty fru=ied ham & fresh tomatoes

The entrance to the Ringling Museum where the Ringlings sea side mansion was built, was the winter headquarters for the circus, housed their enormous private art collection and their beautiful gardens here is a link to thier site: http://www.ringling.org/

Nancy is a bit excited....she has been trying to get us here for the last 12 years

The Big Top museum...this housed the Wisconsin (Ringlings private rail car)


The next building housed the handmade miniature circus...it was awesome the area was as big as a basketball court and took over 45 minutes to view very interesting

View from the 2nd/floor

I wanted to buy a new hat...the bowler

The blond wig hat that lights up

the jester

he pimp hat

of the hat that made me a red head

the view to the mansion

one of the many yard statues

thedining room ceiling

T takes a spill..no just an artsy photo shoot...just b/4 we were asked to leave!

sea view sitting room

John Ringling's "Man Room"

a porcelain bird cage

living room

they have a guy play this piano (over 150 ears old) during the afernoon

The outside of the mansion

OK a rest & a smoke on the patio .... see what hat we bought!

this buildings exterior was awesome


the very large sea side patio and boat pier was made of marble



where the Ringlings are buried in what they called the secret garden

one of the many enormous & beautiful banyan trees
notice the limb roots

this statue was being absorbed by the banyan tree roots

Mables Rose Garden
Molly smells the roses




OK so I bought the jester hat too

T getting a feel for the arts...perv
another of the many bronze statues

the garden area of the museum building

note the life size statues along the roof line

a full size bronze David dominates the the entrance of the garden


I call this Moon & Blue Sky

the girls approve

Molly notices the art work

this is a very large court yard garden with many fountains & statues





this is the Dwarf Garden...a maze of greens with statues of Dwarfs




If your ever in the area of Sarasota Fla don't miss this wonderful museum

Now for dinner at the Amish restaurant Yodars for some real home style cooking and wonder full pies Broasted chicken, meatloaf & turkey specials