Porch pondering

 In the hazy, steamy days of summer, a gorgeous porch is the next best thing to air conditioning!!!

so take a load off and check these out...

I think I could be quite comfy on any of these.....

 

Ringling and Marie Antoinette

 Come with me beckons the statue at the main entrance to the fabulous Ringling Museum - which we have visited here more than once.

 Peel  me a grape!!!

 Oh I don't know 'bout that...I am feeling empty headed... he said

 

 How bout we pinky swear?

 

No, I have a headache!!!

So, as I was saying, have been catching up on reading, something I love but rarely have time or energy to do it seems, both audio and regular old style reading (well, on the ipad rather than paper pages) and I have a few to recommend.   Anywho, I absolutely loved, loved, "Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette"   Written by: Sena Jeter Naslund - available here -

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/listi

The true story, told as fiction in the first person, feels eerily what it must have felt like being Marie Antoinette and all that she both enjoyed, and endured as her role of Queen of France and wife (if you could call it that) of Louis XVI or the Dauphin....she could have been queen or empress of Austria but in an effort for Austria to create an alliance and (possible ownership) of France, she was offered to the prince, when they were just 15 and 16 years old respectively.

While I was thinking that this portrait was of one of her daughters, it appears that it is of Isabelle de Bourbon, a descendant of Charles I, but I digress...it was during the same epoch at least...

now this young fella is an offspring of Marie, Louis, Comte de Provence who would grow up to be Louis XVIII (eighteenth to you)

and then of course, the ever lovely, refined Madame herself....

 and her (somewhat portly) hubbie...and

 

while reading another great tome, The Stockholm Octavo, I am learning about the very complex language of the fan as used by the ladies in the 18th century and even earlier times.....

 

Marie's collection of fans as displayed at the Ringling....(as are the other images above)

such fan language could be interpreted as follows:

• Twirling the fan in the left hand: We are watched.
• Carrying the fan in the right hand in front of her face: Follow me.
• Covering the left ear with the open fan: Do not betray our secret.
• Drawing the fan through the hand: I hate you.
• Drawing the fan across the cheek: I love you.
• Touching the tip of the fan with the finger: I wish to speak to you.
• Letting the fan rest on the right cheek: Yes.
• Letting the fan rest on the left cheek: No.
• Opening and shutting the fan: You are cruel.
• Dropping the fan: We will be friends.
• Fanning slowly: I am married.
• Fanning rapidly: I am engaged.
• Touching the handle of the fan to the lips: Kiss me

 

don't know about you, but I think that it would a great fashion to bring back...especially in the heat of the sweltering Florida summers.....

 

 



 

Well my dears, that is all I have for you now...but I promise to keep up the posting (as best I can) and try and make your day just a little brighter....

Finally back...

I know I have been remiss in posting...I didn't neglect you really I didn't, but life sometimes gets in the way and now I want to to start devoting at least a few posts a week, just to prove to you that I am not a flake (at least not a Cadbury's one)...
and besides posting pics as always, I am doing a lot more reading these days, both on my ipad, and audio books, seems I can read twice as many books this way, so I will be recommending the good and even the not so good possibly and sharing pics along the way...
so here you go....

Recently I had the pleasure to be a guest for a few days at my friend Carolyn's gorgeous cottage down in Key West - and besides all the usual eating and drinking that is par for a Key West visit, I had a chance to take a few photos (although it was hot as an oven)....enjoy!

 all the houses are painted so gloriously in bright cheerful colors...love how the bike matches!!!

 Love how the coffered ceiling is painted the sky blue!

 

 These enormous koi are lovely tended to at a small café (the Key lime café - I think - on the corner)

and they all have names...the setting is beautiful with bamboo and a waterfall and great way to refresh after a long slog around the town...

The royal Poinciana were flowering everywhere, and made a beautiful frame to the Episcopalian Church off Duval Street...More posts coming....

 

DeSoto State Park

 

Fort De Soto Park- located on The Gulf of Mexico marks the spot where Hernando de Soto (born 1500-died in Arkansas 1542), and his expedition landed along their extraordinary trail from 1539 -1540. Their trail which started around the tip of Florida on the west coast, wound its way up through Tampa, to Tallahassee, and finally, Pensacola

While these cardboard figures cut a very (scarey) likeness... it's kind of fun to walk the trails and happen upon these...kind of makes you startled a little!!! when you see them here and there along the walkways.

The park is just lovely...surrounded by pristine waters, it is truly a treasure to take the one mile trek around the perimeter of the park. 

 At the end of the trail is the gift shop and museum which houses a few items from the time of deSoto...

including some examples of their weapons and armor...

All in all a great day out for a nice walk (a trip back in time with renactment) and fun for young and old alike!

Cost - Free!