under the bridge

a dry Horse Creek - in rural in Desoto County.

I couldn't bowl, they needed a photographer

The "Bowls England" team arrived at our Club on Thursday with quite a bit of pomp and circumstance after touring throughout the US.  Our Vice-Mayor was there, a honor guard was there and a bugler was hired, who blew a rendition of "God Save The Queen" while the Brits sang out loud, their national anthem. For lunch, our Club served up salmon, roast beef and chocolate eclairs.

As a competing English national team they played against our best Club players, and I have to proudly say, we won most of our matches. But, what a jolly good lot they all were.

Their international touring flag.

English Bowler, Keith Thomas with a good sunburn.

visiting family

My daughter Becca, and her family, the Balaban's, left early this morning - jetting back to Maryland. They packed-up all their warm weather apparel and headed back north.

Footwear by the entry door for last night's last supper - Becca, David, Dustin & Neve - Keelie, Sandy & I.

sayin' a goodbye to an old acquaintance

Just finished reading a lengthy article about the demise of the once proud and grand - that one-time American iconic symbol - Kodak.  At it's height in the early 1980's, with over 145,000 employees, and today down to about 8,000, Kodak's Eastman Business Park in Rochester, NY, is slowly being dismantled, leveled and so downsized, that a new food manufacturing plant within the old Kodak industrial site, seems to be one of the area's last hopes and dreams.

An iPhone photo of a box of 8x10 sheet film that's been collecting dust in my darkroom.  A remembered "Kodak Moment" while shooting portraits in Cuba.

that time of year again

The 79th year of Sarasota's annual County Fair.


Elsa

the Castillo Kids

the Midway maze

discarded corn dog - my favorite

the art world

Recently I was contacted by an old family friend who was coming to Sarasota for a book reading - to read from his recently published novel about the times he had spent years ago, in the Peace Corps.

The author, David Mather also mentioned that he had two paintings of Syd Solomon's, the known Abstract Expressionist, who for years, lived and painted here locally. David was considering selling these two pieces and wanted to know of any contacts that I might have in Sarasota.

So, I attended David's morning book reading at Selby Library. And after, we had lunch together, and along with David's wife Lindy, we drove out to ArtSentry where we met Michael Solomon, son and curator, of his late father's work. David was looking for an assessment and an appraisal - of the two canvases that had been passed down through his family - which he had conveniently brought to town with him.  At ArtSentry, we were greeted by "Mike", and after an hour-and-a-half of good conversation, David finally got his assessment and a fair appraisal, with an offer to purchase.


Mike unwrapping one of the canvases.

Mike and David discussing the current condition of the one piece.

David taking time to think.

"Sunwatch" (1963) Syd Solomon - oil on canvas.  David undecided and still contemplating the offer.

in a nut shell

Two weeks ago, while camping with my buddies, my good friend Pete asked me to sit over next to an old pot-bellied stove where some coffee was brewing.  He took some shots, and Pete, also being a photographer posted this composite shot today on our motorcycle forum.  He said I fit the character that he was lookin' for.  (click on it)

So, I guess it's me in a ..........