a differant era

Yesterday, late afternoon, I got 'called-out' while taking a photo, in a public place, at South Lido Park.

A young woman in a wedding gown had quietly appeared. Passing from a distance, a low cross-light shimmered off of her white sequined dress. I reached for my phone, never resisting an off-guarded moment.  I took one shot, and as I approached with a good friendly explanation, the female photographer attending, when she saw me, went into a hysterical rage. She demanded that I delete “all the photos". 

Bemused and amused, I gladly handed her my phone. And she did just that - deleted the one and only photo taken, and a great one at that. I would have willingly shared it with my blessings.

Which brings me back to an earlier era, an easier historic subject.

The once simple, mid-century attractive, and now the unoccupied Doctors Gardens building directly across from our long-standing Sarasota Memorial Hospital, is slated for an early fall demolition. My pediatrician from the 1950's, my early doctors and dentist - my oldest daughter's pediatrician (mid 70's) -  once, all had offices there. The property is now owned by a huge, expansive SMH hospital complex - and for them, now seems about the right time.

Doctors Gardens, 1880 Arlington Street, Sarasota, Fla.

 

The rear parking area showing the outside entrance to each medical office, with the upstairs balcony entrances approached after using either, the centrally located elevator and /or the outside stairs.

A missing 'D' has fallen from the word 'Doctors'.

Now that the Physicians are long gone, the hospital's contractors have moved in. 

Thomas with his ductwork pressure tester.

  

objects bought and found

"Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki" - A native Seminole (Mikasuki) description of a place to learn, a place to remember.

Some, forty some years ago, I purchased several articles of Seminole clothing, all used, and worn from years past. Men and women's personal clothing, all found neatly hanging from a 'sales' rack at the tribe's Miccosukee Cultural Center, then a roadside attraction off the old Tamiami Trail, in the heart of the Everglades. 

I remember the individual pieces being somewhat expensive for the time - a man's detailed, cotton patchwork jacket that I still wear on that rare occasion, and for my new wife, the outfit below, who wore the skirt once upon my insistence, but in reality buying all just to photograph each.

Recently, I came across one of my prints from back then, from 1978 - honoring those reclusive Seminoles, all who had purposely hidden deep within South Florida for nearly a hundred years.

 

Women's Seminole patchwork velveteen 'long skirt' - with sheer white (over-lay) cape top.  (1940's?)

 

 

waiting for that 1st student

I'm impressed. After 6 months (and possibly years), my darkroom is once again functional and well organized. Cleaning up from the flooding, from way back in November was the initiative. Keelie, my niece, was the helpful inspiration. Now just waiting for that first student. Someone who won't mind getting their hands wet.

 

thank god for medicare

Another doctor - a podiatrist.  

Complaint; initial tingling, burning, numbness - now with sharp pain between the toes of my left foot. 

Diagonosis; Morton's Neuroma - damage to the nerves and surrounding tissue.

Apparently my new hiking boots did me in after logging more than 25 break-in miles. Boots, way too narrow, too tight. Also, the recommended cushioning, comforting, moisture wicking ‘merino wool’ socks didn't help either - only made it worse.

Treatment; Initial X-ray's.  On-going steroid injections into the affected toe areas (and/or future surgery).

 

 

Can you see the nerve damage, the swelling?  Can you see the middle toe joints squished, rubbing together?  Thank god I like doctors - and have Medicare.

a framed Cereus

My niece, Miss Keelie, requested a large print, framed, from my collection of Garden Portraits. Hanging now on the wall in her Sarasota bungalow, the work looks permanent.

Night-blooming Cereus (1997).  Blooms once a year, only for a single night.

Elling Eide - the man, the land & the books

Elling O. Eide; 1935-2012

Horticulturist, Asian scholar, Sinologist (Chinese Literary Studies), and founding member of the T'ang Studies Society.

(Indianola Park, FL. near the present day community of Vamo)

The original 100 acre property, the 'Indianola Park' sub-division, was purchased in 1935 by Elling Eide's maternal grandfather, Dr. Oliver Mitchell, Sr.   Elling's father, Dr. Iver Eide (pronounced, Ide) and his mother, the former Grace Mitchell, moved their family onto the acquired property a year after, in 1936. Elling then, was just a year old.  

Thirty two years later, the Eide family (mother and father) deeded the entire parcel, a natural preserve, to their only son, Elling.  From 68' on, Elling Eide devoted the majority of his life to protecting and caring for this special piece of land.

The entrance drive of planted 'Long-leaf' pines on the original 100 acre Mitchell / Eide property.

 

The purchased Mitchell / Eide home (ca. 1895) was floated down to it's current site by barge, from Bradenton, FL in 1936.

 

 

 

In the early 1970's, Elling Eide planted over 450 different specimens of exotic palms and fruit trees throughout the property.  A Cambodian, Asian palmyra palm below, remaining along today's bayside frontage.

By the 1990's, Elling Eide had become more obsessed with his on-going Asian research, and overwhelmed by his voluminous Chinese collection of rare literature and writings, allowed much of his earlier planting to go feral.

 

 

The bayfront property along Little Sarasota Bay, showing early planted Washingtonia palms rising above the mangrove shoreline.

 

 

 

Elling, as a youngster with his father, Dr. Iver Olaf Eide, along with one of many pets. (1945)

 

Over the years, Elling rode about on a white horse named Tom. And, during a particular period, over 50 peacocks roamed throughout the grounds. Often, many following Elling into the house, just to be fed.  Whether domesticated or wild, being a life-long bachelor, Elling Eide had an uncommon love for all animals.

(below) Elling, middle-aged, with a favorite pup - Jenny. To name a few others; there was Jungle Berry, River Lilly, Dixie, Rajah and Blackie. And there were cats, one notably named 'Poussie Cat'.

 

 

 

A Southern Magnolia as a memorial tree was planted by Elling, where numerous pets were buried, and where Elling's ashes would later be distributed.

 

Elling Eide's early plan for the property, was to raise and propagate fruit trees under his own custom built greenhouse (1974). But after completing the structure, and overwhelmed by numerous distractions, those seedlings never saw the light of day.

 

To establish a foundation and research center was truly Eide's long-term goal - to hopefully one-day, house his extensive, personal collection of early Asian manuscripts and Chinese literature. 

Elling Eide's cousin, Harold G. Mitchell (with pooch Ellie, below), president and founder of the newly-built Elling Eide Center, shared with me while out-and-about on a recent walking tour - early recollections of the man, the property and alarmingly, the massive amount of hoarded, recovered historic materials now housed in the current Center's archives.

 

 

Taken from a posthumus write-up in the New York Times, titled;

Amid the Spanish Moss of Florida, a Treasure Chest of Chinese Literature

Ian Johnson, April 8, 2017

"His research specialty had been China's most famous poet, Li Po, who lived during the Tang dynasty of the seventh to 10th centuries, often called China's greatest. That dynasty became his focus. He amassed 75,000 volumes, including 50,000 in Chinese: one of the largest private Chinese-language libraries in the world, and larger than many well-known universities' Chinese collections.

'The project reflected what friends and relatives call Mr. Eide's sometimes-manic personality. A onetime fitness buff with a dark brown beard, he became a paunchy recluse. He wore old clothes, chain-smoked Winstons and drove a beat-up Volkswagon bus. He poured his efforts into acquisitions but often neglected the details of cataloging and housing books."

Continue reading the main stor

 

A sampling below from the Elling Eide collection of rare Asian manuscripts and early Chinese literature. These and other academic materials are now archived in the newly completed library, within the on-site, contemporary Elling Eide Center.

 

 

 

 

  

The writings / a poem - from China's greatly admired Li Po, (701-762 AD) T’ang Dynasty.

 

mating season

With a wilderness permit, hiking the 2.5 miles down to Myakka's South Lake - to it's ancient Deep Hole. 

 

My good friend the high-flying Black Vulture, preening for it's mate.

 

 

And up-close, a large bull gator taking a shoreline break before his upcoming, annual courtship.