The rest of the BBQ festival

I found some more pictures of the BBQ competition. What can I say. I'm slow and scattered. Bad combo. But, better late than never! This first one was of a guitar on the bandstand. I loved it.

"If you hand me a guitar, I'll play the blues. That's the place I automatically go. "
¸.•*´¨`♥ Eric Clapton

Smokin’ in the Square BBQ Cookoff 2010

March 5-6 was the Smokin’ in the Square BBQ Cookoff. It was a competition. I was totally confused about it all. As it turns out, we couldn't actually eat a meal from the competitors. You could buy a ticket and stand in each booth's (long) line to get a little cup of their BBQ. I personally didn't have the patience. And I was hungry. I did discover that that there was two vendors that actually sold meals. Next year they said they would have more places to actually buy a dinner. I stood in my line for an hour. At least. But, the wait was TOTALLY worth it. I got a rack of ribs that almost made me swoon thanks to Arlene William's Barbcue.

This sweet man made the ribs that made my day.

Pelicans in Paradise::1

I've changed the look of Seaside Sharon. Just a little different. So, for a bit I will be tweaking and fine tuning the template until I hit that sweet spot!

As I start this new look, I'm posting a new series. Here in Pensacola we have something called Pelicans in Paradise. I think there may be 41 of these adorable pieces of art in the area...give or take a few. Some are MIA. I know the Navy Pelican is gone. Just gone.

And that leads me to my new series I was telling you about. The Pelicans in Paradise is a public art project organized by the Pensacola News Journal in which pelican statues of reinforced fiberglass are decorated by various artists, selected by the statues' sponsors, and placed at various outdoor locations around the downtown Pensacola area. A total of 41 pelicans have been commissioned for the project. Pelicans in Paradise was inspired by the Cow Parade Project in Portland, Oregon.

My mission is to photograph all of them. Here are what I have so far...I will post the remaining as I capture them.


Mac - the U.S. Marine

The natural function of the wing is to soar upwards and carry that which is heavy up to the place where dwells the race of gods.
¸.•*´¨`♥ Plato

East Hill {Part 1 of 5}

East Hill. My neighborhood. I feel such a kinship with this area. It is old and new all at once. It reminds me of many places I lived as a child. East Hill feels lived in. It is so hard for me to describe. Many houses date back to the early 1900's. Some are brand new. Most are in some state of renovation. The yards are full of beautiful landscaping. Trees that have been here forever. It is hard for me to put into words. So I will take photos.

Here is my first set. Last week I had a little surgery, and the doctor told me to walk. So, one morning, I donned my post-surgery loose fitting clothes, comfy shoes and started out with my camera.

The following images are in order of the walk, with the exception of the first one. I feel like it sort of gives me a starting point for this (ongoing) series. It is a door. No walls. A door. Behind the door is a sweet little garden. But it really captures the artsy, do-what-you-want feeling of this wonderful area.

"They say there is a doorway from heart to heart, but what is the use of a door when there are no walls?" ¸.•*´¨`♥ Mawlana Jalal-al-Din Rumi



White flower
at the base of a tree in my own yard




Trillum capturing the spring spirit




Vine covered garage
close to home



Window in vines



{Continue to part 2...}

East Hill {Part 2 of 5}

Joann's dried hydrangeas




Twiggy
bird's nest




1605 doorway



1604 what can I say?? I love old doors...



1521 I told you



{Continue to part 3...}

East Hill {Part 3 of 5}

Red Adirondacks in a side yard




Purple porch swing




Porch pillars & ceiling fans




VW Van getting ready for a camping trip



City Grocery yes...the famous



{Continue to part 4...}

East Hill {Part 4 of 5}

See J's?
Yummmmmm...



Seriously I think Moses must of threw trash in this can




15 minutes earlier and I would of had free coffee!




Montage I really need to look in here



1221 OK...back to doors



{Continue to part 5...}

East Hill {Part 5 of 5}

Kitty yard art




Keeping watch over her garden




So green... so inviting.




One of many live oaks



Ferns
growing on the live oak




Live Oak star

Do I love a Farmers Market? {Part 1 of 1}

Yes I do. Most certainly. I love the people. The pretty items for sale. The fresh produce. It is a wonderful place to take pictures. This one is in Pensacola on Saturday mornings...Port City Market.

"I am enamoured of my journal" ¸.•*´¨`♥ Sir Walter Scott


"So she went into the garden to cut a cabbage-leaf, to make an apple-pie" ¸.•*´¨`♥ Samuel Foote



"Properly practiced, knitting soothes the troubled spirit, and it doesn't hurt the untroubled spirit, either." ¸.•*´¨`♥ Elizabeth Zimmerman



"Nothing will benefit human health and increase chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet." ¸.•*´¨`♥ Albert Einstein



"forced to listen to abba, so she's hating the 80's just on principle " ¸.•*´¨`♥ storypeople


These were taken on a Saturday morning back in February. A warm sunny morning in a cold miserable winter.

The tale of a squirrel and french bread {Part 1 of 1}

We have a family of squirrels that live in our trees. I think perhaps we have a couple of families. They are such funny things. The other day we discovered that they like french bread. Here are some pictures of one of the smaller squirrels upon discovering the piece of bread that was as big as he is.

The discovery ...oh my




The move ...to safety




Does she still see me? Oh. Yes. She does.




A bold manuever to wedge the loaf between 2 branches



All is safe and sound

Bringing the beach to Barb {Part 1 of 1}

This is for my friend Barb. Who I miss. And she is sad. The beach will heal, so I'm posting these for her.

"The sea is emotion incarnate. It loves, hates, and weeps." ¸.•*´¨`♥ Christopher Paolini (Eragon)



"The ocean has been singing to me, and the song is that of our life together..." ¸.•*´¨`♥ Nicholas Sparks (Message in a Bottle)



"Love does not consist of gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction." ¸.•*´¨`♥ Antoine de Saint-Exupéry



Port of Pensacola at dock



"If you want to build a ship...teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea" ¸.•*´¨`♥ Antoine de Saint-Exupery


I know the last two weren't exactly of the beach, but is is of a beautiful port in Pensacola. And I find it calming. Hope your week brings more joy, Barb.

Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair 2010 {Part 1 of 11}

This past weekend was really a busy one! There was the Smokin in Seville Square (photos for another post) and the Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair 2010 at the fairgrounds. I love going to festivals like this for the photo opportunities, and just to see the amazing outfits they wear. Some of them are very into it. Makes for a nice Saturday morning. Needless to say, there were vendors peddling their wares. And some of the items were beautiful. I was sorely tempted to buy one of these and take up belly dancing. One girl inspired me...her pictures are at the end of this post.

This made for a pretty picture, but the root beer that was sold in them was less than tasty. See that pretty green bottle with the cork...third from the right? I have an almost full one sitting in my refrigerator. I don't know what I'm saving it for. I'm not drinking it.







I love signs. It is sort of an obsession with me. Along with doors, shutters, blue jars. Well, the list goes on and on. But here are some of the festival signs.






{Continue to part 2...}

Gulf Coast Renaissance Fair 2010 {Part 2 of 11}

There were animals. A camel or two. An elephant. Which I didn't get a photo of because all I ever saw was the rear end. In hind sight (no pun intended) I should of just taken a picture of that. Birds of prey. Goats and horses.






{Continue to part 3...}