Sail away from the safe harbor...

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. 

- Mark Twain

HAPPY SUNDAY to all of You!

Susanne

I like to sit in my backyard...

I like to sit in my backyard. 

I go out on the hammock and sit in silence and kind of meditate. 

Nature is calming, and it's nice to go out there and clear my head.

Devon Werkheiser

Hello my friends,

it's long time ago since I was posting something here, I know. 

There are days, I just don't feel like to post anything and there are days, I just can not post, 

because of other projects I had to do. 

But now I'm free,  everything is done and over - now I have time to sit in the hammock 

and enjoy the soft South winds we have today. :))

I hope you'll enjoy your day too! 

Thanks for coming back to my blog.

~Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x >>> My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh >>  My photography (and Calendars 2011) are on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf >>>David's paintings + My photography are on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz >>> Dave's fine art paintings are now on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9 >>> Meine Europaeischen Fans+Freunde kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall. Versand in ganz Europa!

They say...

They say it's better to bury your sadness in a graveyard or garden that waits

for the spring to wake from its sleep and burst into green.

Conor Oberst

Hi my friends,

Thank you very much for your numerous visits to my blog yesterday and for all those 

wonderful comments you made. I do appreciate every single one!

I wish you a great start in this new week- hopefully filled with only good surprises for you!

Happy Monday!

~Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz      Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9     Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

Which destination whould you choose...?

 

Hi my friends,
which direction would you choose - in which destination would you love to be the most, right now? :))
Thank you for all the nice comments on my site to my wordless Sunday photo. Gladly appreciated!

Wishing you all a good start in the new week - go traveling in your mind and stay happy!
~Susanne




http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz      Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9     Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

A wonderful bird is the Pelican...

 

Pelican - captured in Jetty Park, Cape Canaveral, FL

A wonderful bird is the pelican,

His bill will hold more than his belican,

He can take in his beak

Enough food for a week

But I'm damned if I see how the helican

 

Read more about the author Dixon Lanier Merritt here

Hi my friends,
Thank you all for your kind comments and compliments to my last post....if they were made here or on facebook, I appreciate them all!

You would not believe it, but it was so hard to find a poem about pelicans! But I got one - the one above, and I like it, it's short and humorous. I hope you'll enjoy too.

These coming next days I will try to capture the closest full moon we have now since long time in history. I hope the "Weather Gods" will be good to us and will not cover up the whole night sky with clouds :))

Wishing you a happy Friday - weekend is just around the corner!
~Susanne




http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz      Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9     Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

Agave Tequilana

Agave Tequilana in an artistic color - captured in Casa GrandeAZ

Agave tequilana,
commonly called blue agave, tequila agave, mezcal or maguey is an agave plant that is an important economic product of Jalisco, Mexico, due to its role as the base ingredient of tequila, a popular distilled spirit. The high production of sugars—mostly in the form of fructose—in the core of this plant, are the most important element for the preparation of alcoholic beverages.
The tequila agave is a native of Jalisco, Mexico. The tequila agave favors high altitudes of more than 1,500 meters and grows in rich and sandy soils. While commercial and wild agaves have different life cycles, both grow into large succulents, with spiky fleshy leaves, that can reach over two meters in height. Wild Agaves, however, sprout a shoot when about five years old, that can grow an additional five meters and are topped with yellow flowers.

The flowers are pollinated by a native bat (Leptonycteris nivalis) and produce several thousand seeds per plant. The plant then dies. The shoots are removed when about a year old from commercial plants to allow the heart to grow larger. The plants are then reproduced by planting these shoots; this has led to a considerable loss of genetic diversity in cultivated blue agave.

It is rare for one kept as a houseplant to flower; nevertheless, a fifty year old blue agave in Boston grew a 10 m (30 ft) stalk requiring a hole in the greenhouse roof and flowered in the summer of 2006.

Tequila is produced by removing the heart of the plant in its twelfth year. Normally weighing between 35–90 kg (77–198 lb). This heart is stripped of its leaves and heated to remove the sap, which is fermented and distilled. Other beverages like mezcal and pulque are also produced from blue and other agaves by different methods (though still using the sap) and are regarded as more traditional.

Researchers from Mexico's University of Guadalajara believe blue agave contains compounds that may be useful in carrying drugs to the intestines to treat diseases, such as Crohn's disease and colitis.

I hope you'll enjoy the read! Thank you foe all the comments on my last post!

Susanne

http://tinyurl.com/37jkbtz       Dave's paintings on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/yatdh5x      My photography on FAA
http://tinyurl.com/2wf9qsh     My photography and Calendars 2011 on RedBubble
http://tinyurl.com/37ckddf     David's paintings + My photography on ImageKind
http://tinyurl.com/2bsfvk9      Meine Europaeischen Fans kaufen meine Fotos hier auf myGall

My Monday Flower

I think it is a "Spider Lilly" but I'm not sure at all - does anyone knows the real, sophisticated name for this pretty flower? :))

Hi my friends,

I hope you have/had all a great start in the new week. August is almost gone, only some days left....enjoy these last days of a hot month in summer. And, yes... thank you all for those nice comments and compliments to my last post. I do appreciate every single one.

See you tomorrow!

Susanne

Buy my photography printed, framed or stretched on Canvas here:

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My European Fans buy my photography here:

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My Wordless Sunday - #30

Add colors to your life!

Seagrape or Coccoloba uvifera

Coccoloba uvifera 

is a species of flowering plant in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae, that is native to coastalbeaches throughout tropical America and the Caribbean, including southern Florida, the Bahamas, Barbados and Bermuda. Common names include Seagrape and Baygrape. It is a sprawling evergreen shrub or small tree that reaches a maximum height of 8 m (26 ft), but most specimens are little more than 2 m (6.6 ft) tall. It has large, round, leathery leaves (up to 25 cm/9.8 in in diameter) with a primary vein that has a red color extending from the base, and the entire leaf turns red as it ages. The bark is smooth and yellowish. In late summer it bears green fruit that gradually turns orange, to red, until there is a purplish fruit, about 2 cm (0.79 in) diameter, in large grape-like clusters. The fruit also contains a large pit that takes up most of the fruit.

 Abstract leaf of a sea grape

Hi my friends,

Thank you all for visiting my blog. Yesterday was no post there, I know. 

I just don't felt like posting anything and that happen sometimes to me too :))

I wish you a nice weekend full with sunshine and fun for you!

Tomorrow, there will be my "Wordless Sunday" again - come back and see it and comment. Every single comment makes my day. 

Yep, you can make me happy with little things in life...*smile*...

Susanne

Have a look also to my online photography shop and if you see there something, buy something - you'll make my day. Pep up those gray walls at home - or in your office. Add some colors to your life!

The Old 7 Miles Bridge - Pigeon Key

Pigeon Key - Cayo Paloma

On old Spanish charts, Pigeon Key was known as Cayo Paloma (dove or white pigeon). Many believe this 5.31-acre island located beneath the Old Seven Mile Bridge, just west of Marathon, was named after the white-crowned pigeon of the Florida Keys.

Nobody had much use for Pigeon Key until Henry Flagler needed it to complete the Seven Mile Bridge, which was part of the Florida East Coast Railroad . At that time, the bridge was known as "Knights Key-Pigeon Key-Moser Channel-Pacet Channel Bridge".

Work began on the island in the spring of 1909, and by the beginning of 1912, it held four bunkhouses, each designed to hold 64 men; an engineering/office building, which also held sleeping quarters for the men who worked there; and numerous tents set up over wooden floors on stilts for the laborers. Food was good and plentiful and strict cleanliness was the law.

Originally, the design for the portion of the Seven Mile Bridge in the Pigeon Key area called for it to be a rock-filled causeway, as the water in the area was shallow enough to build it that way. Of course, the final decision was to make the entire span a bridge.

When the railroad was completed all the way to Key West in 1912, Pigeon Key was transformed from a construction camp into a bridge tender maintenance camp. Some of the original buildings were replaced with more permanent structures, some of them homes. In an attempt to attract and keep more married personnel, a school was opened in 1923. A post office was established the same year and remained open for 10 years. After the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, Pigeon Key became the southern base for rescue, relief, and evacuation operations.

As a result of the damage to the Overseas Railroad caused by the 1935 hurricane, the railroad bridges were transformed to the roadbed for part of the new Overseas Highway . Pigeon Key was headquarters for the construction of this roadway, which was a toll road until 1954. After the tollbooths were dismantled, land title for Pigeon Key was transferred to Monroe County.

In 1960, Hurricane Donna damaged two of the buildings so much that it was decided to burn them down. A few years later, the University of Miami leased the land for a marine biology project. This lease was cancelled in 1987.

In 1992, the Pigeon Key Foundation was formed as a joint venture between the Monroe County Environmental Education Task Force and the Mote Marine Laboratory of Sarasota, Florida, and a 30-year lease was granted. Today, seven historic structures remain alongside a few more structures added over the years.

A multi-use educational and meeting facility is housed in the restored Section Gang's Quarters. PKF offices are located in the Assistant Paint Foreman's House. The Assistant Bridge Tender's House now serves as a museum dedicated to the railway and early highway history. The Bridge Worker's Dorm and Negro Quarters have been restored and are used as sleeping quarters. The rest of the historic buildings and the additional structures have all been restored.

The Pigeon Key Foundation, a non-profit organization, has transformed this island and its buildings into a world-class educational center; a place to teach visitors about the splendor of the cultural and natural resources of the Florida Keys, and a nationally recognized concert and event location.

Read more about Pigeon Key here: http://www.floridakeys.com/marathon/pigeonkey.htm

The Color White

The color white shows up so great in these beautiful orchids - my favorite flowers.

If you would like to buy one of these pictures please drop me an email to susanne49@yahoo.com

The Liberty Clipper

The sunset cruiser "The Liberty" is leaving the harbor.

If you would like to buy this picture please drop me an email to

susanne49@yahoo.com

A short Trip up to Marathon

Yesterday we took a short trip up to Marathon and stopped here and there on the way. This picture shows a inviting privat beach scene at Geiger Key.


Gestern haben wir einen kleinen Ausflug gemacht, die Keys hinauf bis nach Marathon. Wir hielten an diversen netten Orten, wie an diesem kleinen, sehr einladenden Beach auf Geiger Key.




Most everybody dreams of having a little island like this for their own privat getaway. Do you? It's right here in the Keys, come and get it.


Soviele traeumen von einer eigenen Insel wie diese hier. Gehoerst auch Du dazu? Sie ist hier in den Key's, die Insel deiner Traeume!

This is a view out from the car of the 7-Mile-Bridge who is connecting Big Pine Key and Marathon together. Between is nothing than water, water, water.... to the left the emerald green water of the Gulf of Mexico on the other side the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean.

Dies ist die 7-Meilen-Bruecke, welche Big Pine Key verbindet mit Marathon. Dazwischen liegt zur linken Seite das jadegruene Wasser vom Golf von Mexico und auf der andern Seite das tiefblaue Meer des Atlantischen Ozeans.

Almost there..... Marathon is just some miles away and visible already.

Bald sind wir dort, nur noch ein paar Meilen zu fahren, Marathon ist bereits in Sichtweite.

This is the view on the way back home to Key West: the old 7 Mile-bridge on the right and the new bridge to the left in the sparkling late afternoon sunshine.

Auf der Heimfahrt wieder nach Key West sieht man rechts die alte, nicht mehr befahrene 7-Meilen-Bruecke und links die neue Strasse im glitzernden Abendsonnenschein.

If you would like to buy one or all of these pictures please drop me an email about prices and sizes to

susanne49@yahoo.com

Travel feaver

Do you sometimes feel the travel feaver also...?

If you would like to buy this picture please send me an email to susanne49@yahoo.com

Simply White

White door and white fence at Trumann Annex - a clean and nice look. The palmtree at the door (and in the yard of course) gives a tropical touch.

Die vorherrschende Farbe hier ist "Weiss", was wiederum einen Eindruck von Sauberkeit und Geschmack wiederspiegelt. Den suedlich-tropischen "Touch" gibt die kleine Palme an der Haustuere, quasi das "Tuepchen auf dem i". Wie mag es wohl drinnen aussehen?

If you would like to buy this picture please drop me an email to

susanne49@yahoo.com

about pricing and sizes.

Coconut Palm

Don't ever sit under the Coconut palmtree in the early afternoon! That's the most dangerious time! Why...? Because that's when the most coconuts will be falling - on your head! :-))

Setz dich nie unter eine Kokonusspalme am fruehen Nachmittag. Das ist die gefaehrlichste Zeit, weil dann die meisten Nuesse fallen werden - auf deinen Kopf! :-))

If you would like to buy this picture please drop me an email to

susanne49@yahoo.com

Tropical Clouds

Look up to the sky!

If you would like to buy this picture please drop me an email to susanne49@yahoo.com

Orchids in Red and White

This one is my favorit of all orchids!

If you would like to buy this picture please drop me an email to:

susanne49@yahoo.com

Beach View in Pastel

Beach view at Smathers Beach in lovely pastel colors after sunset.

Eine in ein liebliches Pastell getuenchte Strandlandschaft an Smather's Beach, nach Sonnenuntergang.

Available in:

8" x 10" - $ 28.00 Buy with PayPal

11" x 14" - $ 35.00 Buy with PayPal

Larger sizes can be made on request

Wish you were here...?

Do you remember the warm days in the south...? These two beach chairs are still there waiting for you to relax and enjoy the sunshine at the beach - far away from the frosty cold temperatures probably you have now.... See you there!

Damit ihr bei diesen eisigen Temperaturen nicht ganz vergisst, wie warm und schoen es sein kann im Sueden, habe ich dieses Bild online getan. ....und die zwei Strandstuehle sind immer noch frei....! Wer ist zuerst...?

If you would like to buy this picture, please drop me an email to susanne49@yahoo.com