An Italian restaurant in Epcot's Italy

While we didn't stop to patronize the place, this appeared to be a very fine restaurant in Italy's section of Epcot's World Showcase. Real china and silverware appeared on the tables with linen napkins!

Going green

A dock and a house (to the right which you can't see) in the far reaches of one of the back bays.

Pizzeria in Spanish Springs

Located about a block from the town square in Spanish Springs, this pizzeria was jammed when we went by...maybe because of the welcoming chef?

Marina in Dania, Florida

Cedar Key Canal

How to beat a tornado

One of the problems with living in Florida is that we have an inordinate amount of tornadoes...then we have hurricanes and hurricanes usually bring especially violent tornadoes. Several areas in and near The Villages have been hit hard over the past several years.

But, lo and behold, help is on the way. Just give this company a call and get your tornado shelter. Your house may blow away but you'll be safe. I think.

Jesus and liquor

You'll find these signs in Astor, Florida, about 30 miles from Ocala on Highway 40 which runs through the Ocala National Forest and terminates at Ormond Beach on the Atlantic.

Sunset from the back bay

The Arnold Palmer Legends Country Club

A look at the beautiful Arnold Palmer golf course with the sun setting in the west.


I believe this shows the 10th fairway.


This is the tee-off area.


On the left is the Arnold Palmer pro shop, and just beyond that the restaurant we showed a couple of days ago.

Destin marina

The Seabreeze restaurant at night

We hope to be enjoying dinner at the Seabreeze next Monday evening...if you should be hanging around, we're the ones with the cameras!

The Villages Polo Club

I've never seen a polo match, but polo is big in The Villages. The Villages has its own polo team and competes internationally. Not too long ago, they played a match in Barbados. Often, The Villages Polo Club hosts important international polo matches.

John Lloyd Park - Dania

John Lloyd Park offers a great beach for swimming in the Atlantic; picnic tables; areas in which to play ball; concession stands; rest rooms; and facilities for boating. Dania, Florida is a small community between Hollywood and Fort Lauderdale; very popular with Canadian tourists during the winter months.

Sailboat at sunset

Honest Scrap Award

With gratitude and humility we accept this wonderful award from Asta at Hyperenergy and Other Obstacles. Thank you so very much, Asta!

Arnold Palmer golf resort restaurant

The Arnold Palmer golf course, pro shop and restaurant are relatively new to the Villages. The facilities are upscale and located between the Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing hometowns.

Returning home to Destin

A family on an afternoon boating trip (see the young girls in the back of the boat) are heading around the breakwater into the Destin marina area.

Cedar Key airport in watercolor

It should really be called the Cedar Key landing strip, as there is no airport per se. I had a little fun with this photo by giving it a watercolor effect.

Honest Scrap Award

Our thanks for Juergen Kuehn at Marburg Daily Photo for this wonderful and meaningful award. This award is bestowed upon a fellow blogger whose blog content or design is, in the giver's opinion, brilliant. It is about bloggers who post from their heart, who oftentimes put their heart on display as they write from the depths of their soul.

We are very much honored.

It is suggested the recipient offer 10 things that describe his or her honesty, but we're going to omit that, being relatively private persons.

It is also suggested that the recipient(s) pass the award on to other deserving bloggers.

That we are pleased to do, and here they are:

1. Montpellier Daily Photo
2. Mitchster - Minneapolis Photography
3. Dusty Lens - North Metro and Beyond
4. Fort Lauderdale Daily Photo
5. Livorno Daily Photo
6. Urban Stories
7. Clueless in Boston
8. Detroit Daily Photo

White fence in Lake Sumter Landing

Several businesses front Lake Sumter on the east side of the downtown square and they, in turn, are fronted by this white fence, which I thought quite attractive.

Iguana on rock

There are a number of iquanas that live among the rocks in a pond behind our daughter's house in Davie, Florida. Most stayed hidden during our recent visit, but I spied this fellow sitting up on a rock sunning himself. When he observed me coming closer, he hunched down over the rock perhaps to hide from perceived danger.

He was still at a distance, however, which made a good photograph difficult. I'd guess he's about four feet long.

Looking toward the dock of the bay

I use the title above with apologies to Otis Redding.

One of the inner bay areas of Cedar Key