Naples, FL ~Tin City

"The soul of old Florida in the heart of Naples' waterfront," Tin City is a fun place to experience!

Located along 12th St. S., near the Tamiami Trail, this cluster of tin-roofed buildings and docks 

was built in the 1920's to support the area's fishing, clam and oyster industries.

It's transformation into a shopping and dining marketplace occurred in the 70's.

Today, Tin City boasts 2 restaurants for relaxed dock-side dining and over 30 gift boutiques.

Have a look at some highlights of our afternoon there! 

Casual, open-air dining with ceiling fans and a roll of paper towels at the ready! 

Pinchers Crab Shack. Our kinda place!

Naples Soap Company was a favorite!

Go HERE for a post on this way cool shop!

Visit the Tin City website  and  Facebook page!

See more of Naples in these posts:
Vacationing in Naples, Florida ~The Beach
Naples, FL ~Naples Botanical Garden
Naples, FL ~Naples Soap Company
Naples, FL ~Out & About
A Sunny Stroll on Naples Pier
Clam Pass
The Edison & Ford Winter Estates

The Art of …The Beatles

Thiago Krening

Beatles fans - this one's for you!

This month marks the 50 year anniversary of The Beatles 

taking America by storm on the stage of the Ed Sullivan Show. 

They sang "All My Loving" to an audience of screaming, crying fans, 

and from that moment on, rock and roll has never been the same.

Enjoy this selection of artwork of the Fab Four!

Jonathan Vizcuna

Brigette Barrager

Jonathan Edwards

mozzarellapoppy

manish mansinh

Peerro

perry dixon maple

paloma valdivia

maxim dalton

Foodscapes by Carl Warner

Celery Island

A native of Liverpool, England, Carl Warner has a background in advertising photography.

One day at the market, he came across some portabella mushrooms

and with the eye of an artist, imagined them as other-worldly trees.

They became the subject of his very first "foodscape".

Things really took off from there as Carl's creativity and talent produced many more foodscapes.

They're a fun type of  trumpe l'oeil, (to deceive the eye), causing many to do double-takes.

Carl says this about his projects: "I need to fool the viewer into thinking it is a real scene at first glance.

It is the realization that the scene is in fact made of food that brings a smile to the viewer. 

For me, that's the best part." 

Bread Village

Chocolate Express

Gondola

Broccoli Forest

Coralscape

Chrysler Building

Red Hot Chilli Scorpion

Great Wall of Pineapple

Candy Cottage

See more on Carl's website and Facebook page!

Images used with direct permission from Carl Warner.

Vacationing in Naples, Florida ~The Beach

Just returned from our vacation in sunny Naples, Florida!

Naples is in the southwest part of the state, known as Florida's Paradise Coast.

And paradise, it was!

We went to the beach every day to soak in the warm rays of the sun,

hoping they'd penetrate all the way down to our winter-weary bones.

The gentle lapping of those Gulf waves was entrancing, both to watch and to hear.

I loved to close my eyes and try to shut out all other sounds but the waves. So relaxing!

A highlight for me was our long walks.

 Bird watching was a pleasant past time; we were surprised to see such a variety of shore birds.

 We enjoyed watching cormorants and pelicans dive in for fish.

A few evenings we were treated to a glorious sunset over the gulf.
This post, first in my Naples, Florida series, shares beach photos from our beautiful vacation.

 Royal Tern

 Naples Pier in the distance.

 My proud American senses tingled when we spotted a
Bald Eagle overhead, the first I'd ever seen so close in the wild!

 Lots of dolphins to be seen.

(This photographer is sorry she hadn't been quick enough 

to capture more of them with her camera!)

 It was a delight to watch these adorable Sanderlings

dart back and forth on the shore!

 A graceful Snowy Egret. Love their wispy frills.

Brown Pelicans. (Cue the Jurassic Park theme.)

Willets

The happy, relaxed, vacationing couple!

Enjoy more about Naples in these posts:
 Naples, FL ~Tin City
Naples, FL ~Naples Botanical Garden
Naples, FL ~Naples Soap Company
Naples, FL ~Out & About
Clam Pass

Julianna Swaney Illustration

Kingfisher Feathers


Julianna Swaney is an illustrator based in Portland, Oregon.
Each of her drawings that I've chosen shows a young lady contentedly immersed
in what she loves to do, be it gardening, reading or stargazing.
I like...
spilled dirt and sprouting bulbs,
floral patterned fringed rug,
birds dining on their share of the berries.

Bright Plant

Papercraft

Blackberry Patch

Lepidoptera

Plant Love

Morning Time

Blanket

Small Song

See more at Julianna's website & Facebook page.



Images used with direct permission from Julianna Swaney.