What's in a name

Thanks to the ABC principle that was burned into my subconscious whilst completing a 365 photo project last year, I was prepared when I happened upon this anhinga striking a familiar pose - for anhingas, that is. Since water does not run off their backs, like a duck's, anhingas must dry their feathers after diving for fish and frogs if they want to take to the air again.

Now anhingas are also known as snakebirds since most of their body is underwater as they swim on the surface with only their long neck and beak showing. I've seen them swimming like that, and the name is an apt one. But apparently they're also known as water turkeys, and to be honest, I just can't make the connection. No one here mentioned them during the recent Thanksgiving celebration.

(70-200mm  f5.6  1/80 sec  ISO200)

Postcards from the past

Nostalgia is a file that removes the rough edges from the good old days.  (Doug Larson)

Nothing is more responsible for the good old days than a bad memory. (Franklin Pierce Adams)

(Belated) Phriday Phun

Well, the phun was all had on Phriday - it's just that I didn't get phinished with the photos until past midnight (EST) - although it's still Phriday to the west of us. (Scott started the Phun Phriday posting - you may want to check him out).

We visited Fishermen's Village in Punta Gorda this afternoon. While my wife browsed through the many shops there, Sasha and I dragged ourselves away and scouted the surroundings for some photo ops.

You wouldn't think that a place that bills itself as 'Fishermen's Village' would post signs like the one in this photo, would you ? Perhaps that's false advertising aka 'bait and switch'. I mean, what's a fisherman to do ?

Now being from up north I happen to know that Santa gets around via sleigh, but I've wondered how he does that in Florida where snow is as rare as a politician (anywhere) that can balance a budget. I discovered his secret and I'll share it with you here. Shhh - don't tell the kids.

Well, after all that time wandering around in the sun, I couldn't tell if my eyes or my camera were playing tricks on me in this last shot.

I hope your Phriday was phun too.

Short story of sacrifice for Sunset Sunday shot

Sunsets arrive at a bit of an awkward time at this point on the calendar - right around dinner time. While my wife still doesn't understand why anyone would need to get more sunset shots when they already have so many to choose from, she did sacrifice dinner time together recently. I set out alone to a nearby park - dogs weren't allowed there.

I wasn't alone long. As I trekked along a wilderness trail, the entrance of which was marked by a sign showing an alligator chasing a dog and its owner, I soon became aware of the scourge of Florida salt marshlands at dusk - the ubiquitous no-see-um. I thought I had protected myself against these minuscule pests with a voracious appetite by liberally applying a 98% deet ointment, but by next morning I discovered all the unprotected places that they had discovered. The itch finally disappeared after 7 days and the bite marks after 10.

I thought the sunset was worth it. My wife doesn't understand.

(10-22mm  f5.6  1/200 sec  ISO200)

For more superb Sunset Sunday shots, be sure to visit Scott's blog.

For the beauty of the earth ...

     "To look out at this kind of creation and
       not believe in God is to me impossible."
       (Astronaut John Glenn)
   
       "Beauty... is the shadow of God on the universe."
        (Gabriela Mistral, Desolacíon)

       “You are worthy, our Lord and God,
        to receive glory and honour and power,
        for you created all things,
        and by your will they were created
        and have their being.”
        (Revelation 4:11)

        "For since the creation of the world,
         God's invisible qualities - his eternal
         power and divine nature - have been
         clearly seen, being understood from
         what has been made, so that men are
         without excuse."
         (Romans 1:20)

(60mm  f5.6  1/60 sec  ISO200)


(60mm  f2.8  1/1400 sec  ISO200)

 (60mm  f5.6  1/160 sec  ISO200)