These are some images from Florida other than birds and wildlife. What could be more photogenic than Mike´s beautiful Shire Horses, Munch and Caesar. Elena loved them and it looks like the feelings were mutual, or was it the carrot in Elena´s hand that they were really interested in?
Munch and Caesar, Shire horses extraordinaire.
Yes I thought so. Still they were very friendly with excellent manners, taking tidbits very gently from Elena´s hands.
The ponies were keen to see who was coming down the road past the farm, sure enough it was a neighbour taking some visitors for a ride in her beautiful horse-drawn carriage, a fine sight.
The ponies were keen to see who was coming down the road past the farm, sure enough it was a neighbour taking some visitors for a ride in her beautiful horse-drawn carriage, a fine sight.
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There´s nothing else they would prefer to do themselves, so they were hitched-up and we took off down the road for a ride.
 Hitched-up & ready to go |  On the road |
Clearly Mike enjoys horsepower, but not just the flesh and blood type. His Harley Davidson Heritage Softail produces about 60, perhaps not shire horses but plenty enough to take Elena out for a spin. I asked why he doesn´t get a fast bike like a Honda or Kawasaki? well apparently he would rather push his Harley than ride a Japanese piece of s--t! end of discussion.
Strange eh?
Strange eh?
Florida Houses
I was fascinated to see that most houses in Florida are timber framed, which seems odd in a major hurricane belt where solid steel-reinforced conctete structures like in Spain would seem more appropriate. Homestead for example suffered a direct hit from Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which at the time was the costliest hurricane in United States history. Strangely, while my sister Jan´s single storey house was virtually destroyed (with her in it!), my other sister Kath & Russ´s three-storey house just a couple of miles down the road was virtually unscathed! I don´t get it?
I post a couple of shots of Kath & Russ´s house because it is such a beautiful home. Everything about it, from the pitch of the roof to the shuttered Georgian style windows is nicely proportioned. The set-back South wing with a gabled window and large stone chimney perfectly balances the impressive front main fascia, and a delightful path with red-brick steps up to the portico´ed front door creates a feeling of achitectural harmony. See for yourselves.
I post a couple of shots of Kath & Russ´s house because it is such a beautiful home. Everything about it, from the pitch of the roof to the shuttered Georgian style windows is nicely proportioned. The set-back South wing with a gabled window and large stone chimney perfectly balances the impressive front main fascia, and a delightful path with red-brick steps up to the portico´ed front door creates a feeling of achitectural harmony. See for yourselves.
The Gates residence, (Kaths house) survived the hurricane
Gates Residence (rear)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - archilochus colubris
The family can enjoy watching Hummingbirds from their kitchen window as they flit between red flame-flowered bushes and the branches of an oak tree in the back garden.
Hummingbirds consume at least half their own bodyweight in nectar every day to replace the staggering 12,000 or so calories that they expend.
Hummingbirds consume at least half their own bodyweight in nectar every day to replace the staggering 12,000 or so calories that they expend.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - archilochus colubris
They are particularly attracted to red flowers and will investigate red objects such as plant labels or red clothing on gardeners. They have little or no sense of smell, relying solely upon colour to find their food sources.
Why do hummingbirds hum? - because they don´t know the words.
Why do hummingbirds hum? - because they don´t know the words.
