Po'Boys, Hot Chicken Wings, Fried Rice & Taxes

T & D Po'Boys and H & R Block are holding down the fort at Mobile Hwy and Edison Dr. I do my own taxes, which, according to Louis Tully, you know you shouldn't do, and I haven't tried T & D's yet so this isn't a normal stop for me but I just had to stop last night. It was long past supper time and I was so hungry, the signage looked good enough to eat.

(click to enlarge)

Can We Buy You A Drink?

Earlier this evening I came out of the Starbucks in Gulf Breeze to find a man sitting alone at a table, grinning broadly and talking to himself. With no cell phone. My first thought was, "Where is my camera?" My second thought was, "You can't invade his privacy like that." We agreed. But as I walked to my van I saw what I assume was his bike with a two by four strapped across the handle bars, holding shopping bags filled with various, random objects. Now I had to have the photo but was instantly rattled, split between my need to record the moment and my fear of what his reaction might be, to knowing, on some level, it was somehow wrong. But I was still curious about the difference between his behavior and his well-kept appearance, the brand new bike and the shopping bags with the board carefully cut to a particular length. It all asked for some reflection: it will reach record low temperatures tonight, where will he be once the sun goes down in this affluent town? Why am I not alone, rooted to a chair in front of Starbucks, seemingly lost on one of the coldest of nights? It's interesting that I was more nervous about all of this than he was, one of the more common side-effects of street photography.

Okay, Maybe I Exaggerated A Leetle Beet...

It didn't get down into the teens last night, just 26° F. We don't hit the teens until Friday. The day after it rains. I don't imagine I'll be going anywhere that day.

The birds may not mind skating on thin ice but I do.

Last night I loaded up their feeders and hung out the suet but today I haven't had much luck photographing them drinking or eating...

just silently protesting their harsh living and working conditions.

Baby, it's cold out there - for Florida.

Yes, We Have No Bananas Today

If you don't hear from me tomorrow it may be because the temperature is going down into the teens tonight (in farenheit terms, that's cold!), which is down from the twenties we saw last night. It does happen in this part of Florida, not often, but when it does we experience power outages so we may be huddled up with the dog, the cats, and each other for a time, waiting until all systems are "Go!" again.

Our banana trees went from this....

To this. Brrrrrr.

I took the photograph quickly, near dark. I imagine that by tomorrow morning they could very well be melted...

By Native Hands: An Exhibition At The Pensacola Museum Of Art : Part II

This is the second half of my visit to the Pensacola Museum of Art's exhibit on Native American woven pieces. You can see the first half here.

I think I should tell you that blogger doesn't have a lot of affection for for shades of deep red, coral, etc, so it's hard to convey the intensity of this plaque, just trust me when I say that it is as visually intense as you might imagine, made from bird feathers of the brightest hues.

I did get the information for this first piece but not for the second. You can find the companion book for the exhibit on Amazon and read the description for an overview of all the elements of the collection.

I don't know what this object is, a bag I'm guessing, and I think it's made from whole, twisted plant fibers, not thread/yarn. Click on the close-up and see what you think.

I would have given anything to be able to open up the cases in order to get a whiff of their plant aromas. I'm sure they're heavenly.

Welcome, Welcome, Welcome Sunday

I was going to post the second half of my museum visit but then I thought I would do a belated New Year's post for my Sunday meme first, so, here goes:

There is a saying that anything difficult is simple to explain but that anything simple is difficult to explain. Whenever I consider this I'm often reminded of a daily practice of mine, Centering Prayer. It's so very simple to do but equally difficult to explain, as is its spiritual twin, The Welcoming Prayer. For me, this is especially true when I'm practicing either of them during times of stress and distress.

The Welcoming Prayer

(Gently become aware of your body and
your interior state.)

Welcome, welcome, welcome.
I welcome everything that comes to me in this moment
because I know it is for my healing.
I welcome all thoughts, feelings, emotions,
persons, situations and conditions.
I let go of my desire for security.
I let go of my desire for approval.
I let go of my desire for control.
I let go of my desire to change any
situation, condition,
person, or myself.
I open to the
love and presence of God
and
the healing action and grace within.
––– Mary Mrozowski 1925-1993

I can't explain it but my only New Year's resolution for 2010 is to use The Welcoming Prayer more often and my own will less, something I find exceedingly simple to declare, but so difficult to employ in faith.

I think this past year has been extra-ordinary for so many, possibly even scary for some. I offer this prayer and hope that peace will be with all of us this New Year, whatever our circumstances. Welcome, welcome, welcome...

By Native Hands: An Exhibition At The Pensacola Museum Of Art : Part 1

I photographed these pieces in the exhibit on my way out of the Michael Brant DeMaria performance I posted about previously. I don't have the details on each of them but I think they're pretty special.

Some of the pieces are over a hundred years old and feature a variety of materials to achieve their particular function and aesthetic appeal.

Tomorrow I'll show you some flat weaving and a sublime plaque made from bird feathers.

The Lauren Rogers Museum is in Laurel, Mississippi.