Tidying Up

Until yesterday I thought the trunks of palm trees had notched bark like the one below -- that this was their natural state. Then I saw a truckload of palm branches roll by. Ah, all those palms take major work and have to be tidied up. When they are cut off, the bark looks notched all the way up. If they aren't fixed up, they'll end up looking like the young palms trees below.

Today at the untamed wilderness of Pinellas County Park.

              And outside our condo.

At our second jaunt into St. Pete's and the Museum of Fine Arts, we found a palm tree completely encased in aluminum foil.  It is, apparently, a work of art, an outdoor sculptural installation called "Curiosity." 

The MFA says, "Artist Piotr Janowski brilliantly captures the unique light of Florida while also drawing attentioin to the complex forms of natural vegetation." 

I say that art comes in many forms. Janowski has also covered his whole home in aluminum foil. The name of this piece of art (below) is (inventively) his street address in Tarpon Springs. "Different strokes for different folks, " as the saying goes."

        Opening windows would be a challenge.

The Guerilla Girls

The Guerilla Girls are exhibiting in Marks Made: Prints by American Women Artists from the 1960s to the Present, an MFA exhibition celebrating the pivotal role women have played in contemporary American printmaking. Printmaking intensely collaborative between artist and printer. It is also very physical needing strength, stamina, and technical prowess.

We fly home tomorrow morning and so have been tidying up around here too. Being on this long Florida Island south of Clearwater was a wonderful sequel to the island of Florianopolis and after these weeks away, home will seem strange. It was fun posting and I'm looking forward to seeing you again at the end of February when we leave for three weeks in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Until then, enjoy a wonderful Christmas. We've just heard from our daughter, Susan, that Nelson's Whitewater Ski Resort has a base of 200 cm. and is officially open. I see from Environment Canada that we don't have even a flake of snow at home and there won't be skating on the Rideau this year. So Ontarians will have to dream of a white Christmas.

Bob and I are sending you wishes for a happy holiday season with your friends and family -- wishes for lots of enjoyment, fun and laughter and the time to rest and relax.

Lynda

Photo by Brian Noppe    noppephoto.com