Ding Darling

Carol Freshley March 10, 2018

J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Sanibel Island in Southwestern Florida. It is part of the US National Wildlife Refuge System with 230 species of birds, most of them migratory. It contains one of the country's largest mangrove ecosystems with 2. 619 protected acres. Jon and Phyllis spent 5 days photographing these marvelous birds and are sharing them with the rest of us. I feel privileged to put them on my website!

Spoonbill, young as it is still quite white.

Great Blue Heron and Double-crested Coomerant

Great Blue Heron, White Ibis and Great Egret

Mayer to Goodwin

Carol Freshley March 8, 2018

Or, this could be called the 'so-so trip'. We started out from Mayer with the idea of driving a loop in the heart of the state. We have never been to the small communities in the area and thought we would just go exploring. First off, we were not expecting the area to be recovering from what was obviously a big burn! Second, while the dirt road was pretty good as dirt roads go, it is very curvy, narrow in places, and slooooow going. The thirteen miles from Mayer to Goodwin took us over an hour and we really did not spend a lot of time with our big black noses on!! We turned around at Goodwin. We share so you can know that this part of our state is worthy of some exploration, but I would give it a few more years to develop some more trees. Most of these images are Tom's for a reason, I was driving and he was clicking. The few times we pulled over he was very productive. Enjoy.

This one valley seemed to be spared from the burn.  It is a small community and probably got some very important fire fighting protection.  It does show the vegetation that probably covered a much larger area before the fire. — This one valley seemed to be spared from the burn. It is a small community and probably got some very important fire fighting protection. It does show the vegetation that probably covered a much larger area before the fire.

This is where we made our decision to either go on or turn around.  We turned around. — This is where we made our decision to either go on or turn around. We turned around.

We all know it is not the same road hours later.  The light has changed and our expectations had changed as well. — We all know it is not the same road hours later. The light has changed and our expectations had changed as well.

One thing for sure, on a clear day you can see forever!!

Grand National Roadster Show 2018

Carol Freshley February 28, 2018

This is an annual event for Tom. It takes place on the grounds of the Fairplex in Pomona, California. This was the 69th annual show and it is the longest running indoor car show in the world.

Display of mostly tiny European cars from the past.

1935 Ford pickup customized some 50 years ago and recently restored.

Each year the top award goes to the most beautiful roadster in the show.  This is this year's winner, a 1932 Ford.  It was created first as a race car and then brought up to show condition. — Each year the top award goes to the most beautiful roadster in the show. This is this year's winner, a 1932 Ford. It was created first as a race car and then brought up to show condition.

1934 Ford roadster built in the 1940s style.

This roadster was built as a Cadillac but most of it is completely hand made.

Hot rod created from massive 1937 Lincoln.

This car has body parts from a 1929 Model A, a 1932 Ford and 1935 Ford.  Carol's comment . . . it is a mutt car. — This car has body parts from a 1929 Model A, a 1932 Ford and 1935 Ford. Carol's comment . . . it is a mutt car.

1940 Ford coupe built in early 1940s style.

This is a partially complete roadster on display in one of the builder's booths.  It has many hand made parts. — This is a partially complete roadster on display in one of the builder's booths. It has many hand made parts.

Tiny 1950 Nash Metropolitan with over-sized dragster motor.

Last year's America's Most Beautiful Roadster, built as a Packard but largely hand made.

One of the 8 finalists for Most Beautiful Roadster, a handmade Cadillac.

1932 Ford coupe designed in a late 1960s style.

Aluminum race car with chopped 1937 Ford convertible.

Lavishly painted low rider top and bottom.

An exact copy of the most famous lead sled of all time, the Hirohata Mercury.

Classic deuce three window coupe hot rod.

Stock bodied but hot rodded 1932 roadster.

Two early style low riders, known as 'bombs'.

Ardun hemi-head conversion of traditional Ford flathead motor.

Restored 1950s build was favored by most show-goers to win the top award.