Rolling Patriotism

Spotted this bold, patriotic message in a parking lot. I didn't have my DSLR with me, but, fortunately, a SDP staff member was on hand to offer their phone camera. Hear! Hear!! Honk...clap...sing for America. Now, let's knuckle down and resolve the national debt issue.

#400

For the 400th post of Sarasota Daily Photo, we give you the other side of Sarasota. A short drive from the pristine beaches, sidewalk cafes and cultural arts events, you'll find open country with horses grazing -- and even a shetland pony. It's nice to have both worlds so easily accessible.

Tern

Question: Is this a Least Tern or a Royal Tern? For the SDP staff, the least of our worries should be bird identification; however, occasionally it's a royal pain. I would hate for things to take an ugly turn and for staff to misidentify this feathered creature...but, I'm not 100% sure. I suspect it's a Royal, though.  These are the burning issues which are debated ad nauseam at the SDP Headquarters. By the way, this cute fellow was spotted soaring over Sarasota Bay near Ken Thompson Park.

Creepy Crabs

I was strolling along the beach yesterday looking for seabirds to shoot (with my camera, of course), when I heard leaves rustling as I walked by a tree. Correction: I thought it was the sound of leaves rustling. Much to my surprise, the sound was coming from hundreds (if not thousands) of little crabs as they scurried over the sand and seaweed away from my feet. To see that many crabs, scooting sideways --- some of them with their itty bitty claws defensively positioned in front of their little eyes --- is a little creepy. They were still at it when I walked by on my return trip: whooosh....whoosh. ((creepy))

Sizzlin' Stroll

It was 93 degrees at 5:30 p.m. and these folks were enjoying a stroll along Sarasota Bay at Ken Thompson Park.  Me?  I snapped this shot and scampered into the cool, refreshing air conditioning.

Outta the Nest

This osprey decided to stay close to home during its hunting expedition late yesterday afternoon. See the brown blob on the satellite dish in the background? That's home sweet home. But, it opted for the tippy top of a nearby sailboat mast to perch and monitor Sarasota Bay for dinner.

Curtain of Moss

If there's Spanish moss nearby and I have my camera, chances are pretty good I'm going to take a shot or two, especially if I'm in the country and the light is halfway decent.  I like how this curtain of moss is blowing to the side to reveal the oncoming truck barreling down the road.

Dinner Time

"Hey, you probably don't look very good when you're eating either." - Sarasota Cow

Hint of Hope

Usually, when I see a battered old door like this, I just imagine what the photo would look like. Well, last night, I couldn't resist taking a picture. I actually was photographing a nearby horse paddock and cow pasture in rural Sarasota County, when I noticed this door across the road. The green plant flowering next to the blown out windows and peeling paint sold me. **click**

Creepin' Back Up

When I posted this photo last month, the entire SDP staff was cautiously optimistic that gasoline prices were dropping. Well, so much for that. Prices are creeping back up. While we're continuing to document prices at the same gas station each month, prices at some nearby stations are 10-cents higher. (To see the vacillating prices over the past several months follow the gas prices label below.) So, what do you think...will prices continue to go up by August?

Super Soarer

Ever take a photo and you're not too sure you like it....but, then, the more you look at it, the more you like it? This is one of those for me. I snapped this guy soaring over Ken Thompson Park in Sarasota. At first, I really didn't like the busy background with the palm tree. But, now, that's one of the aspects of the picture that I really like. Just goes to show, it's better to pause before hitting the 'ol delete button.

Pier Pleasure

The Anna Maria City Pier turned 100 years old a couple of months ago. It's a slice of old Florida, just a short drive from Sarasota, with a restaurant and a corner bar at the end. It juts into Tampa Bay and usually you'll find plenty of locals fishing for mackeral or whatever else is biting. What I really like is that there aren't any guardrails blocking the view on the backside of the building. So, be careful when reelin' in the Big One or sippin' a few cool beverages on a hot day like today.

Bagged

After 6-weeks of having parking meters operational in downtown, the City Commission literally bagged the program -- at least until October, when seasonal business usually picks up.  When I posted this photo, I had planned on waiting a couple of months before providing an update on how the program was being received. Gosh....you haven't even seen the meters.  Well, stay tuned for a meter update in October.  Will they stay or will they go?

White Ibis

I just love the piercing blue eyes of the white ibis. It's said that the white ibis is the first bird to return to an area immediately following a hurricane, thus, supposedly that's why the University of Miami Hurricanes have one as their mascot. On to other news...over the next few months, the SDP staff is going to be emphasizing the 'mostly' in Sarasota (mostly) Daily Photo. We're working on a huge (read: HUGE...big...really big) project and will do our best to stay in touch at least every other day or so.

Independence Day

The SDP staff is back...and just in time to celebrate the nation's 235th birthday! (Insert noisemaker sound here.) While many people will be enjoying parades, picnics and fireworks throughout the U.S. today, Uncle Sam Manatee will be keeping an eye on this mailbox (in festive attire) until mail delivery resumes tomorrow.