This house fit into no single essay with it's classic Key West attributes of white paint, tin roof, contrasting shutters and shiny green palms. It seemed a pity to toss this picture out. On Margaret Street I think.
A cyclist heading west from the cemetery with a huge hand warmer (or yoga mat more likely) on the handlebars. A day of 60/15 is cold in Key West, even in midwinter.
The always lovely Dade Pine valued for it's resistance to rot in the 19th century, so much so they cut it all down in Dade County and had to go to the Panhandle to find more. You'd be hard pressed to find a Miami home made of this stuff (not impossible- just very difficult). It's not uncommon in Key West though you will find occasional ill advised attempt to paint the stuff.
A valiant attempt at a cheap fix for an old timer. I sometimes tend to forget that old homes are a rarity in many places across the US, then I see tourists gawping and I reminded why these are here, because they were forgotten for a while, saved from destruction almost by accident and here they still are, still lived in and on display as it were by the side of the streets. 
Did I mention how everyone is talking about how cold and prolonged this winter has been and still is. Check out this Pacific Northwest style of living, most unsuitable (normally) for the Southernmost City.
Ooh look! A palm tree!
People who walk their dogs are terrified of letting their animals sniff Cheyenne so they hurry away when they see us come bumbling along. I'd like to tell them dogs get along much better than their owners. Dogs are smart.
Bahama shutters, banana palms and more of that blue sky the rest of the country comes down to see.
7 comments:
Dear Sir:
This blog was a delightful focus on the details of Key West architecture and the best elements of what makes your island home so distnctive.
I must tell you, however, that I am losing my patience with these hot house tomatoes who are wearing arctic dog-sledding gear to handle 60-degree temperatures. If I were there, I'd be arrested for slapping the shit out of them. The temperature here hit 53ยบ yesterday. The driveway was wet with snow melt and I was standing in it in my bare feet, wearing a tee shirt.
The snow is receeding in the garden. Yet 75% of the yard is still snow-covered to a depth of sic inches in many places.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
I am glad you are back all full of piss and vinegar, though it might surprise you to see what a geriatric ward Key West is these days. of three of us working last night all three were coughing and spluttering. Callers were reduced to asking me if I was okay as I hacked and gasped into the phone. Tonight my colleague says she is getting her dose of tonsilitis...
I've been reading your blog all winter to keep warm. So, it makes me laugh to see Conchs in parkas.
I read some article about the crops in South Florida recently and apparently it's the coldest winter in 60 years. The conchs truly are suffering.
I know it seems pathetic but the number of people coughing and hacking and getting fevers is astonishing. I think I may be working alone tomorrow night. That would be a trick.
Dear Shirley:
It's like you guys are Fiji islanders who just met the first poxy British jolly Jack Tars. Are you getting the "flux" from the human Q-Tips getting off the cruise ships?
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
New Twisted Roads Posted Today
Post a Comment