Rural Mail

This row of boxes reminded me our postal system is struggling with a deficit that means service will be cut whether we like it or not. Banks must endure but the post, well, that's another matter.


Seeing those little boxes lined up is a reminder of the reach of civilization in the furthest corners of the Homeland, so zealously guarded and so insouciantly allowed to decay.


The mails are out there in the open, untouchable by convention except by their owners, who live secreted away behind fearsome signs.


I shall miss the postal service if it should die off completely before I fall off my perch. But I do hope the afterlife will spare me the sight of any more grumpy No Trespassing commands.


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Two Views At Dusk

I saw these pelicans roosting on the wires and I liked their silhouette.


Later I was trundling the car down a dirt road in the Big Pine wilderness.


Looking at the pictures later I noticed the juxtaposition of nature and human interference. It struck me the birds were on wires not branches, while I was wrecking the all natural sunset by driving my car through the bush. It was a conundrum that momentarily fuddled my brain. Without human interference none of it would be seen, which means...whatever. I got too deep in my own head and decided to stop thinking and just enjoy the pretty colors instead.




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Winter Joy

I have been reintroducing my dog to the backwoods of the Lower Keys where I live. It's a seasonal thing in a place where seasons are suggestions vaguely indicated by increased humidity and mosquitoes or cooler temperatures and less rain.


Cheyenne rejected all attempts at exploring Old State Road 939 on Sugarloaf Key during the summer. Frankly this suited me just fine as mosquitoes out jeer blanket every living moving breathing thing, including me. But now at last my furry dog can breathe and winter's modest chill excites her desire to explore.


Just looking at the pictures it's hard to discern the temperature but it was shirtsleeve weather when we were there.


As Key West fills with people as winter deepens I like to retreat to these trails away from the crowds of downtown visitors. And as naturally as they come the crowds thin and Cheyenne prefers her walks in town where, with less effort she gets to sniff more in summer. Back and forth goes the cycle.

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Key Deer Stag

When on No Name Key I almost always see the diminutive white tailed deer wandering the edges of Watson Boulevard.


This young stud did me the rare favor of stopping, standing and posing. I never expected such cooperation.


Perhaps he has a hankering to go into pictures.


This would make a nice Facebook portrait if I could locate him again. If you visit the Keys and want to show a visitor a Key Deer, No Name's main drag is the spot. Then there's the No Name Pub on neighboring Big Pine Key for fish and chips and Yuengling.



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A Rainy Interruption

I was hanging out with Chuck of Old Town Blog fame, at his house when our outdoor ruminations were...rudely interrupted, by the weather.


The downpour was sudden and powerful.


It transformed a cloudy afternoon into a summer tempest.


Everything got a thorough drenching, including Chuck's new/old Volkswagen Bug, under refurbishment for Pauline's driving pleasure.


Chuck the engineer does like his projects and the 650 BSA, waiting for a bearing, got a nice washing.


Cheyenne is not fond of rain and she let me know.


Chuck's retreat suddenly seemed snug and cozy and wintery.


Visitors don't let a little rain, or even a lot, get them down.








A damp shiny clean street.


Rain free at last. It went as suddenly as it had come, in a span of twenty wet minutes.

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