Various News

This story is about an Antiquarian book fair in Frankfurt, Germany.  I love old books and have been collecting them for years, but not based on worth, but interest to me.  Some of the little known titles of Christian works from the 1800's go for pennies, and I'm not talking about reprints. 

I find this portion interesting:

"But even in the musty sanctuary of the antique book tent, there is no escape from the subject of digitalisation and ebooks that has so dominated the 62nd edition of the fair.

Dan Burnstone, from ProQuest, is trying to do exactly that. His company has launched a project that aims to get all early European books printed between 1475 and 1700 online.

"We don't know how many books we are ultimately dealing with, but we think it's something like one million," said Burnstone during a high-tech presentation in the main fair halls.

"Our plan is to digitalise the holdings of several European libraries over several years."

More digital book news.  Google already has a huge selection of ebooks online, and now Microsoft is getting in the business.

Is it real or is it a forgery?  Remember the James, son of Joseph brother of Jesus ossuary?  The jury is still out as to whether this is authentic or not.  Even if it were ancient, Jesus' name is Greek-i-cized in the New Testament.  Jesus was really called "Joshua" or "Yeshua" and that was a very common name, as was Joseph and James.  In other words, it doesn't prove a thing one way or the other.  But it is fun to think this could be James of the New Testament. 

This is scary.  If you can't stay at New York City's Waldorf-Astoria without worrying about bedbugs, where CAN you stay?  What is this resurgence of such a nasty organism?  Makes you want to stay home.

Speaking of the insect world, perhaps a temporary marriage between the Army and bee scientists has finally reaped results regarding bee colony collapse disorder.  I see very few bees these days in sunny South Florida and I have a butterfly garden with lots of flowers.  It's disconcerting to say the least.

Just Thinking

Sometimes I philosophize, although the internet has one definition for this word, "speculate or theorize about fundamental or serious issues, esp. in a tedious or pompous way."  I hope I am not pompous and not too tedious.

Anyway,  mankind in general gets in trouble when they are young.  Deep, right?  Think about it.  Men have loads of testosterone and the healthy bodies to carry them wherever that testosterone leads, whether to war or lust or ambition.   Because we have a soul whose clock naturally thinks in terms of it being "now" forever, we think we will live forever.  It is not a conscious thought, but rather an unconscious one.  The conscious acknowledgement of death, usually when we are children and a pet or a relative dies, is traumatic.  The quick child immediately connects the dots about death and finds the line ending at self.

But that is conscious.  Youth, in general, in healthy people (which is much more common in this century than in past ones) brings the peak of living.  Everything is new, and those who are attractive have the added bonus - or handicap - of their beauty. 

So I've been thinking about where all the sex and blood letting and heartache and pain in the human race begins - and it begins with puberty and ends with old age.  Maybe even ends with middle age in most.  I don't see too many middle aged or old Muslims strapping bombs to themselves and trying to blow things up.  When there are riots in the Middle East, pay close attention, and you will notice that everyone is young.

It's the same with sex.  When do people have the most sex and, in these days, with the most people?  In youth. 

I've made my point.  Now carry it further.  Mankind is made for eternity, but his body is not.  He comes into life and grows into adulthood and all is well;  in fact, all may be fabulous. 

Then middle age comes.  Time inexorably passes (which has always fascinated me - time, relentless time) and the middle aged man begins to feel his own mortality.  Lets not leave women out - when I say "man", I mean humanity in general.

Young people reject the idea of God as foolish.  They don't need no stinkin' God.  Middle aged people begin to wonder if there's a God and, if it hasn't happened already, become pissed off that He isn't managing things better.  Or they continue to live life as fast as they can, trying to run ahead of the Grim Reaper.  Silly mankind.  Think of all those mid-life crises.  The men who turn in the old broad for a young filly.  The women who spend thousands of dollars on body surgery in a desperate attempt to hold onto their youthful beauty.

By the time people are old, you'd think they'd be trying to find God, since they are going to be meeting Him rather soon.  I'm not sure that happens, but if I were approaching my death - as we all really are - I'd give a lot more thought to the afterlife - is there one, is there a God and who is He? 

Isn't it funny how young people live as if their bodies are eternal, and yet, we don't see anyone from, say, 1860 around anywhere, do we?  Why not?  They're all gone, every last one, no matter how long he lived, he's gone by now.  We, too, will all pass eventually - and everything we think we own and the world that "belongs" to us, our homes, cars, family, ets. - will all either pass on, too - or will become someone elses. 

Isn't that a happy thought for Friday?  Since I believe in God and I've narrowed that further down to belief in Jesus Christ as Savior/Messiah, I have the Bible and how history has borne out the Biblical text, to comfort me in my mortality.   The rest of mankind?  I don't know how they make it through the day.

Found Treasure

I've just read a story that has caught my imagination and makes me want to travel to Paris poste-haste to research the life and history of Marthe de Florian, who was 24 years old in 1898. 

The story is as follows:

In June 2010, the granddaughter of Marthe de Florian died at age 91.  Her heirs called in some professionals to find and enumerate all her property, among which was an apartment in Paris for which the "rent" (perhaps taxes or something like a maintenance fee, since the apartment was owned by the family) was paid every month and was up to date.  When the estate managers entered the apartment, they discovered it had not been unlocked for over 70 years.  Everything was as it had been left.  Marthe de Florian's granddaughter had gone to the South of France just before WWII and had never returned, although her estate kept the property payments up to date. 

Evidently, Marthe de Florian left the apartment to her descendants, who kept it as it was when she lived there in the 1890's.

Can you imagine the magic of the moment of opening that door for the first time in 70 years???  The apartment was magnificent and reflected the haute couture of Paris in the 1890's.

Marthe de Florian was a rich demimondaine or coquette (lovely words for a group of upper-class people who lived a pleasure-seeking lifestyle.  Women, especially, did not abstain from sex before marriage and they did not stay sexually loyal to their husbands once married.) 

Marthe lived in Paris in the 9th arrondissement, between the Pigalle red light district and Opera, near the Trinite church.  This is what that area looks like on Google Earth - to the right is the Trinite Church. I could easily picture the type of apartment that Marthe had as being in this area.

Here is another view of the buildings in that area, the area where Marthe de Florian would have lived in 1898.

Here are some pictures in the news of the apartment shortly after it was entered for the first time in 70 years:

The painting is the big news.  It was painted by Italian artist Giovanni Boldini in 1898.  Boldini was born in the Northern Italian city of Ferrara in 1842 and moved to Paris in 1871.  He painted many famous women, all in similar clothes, it would seem.  If you Google his name in "Images", many portraits similar to Ms. de Florian's appear.  It is a beautiful painting, however.  Art experts thought it was one that had never been heard of until they researched the archives of Boldini's widow who recorded the painting in 1951. 

It seems Ms. de Florian "entertained" her "admirers" in this apartment in the 1890's, among them Boldini.  Visiting cards from admirers, specifically Boldini, with a love note penned on the back were found tucked away in various drawers.  Marthe was also "admired" by Georges Clemenceau, Prime Minister of France from 1906 to 1909. 

The love letters she received from her many suitors were wrapped in separate packages and neatly tied with different colored ribbons. 

Just look at the pictures above and imagine.  The wallpaper is lovely, the high ceilings, the gold drapes, the huge mirror.  The vanity in the rear of the photo in the corner is breathtaking. 

Just look at the closeup of this piece of furniture.  There is a table to the left that hold a candelabra, candles of various heights, indicating use, on top.  I love the sun slanting in the window on the carpet.  I think the windows must have been shaded, otherwise there would be a faded spot on the carpet from the suns of three quarters of a century. 

What is amazing is that no one ever wondered who lived there, looked up from the street and noticed the shuttered windows - or perhaps they did and just moved on.  Imagine Hitler's armies marching into Paris in 1941 underneath that window.  I think of all the Jews looking for hiding places during the war - that one would have been perfect.  It's like a time capsule back to the 1890's - all the furniture, decoration, belongings.  The Micky Mouse is more modern, however - probably from the 20's. 

I can't find anything else about Marthe de Florian on line.  Every instance of her name is just the same news article about the painting being found in the unopened apartment.  But I'll keep searching - I know someone is going to pick up on this story and do further research.

Here is the news story so you can read it for yourself



We No Speak Americano

I found this video on Youtube and was instantly mesmerized by the complicated routine of the drumming duo as well as the old sounding Italian music:

I was so intrigued by the music and the beat that I looked further to find out more about it.  It is an outtake from a 1950's Italian song, performed by the original band below, as well as a version of it performed by Sofia Loren in "It Started in Naples"

Here's an article about the male and female drumming performers - Suzanne Cleary and Peter Harding.  Evidently, they call themselves, "hand dancers" and have performed on stage in Irish style dance productions.

This is their background - evidently they can dance for real, not just with their hands - she is beautiful and she looks Italian.


Here's a charming video of the modern version of the song made to appear like a silent film:

My favorite? Really? The original - it's more melodic, less repetitive and techno. My 2nd favorite? The one with the woman and man drumming on the table - their beat is better than the techno beat.

Whatever - I LOVE LOVE this song!! It's so up! It is an example of how American pop music, specifically rock 'n roll, was imitated in post WWII Europe. The war was over! Let's be HAPPY!! Rock and roll, baby - American cars, cigarettes, music and movies.

I think I'll scroll up and listen again. I'm definitely going to look more into the European (the modern version of the song is by Yoland Be Cool - a male duo in Australia) pop.

A couple of years ago I was crazy about this song, and I consequently bought the CD, which is GREAT to clean house to - you cannot HELP but move:

Not Politics As Usual

I notice that the Republicans are ramping up their promises to do things differently than the Democrats have done in the past year or so.

I'm SO over politics as usual.  I'm appalled at the so-called Democrats, who are Socialists and who are, it appears, actively trying to change the very nature of what the United States is, regardless of what the founding documents say.

But I'm not turning to the Republicans as the option or the solution.  By no means.  They are both 2 sides of the same coin.  And the coin is bad.

I'm looking for real change - for average citizens to stand up and run for office. In some cases, unknowns are coming on the scene and winning attention and enthusiasm. 

I will not be voting Republican OR Democrat when it's time to vote again.  I will be voting for non-political candidates, if any exist.  I refuse to vote any longer for the "lesser of two evils".  No more.

Just saying.  Anyone else on the same page?

Chit Chat and Other Things

I almost had a post up the other day, but Blogger wouldn't cooperate and I gave up and moved to something else.

Today felt a little bit like fall down here in the Tropics.  Since Hurricane Earl is about 500 miles to the east of us, it is pleasantly windy here and all the moisture and humidity is being sucked up by Earl, leaving us feeling more refreshed than we've felt in months.  

Because of the beautiful, breezy and sunny afternoon, I decided I'd read outside - something that just wasn't possible for the last 2 months at least.  The only problem with that idea is that, as soon as I'm outside, I can't help but notice all the overgrown bushes that need to be trimmed, the weeds to be pulled, the raised bed to be set in place for fall veggie planting, etc. etc. etc. ad nauseum.  Do any of you out there have the same problem?  You think to yourself, "I'll relax for a while.  I just got home from working 7 hours at my day job, and I'll just kick back and read for a while in this nice fresh air."  Plus, for some reason, I absolutely could not sleep more than half an hour at a time last night.  I woke up constantly, couldn't get comfortable, then the cat would jump on the bed and want to cuddle, every noise was like nails on a blackboard - so I got very little sleep.  Even so, just "taking it easy" never works for me.  I just cannot sit there and do nothing when the entire yard is screaming, "Hey I'm your favorite flower and there's no sun getting to me - Help!!"  "Don't you want ME to grow big and strong and bring in lots of butterflies?" says another plant that is prone to blocking the sun from smaller, more diminutive, less extravagant growers.  I look around and think maybe the Long Winged Zebra butterflies aren't as numerous as they were - perhaps there aren't enough places for them to sleep at night.  I positively can hear the bluejays, who, upon seeing me in the yard, set up a racket begging for peanuts because I've spoiled them so.  They practically hop right up to me and yell at me.  

I read a few paragraphs and then hear skittering in the grass.  I look up and it's the final straw.  A teenage squirrel has approached me carefully with the sweetest look on his little face, just as cute as can be - and I give up.  I get up to bring out the peanuts.  

Once I give in to the peanuts, it's downhill from there.  Next, I grab the gardening gloves and the bush cutting tool.  I'm gearing up to something I've wanted to do for ages, but am always scared.  There is a carrotbush, a.k.a. weed, tree in our back yard against the fence.  I haven't cut it down because I love trees, but trying to keep a balance between all the bushes, vines and trees, attempting to keep them from invading each other's space, is an endless battle in a tropical climate where there is never frost. 

My husband usually does these jobs, but he hates working outdoors, he works over 10 hours a day and can only do things on the weekends, it's been crazy at his job lately so weekends are for rest for him......so I who LOVE to work outside have been dying to get the chain saw out by myself - carefully, mind you - and take care of what needs to be done.  If I asked him beforehand he would not want me to do this, but it needs to be done, I'm home, it's a lovely afternoon - and so......

I opened the garage, and got out the chain saw and the long extension cords.  Next, I carried the nice steel ladder to the tree in question and made sure it was anchored firmly against the trunk.  I kept the safety on the chain saw and climbed the ladder very cafefully.  Don't worry - this story ends just fine.  I was able to climb up pretty far and trim a few big branches that have been blocking the sun from butterfly vines.  There were some higher up, but I could not reach them and I'm not crazy.  No matter how badly I wanted to cut them, I didn't want to fall off a 10 foot ladder holding a chain saw.  

That job completed, I carefully climbed down, feeling quite a sense of accomplishment. Next I trimmed some more bushes and branches that were just too encroaching.

The love/hate relationship I have with my purple morning glory is continuing as usual.  I cut it all the way back, pull the billion runners that cross the entire back yard (invariably hurting my back), pull up the roots, pull the Stephen King-ish vines off the bougainvillea before it gets completely buried, etc. etc. etc.  Within a month, it's back.  In the rainy season, it is absolutely creepy the way it takes over.  It's so hard to work outside here in the summer because the heat and humidity are unbearable and I'm no spring chicken.  So I let it go for a month or so - and I'm back at square one.  I was yanking 50 foot long runners today, ripping them up from the fence edges, pulling with all my might - making lassos of the pulled up "ropes".  I have to get between the bougainvillea and the fence (I have to cut branches to get back there), which never happens without lots of deep scratches and bruises, and pull up the morning glory that has rooted among the bougainvillea branches.  Bougainvillea has huge thorns all over it - so you can see why this is such a "fun" job.  That is one job that is ahead of me in the near future.  

This same thing happens to me inside my home.  I can no more sit down in a messy room and read a book in a relaxed fashion than the man in the moon.  All the while I'm trying to read, I'm conscious of the cat litter bits on the dark carpet, the fact that no one has scooped the cat litter this morning, there's dishes in the sink from the morning - and there is always the laundry piling up.  So I put the book down, get up and spend the next hour washing dishes, vacuuming the floors and rugs, scooping kittie poop, freshening their food and water - and throwing laundry in the washer.

Maybe - just maybe - I can sit down and read now.  I swear there's always something to be done - and, unless it is late in the evening and dark outside, I hear all the little jobs calling to me to get done.  

I wonder if Martha had this problem........

Coral Cove - Jupiter, FL

This Saturday, after a crazy busy week at work, we actually left our house at 6:30am  and drove the 1 hour and 30 minutes it takes (it took us longer because we stopped along the way) to get to Coral Cove Park on the Jupiter shore.

I am sure there are places along the shore there where one can enter the water on sand and gradually wade in, but I didn't find any.  This section of the Florida east coast is quite rocky.  Yes, you read that right.  There is a lot of exposed limestone here and it makes for great hiding places for beautiful fish.

One of the issues with the new underwater camera I have is that you just hold it in your hand, use the LCD screen on the back to see - and shoot.  The problem with that is, when you have on a mask and you are underwater, you can't really see the LCD screen, except to note that it is lit and things are moving across it as you swim through the water.  For this reason, I never really know if I captured the subjects I'm attempting to photograph until I get home, extract the digital photo card and look at the pictures on the computer.  Usually, I think I was more successful than it turns out in reality.

Since snorkeling is new to me at the ripe age of 54, I am entranced at the underwater magic that has unfolded before my eyes.  I used to have a fresh water aquarium for years and loved to watch the fish in the tank for hours on end, especially before going to sleep at night.  I can think of nothing more soothing.  Now, when I peek under the water, it's a whole different world, peaceful (I haven't seen any predators yet - and hopefully won't!!) and sun glinted (we don't dive or snorkel during thunderstorms....).  It is truly so beautiful that I can't get enough of it, so we shall probably be back at some beach next weekend if I can get my husband to comply.  He said today that he had never seen such beautiful fish right near shore before - and was in love with this whole new photography genre.

Without further ado, here are the shots - not the greatest - my husband (I actually let him have the camera for a few minutes!!) and I took.  My husband got fancy right away and spiraled away under the water right up to the lip of the rocks - so the good pictures are usually his.  Then hubby would surface, blow out his snorkel and continue.

Look!!  A fish I'd only previously seen in salt water aquariums!! 

Above looks like - maybe - a blow fish?  One that swells up when threatened?  I don't know - the amount I know about fish you could fit in a thimble.

I think my hubby took this one - remember to click on them to see a larger version of the photo.

He looks almost purple!  How beautiful!!

Now for bright yellow!!  I was SO thrilled to see these fish in their natural environment. 

I'm an equal opportunity photographer.  You're not a bright color?  That's ok, I'll still take your picture.

This one above is kind of pink and green. 

"She can't see me.  She can't see me.  She can't see me......"  Wrong - I got your picture, little fishy.

Ooooh - in keeping with the time of year, above is a school of fish.  Get it?  School is starting up again?  OK, so that was lame.

This little sea turtle was on the beach determinedly walking away from the water.  A family with some small elementary school age children couldn't help themselves and assisted him to the water (as I would have done had they not been there).  We all urged him on, cheered him and gave him words of love and hope as his tiny little turtle body went into the ocean.

Come on, little fella - you can make it!!  At one point, after he was in the water, I swam off.  I figured if he wasn't going to make it, the small children would be devastated.  I would be devastated - and none of us would be able to circumvent nature.  So off I swam for more fishy adventure, trusting that tiny Mr. Sea Turtle was off on a long ocean life.

Is the above a Sea Urchin?  I don't know, but I didn't try to touch it, not wanting to get stung with some life threatening poison and end up like Steve Irwin. 

Skinny, stripey fishies.

I absolutely cannot tell what the thing is in the photo above.  It looks like butterfly wings underwater.  No idea.

Mr. Fishy says "HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEKEND!!"

Photos and the Steamy Everglades

Feeling the noose of debt and age made me pretty melancholy on Friday.  The discovery that my fine plan to have all our debt paid off in about 2 1/2 years had been dealt a blow in the form of less money to dedicate to that endeavor caused me to be temporarily discouraged.  

But my husband and I put our heads together for a solution or solutions and, instead of the issue becoming one of contention, it became one of unity of purpose.  

Saturday morning we began to discuss possible solutions as we ate breakfast, and then, noticing that the day was gloriously sunny and, that everywhere there was water, it was still, reflecting the skies and clouds above it, we decided to drive out to an area of the Everglades that we have frequented for years.

When the canal builders in Florida dug through the muck to make the water flow out of the Everglades in the early 1900's, they created large embankments on either one or both sides of every canal.  These embankments have been flattened on top and paved with gravel.  Boaters and ATV riders and hunters drive on these "roads" into the heart of the Florida between the two coasts.   Years ago when our Ford pick up was a younger, more healthy vehicle, we used to take it on these roads.  We "discovered" these roads by chance, just driving further and further away from civilization and turning down whatever path we could maneuver.  I still remember the sense of adventure as we saw these areas for the first time, never having known that the gravel canal roads existed.

Over the years we have chosen one particular path through the Rotenberger and HoleyLand Wildlife Management Areas.  There are two ways to approach this same path.  From I-75 at Snake Road or from Route 27 at the Broward/Palm Beach County line.  We chose to take the I-75 entrance on Saturday, but I'm describing the entrance from the US27 entrance in the following paragraph.  My husband gives a much more detailed description of our route so that you could follow it if you so desired.

From the route 27 entrance at the Broward County/Palm Beach line there is a paved road that leads off to the west into the Everglades.  This road comes first to the HoleyLand area and then to the Rotenberger area that adjoins it farther inland.  As we drive down this road, it becomes gravel paved and we leave the land of paved roads and many cars behind.  There are sunning gators on the canal banks to our left, along with all species of water birds - egrets, herons, both blue and white, cormorants and anhingas.  We've seen otters gamboling along the gravel road as they pass from the canal water to the underbrush and marshland on the other side of the road.  There are turtles of all kinds, some sunning, some floating and, in the winter, there are migrating birds from northern climes.  The birds usually have to be coaxed by curiosity from their brushy hideouts by the studious use of "pishing", a term used by birders for the "shhhhhh" sound that seems most successful in drawing birds out to see who or what is making that noise.  

As we traverse this road we come to water management plants, giant white buildings with huge toothy obstructions across the center of the canal, allowing water to flow at a particular rate, and, in the case of flooding from hurricanes, can be opened to let water flow out freely through the canal system to the distant ocean.  Yesterday we came across no human beings until the very end of our route.  We came across some "nature enthusiasts" actually standing in the canal up to their necks sipping beer from blue cans.  As we watched, they slowly trudged up out of the water and we saw they were fully clothed.  It was indeed very hot and there is little shade in the grassy swampland, but standing in a gator and water moccasin infested canal up to one's neck, filled with beer is not my idea of an acceptable way to cool off.  I thought I would see one of them disappear in a huge splash of water at any moment, pulled under by a hungry gator.  Thank heavens that did not occur.  I know they kept their shoes on because the bottom of the canals are mucky - I would imagine in some places you could sink pretty deeply in the muck.  

Finally, after describing a rough square on a map, we come out to Interstate 75 near the Indian reservation quick store and gas station on Snake Road. (Or, if we enter from I-75, we come out on Route 27.)

It was brutally hot and steamy whenever we left the air conditioned sanctuary of our car.  However, there were many species of grasshopper, butterfly, bee, wasp and dragonfly to photograph.  We saw hawks and even one Eastern Kingbird, a kind of Flycatcher.  My favorite part of the day was watching a giant lubber grasshopper swim across an open area of water.  Both my husband and I thought sure something would grab him from underneath - a turtle or fish - and eat him, but he made it to the other side safely.  I did not know that grasshoppers could swim, but I have now seen one do so.  I did not get a picture of this activity or of the Eastern Kingbird, but my husband did.  Here is the link to his photos and description of yesterday's trip.

So, now that my lengthy lead-in diatribe is over, here are the pictures.   First, a species of dark honey bee on a Bidens Alba Radiata, commonly known as a "Beggar's Tick" flower.  This is a common South Florida weed beloved of all creatures that love pollen and nectar.  It is very "leggy" and very persistent.  I have some in my backyard, and I keep it under control, but never get rid of it completely, because it is free, grows like crazy and the butterflies and bees LOVE it.

Don't forget to click on each picture to get a bigger, better view.

Next - a dark indigo blue wasp.  He looks black when the sun doesn't shine directly on him, but what a beautiful color he is in direct sunlight!  I believe it is a blue mud wasp.

A Bachelor's Button plant.  There are yellow ones, also, but this one was the white variety. 

A closeup on the mature flower.  It looks like a pincushion. 

Next, below are two pictures of me holding a lubber grasshopper.  While many of the other grasshoppers we saw yesterday could fly and could not be easily captured without a net and a lot of speed, these lumbering creatures can be coaxed onto your hand easily, and then they don't want to leave. This one even nibbled a bit on my skin.  Perhaps he was trying to figure out what I was. 

 

 

This fellow below was so camouflaged I barely saw him and I'm convinced he believed I couldn't see him.  

 

Next is a bright green, very small grasshopper with little googly eyes.  

 

This fellow blended in with the gravel quite well.  It looks as if his head is down, and I can't quite figure out where his eyes are, but I see his antenna.

 

This fellow below was one of the flying grasshoppers.  I watched a few of them fly right alongside the car as we drove, and their wings have a bright green patch on them when they are open.  Otherwise, they are a golden honey color.  My friend here was eyeing me with suspicion.  I tried to scare him enough to get him to fly off so I could get a picture of him with his wings open, but he didn't fly away until I gave up, of course.

 

 I love this guy.  He has those cute googly eyes, too.  Nice "thigh" muscles.  The minute and detailed structure of these tiny beings is amazing to me.

 

Peek-a-boo

 

I think this dragonfly is an Eastern Pondhawk.  Up close he looks like he's trying to do "blackface" only with green lips.  This is surely a cartoon face and it just makes me laugh out loud.  

 

A beautiful green dragonfly - believe it or not - SHE is an Eastern Pondhawk female.  She looks so totally different from her blue mate!   Below her eyes are looking straight ahead.  The second picture of her shows her turning her head and casting one big eye in my direction.

 

 

I hope she'll forgive me for this "rear" view.  You can see the sun shining on her wings.

 

The next dragonfly/damselfly is called a "Rambur's Forktail" and this is the female.  She has the red "body" and green/blue "tail", while her husband is blue/green and yellow striped and not as bright as she is.   The second picture is her in flight.  You can just make out her wings like helicopter blades.

 

 

 

 Below is what I thought was a Queen butterfly, but now I think it may be a "Soldier" butterfly.  These both are Monarch lookalikes and the Queen and Soldier look almost exactly like each other.  Once again, these were gathering nectar from the common Beggar's Tick flowers that were everywhere.

 

 

The speckley betterfly below is some sort of skipper.  I could look it up, but I think I'll stick with Speckley winged.  OK - I looked it up briefly and I THINK it might be a "Grizzled Skipper".

 

Here is an unusual category.  Insects that landed on my jeans.  Even though it was unbelievably hot, I wore jeans for protection from bugs, snakes (not that they would be adequate protection against a bite, but I hope to not get close enough to any snake for that), dirt and dust.  For some reason, insects seemed to be attracted to my jeans, perhaps it was the bright indigo blue color, I don't know.  At one point I had both the Eastern Pondhawk female AND a HUGE black carpenter bee looking bug on my jeans, but I could not get a picture of the big black bug fast enough before he flew away.  Since he was on my jeans covered leg, even though he was big, I wasn't concerned.  

The first bright orangey yellow butterfly is a skipper.  Blue and yellow are complementary colors and they do look beautiful together.  I believe the name of this skipper is "Rare Skipper".  It looks as if he/she is trying to get something to eat with their proboscis, but of course my jeans will offer no sustenance.

 

 

 

 

Next, two plants that I admired.  The red flower plant is called a "Phasey Bean" and it grows in "disturbed areas".  It is native to South America.  I think it looks like a tiny orchid.

 

 

Some sort of grass that looked especially wheatlike and attractive.  It kind of looks like Sea Oats, but we were nowhere near the coast.

 

Finally, when we reached our second stop area near some grazing lands the trees and the field next to them had a large flock of cattle egrets.  As soon as we parked they got nervous and when we got out of the car, they began to fly and move to a more distant spot.  I caught the one below as he watched us and then flew from the gravel road to a safer perch.

 

 

That's it.  We were out in the Everglades for about 3 hours.  We saw some rain clouds in the distance, but it the daily thunder showers waited until we got home before they came.  It was a very peaceful and beautiful day out in nature.