LOCAL Adventures . . .

When you’re in the right frame of mind, a new day has the opportunity to be an adventure full of new experiences, potential discovery, promise. I don’t necessarily know that I was in that frame of mind today, but it ended up being that way, nonetheless.

I feel very fortunate to live in a community, in an area with wonderful possibilities. There are places I can visit again and again and again which capture my imagination, hold it, ignite it anew each time I visit. One such place is Casa Feliz.

I’ve said before that when we first moved here, maybe it was even just before, and we drove down Park Avenue and I saw it, I was certain it must be a private club open to only a select group. It’s amazing to me that it’s open each day to the public and when I have my camera along with me, I can remain captivated, taking photos for hours and hours.

I’m an enthusiastic novice photographer and now relish living in an age of digital photography, snapping photos to view later on my laptop. Photography is the simplest way anyone can become an artist. The casual observer may see one thing, but the photographer as artist looks for that unique, one of a kind view, the unexpected perspective which presents something in a new way, or as it would surely prefer to be seen. It doesn’t always present itself easily, but sometimes it’s as if you hear a little bell and know what you view later will be somehow special, worth saving, sharing.

Today was another Totally Local Tuesday and I back at one of my favorite Park Avenue spots, Bistro on Park Avenue . . . which I usually now say the Bistro in the Hidden Garden Courtyard. Yes, I tend to be in there a lot these days, as I LUV the atmosphere and I find Erika Boesch to be one of the sweetest people I know. I enjoy her energy, that she’s always telling me something new, especially now with her new Bistro Loft Shop upstairs. So, I said Totally Local Tuesday, got 10% off my lunch, and then we chatted a good bit! Some of my own photography on canvas now hangs in the Chef’s Table area at Bistro, with two new pieces, featuring Casa Feliz, dropped off today. There are also two pieces featuring the Emily fountain in Central Park.

While there today I also got a tour of her Halloween-themed Loft Shop, complete with ghosts and pumpkins and Jack-o-lanterns galore. Erika also had to show me CAT NUMBER 5 on her phone, a new kitten she came by after someone she knew FOUND KITTENS ABANDONED BESIDE THE ROAD somewhere locally. Such makes my blood pressure vault skyward, yet it’s wonderful to see a happy ending . . . or, perhaps, better, a happy new beginning. Oh, and you know my passion for Owls! Well, she’s got LOTS of them. AND, she just scheduled the BIGGEST Owl in town, Parker, for some time during next weekend’s Winter Park Autumn Arts Festival. Watch out Park Avenue!

Yes, in case you do not know, I am ALWAYS interested in ANYTHING which could fall under the category of celebrating the Local area. Owls are in that mix, as well as anything to do with peacocks. While on Park Avenue today I also delivered a pink with red I LUV Winter Park heart original design t-shirt to one of the recent contest winners, Sandy Giacalone, who met me at Downeast. When I got there she was wrapping up some shopping, and proceeded to tell me about an upcoming Pink Out photo shoot in which she’ll be sporting her new T and a feather boa. If you’re my facebook friend you’ll be seeing it, cause she’s promised to tag me! On the theme of owls and peacocks, in addition to some cool peacock jewelry, they’ve also got some great new peacock cocktail napkins. Can you have enough peacock stuff? Nah.

On the subject of contests . . . one of the contests I do most often on facebook is called: WHAT? WHERE? WIN! I take a Local photograph and I piece it together one small piece at a time. I knew it was going to happen at some point, and finally, this week I provided a full photograph which has stumped ‘em! So, today I was also out taking NEAR BY photos to provide some hints. If you like contests, ‘LIKE’ the page on facebook and let’s get going. I’m likely to launch a new A FAR MAN GUN: Anagram Fun contest in a few days, as well.

When I do this blog or most anything else I will tell you I strive to stay POSITIVE. There’s enough griping in the world about any subject you can name. I so want what I do on all levels to be a positive for the community. So, while I may celebrate certain aspects of weighty topics, I don’t usual trudge in with my waders on!

I don’t know that this is at all controversial, but you never really know for sure. But because I’ve heard some comments now a few times from others, I’m curious what a broader group might think.

Again, the first time this ever came up in a discussion I was involved in was last year. I do not have children, never have and surely never will. So, when it comes to most things related to them, I can plead ignorance, sweet oblivion! Not knowing something can, well, you know the saying . . . ignorance is bliss. If you asked my partner if he has any children I’m quite sure he’d say no at first, then correct it, looking at me, and change it to ONE, one big one.

But because I have no children, I've had no real reason to see the world or anything else through the eyes of those who do. So, back to the comments I heard last year and then again recently. They pertained to the kid-friendliness of Park Avenue. Again, I’d never given such a lot of thought, but once it was voiced, I did think back to my own childhood. There are now some delightful kid-friendly shops, including Peterbrooke Chocolatier and Sassafras Sweet Shoppe, a few children's clothing stores, but as one parent expressed to me, not much else. On the flip side, I had a parent today enthusiastically recount times with her children by the Emily fountain, children chasing leaves, floating them in the fountain, interacting with animals and people along the Avenue and more.

So, just as a general matter of discussion, for the people who know far better than I, is Park Avenue a kid-friendly place? As my friend messaged me earlier very enthusiastically: “FIRST of all, I am not one of those people who thinks that the world needs to revolve around kids. Park Ave doesn't NEED anything specifically geared for children--it is a wonderful place to take them anyway.”

But a swing? I think back to park settings I LUVed as a kid . . . there was one of those things you ran round and round in circles, then hopped on, found yourself extraordinarily dizzy afterward. Are those passé now? Too much litigation, a waiver needed to ride? I don’t know. Perhaps this is a non-issue except for a few I've spoken with.

But as I have no children and have heard comments from others who do, I’m simply floating the subject for commentary from anyone with an opinion. I'm not someone who might benefit directly from any potential changes, whatever they might be, but I believe discussion can't hurt if there are more who feel similarly. So, discuss among yourselves and get back to me. I am curious what about opinions.

Lastly tonight . . . Let's try to Give A Dog A Home! Jake, from Pet Rescue by Judy, is a Great Dane/Coonhound mix that is in need of a new home. He is a very sweet boy, but can be strong willed so he needs an owner who is comfortable playing the alpha role and setting boundaries for him. He loves people and is good with kids. Jake gets along great with medium and large size dogs (40 lbs. and up) but cannot be around cats or small dogs as he has a high prey drive. Find out more about Jake and other available animals on the Pet Rescue by Judy website.