Smiling Sally: August 2012

Monday, August 27, 2012

Blue Monday - Elephants Surround Us!

Welcome! It's Blue Monday! For instructions, just click here.

***Today's pictures were taken last week, before Isaac began to show his ugly self. Don't worry about us, though; we might get wet, but we're hurricane proof!***

Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links and wishing them a Happy Blue Monday!
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Today is the beginning of the Republican National Convention (RNC). Here's the left side of the Tampa Bay Times Forum where the main action will take place. In the left lower corner you'll notice the VIP entrance. Of course, it's Blue!

Tampa lampposts are decorated in signs of red, white, and Blue.

Close to the Forum, Channelside is a beautiful place to relax, shop, dine,
see a movie, or even bowl a game or two.
Of course, the welcome sign has a couple shades of Blue.

In addition to 50,000 visitors, a herd of fiberglass 4' x 4' elephants have come to Tampa. Elephants, the symbol of the RNC, were sponsored by businesses and decorated by local artists. The goal of the project is to beautify the Tampa Bay area and exhibit the creativity.

Some are displayed at Channelside, and Johnny and I went to find them.
We found plenty!

Most of them have a shade or two of Blue in their decoration.

Pirates are the theme of this pachyderm with at least two shades of Blue in evidence.

She is labeled "Best Dressed RNC, 2012."
She sure went heavy on that Blue eye shadow!

"Splitsville" is the name of the bowling alley.
They sponsored the elephant to the left of the giant bowling pin.
I took a close-up of it in the picture below.

A map of our state is on this Blue pastel beauty.

Blue is used to outline this intricate design.

We couldn't leave the Hooters elephant out.

This elephant, dressed in Blue, represents Lightning, Tampa's hockey team.
We tried to get a good shot, but it's placed up against a store window.
All we got was the reflection behind us, so I resorted to grabbing it from the internet.

The pictures below are copied from the internet. They are of the elephants placed at the airport and around town.

Look at those Blue eyes!

A flamenco dancer in Blue can be seen on her belly.

I have no idea which team is represented, but the teal color is a pretty shade of Blue.

Following are two patriotic red, white, and Blue elephants.

The story of Dagwood elephant can be found here.
Blue is used to outline his suit collar.

This elephant is covered in tile.
Some of the tiles are shades of Blue.

Do you have a favorite?

Happy Blue Monday!

1. Leah H.
2. SwedishCorner DownUnder
3. LaVoice
4. Magical Mystical Teacher
5. Nina, Chronicles of A Roamer
6. Hyacinths for the Soul
7. Rajesh, India
8. Pie
9. Riet, Holland
10. Photoblogista
11. Kero, UAE
12. XyeXyrus
13. Rinkly Rimes
14. Failed Venice of the Orient
15. Jeanne
16. mizhelle
17. Pictografio
18. Gittan Sweden
19. Rita aka Cashjocky
20. Anni, Sweden
21. Gemma's MP Daily
22. Gemma's Greyscale

23. Lina
24. mark, australia
25. Jenny Short
26. Self Sagacity
27. Wordless
28. Wilderness Fairy
29. meoww
30. Black Eyed Susans Kitchen
31. Leovi - Wheel of Fortune
32. 4U2 Sweden
33. Kim,USA
34. Obstacles & Glories
35. Chester
36. Pleasurable Hobbies
37. Rose
38. Giada
39. iShoppe
40. J.Rye
41. Chubskulit
42. Min fotoblog
43. Maximus
44. Jessica Cassidy

45. Emzkie
46. Eileen
47. dix - gypsyczech
48. Have A Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson
49. NixPixMix
50. Jackie
51. LadyD
52. KM @ more than seXy
53. hapzydeco
54. Fashion Momma
55. Leovi - Behind bars
56. Diann @ The thrifty Groove
57. sandi @ the whistlestop cafe
58. Visits With Mary
59. Maria's Space
60. Marleen, NL
61. Finch Rest
62. Joy@Books and Life
63. Myrna-My Enchanted Home
64. twiggy
65. Amiko, Maipikucha
66. Anne

Monday, August 20, 2012

Blue Monday - Tampa's Giant Postcard

Hello! It's Blue Monday! For complete instructions, please click here.

You may not have noticed that when you link in, Mr. Linky--or perhaps it's your computer-- fills in your blog address. However, that's where most mistakes happen. Sometimes, your former post is listed, rather than the current one. Please check your link to be certain that you are linking in correctly.

Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links and wishing them a Happy Blue Monday!
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I have plenty of Blue for you today!

It's exciting to live in the Tampa area because in just one week, the Republican National Convention will be held here, and more than 50,000 visitors are expected. This is the biggest party our area has ever hosted, and we are busy sprucing up to make sure we look our best!

For instance, a mural painted by Carl Cowden has been repainted. Remember the postcards people used to send while on vacation? They often said, "Wish you were here." In 2003, Cowden based his mural on a real postcard. Unfortunately, it had to be removed in order to repair the crumbly stucco on this historic building, home to Archives and Records. Cowden said murals often can weather a lot. "The murals don't fall apart," he said. "The walls fall apart."

The City of Tampa's public art program picked up the tab of $12,000. You can read about it here.

This is a picture taken during the repainting process.
Look closely and you can see three men painting.
I copied it from the link above.

Standing on a scissors lift, Mural Artist Carl Cowden III, 56, right, of Tampa, and his two son's Carl IV, 20, left, and Griffin, 19, center, repaint the City of Tampa postcard mural.

The mural merges Tampa images from past with the present. In the letters that spell "Tampa" you can see the Sulphur Springs water tower, the Gasparilla ship and accompanying flotilla, the old Tampa Bay Hotel now the University of Tampa...

... a streetcar in Ybor City, and a nature scene on the Hillsborough River.

This shot is a close-up of the lower left of the mural. I like the way the artist displayed his information.
How proud he must be of his two sons.

Here's the finished postcard mural!

Happy Blue Monday!

1. Magical Mystical Teacher
2. Anne
3. LaVoice
4. Luna Miranda
5. Swedish Corner Down Under
6. Blue Skies and Sunflowers
7. Pictografio
8. Pie
9. Christine
10. Gittan Sweden
11. Rajesh, India
12. Tito Eric
13. Jeanne
14. aVintageGreen
15. mark, australia
16. Gemma's Greyscale
17. Gemma's MP Daily
18. Mildred - France
19. meoww

20. Rinkly Rimes
21. Leovi - My angel wings
22. NxPixMix
23. 4U2 Sweden
24. Anni
25. Wordless
26. Black Eyed Susans Kitchen
27. Beverly @How Sweet The Sound
28. Eden, Australia
29. Chapel Edged in Blue
30. Kim,USA
31. J.Rye
32. Flip Flops
33. Family & Fitness
34. Goodnight Sign
35. Moe Lauher, SC
36. Rose
37. Pin Wheels
38. CailinMarie

39. Chubskulit
40. Maximus
41. Sandi @ the WhistleStop Cafe
42. emzkie.pa
43. LadyD
44. "BLUE" Wedding Cake
45. Leovi - That sweet gulf between my sheets
46. Cafe au lait - FM
47. hapzydeco
48. Hyde Daily Photo
49. Jackie
50. Blowing Rock
51. Jim,Sydney, Australia
52. dix - gypsyczech
53. Rita aka Cashjocky
54. Thorgun
55. mizhelle

Monday, August 13, 2012

Blue Monday - Blue Dolphins

Welcome! It's Blue Monday! For instructions, just click here.

Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links and wishing them a Happy Blue Monday!
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It all began with Chicago's Cows on Parade in 1999. Johnny and I were fortunate enough to stumble upon the colorful exhibit while visiting that city. Since then, many cities have enjoyed outdoor fiberglass art exhibits. This summer, it's our area's turn.

A pod of fiberglass dolphins--fifty, in fact--decorate Clearwater Beach to celebrate Winter the Dolphin, star of the film, Dolphin Tale. Each dolphin is six foot tall and weighs eighty pounds, and each has been decorated by a local artist. After the exhibition is over, the dolphins will be auctioned off, and the money donated to charities.

Johnny and I took a ride over to snap some pictures for your enjoyment. As you can see, many of the dolphins are Blue.

The signs at the bottom give information about the artist and sponsor.

Here's a picture of the dolphins before decoration. For more on the story, click here.

Do you have a favorite?

Happy Blue Monday!

Blue Monday Participants

1. Leah H.
2. Swedish Corner - Down Under
3. Bolt
4. J.Rye
5. Anne
6. Pets & Critters Nook
7. Fruits Variety
8. Rose
9. Fitness & Family
10. Chubskulit
11. Pretty and Fuzzy
12. LaVoice
13. The Rebel Sweetheart
14. Rajesh, India
15. Christine
16. alexa in nyc, usa
17. Tea @ Sweet Nothings
18. meoww
19. Chèvrefeuille
20. Luna Miranda
21. Jim, Sydney, Australia
22. Dolphin Show, Safari World
23. Adin Blankenship
24. Tito Eric of Panglao Island

25. Loui♥
26. Thrift Store Scores!
27. Pictografio
28. Gittan Sweden
29. beagleAnnie
30. Anni, Sweden
31. Deliciously Spicy Moments
32. XyeXyrus
33. Marit
34. mizhelle
35. Gemma's Greyscale
36. Gemma's MP Daily
37. Lessandra
38. Leovi - The future of of our fears
39. Wordless
40. Eden, Australia
41. Am I Blue?
42. Magical Mystical Teacher
43. Carol's Blue Bicycle
44. Pie
45. Kim,USA
46. Haint Blue!
47. Hangin' Out in the Sunflower Patch
48. Restoration Giveaway @ My Place to Yours

49. Magical Mystical Teacher #2
50. LadyD
51. Summer Garden
52. CailinMarie
53. hapzydeco
54. Pat ~ Mille Fiori Favoriti (USA)
55. John McElveen
56. Hello Monday
57. Emzki
58. 4U2 Sweden
59. Leovi - Cold and Warm
60. The French Hutch
61. Lina
62. dix - gypsyczech
63. Diann @ The thrifty Groove
64. Jessica Cassidy
65. Deep Blue Pearl
66. Sheladf Photography©
67. Myrna-My Enchanted Home
68. Mel Cole
69. annies home
70. Finch Rest
71. Karen, Philippines

Monday, August 6, 2012

Blue Monday - Little Boy Blue No More

Welcome! It's Blue Monday! For instructions, just click here.

Visit other Blue participants by clicking on their links and wishing them a Happy Blue Monday!
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Our youngest grandson, Pierce, had a birthday this past week, and Johnny and I drove to his home in Gainesville to celebrate. The trip takes us about two hours. We love being close enough to spend time with our family for birthdays.

Here Pierce is outside in the front of his home in a Blue shirt, surrounded by Blue blooms. Johnny took the shot. You might notice me in the upper left corner, seated on the porch; I'm wearing my favorite color: Blue.

Pierce is no long Little Boy Blue as he's now fourteen years old. He's already 5 feet 10 inches.
I wonder if we should begin to call him Big Boy Blue?

Happy Blue Monday!