Coral Gables Merrick House In Gingerbread

I saw this at the 1st Coral Gables Gingerbread House contest yesterday. An artist would call this a cartoon of the real thing (here's the real thing). And here is a movie clip of some of the entries.

Coral Gables Had A Party

Saturday the city had a party at the Merrick House. This little boy came to the party with Santa in a fire engine. But this was as close as he would get to his grandfather.

One More Door

Our church has many open doors. This one is for the school. In this area it is common for a church to have a school. Some of them go up to the 6th grade. Our school has a waiting list.

It Happened Again

Lan had the same problem this week. Yesterday as I took this picture someone from the house came running to me. He said that he was the owner and it was illegal for me to take a picture of his house. Then he asked if I had a permit to take the picture. I said that he could call the police but it would sound silly. In the city of Coral Gables if you are taking pictures or movies for a profit you need a permit. I didn't stay to take a better picture. He was younger then me and looked much stronger, plus he didn't look like the owner. I have known the owner for more the 25 years. In the last few weeks the work crew was very large as you saw last week.

A Simple Little Flower

Oxalis regnellii atropurpurea or Purple Shamrock seems too fancy for this plain little flower. But it sure takes a good picture.

Clerodendrum quadriloculare (Starburst, Shooting Star or Glorybower)

It is a beautiful exotic plant, but it has it's problems. The burgundy leaves and the white flowers are spectacular. The down side is that it has stolons just like a strawberry, the little plants pop up all over. A root of this plant can go under the side walk and that root will produce a new plant. Notice the little plants popping up in the grass.

Hibiscus acetosella

The flowers, which are open only a day, are used in salads. Young leaves can be added to salads or chopped and used in stir fries. Note the leaves are not sweet. A close relative Hibiscus sabdariffa (the true Roselle) is also called the Cranberry Hibiscus. It's fat calyces are used from Florida to South America to make a tart cranberry-like flavored drink.

A Condo?

No, it's just one very large house. Large families are not common but large houses continue to be built.

Our Chapel Door

Sleeping Beauty.

The garden is a beautiful forest of palms. But it looks like the princess doesn't want a Prince Charming to jump into her house.

Built Before Air Conditioning

The house has cross ventilation, notice the open door.

Is It Spanish?

In our city you can not build a copy of a house within one mile of the original house. My parents house had a twin about two miles from our house. It was about 66% of our house, and very strange to see the small version.

A Rose Garden

A rose garden in Coral Gables is a rarity. The roses are in the front of the house, but the hedge and wall limit the view for the passerby. Oh well, it's nice house.

A Tree Grows In Coral Gables

If a tree could grow in Brooklyn, one can grow in Coral Gables. It is amazing how many Christmas trees are up as soon a Thanksgiving is over.

The First Circles

I looked at a lot of circles but I couldn't find one that I liked more then the one I posted on August 18 08.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants