Epcot the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, opened in 1982. It was conceived by Walt Disney to "take its cue from the new ideas and new technologies." Epcot consists of two themed areas, Future World and World Showcase. Future World features attractions that focus on energy, communication, the land and our environment, the ocean, imagination, transportation and space exploration.

I shot this at Future World and it is of the Kodak Imagination Pavilion. Reminds me of the pyramid at the Louvre in Paris.

Another in the Kissimmee SCULPTURE Experience. This is a closeup of the face of "Finding Strength", executed in steel, it stands 63 inches high. Sculptor is James Oleson, Jr, of Brooksville, Florida.

Artist statement: The Knighting of Don Quixote.

It stands in front of the Kissimmee City Hall on the corner of Church and Monument.

My computer is acting up and just shutting itself off so I think it's time to replace it. I'm putting this post up from my laptop which doesn't have many photos stored on it so I'm picking this one.
It was taken at the Grand Floridian Resort at Disney World. They have many weddings there and the fancier (read expensive) ones go all out and use Cinderella's pumpkin carriage and the matching horses with footman and the works.

They head over to the wedding pavillion and weather permitting hold the reception on the grassy lawn. In inclement weather they move inside to one of the resort ballrooms. I enjoy seeing them but wouldn'twant to be the one paying for it.

Yesterday the photo was of a service station transformed into a cookie shop. Today' s is the transformation of a railroad caboose into a refreshment stand. This red caboose is down by Lake Toho and sells ice cream, soda, candy, water, and other goodies. It is next to the children's playground and gets very busy on the weekends.

I always smile when I go past it as it reminds me of the red caboose that used to go past my home when I was a child. One of the men in the caboose used to throw candy to us children. It was one of the highlights of our week. In today's environment of paranoia, he'd probably be arrested.

As promised, here is the Breck's Gourmet Cookie store. Many years ago it was a service station and now where they once did oil changes there are ovens baking the most delicious cookies. If you click to enlarge you can get a better look at the old gas pump.

I stopped in after taking the photo yesterday and bought two of them.. Yummy.

This is one of the most colorful of the downtown Kissimmee Sculptures. I think it's called Direction Finder. The top part with the sail-like piece rotates in the wind. It is ten feet high and seven feet wide. I like it.

This sculpture stands in front of the Cookie Shop which is in an old service station. I'll try to get a photo of the building and old gas pump soon. The background is a mural painted on the side of the next building.

This is a detail from a piece called "Totem" it stands ten feet tall and two feet wide, weighs 1000 pounds and is by David Cumbie of Winter Park, Florida.

Part of the Kissimmee Sculpture Experience, it is located on the corner of Broadway and Monument. It is an interesting piece with much detail on both sides. Appears to be metal but medium is listed as "Mixed".

This is another of Downtown Kissimmee's Sculptures. It is called "Dangerous Waters" by Robin VanArsdol of Orlando, FL. It stands 85 inches high by 46 inches wide by 12 inches deep. Medium is "multi" and it weighs 90 lbs. The images are sharks and piranhas, hence the dangerous title.

This is late today because my computer modem died. Just replaced it and putting up a quick photo of Monday night's sunset. Taken at Epcot, Disney World.

Yesterday I went to my hairdresser and am featuring him here. Lynn has been cutting my hair for a few years now and is such a great guy. His wife does pet sitting and she's pretty neat, too. They used to own the salon but sold it about a year ago so he could just concentrate on what he likes to do best. Hair, not business.

New owners call the salon "Focus".

While riding my bicycle at the lake the other day I spotted this long line of birds. They are Anhingas, a waterbird that doesn't have oil on their wings so after each dive for food, they must extend their wings to dry. I think they are odd looking birds and have never seen so many in one place before.

Sorry I haven't posted for a few days. Had house guests and Monday was my birthday. I spent it at Epcot Center with my inherited daughter. Great fun. Our historic Presidential inauguration had me glued to the tv yesterday but I will now buckle down to work and post daily again.

This is Kissimmee's newest version of the Statue of Liberty. I was driving home yesterday when this monstrosity appeared on a corner lot where two main roads intersect. I had to pull over and take the photo. It is an advertising blowup for Liberty Tax Services.

While in Paris I saw a smaller version of our Lady Liberty and this one does not resemble her at all. In fact the face reminds me of the Muppet, Miss Piggy. I guess she'll remain where she is until tax season ends in April.

This will be my last church for now and it really isn't a church. It is a small chapel at Good Samaritan Village, a retirement community just south of me. A friend of mine rents a guest quarters unit for a few months in the winter and enjoys it very much. Her husband is an avid golfer and she enjoys being close to her sons who live in this area.

It's a very nice community with lots of amenities. Last year I took a series of video classes on vintage radio programs with her in their community center and we are now planning to take advantage of the gym and pool area to start working out. I wouldn't want to live there but it's a nice place to visit.

I also want to wish my little brother a Happy 52nd Birthday today.

This is the back view of the Holy Redeemer Catholic church on Thacker Avenue in Kissimmee. The history and other information can be found HERE. I found the back of the building to be more interesting than the front. Their webpage shows the front view and you can do a panoramic view of the interior.

Here is another Muslim Mosque in Kissimmee. It is called the Islamic Center of Osceola County . There isn't much information on their website except to state that the denomination is Traditional Sunni. Today when I took the photo, there was shelving on the front porch and no cars in the parking lot. I'm not sure they still use it. I'll have to drive by when services are scheduled to find out. It's not on a road I travel very often.

I know I'm only supposed to do one photo but this is the inscription over the front entrance and I thought it interesting.

This is the Muslim Masjid As-sunnah . It is located just south of me on Pleasant Hill Road. Click on the name to view their website.

I have started posting some of my Paris photos on my CollageMaven's Haven Blog.

This is the Theravada Buddhist Temple. It is located outside of town on a lovely country road. There was a Buddhist Temple in downtown Kissimmee for awhile and it was in a storefront that is now a restaurant. I'm not sure if it's the same group. Click on the link to learn more about the history of the temple.

I have started posting some of my Paris photos on my CollageMaven's Haven Blog.

This is the First Presbyterian Church and it is also on Church Street in Kissimmee. Kissimmee's oldest church was founded in 1884.

The original structure was dedicated in 1886 and is still used today.

They have services on Sunday in English and also do a Brazilian service in the evening. This is a wood frame building, unlike the Methodist church, which is brick.

Influenced by my stay in Paris and all the churches I visited, I'll do a few of the ones here in Kissimmmee. This is the First United Methodist Church. It is located on Church Street between Dakin and Sproule. It is one block from our main street. It was built in 1913 and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

They also have a school with grades from Kindergarten to fifth grade and a shelter and meal program for the homeless.

A new look for Kissimmee.




This is the new look for downtown Kissimmee. These stores have been built in front of the new 8 story high upscale condominium apartments. Also included are medical offices and a parking garage. Even though new, they do seem to fit in with the older buildings and have inspired the city to improve the streets and crossings with brick and pavers.

It is also nice to have a few more places to have dinner and drinks.

HOME

I am home from my trip to Paris. Yesterday's trip home was an adventure. Snow flurries as I was leaving my hotel looked lovely and romantic for my last morning in Paris. Not so lovely and romantic at the airport when all flights were delayed and after finally boarding my 11:45 flight at 1 pm, we sat at the gate for another hour plus and then taxi'd out to wait to be de-iced for another few hours. We started moving around the runway which seemed to be a hopeful sign but as the Captain announced, they were just moving us to the other side of the airport to use a different de-icing area. Finally de-iced and then waited again in the congo line for departures.

Plane finally lifted off just before 5 pm for the 10 plus hours of flying time. That was to Atlanta where we arrived at 8:30 pm eastcoast time and had to go through the customs, immigration and get our luggage and see what flights were still available to get to our final destinations.

To shorten this long sad story, I checked bags to Orlando and waited to finally get a boarding pass for the last flight out. Mechanical problems had made it late to depart so I made it. Landed in Orlando around 1 am and after the ride home and dropping off my friend, I arrived safe and sound, but without luggage at 2 am.

Today has been catch-up day. Mail sorted and gone through. Computer was DOA so called Mr. Fix-it to come and check it out. Turned out to be a blown circuit breaker and a very expensive one at that. So I am home and computer is alive again. Now I need to relearn the US keyboard, rest a bit and my Kissimmee blog will be back up. Hopefully my time in Paris has given me a new way to look at what is around me. Give me a day or two to get some pictures and posts ready and please comment.

It will take me awhile to get my photos from Paris ready for debut and when they are, they will be on my other blog: Collagemaven's Haven.

A bientot!