tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40644426925857658582024-03-13T22:39:22.460-04:00key west the blog!Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.comBlogger514125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-580025586426338622013-10-18T22:27:00.000-04:002013-10-19T17:41:36.945-04:004,623 daysCayo Hueso • White Street Pier • Atlantic Ocean •<br />
FastBuck Freddie • Gulf of Mexico • Linda Evelyn •<br />
The Key West Citizen • Charlotte Howard • Bill Barry •<br />
Casa Marina • Dave Swift • Blue Water Printing •<br />
The ChartRoom • Hurricane Wilma • Fort Zac •<br />
Bahama Village • Dennis Reeves Cooper • Blue Lagoon Motel • Key West the NewsPaper • Rhonda Saunders • Lynne Wilkins • Environmental Circus • The Mark • Durty Harry's •<br />
Journalism as a Contact Sport • The Green Parrot Bar • Chicken • Hemingway House • Ninety Miles to Cuba •<br />
B.O's Fishwagon • Barry Cuda • Sunset Cruise •<br />
Mallory Square • New Town • Old Town • Historic SeaPort • Chief Billy • Lazy Way Lane • Evalena Worthington •<br />
Bubba Low Notes • Schooner Wharf Bar • Carl Peachy • MGD • Barbancourt Rhum • Michael McCloud • Old City Hall •<br />
Duval Street • Conch Trains • Ed Swift • The Red Garter •<br />
Historic Tours of America • Chris Belland • 801 •<br />
WaterFront Theatre • El Meson de Pepe • Capt. Tony's Saloon • Sloppy Joe's • Guild Hall Gallery • Katha Sheehan •<br />
Marty Stonley • The Chicken Store • La Concha •<br />
Maureen Johnson • Dave Burns • Willie T's • J.J. Hysell •<br />
Bob Goldman • William Street. • Sally Dodd •<br />
Buster Bent Tail • Cats I've Known • Barbara Bowers •<br />
Richard Watherwax • Key West Sailing Club • Hog's Breath • Dave Oatway • Curtis Craig • Craig Alyn Buzzarté • Fausto's • Key West Bank • Phil Houge • Violeta Cline •<br />
Mile Marker Zero • Key West LightHouse • Six Toed Cats • Sunbeam Market • Margaritaville • Wyland Gallery •<br />
Danette Baso • Alan Townsend • Sketch • Old Town Trolley • Goombay • Hurricane Rita • Anne McKee Art Auction •<br />
West Martello • East Martello • Robert the Doll •<br />
Count Von Cosel • Smathers Beach • Gulf of Mexico •<br />
Sebago Snorkeling • Waterfront Market • Tom Hambright • Alicia • Gardens Hotel • Tropic Cinema • Jasmine Sky •<br />
Big Pine Key • Bahia Honda • Dreaming Goddess •<br />
Janet Hartwell • Maureen Bramlage • Clayton Lopez • PrideFest • Bill Goldner • Blue Heaven • Café Sole •<br />
Joan Miller & Lenny Carey • Small Chef at Large • VFW •<br />
Flip Ferrari • Susan Weekley • Kermit's KeyLime Pies •<br />
Luz Marina • Mick & April Barnes • Harpoon Harry's • Caroline Street • Dog Beach • BoatHouse Row •<br />
Key West Garden Club • Impressions Advertising •<br />
Brad Benoit • Ashe Street • SaraJane • Eddie Baumgartner • Eric Haley • Moe's BarberShop • Mr. Z's • Peter Diamond • Mohammad • Whitfield Jack • SunLion • Barb Wright •<br />
Tom Luna • Heritage House • Bull and Whistle •<br />
Garden of Eden • Joe Walsh • Dr. Pete • Flying Monkeys • Higgs Beach • St. Paul's Episcopal • Fantasy Fest •<br />
Carol Tedesco • Helen Harrison • Truman Chevron •<br />
C.J. Groth • Moped Hospital • The Grotto • Jimmy Weekley • Fleming Street • Nancy's Secret Garden • The Bike Shop • Margaret Truman Laundry • El Lobo's • The Cuba Store •<br />
Rick Wunch • Audubon House • Mel Fisher • Teaser's •<br />
Chickens and Roosters • BamBam and Pebbles •<br />
Bill and Karen Lane • Red Fish Blue Fish • Ana Camarotti • Jerome Covington • Richard Klitnick • Sunset Key •<br />
Christmas Tree Island • Saluté • Maxine • Walk on White •<br />
Art on Ashe • Louie's BackYard • Nick Bergery •<br />
Robbie Hopcraft • Tom and Terry Neary • Carrie Disrud • Custom House • DeeVon Quirolo • Oldest House •<br />
BayView Park • Laurine Laxer • Mally Weaver •<br />
Fremont John • Sally and Hal O'Boyle • SouthernMost House • Reef Relief • Five Brothers • Solares Hill • The After Deck • Harry the Dutchman • Johnny White • Meryl Berman • Hurricane Hole • Stock Island • Rusty Anchor •<br />
RedBarn Theatre • Helen Fill • Tropical Linens •<br />
Hunter S. Thompson • Southernmost Point. . .<br />
<br />
I lived in Key West for 4,623 days.<br />
Starting tomorrow, and for the rest of my days, <br />
Key West will live in me.<br />
<br />
Blessings - a<br />
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Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-21963856792374281252013-09-18T18:34:00.002-04:002013-09-18T18:34:20.280-04:00a break in the action<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V6AqNk1nEUM/UjoqD04T2AI/AAAAAAAADq8/j7CzH33BkZA/s1600/gone-fishin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-V6AqNk1nEUM/UjoqD04T2AI/AAAAAAAADq8/j7CzH33BkZA/s320/gone-fishin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
. . . But I'll be back.<br /><br />Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-81237708448108709042013-09-13T21:19:00.003-04:002013-09-13T21:19:23.432-04:00friday the 13th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-91844879100564316222013-09-11T15:43:00.001-04:002013-09-11T15:43:25.923-04:009/11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-34006807965265003722013-09-02T00:05:00.000-04:002013-09-02T00:07:54.252-04:00labor day, 1935On September 2, 1935, hundreds of World War 1 veterans working for the WPA <i>(Works Progress Administration</i>) on the Overseas Railway waited anxiously for an evacuation train from Miami as a small but vicious hurricane bore down on the Florida Keys. The train never made it and neither did most of the veterans waiting for it.<br />
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The 1935 Labor Day category 5 hurricane roared through the upper and middle Keys with winds estimated between 150 to 200 miles per hour and brought a 20 foot storm surge with it. <br />
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The combined violent forces of wind and water washed 10 cars from the evacuation train off the tracks leaving only<br />
the locomotive.<br />
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Today is the 78th anniversary of that tragic day. <br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wGO-yU8MaE/UiQMJw8M_zI/AAAAAAAADqE/91rT-b8CQ9Q/s1600/1935_1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wGO-yU8MaE/UiQMJw8M_zI/AAAAAAAADqE/91rT-b8CQ9Q/s400/1935_1.jpg" width="342" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_wGO-yU8MaE/UiQMJw8M_zI/AAAAAAAADqE/91rT-b8CQ9Q/s1600/1935_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 was the strongest tropical cyclone of that Atlantic hurricane season and the most intense hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States.<br />
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The storm formed as a weak tropical storm east of the Bahamas and then slowly proceeded westward where it found some warmer water and became a hurricane. <br />
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As Labor Day approached, hurricane warnings went up all over the Keys. A train was dispatched from Miami to evacuate the WPA construction workers from the low-rent camps they were living in on Windley Key and Lower Matecumbe Key. But, the train never made it. <br />
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The compact and intense hurricane caused extreme damage in the upper Keys, as the storm surge swept over the<br />
low-lying islands.<br />
The hurricane's strong winds destroyed most of the buildings in the Islamorada area and the men in the work camps were killed by flying debris.<br />
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The Red Cross report listed the death toll at 408 and the majority of those were the veterans.<br />
The storm destruction throughout the Keys was estimated at $6 million. <i>($96 million in 2013 dollars)</i>.<br />
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Just east of U.S.1 at mile marker 82 in Islamorada, near where Islamorada's post office used to be, is a simple monument designed by the Florida Division of the Federal Art Project, constructed using Keys limestone <i>(keystone)</i> by the WPA. <br />
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Local residents hold ceremonies at the monument every year on Labor Day and on Memorial Day to honor the veterans and the civilians who died in the hurricane.<br />
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Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-85233080838476144282013-08-31T13:50:00.003-04:002013-08-31T14:05:58.626-04:00key west history, part 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When FDR died in April of 1945, his Vice-president, Harry S. Truman, found himself in the oval office with a pant-load of pressing problems on his plate.</div>
The second world war was still going on and the decision to drop the atomic bombs still had to be made <i>(killing 250,000 people can't be an easy decision to make).</i><br />
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When the war was finally over, there was the daunting task of rebuilding
Europe and Japan and then converting the United States back from a
wartime economy to a peacetime economy. </div>
It took Mr. Truman 19 months in the oval office to get all that done;
but he did get it done and the ordeal, frankly,<br />
kicked his ass.<br />
<br />
The man
was physically exhausted. So his doctor ordered a warm, quiet vacation;
and Key West was just the ticket.<br />
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<i style="color: #999999;">THE TRUMAN LITTLE WHITE HOUSE </i></div>
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The navy put him up in a house that was originally the Naval submarine command headquarters during the Spanish-American War, World War I and World War II. But by 1946. That house became Mr. Truman's <i>"little piece of paradise"</i>. <br />
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It is, what we now call the <i>"Truman Little White House".</i><br />
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The President loved it here in Key West; So much that he came back, to his <i>"summer home"</i>, eleven times.<br />
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During the Truman visits, cabinet members and foreign officials were regular visitors for fishing trips and<br />
poker games.<br />
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Truman again visited Key West just after his 1948 re-election and Division Street was renamed Truman Avenue<br />
in his honor.<br />
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In 1974, when the submarine base was closed, the Truman Little White House was added to the National Register of Historic Places and in 1987, was deeded to the State of Florida. <br />
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In 1990 a million dollars restored the house<br />
to its 1949 appearance. <br />
It is now held in trust as a public museum.<br />
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The Truman Little White House is the only Presidential site in the State of Florida. </div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viQ1jTy0RrI/UiIogC5QoKI/AAAAAAAADns/0qWFYyp4Dsc/s1600/8.house+with+anchor.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-viQ1jTy0RrI/UiIogC5QoKI/AAAAAAAADns/0qWFYyp4Dsc/s400/8.house+with+anchor.png" width="400" /></a></div>
Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-62809727004141768112013-08-26T14:09:00.002-04:002013-08-26T17:29:17.574-04:00key west history, part 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZX28CqOY108/UhuUpbB_pGI/AAAAAAAADmU/uvLVJE1Q3F0/s1600/U.S._Battleship_Maine_Monument_Key_West_Cemetery,_Florida.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZX28CqOY108/UhuUpbB_pGI/AAAAAAAADmU/uvLVJE1Q3F0/s320/U.S._Battleship_Maine_Monument_Key_West_Cemetery,_Florida.jpg" width="212" /></a> </div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="color: #999999;">Battleship Maine monument at Key West cemetery</span></i></span></div>
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Like it or not, the United States has always been an imperialist
nation. By the late 1800s the continental west was won and so
imperialist eyes were turned to places like the Philippines and Cuba. In
1898 both countries were governed by Spain. But the American government
wanted them anyway and so, it took advantage of the political
revolution in Cuba and declared war on Spain.<br />
Then the 10 week conflict with Spain began. . .</div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="color: #999999; text-align: center;">
<i>THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QSiyT3hrfPs/UhuUpV0sDWI/AAAAAAAADmQ/i9r7aZaZm0E/s1600/Spanish-American-War.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QSiyT3hrfPs/UhuUpV0sDWI/AAAAAAAADmQ/i9r7aZaZm0E/s320/Spanish-American-War.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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Key West, because of its location, only 92 miles from Havana, and it's large harbor and the naval base, meant that the United States Navy would naturally use it as a primary supply depot and coaling station.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-liQhga3qQ4g/UhuX-ij2EqI/AAAAAAAADnE/f1lU82UQBXQ/s1600/Jose-Marti.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-liQhga3qQ4g/UhuX-ij2EqI/AAAAAAAADnE/f1lU82UQBXQ/s320/Jose-Marti.jpg" width="191" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="color: #999999;"> Jose Marti</i></span></div>
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The revolutionary Cuban junta, under the leadership of Jose Marti and Tomas Estrada Palma, organized sixty-one Cuban political clubs in Key West.<br />
The city became a center of Cuban revolutionary agitation, fund raising for the rebels and smuggling arms and men<br />
into Cuba.<br />
<br />
News traveled fast between Cuba and Key West.<br />
By the appearance of the ships of the <i>"Atlantic Squadron"</i> in the harbor, Key Westers were able to predict not only the coming of the war, but also to when it would begin.<br />
When the USS Maine exploded, Key West was the first city to hear about it.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cigu6I_Nltw/UhuYyhrAVsI/AAAAAAAADnU/ZxgOyHoYwRo/s1600/USS+Maine_entering_Havana_harbor_HD-SN-99-01929-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cigu6I_Nltw/UhuYyhrAVsI/AAAAAAAADnU/ZxgOyHoYwRo/s320/USS+Maine_entering_Havana_harbor_HD-SN-99-01929-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="color: #999999;">Battleship Maine entering Havana Harbor</i></span></div>
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When that news came, an avalanche of correspondents from the major newspapers followed.<br />
As one writer put it, <i>"Key West became the seat, not of war, but of war correspondents."</i><br />
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After the <i>"Maine"</i> disaster, larger stocks-piles of supplies, coal and ammunition were sent to Key West warehouses, wharves, and docks that had been leased from private owners in the city. Freighters and transports were constantly arriving and departing and the Army was requested to strengthen the defenses that protected the city from attack.<br />
The defenses consisted of Fort Taylor in the city itself, and<br />
Fort Jefferson, seventy miles to the west. Large caliber coast defense guns were rushed to Key West.<br />
The run up to war brought a financial goldmine to business in the city.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-99F06Ntx1ZI/UhuUpcUn9ZI/AAAAAAAADmk/iB7kRBW8QVs/s1600/The-First-Prisoners-At-Key-West-During-The-Spanish-American-War-From-Le-Petit-Journal-8th-May-1898.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-99F06Ntx1ZI/UhuUpcUn9ZI/AAAAAAAADmk/iB7kRBW8QVs/s320/The-First-Prisoners-At-Key-West-During-The-Spanish-American-War-From-Le-Petit-Journal-8th-May-1898.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The army and navy faced the prospect of large numbers of casualties and planned to bring the most seriously injured or sick to Key West. But the hospital facilities at the Key West Barracks were not gonna be enough.<br />
So the Mother Superior of the Convent of Mary Immaculate in Key West offered the buildings of her convent and school rooms to the Navy for use as a hospital.<br />
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Then there was another service in the city that was stretched to the limit by the situation. The three man police force for its nearly 18,000 people. With the servicemen coming to town in force, the cops were completely unable to maintain order; especially in the areas where all the saloons were.<br />
So one additional man was added to the police department, but that would prove to be no help at all.<br />
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<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4064442692585765858" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5i4SiEtjss/UhuUqBysYyI/AAAAAAAADms/R_7Kz5GDbc0/s1600/spanish-american-war-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q5i4SiEtjss/UhuUqBysYyI/AAAAAAAADms/R_7Kz5GDbc0/s320/spanish-american-war-2.jpg" width="320" /> </a></div>
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The Spanish-American War was an exciting time for the city. All those soldiers and sailors coming and going and a rush of new construction. The amount of money spent in the city by the Army and Navy is estimated to be $2,244,850 between March 1898 and July 1899.<br />
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Then after the war, the city was able to increase trade with Cuba, and with its new channel, its improved facilities and the continued presence of the services, enjoyed a time of uninterrupted prosperity.</div>
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Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-14830807607945139252013-08-21T13:11:00.002-04:002013-08-21T22:28:35.237-04:00key west history, part 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<i>Of course, no history of Key West would be complete without talking about. . .</i></div>
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<i style="color: #999999;">THE WRECKERS</i> </div>
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In 1860, Key West was the richest city in the Union.</div>
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Not because of King Cotton or coal, but because<br />
we were wreckers.<br />
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<i>"Wrecking"</i> refers to the salvaging of crews and cargo from distressed ships. And in the 1800’s, business was really,<br />
really good.<br />
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In 1822, Key West was declared an official port of trade for the United States. During that time, about 100 ships passed the island’s shores every day. The waters were treacherous for passing vessels; the dangerous shoals and shallow waters were made worse by the a lack of navigational information and unpredictable winds. All those conditions together led to, at least, one distressed ship a week. </div>
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Wrecking crews were strategically posted along the shores with all eyes on the horizon. When a vessel met trouble, the race was on. The first crew to get to the scene were the <i>“wrecking masters”</i>, allowing them the largest cut from the salvage and all control of delegating responsibilities. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AD0_AWdck3o/UhTwddHDQAI/AAAAAAAADkU/Gj8GFlqpMUY/s1600/2.shipwreck.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="316" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AD0_AWdck3o/UhTwddHDQAI/AAAAAAAADkU/Gj8GFlqpMUY/s320/2.shipwreck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lCGk4YvglKs/UhTwdfa_2fI/AAAAAAAADkY/Xi265rRYTVE/s1600/3.wrecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a> Once the initial wrecking excursions were complete, warehouses, ship yards and ship chandlers were employed to store cargo and repair the ships. The island’s economy thrived because much of the stranded cargo was sold locally. Those sales filled Key West’s houses and stores with a wealth of treasures from the sea.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lCGk4YvglKs/UhTwdfa_2fI/AAAAAAAADkk/VYKY84xftF8/s1600/3.wrecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lCGk4YvglKs/UhTwdfa_2fI/AAAAAAAADkk/VYKY84xftF8/s320/3.wrecker.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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A few of the most successful wreckers were, Asa Tift, who also designed the <i>"Hemingway House". </i><br />
John H. Geiger, who made his home in the <i>"Audubon House"</i> and Francis B. Watlington who built the <i>“Oldest House in Key West”</i> in 1829. </div>
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Today The Oldest House is home to the <i>"Key West Wrecking Museum"</i>, a great place for learning more about this chapter in Key West history. </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b2Z1gx1h4fQ/UhTweG8ZIJI/AAAAAAAADks/2PcH0TQHEaw/s1600/6.2007-gifford-wreckers-350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-b2Z1gx1h4fQ/UhTweG8ZIJI/AAAAAAAADks/2PcH0TQHEaw/s400/6.2007-gifford-wreckers-350.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UN0oYFk4_Sg/UhTwdhgu5JI/AAAAAAAADk4/W9Ba2mt4tnc/s1600/4.Wreckers_Florida_Keys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lbYcT5OF6-Q/UhTwd3FIYtI/AAAAAAAADkw/umVPiyTIOG8/s1600/5.wrekers-key-west-.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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The wrecking business began to decline in the late 19th century. With the building of lighthouses, improved navigational equipment and steam-powered engines, the once treacherous waters surrounding the Key West seemed suddenly tame. </div>
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By the 1920s, the wrecking industry was as gone as so many sunken ships.</div>
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Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-3911501214779436202013-08-18T10:58:00.003-04:002013-08-18T22:49:39.418-04:00key west history, part 3<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #999999;">THE CIVIL WAR</span><br />
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During the American Civil War, the state of Florida seceded and joined the Confederacy but Key West remained in Union hands because of its importance as a naval base. Most of the locals were sympathetic to the South and many flew Confederate flags over their <i>“Conch”</i> homes.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYhdVlPGiKo/UhDf6MOjROI/AAAAAAAADj8/n4TmTVUTLW8/s1600/ft.zac.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYhdVlPGiKo/UhDf6MOjROI/AAAAAAAADj8/n4TmTVUTLW8/s400/ft.zac.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Fort Zachary Taylor was constructed between 1845 and 1866. It was a very important Key West outpost during the Civil War.</div>
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In 1861, construction began on two other important forts, East and West Martello Towers, and they served as sidearms and batteries for the larger Fort Zac.<br />
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All three forts were connected to by railroad tracks for movement of military munitions.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tDJiNC9oc0Q/UhDf5-YHZ0I/AAAAAAAADkA/DsqCkY9-CUk/s1600/cannon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tDJiNC9oc0Q/UhDf5-YHZ0I/AAAAAAAADkA/DsqCkY9-CUk/s320/cannon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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So, for the American Civil War, Key West was loaded for bear. Key West held the largest cache of cannon in one place during the war but never a shot was fired.<br />
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Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-63915570804210641542013-08-14T13:40:00.000-04:002013-08-22T17:02:09.969-04:00key west history, part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>THE FOUNDERS</i></div>
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In 1815 the Spanish governor in Havana, Cuba deeded the island of Key West to Juan Pablo Salas, an officer in the Royal Spanish Navy stationed in Saint Augustine.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> John W. Simonton</i></span></div>
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After Florida was transferred to the United States, Salas was so eager to sell the island that he sold it three times.<br />
First for a sloop valued at $575, and again to a U.S. businessman, John W. Simonton, during a meeting in a Havana cafe in 1821 and then finally to General John Geddes, a former governor of South Carolina, who tried,without much luck to secure his rights to the property before Simonton and his influential friends in Washington were able to gain total title to the island.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0I85hQ8mZg/Ugu_rDSYzII/AAAAAAAADgM/3VKnluycr3k/s1600/whitehead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m0I85hQ8mZg/Ugu_rDSYzII/AAAAAAAADgM/3VKnluycr3k/s1600/whitehead.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> <span style="color: #666666;">John Whitehead</span></i></span><br />
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Simonton bought the island because his friend, John Whitehead, had drawn his attention to the opportunities presented by the island’s strategic location.<br />
Whitehead had been stranded in Key West after a shipwreck in 1819 and was impressed by the potential offered by the natural deep harbor of the island.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> <span style="color: #666666;">Matthew C. Perry</span></i></span><br />
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In March of 1822, Matthew C. Perry sailed the schooner <i>"Shark"</i> to Key West and planted the U.S. flag, physically claiming the Keys as United States property.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i> <span style="color: #666666;">Commodore David Porter</span></i></span><br />
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Then 1823, Commodore David Porter of the United States Navy West Indies <i>"Anti-Pirate Squadron"</i> took charge of Key West as military dictator under martial law.Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-71378750945379915012013-08-12T15:07:00.005-04:002013-08-12T21:55:59.911-04:00key west history, part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="color: #666666;">THE FIRST CONCHS </i></div>
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About 2,500 years ago, the Calusa Indians came to Key West from the SouthWest coast of Florida and called it home. They were, by all accounts, the first Conchs. They came and settled in to the easy Keys life and feasted on seafood.</div>
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But then something happened. </div>
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In 1513 and again in 1521, Juan Ponce de Leon <i>(remember him from your grammar school history books?)</i> came ashore from Spain searching for his famous <i>“Fountain of Youth”. </i><br />
He discovered the islands and named them <i>“Santa Isybella,”</i> after Queen Isabella.</div>
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Then, in Key West, he found the the Calusa Indians who weren't too thrilled about being invaded by the Spanish.<br />
Ponce and his crew battled with the Calusa Indians for years.</div>
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The Calusa were eventually forced to move further and further inland by the Spanish. In time, exposure to the European diseases brought by the Spanish and all those devastating battles over the islands brought a tragic end to the<br />
Calusa nation.</div>
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During one of those many battles, Ponce de Leon was wounded in the thigh by a poisoned arrow.<br />
He retreated to Cuba where he soon died of that wound. <i> </i><br />
<i>(what goes around, comes around)</i></div>
Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-59915229190815860942013-08-03T13:54:00.002-04:002013-08-03T17:34:01.763-04:00west wing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FBRjmE2H3SQ/Uf1CbOk31yI/AAAAAAAADe8/DQ_dLMYhTgU/s1600/westwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FBRjmE2H3SQ/Uf1CbOk31yI/AAAAAAAADe8/DQ_dLMYhTgU/s320/westwing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Back at Christmas time a good friend, knowing it is my favorite TV show, gifted me with a box set of West Wing.<br />
All 7 seasons on 45 discs and about 180 episodes all told.<br />
<br />
It's taken many months but I've seen all the episodes now.<br />
<br />
When the show actually aired on TV, I was owner/operating my Philadelphia
ad agency <i>(it was a pretty busy time)</i> so I'd only sometimes catch a few
minutes of it.<br />
All the same, something about it grabbed me.<br />
Then after
I'd moved to Key West and started with the Blue Paper, the show was in
re-runs and once in a while, on my off days, I'd catch a full episode
here and there.<br />
<br />
But now with this great gift I've seen it all, start to finish, front to back, top to bottom; and you know, it's really good.<br />
<br />
True enough, it's reality based fiction <i>(I mean, where in the real world
would you ever find a good hearted honest politician?)</i> but the casting
is great, the walk and talk camera angles are dynamic and the dual story lines
are engaging and<br />
often humorous.<br />
<br />
But what I like most is how the characters seem to actually like each
other.<br />
Whether they're in the tall grass or dancing in the outfield,
there's a common bond; a loyalty to each other and their goal, at the end
of the day, is to do some good.<br />
<br />
It's a really optimistic view.<br />
<br />Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-50111678220415931292013-07-26T14:06:00.000-04:002013-07-26T14:08:22.124-04:00welcome to mallory squareIf you've ever seen one of those ceremonies where the mayor of a city gives some notorious notable the <span style="font-style: italic;">"key to the city"</span>, haven't you ever wondered how the key recipient knows which doorway to the city the key fits?<br />
<br />
Like in New York. . . is it for the Lincoln Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel or the GWB <span style="font-style: italic;">(George Washington Bridge)</span>?<br />
<br />
If you get awarded the <span style="font-style: italic;">"key to the city" </span>of Key West, there is no doubt, Mallory Square is your way in.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Dp93nZ2J04/UfK6MQ4oKyI/AAAAAAAADes/NcrUCVmwh5w/s1600/welcome+to+mallory+square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Dp93nZ2J04/UfK6MQ4oKyI/AAAAAAAADes/NcrUCVmwh5w/s400/welcome+to+mallory+square.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-23338990075562118852013-07-18T19:29:00.001-04:002013-07-18T19:29:59.128-04:00bamboo shoots<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUAoaNmsek0/Ueh58aVOIKI/AAAAAAAADec/jejYqhlsBXs/s1600/Screen+shot+2013-07-18+at+7.26.41+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUAoaNmsek0/Ueh58aVOIKI/AAAAAAAADec/jejYqhlsBXs/s400/Screen+shot+2013-07-18+at+7.26.41+PM.png" width="337" /></a></div>
There are so many bamboo trees living in the garden, you'd half expect a family of fat and happy Pandas to be living back there. Bamboo can grow very tall so we cut them back every few months but, left un-eaten by hungry bears, they "shoot" right back again.Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-52173367470027334482013-07-10T10:39:00.001-04:002013-07-14T10:33:42.345-04:00trumbo point<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gUffMtdbDgU/SSr6Hsb5B2I/AAAAAAAAAow/n7mtJ5tquCA/s1600-h/oldnavy-4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272301323884758882" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gUffMtdbDgU/SSr6Hsb5B2I/AAAAAAAAAow/n7mtJ5tquCA/s400/oldnavy-4.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>While
was out and about yesterday I made a left where I might have gone
right and found my way to the back end of Bahama Village that borders
the old navy base.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gUffMtdbDgU/SSr6Hr7BpPI/AAAAAAAAAoo/ifnFm1J_zK0/s1600-h/oldnavy-3.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272301323746911474" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gUffMtdbDgU/SSr6Hr7BpPI/AAAAAAAAAoo/ifnFm1J_zK0/s400/oldnavy-3.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>The vaguely Aztec looking emplacement appears to be a long abandoned hollow hill.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gUffMtdbDgU/SSr6HepKDsI/AAAAAAAAAog/SQvQrVTODaU/s1600-h/oldnavy-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272301320182304450" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gUffMtdbDgU/SSr6HepKDsI/AAAAAAAAAog/SQvQrVTODaU/s400/oldnavy-2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 287px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>I'd seen this kind of military structure years ago, when I was living in New Jersey, at the old Nike missile base on<br />
Sandy Hook.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gUffMtdbDgU/SSr6Gyj93EI/AAAAAAAAAoY/Ut5A2asHix8/s1600-h/oldnavy-1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272301308349373506" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gUffMtdbDgU/SSr6Gyj93EI/AAAAAAAAAoY/Ut5A2asHix8/s400/oldnavy-1.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>The
installation made for some great pictures and when I got home I tried
to find more information about the why, when and how of the place.
Sadly, I came up empty. So, if anyone would care to share any
information about this or offer a lead as to where I might gain a little
insight, I would appreciate it.Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-69110457608303669012013-07-04T10:14:00.004-04:002013-07-04T10:15:51.591-04:00happy 4th<div style="text-align: center;">
. . . For the 237th time</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mHASuh648bk/UdWC4DeogrI/AAAAAAAADeM/u3SlD9WrBqg/s504/happy+4th.2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mHASuh648bk/UdWC4DeogrI/AAAAAAAADeM/u3SlD9WrBqg/s400/happy+4th.2011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i style="color: #999999;">graphic by art winstanley, © 2011</i></span></div>
Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-31761528843674017612013-06-23T15:03:00.001-04:002013-06-23T15:05:08.838-04:00an open window<div style="text-align: center;">
Life can be like an open window. </div>
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All kinds of crap can breeze in<br />
and the best parts of your heart can fall out.</div>
Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-44569446727878937572013-06-12T12:00:00.000-04:002013-06-12T12:06:58.199-04:00a drunken sailor at key west bight - VIDEO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="color: #666666;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click on the arrow to play - Run Time 3:13</span></i>Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-64790941359737687372013-06-09T20:19:00.001-04:002013-06-09T20:38:03.519-04:00happy birthday girlsSo, as it turns out, today (6/9) has been my birthday.<br />
The reason I know that is my mom, daughter Melissa and a couple of my sisters called to wish me a happy happy.<br />
<br />
For most of my adult life, my birthday by itself hasn't been a big deal for me.<br />
But because of the pretty girls in this picture here,<br />
it kind of is again.<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6t8Es_J4Bg/UbUaBhklUzI/AAAAAAAADdY/5VLojGtbwJA/s1600/areanna&riley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z6t8Es_J4Bg/UbUaBhklUzI/AAAAAAAADdY/5VLojGtbwJA/s400/areanna&riley.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
They are my daughter's daughters.<br />
<br />
The cutie on the left is Riley and the beauty on the right<br />
is Areanna.<br />
Areanna's birthday was yesterday(6/8), Riley's birthday<br />
is tomorrow(6/10). <br />
<br />
So once again, through no fault of my own, I am happily flanked by very pretty girls.<br />
<br />
Life's been good.. . .<br />
Happy birthday girls.Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-57113264773692743712013-06-08T09:29:00.001-04:002013-06-08T09:29:33.902-04:00a word from our sponsor<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw1_pdTnaEIbsKL8kZeEUwTzznvxTteBXU9SwoKHJWWjfPz1wfYoudv60oeGewGiONG7ZzwqxPrXiUoro2U6g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-15516622831052559942013-05-30T21:02:00.002-04:002013-05-30T21:09:12.725-04:00drawing a crowd. . .<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NPOSIRRHyhA/UafxbFPTs7I/AAAAAAAADcg/YfFtGGMGUo0/s1600/snake+shares+his+apple-11+copy+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NPOSIRRHyhA/UafxbFPTs7I/AAAAAAAADcg/YfFtGGMGUo0/s400/snake+shares+his+apple-11+copy+1.jpg" width="351" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><i>"Snake Shares His Apple"</i> </span>colored pencil on cotton rag, 11" x 14" </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 85%;">matted & framed</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">a drawing by: art winstanley </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyJqllxjohM/UafxqLYSbuI/AAAAAAAADco/DPgIRS27wZE/s1600/salvagehand-11%252Bcopy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xyJqllxjohM/UafxqLYSbuI/AAAAAAAADco/DPgIRS27wZE/s320/salvagehand-11%252Bcopy.jpg" width="281" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><i>"Salvage Hand"</i> </span>colored pencil on cotton rag, 11" x 14" matted & framed</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">a drawing by: art winstanley </span></span><span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-82191533498796475232013-05-26T22:57:00.000-04:002013-05-26T23:04:19.848-04:00memorial day<span style="color: #666666; font-style: italic;">General Order 11 (Sec. 1) - Grand Army of the Republic</span><br />
<i><span style="color: #666666; font-style: italic;">"The
30th day of May, 1868, is designated for the purpose of strewing with
flowers, or otherwise decorating the graves of comrades who died in
defense of their country during the late rebellion, and whose bodies now
lie in almost every city, village and hamlet churchyard in the land. In
this observance no form or ceremony is prescribed, but Posts and
comrades will, in their own way arrange such fitting services and
testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit."</span></i><br />
<br />
Formerly
known as <i>"Decoration Day"</i>, the day was originally set aside to honor
fallen Union soldiers of the<br />
American Civil War.<br />
<br />
Shortly after the end
of that war, freed slaves disinterred the remains of Union soldiers from
a mass grave at the site of a Confederate prison camp in Charleston,
South Carolina .<br />
They properly re-buried the soldiers in individual
graves, built a fence around them and declared the site an official
Union Graveyard.<br />
They returned to the site on May 30, 1868 together with
surviving Union soldiers to decorate the graves with flowers and
celebrate with patriotic singing and a picnic.<br />
After WWI, Decoration Day
was expanded to honor the fallen of all American wars.<br />
Though the
alternative name,<span style="font-style: italic;">"Memorial Day"</span>
was first floated in the late 1800s it didn't become common until after
WWII and later, in 1967, it was made official by Federal Law.<br />
<br />
Although there is no nationally prescribed ceremony to observe Memorial Day, as it states in the General Order above, <span style="font-style: italic;">".
. .Posts and comrades will, in their own way arrange such fitting
services and testimonials of respect as circumstances may permit."</span>,
towns and cities across the country have developed their own ways of
paying respect.<br />
<br />
Here again is a bit of Key West's Memorial Day
observance at the U.S.S Maine site in our historic cemetery.<br />
<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx9-ig9Rn0CNQOahhfIYqG3ut-pp0JC38fYnTEY1NQ65MQC_L2bqbhPM1rwmsktE30z20Gn8mJIt7fK3xWO8A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-46102944240970446752013-05-21T13:34:00.002-04:002013-05-21T17:59:00.279-04:00the mango tango<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Before I started writing this post, the only things I knew about mangoes
were that they're juicy, tasty little things, you can't only eat just
one and when you do eat them, you need a bowl of water beside you to
rinse off your hands.<br />
<i>(they're very juicy fruits)</i><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WN7goTM8_Qw/UZux31vD4WI/AAAAAAAADb4/nKnIXNelg6g/s1600/IMG_9218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WN7goTM8_Qw/UZux31vD4WI/AAAAAAAADb4/nKnIXNelg6g/s400/IMG_9218.JPG" width="341" /></a></div>
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Mango trees grow all over Key West. On my street alone, there are six mango trees and right about now they're all starting to bear fruit.</div>
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So I took a few pictures and looked the little buggers up. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vf9poTSuiWM/UZuw2QeHAZI/AAAAAAAADbQ/aoWtQ-CuOaI/s1600/IMG_9212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vf9poTSuiWM/UZuw2QeHAZI/AAAAAAAADbQ/aoWtQ-CuOaI/s400/IMG_9212.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The mango is known as the <i>"king of fruit"</i>.</div>
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Native to South Asia, where they have thrived for over 4,00 years the mango is the national fruit of India, Pakistan and the Philippines where it plays something of a sacred role.</div>
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It is a symbol of love and some believe that the Mango tree can</div>
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grant wishes.</div>
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Legend has it that Buddha often found <i>"tranquility and repose"</i> while meditating in a mango grove.<br />
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I don't have a clue how it happened, but in the 1830's, mangos found their way to Florida.<br />
<i>(and my taste-buds are so glad they did).</i><br />
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But, I don't pick mangoes, I wait for them to fall down to me.<br />
Still there are a lot of dudes around town with very long poles that have a sort of retracting basket on the business end. They can reach way up and pull down as many mangoes as the want, any time they want them.<br />
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But here's my thing. . .<br />
The dudes are reaching up, balancing those very very long poles, trying to get a grip on a mango. The pole sways right, the guy side-steps a little to the left. The pole sways left and the guy side-steps a little to the right; It's like a dance between man and his desire for fruit.<br />
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It's <i>"the mango tango"</i>.Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-45991707166422652792013-05-02T18:45:00.001-04:002013-05-02T19:11:45.743-04:00a raining day in paradise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It rained like holy hell for most of today.</div>
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It slowed me down a bit;</div>
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Gave me time to sort a few things out.</div>
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I enjoyed it.</div>
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<br />Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4064442692585765858.post-18903908640041196552013-04-19T13:57:00.001-04:002013-04-22T10:14:58.116-04:00god's quiet workLast week my cactus plant, I call him Spike, flowered again.<br />
I love
it when he does that and even though he's really only done it once
before, about 4 years ago, it's the rarity of the event that makes it
that much more special.<br />
<br />
The thing about these cactus
flowers is, they weren't there yesterday but they're here today and
they're gone tomorrow. So, if you're not paying attention, it's easy to
miss them.<br />
<br />
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I did notice it and took the time to take the picture is somehow
reassuring to me.<br />
<br />
In the face of all the noise and distraction that is
the current clusterf@#k of a world we live in and even as jaded as I
feel myself becoming, the larger part of myself is still paying
attention to the real world around me and remaining grateful for the
small things that are God's quiet work.Arthur Winstanleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07001315199292221793noreply@blogger.com0