Arrived at the hospital at 5:30am and 3 hours later the removal of Sandra’s gall bladder ocurred. There was concern that a more invasive procedure would have to be done. Instead an easier one was accomplished. The operation went well and she was able to come home. We didn’t get home until around 2. I had to run out again to pick up medicine and other dietary needs because of the recovery. Friend Lucy Tobias was too kind to make dinner for us and delivered it.

After the very busy month of so much time on the road, the cars are parked for a while and a week of rest is ahead.

To accompany this entry is a sketch of Sandra’s I.V. unit and one of the pre-op nurses.

Arriving very early Sunday morning at Carney Park in Marion County we were greeted by a mom deer and her kid. I sketched as fast as I could. The hike was 3.2 miles.

During the Springs Festival I donated my time drawing caricatures of folks who were kind enough to volunteer for the event. The greatest part of this event was reconnecting to someone I really admire, the great Dorris Bobber. Dorris is former mayor of Edgewood, Florida, and the great liberator of Orange County tax payers from the constraints of an insane road concept and sweetheart deal for developers formerly known as the Central Connector. Dorris’ daughter was volunteering for the event and sometime during my drawing her, she made the connection. She was extremely kind to call her mother who I spoke with briefly. I look forward to having lunch with Dorris and talkin’ my favorite subject, politics.

Speaking of talking, did that at the monthly gathering of admirers of cerebal exercise, The Moveable Feast. I drove from Marion County to Casselberry in Seminole County. I spoke of creativity, satire and the death of both in the U.S. I also drew a bit during the event. I left the meeting, as I always do, with my brain well exercised and wanting more. It took a couple days for my brain to slow down again.

By the way, that green shirt I’m weraing is of the film ‘Return of the Creature from the Black Lagoon’. I figured I should wear it at the Springs Festival, since that is where so much of the film was created.

The Legislative dinner prior to the start of the annual Springs Festival that was at Silver River State PArk was fun. Funny was the goldfish in the glass vase that watched us eat shrimp and such from a low-country boil. The boil was courtesy of Chef Randal White, who also happens to be my brother-in-law.

Also here is a fellow whose name I only remember as Cavuto. He was one of the speakers in reguards to urban planning and the protection of the springs.

Heading home demanded a stop at Tropical Acres (http://www.tropical-acres.com/)! It’s a great, old fashioned restaurant as a restaurant should be. The piano playing is a big plus. Here’s a pencil drawing of that.

Started Sunday at the Key West Botanical Gardens. Here is drawing of a gumbo limbo tree and a photo of me drawing it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

After that we headed to one of our favorite places, The Key West Butterfly and Nature Conservancy.
http://www.keywestbutterfly.com/

Drew and painted two for Sandy Huff and Warren Resen. I’ll post those later.

 On Friday I drew caricatures to  compliment the Florida Trail’s booth in the Outdoor Writer’s tradeshow part of the week.

 

 
 

Later, outdoor Florida TV star Jim Wilson played auctioneer. Lots sold and lots raised for a writers scholarship.

From the Keys I went to Pidgeon Key which is accessable only from the original rail bridge that Henry Flagler completed in 1912. A trolley takes you to the Key from a place off U.S. 1. The Writers Association met at Pidgeon Key for a meal.

 I beganning sketching one of the old houses on the very small island. Since there was a photography contest going on, lots of pictures of everything was going on. The tinted photo was taken by Sandra.

 

 

 

Member Bob Barbour walked up and asked if I’d sketch another house that he thought might make a better photograph. Here’s that drawing and the photograph he took. See more of Bob’s photographs here:
www.BarbourMultimedia.com

We got the car back and the pricetag was a mere $100! If you get stuck on Marathon call ‘Andy and Dave’s’!

 While Sandra was in meetings, I took off for Key West to help with some research and to make a couple stops.

One stop was to the Hemingway House. I had drawn an editorial cartoon a couple weeks ago of the harassment done by our federal government and the insanity that no one in Washington knew of cats

being at the House. So that a team of Feds were sent down to Key West, no doubt with their beach towels and sun tan lotion.

I gave the original editorial cartoon to the Hemingway House.

 Here’s a Hemingway cat in an interesting position tough for other critters.

We arrived in the Keys for the conference with the engine light on. A stop at Marathon Books gave us a direction from the owner. So the car was taken there the next day. Good ol’ Sandy Huff gave us a ride to the shop. After the drop off we headed to the Turtle Hospital nearly across the street. Started by a wealthy fellow who is concerned of the sea turtles and bought a motel and created the hospital. http://www.turtlehospital.org/

Sketched what I could. Rain made drawing difficult.