Annalia S.'s photos

Sometimes on one bank, sometimes on both, structures that were once water mills punctuate the course of the Arno River. Over the years, they have often gone through various transformations (factories, granaries etc) and this one has more recently been repurposed to become a hotel, called - what else? - Il Mulino di Firenze. I took this shot just before the wind picked up and ruffled the water surface of the pool created by the milldam. In the pips a different format in color of the same site, the "twin" mill on the opposite bank (now a residential complex) and a closer view of the milldam.

Piazza Indipendenza, around noon. Some seek the shade for their lunch break, some nap in the sun, And some others share the bread crumbs from some half eaten panino ... :) Have a nice week ahead, everyone!

A minute spider in my rosebushes, preparing its dinner "al cartoccio" :))) Andy, are you awake yet? Come on, all kinds of little "stories" out there waiting for you to get your strength back and come enjoy them!

For Andy I understand that over the weekend the doctors will be taking off sedation and allowing you to come out of this long darkness, hopefully slowly and gently. The only memory I have that would even remotely compare is from a long time ago, when I woke, from a minor operation that had nonetheless required total anaesthesia, to find before me the worried face of a nurse that had been shaking me and calling me loudly. "You gave me quite a scare, Blondie! I couldn't seem to be able to call you back!" he exclaimed as his features relaxed. As for me, however, I was as crossed as could be and felt like a persistent, irritating alarm had just woken me, way too early, from a deep, untroubled sleep and recalled me to a none too pleasant reality. So maybe, more than ever, this is the time you will need us to send your way as much light and color as we can, to help smooth the transition. If, like me, you wake up none too pleased and your ears buzz, well, blame it on us, Andy! It's probably us saying over and over: "Come on, Andy!" "Wake up, Andy!" "We're waiting for you, Andy!" "Hurry up and get back to us, Andy!"

A young sparrow takes advantage of our home-made bird feeder hanging from a tree branch outside a window. Hidden by the blinds, I was able to take this close up without scaring it off, but the camera's clicking sound still made it a bit wary. The feeder has had to be "fenced" to prevent pigeons from raiding it and leaving nothing for the smaller birds. In fact, it took three successive adaptations to finally succeed in foiling the clever strategies that one particular pigeon (which my husband nicknamed "the Engineer") kept coming up with to get to the food despite the protective net: for example, he would use his body weight to weigh down one side, causing the grains and seed to slide to the edge, where he could pick them out by craning his neck in through the net, all while hanging on to the rim with his feet and keeping himself airborne by fluttering his wings... I think my husband was half entertained half ticked off to be twice outsmarted by this clever fellow :D The third design, however, finally worked out. The Engineer still studied it for a while, tried various approaches, but eventually admitted defeat and went looking for more accessible food sources. HFF everyone! May you outsmart any form of pervicacious "engineers" out there that may be barring your way to an enjoyable weekend!

For Andy Not easy getting a youngster, full of energy to the brim and spilling over with it, interested in something that requires patient waiting and silence, but this grandfather was doing quite a good job at it. I am not fond of recreational fishing (not fond of anything in which "recreation" involves taking an animal's life, frankly), but I enjoyed watching the bonding of the two generations here. Even with its contradictions, life is beautiful. Andy, keep fighting that nasty virus and come back to us soon!

Happy Bench Monday, everybody! Have a nice week!

One of the ramps that lead to Florence's satellite villages from the path on the right bank of the Arno River. In the PIP: at the top of the ramp looking across the river to one of the villages on the left bank. Wishing everyone a sunny, pleasant HFF! Most of all, sending out to Andy Rodker light-filled thoughts and positive feelings to help him fight off the infection that is wearing him down.

For Andy Hurry up and show that virus what you are made of, Andy! Spring is out there waiting for you, with lots of flowers to be visited and honey to be tasted ...

For once, I was all ready to post my HFF among the first (1 a.m. on Friday, Europe time) and ... well, you all know what happened. However, thanks to the hard working people at IMA and Markus at Qwellcode, I found today that the image I could not upload on Friday morning actually did get uploaded (they restored everything, so that none of our data and none of our efforts got lost!), so I am sharing it anyway and still wishing everyone a post-facto HHF for Friday, May 14th, no matter how belated. :)) Have a colorful rest of the week, everyone!

Kidney beans are not easy to find around here. A friend who knows our preference for them found some dried ones at the farmer's market and gifted us a bag. I love their color and decided to document the various stages of preparation. First pip: soaking in water for at least 12 hours. They get all wrinkly as the peel rehydrates faster than the kernel inside. Second pip and main photo: after soaking, just drained. Third pip: cooked and dressed, ready to eat! With about half of them I made a less healthy but tasty "chili con carne" which ... didn't last long enough to be photographed! :D

Though they fall in flurries just like snow flakes in the wind, they are not cold and do not melt. They are the seeds of certain poplars (like the Populus Alba that grows plentiful along the banks of the Arno River). The cottony filaments help the seeds catch a ride on air currents and disperse widely, giving them a better chance to grow away from the mother plant, where they won't have to compete with it for light and nourishment. This particular tree, however, grows in an area sheltered from the wind and had little opportunity to send its "children" off into the blue. Most of them collected on the ground or got caught on the grasses lining the path.

For Andy. Light will break through, gently and little by little.

Benches sit empty on the village commons of San Jacopo al Girone, as the evening shadows begin to spread and people head home to fix dinner. A very late HBM this time, but still wishing everyone a great week!

Sending you a hug, Andy, as light as a feather so as not to distract you from the healing process. In the PIP, a graceful ballet figure from some wild plants in my garden.

Fence of an abandoned lot by the river. Whatever establishment once occupied the lot, it must have had a green color scheme ... :)) In the PIP a variation of the "green on green" theme. Wishing everyone a HFF and a weekend among green things!

All of us, "fish in the pond", are waiting for you to get back and play with us! Annalia

Looking for a road that would let me explore the left bank of the Arno river, I got lost in a maze of narrow side roads, most with walls on both sides protecting the privacy of well to do estates and interrupted here and there by custom made gates in various styles and tastes. The afternoon shadows were interesting though. In the main image shadows of trees, wall and gate seemed to form interesting lines and designs. In the first Pip the gate that produced the shadow and in the second Pip another take on the shadows of a border wall and trees on the opposite wall. Can you find me in one of the photos? Have a great Fence Friday, everyone, and a sunny pleasant weekend with lots of photogenic subjects to enjoy!