Siesta Key Drum Circle

My second day of birthday celebration (see below) started as the sun began to make its descent. Every Sunday on Siesta Beach, crowds begin to gather and form a large, open circle. People bring chairs, drums, maracas and beverages. Soon there is standing room only around the periphery of the circle. 

As the drummers start beating their rhythms, children are first to enter the circle.

A regular dancer begins a ritual that invites others into the circle for the dance. 

This was a great opportunity to test my new lens from across the drum circle.

The big drums beat a rhythm that is enhanced by smaller drums and maracas.

Children, and the young at heart, are eager to join the dance.

For more drum circle, see Drum Circle II, below.

Two Day Birthday Party

Don't let anybody tell you a two day birthday isn't possible. 

I had one this year. Or is it two?

To celebrate my full 69  years, we started at the Marie Selby Botanical Garden here in Sarasota. Naturally, the Orchid house with its glass roof and rain forest moist air was the prime site for our seeing.

Pam and Adrian quickly got lost amongst the orchids and ferns.

It's that kind of a place: full of jaw dropping visions.

The Orchid house is lot like the world in microcosm.

Many a pretty face to distract the casual observer.

Here is a pretty face with a deadly grin.

Glad I'm not a fly.

These guys are playing coy and looking a lot like the bi-racial world we live in.

Pam and Adrian.

Perfect companions for a birthday celebration.

 Perfect companions for an old man,

whose real age is 44  years

according to Facebook.

Counting my blessings. Day one of another fine birthday.