Brass Bowl

This marker, located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Franklin and Brorein Streets, commemorates two individuals who helped to shape Tampa’s early years.

The text of the marker follows the image

OFFICERS QUARTERS
FORT BROOKE
–*–
Maj Gen ANDREW JACKSON
(1st Provisional Governor of Florida)
(7th President of the United States)
First Recommended This Area As A Military Site In 1818
(established 1824)
During the 1st Seminole Indian War

Brig Gen  ZACHARY TAYLOR
(12th President of the United States)
Commanded From Here, 1838-1840
the U.S. Army
in 2nd Seminole Indian War

Located along the Riverwalk, this marker spots the location of the Mirabella Fish Company.  Started in 1895 by Sicilian immigrant Sebastian Mirabella, it grew from selling fish from carts to a Fish Market, a restaurant and a fishing fleet.  The business lasted through three generations before falling to progress in the guise of the Tampa Convention Center in 1985.

(click on photo for 1200 x 900 image)

Here is a close up of the marker.

Buster Mirabella passed away last March at the age of 94.

Here are links to articles from TBO.com  and St.Pete Times

TBO.com March 16, 2008

St. Pete Times March 28, 2008

Sometimes a photographer gets so lucky he can’t believe it.  And he isn’t ready.  Such as this case.  I was trying out some experimental settings on my camera while in Melbourne when I stumbled upon TWO birds on my list to photograph.

The first was the Little Blue Heron, sitting on the shore doing his/her fishing thing, oblivious to me.  After snapping the picture and moving on, so did the bird.

I then walked around some brush to the rear of the Little Blue Heron, and was startled to see a juvie Great Blue Heron.  She/he only stood still long enough for one shot, and then nervously started walking away.  I moved away also, so as not to stress the creature any more than I already have.

Only then did I realize that my camera was not set to the normal settings, and the pictures might not be optimal.  I was right.  But this is what I got, so I have to accept that, and learn from my experiences.

The Bowl went on another Melbourne jaunt Labor Day, to celebrate a birthday.  While there, we took a day to see what the beach looked like.  Given the storms in the Gulf and the Atlantic, it was not a typical beach day.  I thought it would be interesting to show a beach that is NOT all sun and fun, but breezy and cloudy.

The wind was from the east, blowing onshore.  It was whipping up some fair surf, but the rip currents were also kicking up, so we didn’t see any surfers.   The lack of human activity on the beach brought out some of the native guys and girls.  This is a Ghost Crab, (Ocypode quadrata ).  They are called ghosts because they can disappear in a blink, moving up to 10 mph.  It took me a few minutes to get these shots, sitting quietly while my feet and lower legs went to sleep.

Below is a close up of this fella.  Click on the picture to see a 1024 x 768 image.

He was scuttling all over the place like Dr. Zoidberg.  What I didn’t know about the Ghost Crab is that while they can see 360 degrees, they can’t see up, so they burrow in the ground against birds.  They are about one and a half  to two inches in diameter, and look like the perfect snack size for gulls.

This sculpture sits inside County Center (601 E. Kennedy).  It was purchased in 2000 by the Board oF County Commissioners through the public art program.

(click on photo to view larger image)

Late note on this post being late:  Life has a tendancy to change your plans.  That happened last night.  I was late getting home from helping my folks, and was late getting up this morning.  So this post is late.

I hope everyone has a good safe weekend.  The Bowl is heading out to Melbourne to for a birthday party.  Look for some Brevard County flotsam on Monday!