from the porches

a touch of retirement

I'm getting a touch of what retirement may feel like.  Do whatever we want whenever we want.  Yesterday morning over coffee we were discussing options for our day.  This certainly included a touch of work, but mostly play. 

So during the morning coffee chat we decided to drive to the gulf at Steinhatchee, Florida for a nice seafood lunch.  Sherry, Quinn, Boyce, Truett and I piled in the Acadia and took off with cameras in hand.  Along the drive we whetted our appetites as we talked about fried oysters, shrimp and scallops.  Then an hour later we arrived at Roy's Seafood Restaurant for the best seafood we've had in a while.  Oh what a luxury it is to feel free.

Following lunch we took photographs.  We saw lots of one-legged seagulls.

    

       

      

                                          And a few seagulls with two legs..

       

                                       and seagulls in flight..

       

                                          We saw lots of pelicans..

      

                                       and other interesting sights..

        

      

                               floating scallop shells..

      

                               ...and barnacles on the piers. 

Finally, we slowly made our way back to Fort White with one last stop at Steinhatchee Falls.

       

What a relaxing magnificent day!

                                      

   

gypsies

When I was growing up in Tennessee a band of gypsies would travel through our small town and work in the cotton and tobacco fields.  Sherry and I were always fascinated by these wanderers.  At Halloween we would dress as gypsies and parade up and down the sidewalks in mama's skirts, beads and scarves, emulating the gypsies.

      

When Sherry and I were in High Springs the other day we saw this little homemade gypsy wagon which prompted us to relive our childhood experiences of gawking at the Gypsies and imagining what it would be like to travel from town to town in wagons, never having a real home.

      

While we were in the antique shop I asked the shopkeeper if that was, in fact, a gypsy wagon.  Unfortunately, the shopkeeper said it was modeled after an Amish wagon.  Well, so much for the gypsy memories.

      

It is so much fun to remember our childhood and the innocence with which we saw the world.  As children, Sherry and I dreamed of pitching tents in fields, sitting around bonfires and playing musical instruments, and of course, riding in the wagon.  We never imagined working in the hot sun for measly wages.  Oh, what fun we had. 

party time

We are all running on empty today from a terrific party last night.

       

 The young man playing the saxophone is Ben.  He is in high school and is a phenomenal saxophone player.  He certainly knew how to entertain older folks.

      

If you give women enough drinks, it's amazing how uninhibited they become.  Our friend, Mike McElwee is one of the best guitar players we know and he was certainly tuned in to the music women like. Good old blues.

      

 And if you give the men enough to drink...watch out! This was one of the more entertaining moments.  Lots of laughs! 

As I'm typing this Sherry is cleaning up the kitchen..finally.  Thanks sis.

holiday flowers

I love looking out my kitchen window during the winter months,especially because of a century old holly tree that fills the whole window view. Right now the holly tree is full of holly berries.

       

Next month the robins will flock to the holly tree and get drunk from eating too many berries.

      

A few robins will be so full and fat that they have a hard time lifting off the ground to fly.

      

 Looking out my front windows is also pleasing to the eye.  The camellias are in full bloom.

      

If red is your favorite color, you would love walking around my yard at this time of year.  The weather is in the 80's, the squirrels are scampering through the woods and I am reveling in the beauty of our place.

It's a perfect day for a party. 

christmas blast

I am having a blast this Christmas holiday.  First of all, my twin sister, Sherry, and her husband are visiting us.  They live in Elizabethtown, Kentucky.

Sherry and I decided to keep her visit a secret from my mom, so this morning I dropped Sherry off at Alice's Restaurant in High Springs.  Then I picked mom up and told her I was taking her to breakfast.  Usually, we go to breakfast on Sundays, but I told mom I was very busy on Sunday so today would be better for me.

When Mom and I walked into Alice's Restaurant, mom looked around for a place to sit.  I said,  "Let's sit here."  Mom looked at the woman in the booth and said,  "Well, I don't want to sit there."  Then Mom scanned the room for a different table. 

Once again I said, "Mom, let's sit here."  Mom said,  "I don't want to sit with that woman."

Then Sherry turned toward Mom and smiled and it took about ten seconds for Mom to process the information at which she said,  "I know that face....SHERRY!"

Merry Christmas, Mom.

Following that Truett, Sherry, Quinn and I drove to Gainesville to run errands, plus I wanted to take photos of the sandhill cranes that migrate to the University of Florida agricultural field each year.  Sure enough a few cranes were there.

      

       

               And that's not all.  Beautiful cows were grazing beside the sandhill cranes.

      

      

                                             Hello, Christmas cow.

I must admit that I don't know why one cow would have a 108 tag on one ear and a 109 tag on the other. Does anybody out there know why?

Truett's brother, Boyce, from Louisville, arrived tonight and is also visiting us, so I will have company for about five days. It should be loads of fun.

cristmas structures

Truett and I drive the back roads to and from Gainesville.  It's a peaceful, beautiful drive off through the rolling countryside.  Along the way we pass two structures.

         

This is an elderly lady's house.  She has many knicknacks placed around on her porch railings and in her yard.  It's one of those places that fascinate me. I want to go scrounging around in her yard and look at all her things.  In the summertime the lady displays her handmade quilts on the porch railings. The  beauty of the quilts hides the ruggedness of the house.

      

 Along SR235 stood three old tobacco barns.  This is the last one standing. I think it's beautiful.

We're pretty close to leaving for the Markhams for Christmas Lunch so

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

winter on the santa fe

In order to keep myself centered today, with all the myriad of things I have to do, I decided to post about winter on the Santa Fe River.  I find if I can keep nature in my forethoughts, then I can stay at peace with the helter skelter day...more Christmas shopping, grocerying, wrapping presents and laundry, and I can't forget about driving in Gainesville traffic.      

Most of the landscape around the Santa Fe River is now grey and brown.

       

It seems one of the few green things I saw at the river was this rock, which is completely covered by moss.

      

                  I have officially named it "Turtle Rock."

       

                               Here is a hawk circling over the river..

    

                and these are coquina shells found along the river bank.

      

  Kayaks wait for holiday guests and warmer days.  It is supposed to be 80 degrees on Christmas Day. Hip hip hooray!  

      

                                     Air plants thrive on a dead tree.

    

                      And I did see a few fall leaves hanging on for dear life.

It's very peaceful at the river at this time of year.  No screaming tourists.  No motor boats or tubes floating by.  Ohmm! 

It's Christmas Eve and I wish you all a Merry Christmas!

shoppers and shots

Last minute shoppers were out and about today in Gainesville.  I'm warning you now.  Don't go to Gainesville unless you have a doctor's appointment.  Otherwise you will be stacked in traffic like sardines in a can. 

                    What are your chances of seeing this on your highway? 

 

I am a last minute shopper.  One day I might get as smart as others.  I might actually shop on-line.  Then someone else can do the work.  But old habits are hard to break.  Truett and I have always been last minute tree putter-uppers and last minute shoppers.   Our philosophy: See it.  Buy it.  Bring it home. No window shopping or comparing prices.   

I think I know why we shop at the last moment.  It's probably because I get easily distracted and literally start careening away from home base.  Merry Jennifer has been known to hold my elbow to keep me from straying, to keep me focused.  

You see, I'm the kind of person who follows the call of a gift.    I always tell Truett,  "I'll know what to get when I see it."  What I don't say is, "I'll know what to get when I'm draw to it by color, sound, vibration or smell."  Then there's no stopping me.  It can be a "Duck Shoot" like I bought last year. 

It had all the ingredients for a great gift...for me.  I've been known to be impulsive when buying for my family as well. Just ask them.

                                                                  ***

Well, before shopping, I went to the podiatrist and got a big long needle packed with cortisone stuck in my heel to give me relief from pain.  Have you ever had one of those?   I compare it to going to the dentist and having a needle stuck in your upper gum above your front teeth.  Youch! 

"Now go put that foot up, ice it down and relax," the good doctor said.

  Surprise!  I told my podiatrist I had to get in at least one hour of last minute shopping, which I did. No straying today.  I hobbled from one end of the mall to the other, tossed my hands in the air and said,  "I''ll do this tomorrow." 

So Christmas Eve shopping seems to be the name of the game...again.

   

levi

I'm always relieved when December 21, the official beginning of winter arrives.  Why?  Because  December 21 is the shortest day of the year.  The shortest day of the year means less sunlight than any other day of the year.  Thank goodness that was yesterday because today I get to enjoy a tad more sunlight.  I know I am afflicted with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).  I get depressed if I don't have my sun.

Yesterday a cold front was whipping into our area and a gray blanket of clouds hung over Fort White so I told Truett I wanted to take a ride.  "Where to?"  he asked. 

"How about the river,"  I said.  So off we drove for four miles.  I'm glad we got out of the house because I would not have seen Levi.

      

 When we got to the river Truett said,  "I know that man in that old mail truck.  He's got the most vicious dog I've ever seen.  When I walked by that truck in town I thought that dog was going to eat me up..growling and snarling.  I expected him to break through the truck window just to get at me.  So keep your eye on that dog."

Well, the man and dog drew nearer to us so I shouted,  "That's a pretty dog you have there."

The man answered,  "Thanks.  This here is Levi."  And then the man called Levi over to us.  Levi loped right up to me, sat down and flopped out his tongue.  "This isn't a bad dog," I thought.

      

 Levi decided to take a swim while his owner told us Levi's history.  The dog did have an anger management problem.  He was abused as a puppy, but the man has trained him.  At one point the man thought he would have to put Levi down because of his bad behavior.

      

Well, it seems Levi is now only vicious if anyone comes near the truck or the man's house or even on the man's property.

      

                              Actually, Levi is just being protective.

      

It was good to meet Levi, even though if I see him in town in the truck, I will not be walking up to him.  I've been warned.

      

                               Good-bye Jim.   Good-bye Levi.

five hour tree

      

        The five hour Christmas tree.  Truett took this photo.  Thanks Truett.

      

                 This is a heavy iron dog ornament..one of my favorites.

      

Actually, this tree looks pretty good in the daylight too.  I finished it this morning and headed to my mom's for a final breakfast at Floyd's Diner.

      

Floyd's Diner has been one of those unfortunate businesses that has been hit hard by the recession.  I can say recession, can't I.  So after this next week there will be no more Floyd's Diner, which is a shame.  It has a really neat diner atmosphere.  Mom knows the employees well and it is upsetting her that the cook and others will be jobless in 2009.

      

I had to have just one more shot of Elvis with his Santa hat on.  Rumor has it that a prospective owner has been found to purchase Floyd's Diner.  I certainly hope so; but just in case, I wanted to keep this memory of Elvis.  Who knows.  The new owner may have a different theme for Floyd's Diner.

      

Well, it seems that while I was having a nice breakfast, Roger and Punky were having a ball with the ornaments.

      

                                    "Wake up, Roger!  You don't fool me, you bad cat."

      

                               "....He knows if you've been bad or good.."

      

                                  "Caught you too.  You bad cat, Punky!"

      

      "I may have to let you guys go free and adopt this Manx I saw at Floyd's Diner. Her name is Bob.  I bet she's a good kitty."