Wakulla Springs

Part of our trip to Florida Wakulla Springs, what a delightful, beautiful place.

How so much more of Florida must been like this. Just look at the crystal clear water.  This is in the part of Florida they call The Bend, south of Tallahasse the capital.  In the Panhandle area.

If you can see the two shadows in the water in the photo above, they are a mother manatee and her baby.

BASIC FACTS ABOUT FLORIDA MANATEES

The Florida manatee, Florida’s state marine mammal, is a large aquatic relative of the elephant. They are grayish brown in color and have thick, wrinkled skin on which there is often a growth of algae. Their front flippers help them steer or sometimes crawl through shallow water. They also have powerful flat tails that help propel them through the water. Despite their small eyes and lack of outer ears, manatees are thought to see and hear quite well.

© Brian Skerry / National Geographic Stock

Diet

Did You Know?

Manatees only have molars, which are used to grind food. As they wear down and fall out, they are replaced with new teeth.

Manatees are herbivores; they eat marine and freshwater plants.

Range

Manatees take up residence primarily in Florida’s coastal waters during winter. Some individuals migrate as far north as the Carolinas or as far west as Louisiana in summer. Manatees have swum as far north as Cape Cod, Massachusetts in recent years!

Behavior

Manatees can be found in the warm waters of shallow rivers, bays, estuaries and coastal waters. Rarely do individuals venture into waters that are below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

Did You Know?

Manatees only breathe through their nostrils, since while they are underwater their mouths are occupied with eating! A manatee's lungs are 2/3 the length of its body.

Well known for their gentle, slow-moving nature, manatees have also been known to body surf or barrel roll when playing. They normally rest and feed often. Manatees communicate by squealing under water to demonstrate fear, stress or excitement.

Reproduction

Mating Season: No specific period.
Gestation: About 1 year.
Number of offspring: 1 calf.
Calves are born weighing between 60 and 70 pounds and measuring about 3-4 feet. They nurse underwater.

Of course an alligator.

Rob and I spent a delightful morning here and only wish we had had more time to just stay and swim in the designated beach and swim area.

Several movies have been filmed over the years here, including some Tarzan moves and The Creature From the Black Lagoon.  In fact Ricou Browning a life guard here in the fifties parleyed his being offered the stunt man job for the Black Lagoon movie, into a career in the movie industry, even working on a James Bond movie.

Some of the photos are mine and some were taken by Rob.

Christy

Blogging Break

I just don't seem to to be able to get into the swing of Blogging again since I got back.  Plus it seems like I have been home from vacation for months and not weeks.

Last week was 100 degrees F all week, and high humidity, it has been a killer.

A number of things have happened that have been very trying.  Within a week of getting home the engine on my son's Mini went, Ya!

After much debate we decided to sell it, as is, needless to say with a great loss of money and it was his baby. In fact I'm very proud of him, because he took it better than mum did.  He takes after my husband for that.  He said mum basically I worked two years for nothing and that's about right.

So here we are looking for a third car in less than one and a half years, with no money saved up.

He did find a very old Miata, which satisfies his joy of driving and was just about what he could afford after this debacle.  Plus the mechanics are simpler and he thinks that he can do more of his own repairs on it. You never know with second hand cars.  The Mini looked so good and had such what we thought great provenance with one owner in his sixties.  But we decided he must have let his teenage college sons use it much more that was said, because the engine was filthy, which denotes that the oil was not changed as should have been, maybe went away to college with them and was not looked after, who's to say.

Then I caught a very bad summer cold, in fact we all did.  On top of that I scalded my hand and arm, from fingertips to the elbow.  Fortunately I think getting it into iced water straight away really kept the blistering at bay.  It was like the last straw though.

Plus it has just been summer and just seemed to need a break.

So please excuse dear Folk, I know you have been expecting many more updates on our Florida trip and have expected me back.

Christy

Rainbow Springs, FL

Jurassic Park revisited, at least that is what Rob and I kept saying to each other.

We did not get to Rainbow Springs until the evening, and by the time we had booked into our campsite it was at least 6:30 PM.  We asked what was there to see and the Park Ranger said if you go out of the Park and re-enter it ten miles down the road you can visit the Springs.

So that is what we did, getting there about 7:00PM.  There was only one other car in the parking lot.  We walked up to the entrance and had forgot our campsite tag that was in the camper, but she let us in, great because it was a bit of a walk back to the van.

The light was fading down to evening, it's dark by 8:30PM to 9:00PM in Florida; actually the sun does not rise until 6:30 AM.  In any case off we set saying Wow! we had no idea this park was so beautiful, this was diffinitely left out of our guide book, or we would have made an effort to get here a bit earlier.

We've been walking around for about 15 minutes, when the sky starts to change and a storm is obviously coming in very quickly.  The ranger finds us and says are you the orange van in the parking lot?  Yes, that's us and we are the only ones visiting.  I need to warn you to seek cover. The wind is whipping up and we are rushing around trying to see everything, we would have had until 8:30 PM closing time of the park, under normal conditions.

Then the rain starts and the wind is blowing and here we say, are we reliving Jurassic Park, we were expecting a T Rex or a Velociraptor to come out and get us.  We ran for shelter to the entrance area, which also has a restaurant, but closed up and there we stood watching the rain torrent down.  It was a great experience, one we will not forget.

The ranger found us trash bags to put over our heads to run to the car with.  After that I always carried my tiny plastic poncho cape in my handbag and of course never used it.

Can you see the movement in the trees and plants, the wind is whipping it from side to side.

Rain pouring off the gutters.

What a beautiful place, I would definitely visit here again.  But I think our experience there was a one off.

Rainbow Springs is in the area where many thorough bred race horses are bred, the Ocala area and is known as The Horse Capital of the World, and here I thought Kentucky was, but not so.

Christy

Dunedin, FL

When you are setting foot where you have never been before, you must rely on what other people say, the web and guide books.  So the guide book said Dunedin was a nice town to visit.  So we made a slight detour to spend some time there and we were not disappointed.

These little lizards are everywhere in Florida.

Just loving the houses along this street with Spanish moss hanging down and a view across the bay.

Rob and I visited a local artisan work ship, very interesting.  There was a welding shop there and they had almost finished making a mobile beer brewer, wish I had taken photos, that was pretty neat.

On his recommendation we had lunch at Kelly's.  We did have to wait a while for an inside seat, but it was so worth it with the temperature so high.  When you drive all day with no AC you do appreciate a little when you can get it.

I had the grouper fish sandwich, delicious, Rob had fancy French toast.  Had a wonderful cold beer.

This is my very wide brimmed hat, excellent for Florida.  Worn on the beach, kayaking, they must have thought who's that crazy person, but it did the job.  It's mostly made from paper and comes from Italy.

We ended our visit with a trip to the ice cream parlour.

Christy

They Were Sisters by Dorothy Whipple Film on You Tube

Last night I watched the entire movie of They Were Sisters here on You Tube.

It stars James Mason as the nasty husband of Charlotte.  The other actors and actresses are not so well known at all.  The film was released in 1945.

If you have read the book and are a fan of Dorothy Whipple I think you will enjoy the film.

They Were Sisters, the book, is sold through Persephone here

The book makes for very compelling reading.  I would love to see it done as a Master Piece Theatre Production by BBC.

Enjoy!
Christy

On The Road 1978 VW Camper Van Westfalia Florida Our Adventure

Well I'm back and how hard it is to come back to the routine of work.  If it was just home that would be great, but work is a matter of big time catch up.

One of the funniest things has been driving my eleven year old car, I keep marvelling at power steering and power brakes, let alone automatic.  Actually a newer stick shift is fine.  Air conditioning is nice too.

I think I built up arm muscles turning that steering wheel, plus leaning over like a lorry driver to get it into third gear which was a very long reach.  When I pulled away from a light a least four cars would get a jump on me, some people are patient, some are not.

You may remember the old wing windows in older vehicles, I've always been a fan of these and they were a saving grace in the VW Camper Van.  Something else that came to me was that you did not have to lock the locks with the key, you can just hold them in and they lock, that was a throw back to older times, and actually had to inform my mechanic head son about this feature, yes mum does know a few things.

Did we have fun yes.  Two thousand miles in two weeks.  We were up to the Bend of the Panhandle and right down to the Keys.  We saw some beautiful sights of nature, which made you think about how Florida must have been, from great wealth in Palm Beach to poverty and strip malls in between.

Some parts of Florida you can drive for miles on the side roads, which was great for us at our speed and not see another vehicle for ages.  In many areas it's hard to find even a coffee shop but you will find a church and it will be the First ... Something.

Here I am at the wheel on our first full day out.

Fort DeSoto County Park our first sunrise in Florida and not too far from where we picked up the van.

After we arrived, in true Florida summer tradition a thunder storm came through and dropped a lot of rain.

So here I am just checking out where we will be heading.  I'm having a cup of tea after finishing our chicken sandwiches.  We stocked up on food at Publix, which seems to be the main food chain in Florida.

So will be posting our adventure.

Christy

Tea For Two

Tea for two, just love this crazy image.

Anyone for a spot of tea?

Christy

Early Morning Light A New Day

I love the early morning light in my garden.

Tink likes a little stroll around the garden.  Had a nice cup of tea out here the other morning on the Pond Patio.

I always feel that a peony is a little posy in itself, if only the blooms were more hardy and the rain didn't beat them down so.

Mr. B. hung one pot on the tree just to get it out of the way and I thought that's not such a bad idea.  My poor ash dies a little more each year.

Has been a busy week, working full time and trying to get ready for our trip to Florida, yes that's tomorrow, we fly out of Philly.

The limits on luggage are rediculous.  If you put anything in the hold they charge you $25.00 each piece.  So we are allowed two carry ons.  One the size of a laptop case, I have a rolly for that, and the other up to 40 pounds, the size of which is the smallest in a set of three suitcases.  I refuse to pay extra.  I'm rather spoilled with the trans Atlantic run, where every little thing like a glass of water is not extra and all drinks and food is included.

Today tropical storm Andrea has hit our area, it has been coming up and across the east coast from yes guess where Florida, but hopefully it will all be over by the time we get down there on Saturday.  Just have to pack, most of my things are gathered together.  I start a week or so before making a list and then getting all those bits together in one area, it makes me feel less stressed.

Did shop for a few extra things, like those Keen walking shoes, although I got a different make half the price and I like them better, bacause the back strap is velcro it makes it easier to put on and take off.  The color is a mid grey and lime green.

Take care of a great weekend.

Florida here we come!

Christty

Little Free Library

A woman peeks inside the Little Free Library in New York City. The funky structure is one of 10 mini-libraries that popped up around the city recently. Visitors can duck under the inverted plastic tank & browse the 40-book collection. Borrowing is on an honor system: You take a book, you return a book. The project was inspired by the Little Free Library movement, which aims to promote literacy & a love of books.

I have seen little boxes outside peoples houses with free books, borrow one and return one.

Interesting.

Christy

Inspired By My Neighbors Yellow Roses

My neighbor has a lovely yellow rose bush.  So I was in Aldi's and looking pretty forlorn were those last packaged rose bushes that no one has bought and will just be thrown out, all discounted.  Mr B. said you have no where to plant them, as he could see that I wanted to buy one of the yellow ones.

Well I went home and thought about it overnight and sure enough I do have a space to put one, and then when I got back I couldn't decide between the New Day and the Origold, so decided to buy both.  At $2.99 each not a huge expenditure.

This was my inspiration for wanting a yellow rose bush.  All my roses are in huhs of pink, lilac and red with a little yellow.

My neighbors rose bush.

So in the back kitchen garden I planted the Origold.

And under the kitchen window I planted the New Day.

A posy of cut yellow roses and my red roses on the pond patio table.

Christy

Stanley Theater, Jersey City, NJ

Jersey City  Stanley Theater

The Stanely Theater in Jersey City is an amazing restoration of a beautiful old movie theater.

Tinkerbell and Temperature

What's a girl to do in the dog days of summer at 91 degrees f, take a little siesta.  One never says cat days of summer.  No AC in our house.

She looks a little done in doen't she?

Christy

The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency

The No 1 Laidies Detective Agency is, as you probably know a series of books written by Alexander McCall Smith.  Set in Botswana a most beautiful country.

I have not read as many of the books as I would like to but always found them a delightful, heart warming read.  So I was delighted to stumble across the pilot to an HBO series on You Tube.

Jill Scot plays Precious, she is a warm character, but strong.  It takes you back to her childhood and close relationship with her father, with some beautiful cinematography of Botswana.  This is not to be missed, and I will search around for more on You tube.

There are also interviews of the making of the film in Botswana, and how happy folk were to have a positive heart warming portrayal of an African country.  Many things are so true to life, the beautiful singing at her father's funeral, the way of greeting each other when you go shopping and I could go on and on.  But go take a look for yourself, you will not be disapointed.

The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency Pilot here






I do love the singing, my first exposure that I remember to South African singing was in Paul Simon's Graceland Album, and after that we bought many CDs of different South African groups, such as Ladysmith Black Mombazo and others.

Enjoy!

Christy

P.S.  A lot of drinking of Bush Tea, a girl after my own heart.

Paper Weights

My sister BB phoned over the holiday weekend and said that she had been car booting and was starting a collection of paper weights, so I mentioned that I had a few.

So this is my collection.  The millefiore paper weight was given to me by my grandma Kitty and comes from Venice.  The red robin was given to me from an old family friend, auntie Gladys.  I had the robin, BB my sister has the kingfisher.  The teapot was a gift from my friend Candyce, what could be better for a Brit.

The others I collected, the old bridge and boat scene because many years ago in autumn my friend Nancy and I, in our single days tool a trip up to Nova Scotia, driving through the New England states to get there, and one of our campsites was right by this bridge.  We were driving Nancys' old black VW Beetle.  This paper weight is probably from the turn of the century, oh not this one, the last one.  Wow that's funny to think of.  The little flower too.

So BB this is my little collection.

Christy