March 6, 2014

Yesterday morning we left Lakeland after making a couple of visits.  We spent the evening visiting Kathy and Dennis.  While there we saw a painting from a local talent.

 Today we visited the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.  It featured a Dolphin named Winter in the Movie Dolphin's Tale.  Some of the following pictures are at the aquarium while others were part of the set in the film.  Winter is shown here without her artificial tail.

 In the movie there was a Pelican named Rufus.  Rufus was played by Ricky and Lucy.

 Grammie was found taking a short break.  A Loggerhead Turtle.

Below, Winter's friend was rescued 5 years later also near Cocoa Beach. She is named Hope.

 A houseboat that was part of the set in the movie.

 Sawyer's two bikes used in the movie.

By the way, the movie also stars Nathan Gamble, Harry Connick, Jr., Ashley Judd, Kris Kristofferson and Morgan Freeman.  This is a favorite movie of our grandchildren.  The sequel, Dolphin Tale 2 will be out this Fall.  It is about Hope and Winter.

The day started out cloudy and had some late morning rain but the day ended well.

March 4, 2014

Time to catch up on the blog.  Yesterday's internet speed was very slow and so the time to make posts would have been frustratingly slow.

Yesterday we visited St Augustine which is the oldest permanent settlement in North America. (1513) or as they claim, the Nations oldest city. However thinking a little more about history, I would add (by other than Native North American Indians) to the previous claim.

The Old Fort (Castillo de San Marcos) was built between 1672 and 1695 by the Spanish.  It has been repaired along the way but is still a remarkable structure.  It shape reminds us of Fort Ticonderoga.

One of the main streets of town (St Georges) was quite active on a warm Summer like day.  Yes, we did find an Ice Cream shop.

 The oldest street (Aviles St) was actually quite empty.  Instead of a lot of tourist staffic, there was next to none.  Probably because this area is mostly private residences.

 The oldest home is in St Augustine.  Any previous homes that may have laid claim to the honor were burned prior to the construction of this home in 1702.

 The oldest wood schoolhouse in the USA

 
 Up the street about 1/2 mile is the location of the famous Fountain of Youth Archeological Park where the Fountain of youth is located.

 Not your typical Bird of Prey...but would they eat an insect?

 One of several jugs that were used to catch rain water for drinking. Some weighed as much as 800 pounds.

You may have heard of the Fountain of Youth located in the area first explored by Juan Ponce de Leon.
We got to drink from the Spring and we might feel a bit younger...but then again, there is no snow around.  A coincidence?  Anyway, here it is.

Today we left Jacksonville on our way to Zephyrhills to visit Herb and Betty.  It is always great to visit friends that you haven't seen in a while.  They really don't look old enough to be great grandparents.

March 2, 2014

Yesterday I mentioned that I have a problem with my car.  Before 7 this morning I headed to the Fix it shop.  When I got there I found out that it didn't open until 11:00 am.  Back to the room I headed and after trying to locate a rental car with no luck I decided to investigate the possible cause.  In no more that 2 minutes I located the cause of the  noise from the wheel.
How it got inside my wheel I don't have a clue, but anyway...problem solved.

We headed down to the World Golf Hall of Fame where we had been twice before, but this time Tom played The King and The Bear course.  It was created through the cooperative efforts of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.  The course was in great condition.

We are extending our stay in the area to so we can see more of St Augustine on Monday.

Our friend Anne sent me a link to the Audubon program we saw last week.   Enjoy.
Birds of Prey program at Fripp's Island

March 1, 2014

Hi all,
We finally left our friend Anne in Beaufort, SC.   While there on Thursday evening we went to an Audubon program on Fripp's Island.  The Birds of Prey Center out of Charleston put on the program.
They had 5 birds, 2 of which flew around the room going after bits of food.  They were floating just above head top occasionally giving someone a flap of the wings.  The presenters had a long day as they presented several times at a school, and then for adults.

Many of the birds at the center are ones that have been injured.  In some cases they are rehabilitated and in other cases, they become permanent residents at the center. Some of them are exotic birds and not from this area of the world.
For more go to Birds of Prey Center

 Beaufort is an Island community in South Carolina so the views of water are enjoyable.
Most of the land in the southern area of the state along the coast isn't much more than 50 feet above sea level.

Yesterday we took Anne to Parris Island and visited their Marine Museum.

Later a walk around the community.

Today we arrived in Jacksonville, Florida for a two day stay; however, late this afternoon one of the front wheels on the van started making a grinding noise.  So here we are on a Saturday night with no reliable wheels. We were supposed to go to the World Golf Hall of Fame tomorrow afternoon, and tomorrow is Sunday.  Here we are, stuck at a Navy Inn, 300 yards from a golf course, complete with a breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, and it's going to be in the low 70's tomorrow.  I guess we will have to check to see if we brought our sandals.  Good luck though, the lady at the front desk said there is an Autoport on the base that is open on Sundays.  Hopefully we can get service in the morning.  If not, there is always the golf course and, according to Punxsatawny Phil, only 3 more weeks of winter.
Keep the faith, winter is coming to an end.

February 26, 2014

Today we drove in the rain down to Port Royal, SC to visit a neighborhood friend who has given up the good life of a Mainer to become a Southern Belle (never). 
On the way down from Columbia, through Florence and along I-95 there were a lot of similarities to our very own ice storm.  Although the damage wasn't as extensive as Maine's, for a state that was so unprepared, it caused a lot of grief.  Cleanup is ongoing, but we didn't see many people lining up for firewood.
We will be in the area for several days so please know that we are safe as there are a lot of U.S. Marines at Parris Island, less that 7 miles away.  Tom plans to go over to see how they are doing tomorrow while also inspecting the golf course.

February 25, 2014

Sometimes a day goes by where nothing much happens.  Monday was one of those days.

Today we arrived in Columbia, South Carolina and headed into the State House.  It is really interesting to hear what has happened in different states and here was no different.

Our guide (Paul) did an excellent job, especially with a group of 1st to 3rd graders from a private school.  It was also great to see the students so well prepared.  They knew a lot of the answers to questions he posed.

Below, the Third State House building (the other 2 burned).  What southern state wouldn't have a Confederate National flag flying.    The Palmetto Tree (right) was selected as the State Tree because of its durability during an attack to Fort Moultrie. The soft palmetto logs at the fort did not crack under bombardment but rather absorbed the shot. It was said that cannonballs reportedly even bounced off the walls of the structure.

The house chambers were well lit and more colorful than others we have visited.

The Mace, the House authority,  is also the oldest original one used in the U.S.  When put in front of the desk means “the House is in session”. The mace was a 1756 gift from England. During the Revolutionary War it disappeared, and was discovered 40 years later in a Philadelphia bank vault!

When the doors of the house chambers were closed, up came Rep Walton McLeod who opened the doors for the students and was happy to take the time to talk to the kids about the House and the State.  He could have been a great teacher.  He had the knack for talking with the kids.

This ordinance is claimed to be the act that started the Civil War.  Can anyone imagine repealing the Constitution?

Yes, blossoms on the tree, the sounds of "peepers", the sight of a Robin...and green grass...and sunshine too.  Wish you could be here.

The State House was a busy day according to the guide.  Apparently there were many lobbyists that were just outside chambers both for and against common issues.  The link below came out on this afternoons news.

Outdated Law?

Oh, and one other thing,  for Bob and Glen, the State Dance is the Shag.

February 23, 2014

Today, Tom got off to an early start, hustling across the road to the golf course and got to play before we hopped into the van and headed for the Virginia State Capitol Building.  It is truly unique in that it's history dates back to the late 1700's, and the main building has been wonderfully restored as well as the additions made after.

Even though Jefferson was known for a more important position, he considered himself an architect.  This is part of the room he designed.  Although not completely original, today some of it is still original.

The Old House Chamber was used from 1788 to 1904 by the House of Delegates.  In 1829 and 1956 it was used to make amendments to the Constitution.

To the right is where Gen Robert E. Lee stood when he accepted command of the Armed Forces of Virginia.

 

Part of the statue of Washington created by Jean-Antoine Houdon who came to the US for 17 days. He made a plaster cast and took measurements of Washington and then created the finished product.

The tour guide did an excellent job and gave a lot of historical details.

To read more about the building you can visit

Virginia Capitol Guide.

All in all, a wonderful traveling day.

February 22, 2014

We spent most of the day on the road driving into the nice warm sunshine.  We finally arrived at Dover Air Force Base around 4:40.  This base is really well organized.  Right across the street from the Inn is a golf course, and what is really great is that there is no snow.  The top temp of the day was around 62 and the snow finally disappeared once we left New Jersey.  A good day for travel.  There were no tie ups on the George Washington Bridge either.
Sunday should  be a fairly short trip down to Richmond Virginia so we can stop and maybe have an ice cream.
Have a great day everyone.

February 21, 2014

Hi all, today was a fitting day to take a break from the weather.  With bags packed, 

we said goodbye to the kids and grandchildren and headed for the warmer states.

Even the Travelocity Troll said enough is enough.
Today we reached the home of 2 time Olympic Silver Medalist Meghan Duggins.  She is the Team Captain of the Women's Ice Hockey Team and scorred a goal in the recent game with Canada.

Will send pics of the sunshine as soon as we find some.

November 1, 2013

Today, we made a decision to see no more Capitol buildings for the rest of the trip.  Our choices today were to visit the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, MA and then go to church in Great Barrington, MA.

The pictures you see here were either the originals or prints that are in the Norman Rockwell Museum.

Norman Rockwell Museum

There is a complete collection of covers of the Post magazines illustrated by Norman Rockwell.  Many of them were from private collections, donated to the museum.

 It is almost that time of year to give thanks.  This is one of the Four Freedoms collection.
A lot of thought and effort went into his paintings...to include many photographs, detailed sketched and the finished paintings.  Many of his models were local people.

Many of you have probably seen this one before.  It should be a reminder to get your flu shots.  We got ours today administered by a family friend (wink).

"The Lineman" was originally done to promote AT&T.  It later was said to belong to Verizon who in turn donated it back to the museum.

Rockwell's vision of the Main street of Stockbridge. 

How could any mother not call this Thanksgiving?  A soldier being home enjoying something with his mother that he learned to dislike in the service.

 

 Do unto others...

 To all the Red Sox fans out there...

 Rockwell's place where he did his paintings.  It is said that he was an immaculate painter and that everything was clean at the end of the day, whether he was working on 1 or 6 paintings.

We learned that one of his paintings was stolen from storage in New York City.
Rockwell painting "Sport" stolen.

This sculpture was done by Peter Rockwell who is widely known as a sculptor.

As promised, after a wonderful vacation, we went to church.

Where's Grammie, just outside the doors of the Old Trinity Church in Great Barrington, MA  The Trinity Church is where the song “The Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” began and where the movie “Alice’s Restaurant” was filmed.

The cross still remains, although inside.

You can get anything you want.....

People and places.

The National Academy for Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame award for "This Land is Your Land" by Woody Guthrie.

Today, the Old Trinity Church is known as the Guthrie Center.  It is an Interfaith Church.

The Guthrie Center. 

Even the day started out to be really rainy and blustery from the storm passing through, things were much better by the time we left the Church.

By Saturday evening, we should have seen all of our grandchildren and most of our children.  It has been a great and wonderful ride, each of us sharing it with our best friend.