Cracker Christmas in Kissimmee

Osceola Historical Society had their Cracker Christmas this weekend. Have never been here before but it was rather nice. Weather was not, which negated some of the experience but still worth the trip. Prerequisite of our next home; a water hand pump, the kid loves them, which means he can do all the fetching of water.

OK, so there is a story behind this picture...When we lived in Miami (many moons ago) our apartment complex was loaded with possums and Jon was totally wigged out by them. Imagine my shock when he voluntarily petted one?


Yup, another bonus park..Chisholm Park in St Cloud. Check out that cute little ass. We have been here before, this park hosts the Battle of Narcoossee Mill Civil War re-enactment. Never really took the time to explore and even though overcast and cool the upside was no brutal mosquito attack, which makes a fine day for a hike and stamping in.

The wild side of Blue Springs

It's winter and that means manatees head for warmer waters. On the central east coast of Florida, the destination is Blue Springs in Orange City with it's year round 72 degrees that the manatees find moderate and balmy. To be clear this middle aged wimpy mom requires the most scorching of a hot August day to consider 72 degree water comfortable. What can I say but..."To each his own"!

Joking aside, this was the most amazing afternoon we have ever spent at Blue Springs.
The Park Ranger informed us that the count this morning was 198 manatees and maybe they under counted? There were manatees every where you looked!

Bonus park...Lake Monroe Park in Debary. We stopped by this park, (you guessed it, letterbox), on our way home and what a gem! Would love to go back to this one and camp.

Everglades National Park

Last day of our South Florida vacation and this was our last stop before heading home, Ernest Coe Visitor Center of the Everglades.
In all we spied well over 30 gators. Sure it's the Everglades you say and I would agree with you...but these gators have free run of the place and there are no fences between you and them. That is no rock wall, the right side is about 14 inch high but the left is about 3 inches. That 14 foot gator if so inclined could have come right up and put his head in Masons lap!

Big Pine Key and Key Deer

On our way south Sunday for an afternoon of snorkeling in Looe Key we had to drive through Big Pine Key and while we were hoping to see some Key Deer, we weren't expecting to come across a Key Deer who had been hit by a car.


So we followed the deer cutting through some brush and then into a church parking lot where once I got out of my car this poor little thing started to follow me.
There was a car in the parking lot so I went into the church hoping someone was there and would know who to call. Absolutely thrilled someone was there, in fact the woman was a 911 dispatcher and she quickly put in a call to get this little gal some help.

John Pennecamp & Dagney Johnson

We can't let a lil ole thing like rain stop us, so it was off to John Pennecamp we went. Boohoo the welcome center was closed but the trails were open and we made good use of em. As you can see we won the prize and that made it all worth it.




Key Largo has another hidden gem, Dagney Johnson Hammock Botanical State Park. And yes we scored there too, an endangered FL animal trio carved by MooPoo.

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

Fort Taylor has the best beach in Key West although we didn't dip our toes in it today. There is plenty to do here besides swim...Tour the fort, hike the trails, enjoy the views. You would think the place would be packed but we were maybe 3 of 10 people in the whole place.

10, Ten, One Zero, Diez, Tien, Ti, Dieci, Dix...

December 7, 2010
Mason is 10 today!

The perfect ending to a perfect day, Mallory Square at sunset. Last b-day gift of the day... My Boy Blue invited Jon to join him in his acrobatic juggling fire act.
See slide show titled Mallory Square.

Polydactyl Cats, Southern Most Point & Cemetery

Hemingway's former Key West home is home to approximately fifty descendants of his cats (about half of which are polydactyl),they were everywhere! You are not allowed to pick them up but scritches and scratches are happily accepted.



Maybe an odd tourist destination but the KW cemetery is full of history and is unusual in that because the area is so close to sea level, burials are done above ground.

Looe Key

Quick change of plan...The weather looking not so hot this week and the best (warmest) day being forecast was today. Flexible we are so we headed south to Looe Key from Key Largo to take advantage of balmier December temps.

The good news was the sun was shining but it was a bit choppy, 1-2 ft seas and a bit cool. We snorkeled the first reef location but not the second, we were so exhausted from the first. Frankly the boat ride was the best part but snorkeling/diving is best done in the heat of the summer if you ask me.

Kokomo

Aruba, Jamaica ooo I wanna take you
Bermuda, Bahama come on pretty mama
Key Largo, Montego baby why don't we go...