I started writing this blog almost 11 years ago. The first post was May 30, 2014. I got some help from my tech guru, John. In fact, he set up almost everything so all I had to do was write and include pictures. Over the years I’ve learned how do to a few more things, …
Manatees at Blue Spring State Park, Florida
Tom and I recently went to Blue Spring State Park in Florida to see the manatees. I had been wanting to go for a while and it seemed like this would be our last chance this year. Manatees are definitely warm weather animals. They cannot survive in water that is colder than 60 F. In …
Cleaning Up After the Ice Storm
Last week I wrote about our ice storm and this week I will describe cleaning up after the ice storm. The ice storm happened on Wednesday, January 22. Wednesday we weren’t allowed to do anything because of safety issues. Thursday the safety officer, Ranger Chad, and Ranger Margot did a safety assessment. Then Ranger Margot …
Fire Weather by John Vaillant
I finished “Fire Weather” by John Vaillant at the very beginning of 2024. Although it did not rate high enough to be one of my favorite books for 2024, it is a book that I have referenced many times in the last year. The massively destructive fires in Los Angeles that have been in the …
Ice and Snow on St. Simons Island
On January 22, St. Simons Island was hit by an ice and snow storm. Most of the country has been in the deep freeze, including the south. Temperatures all month have been the coldest we have ever experienced in our eight seasons on the island. I know it has been super cold in Ohio as …
Palms Fish Camp and Fernandina
Tom and I took a day off to drive to Florida and eat at Palms Fish Camp. Our friends, Wendy and Ron Bower were back for their month on Amelia Island and we went down to spend the day with them. Palms Fish Camp is the place Wendy and Ron chose for our lunch together. …
2024 Knitting Update: Socks and Hats
2024 knitting was very productive and fun. I had a chance to get some yarns from their places of origin. Two knitting groups inspired me: one on the cruise ship and one with my (finally!) new local yarn shop. I finished a big project and completed several smaller ones. And I raised money for cancer …
Wesley College Ministry Group at Fort Frederica
Last week the Wesley College Ministry from the University of Arkansas came to do a service project at Fort Frederica. The University of Arkansas is one large university with many different campuses scattered throughout the state. Each one has a Wesley College Ministry group to reach out to the college students. Usually the campus ministers …
Four Lost Cities by Annalee Newitz
Last year I read “Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age” by Annalee Newitz. It didn’t make it on my favorite books list, because I only gave it four out of five stars. Non-fiction generally moves much slower than fiction, so it is less likely to get five stars from me. Five …
Thirteen Favorite Places of 2024, Part 2
On Wednesday I wrote about seven of my favorite places from 2024. Those places were listed in the order that we visited. We went to so many wonderful places during our four months in Europe. Today I continue with my list, including my absolute favorite place that we visited. Eight. York Minster. Although I really …