Just a bunch of pretty pictures from a recent kayaking jaunt.
Kayaking on Mason Creek on a Lovely Day in May
Nature Coast
Places and faces in the Nature Coast of Florida
Market Day with Arts and Treasures at Heritage Village
Terry and I along with friends Tim and Connie did some traveling in Citrus County on Saturday–from the west to the east.
We started out in Crystal River at Heritage Village for Market Day with Arts and Treasures. I’ve been to many of these market days over the past few years and expected to find sidewalk vendors with produce, crafts and art.
Not so. A few tents. No produce. Just like a regular Saturday on Citrus Avenue.
The only reason I knew that it was Market Day was my musician friend, Paula Bateman, gave me a flyer at our last acoustic meetup. She was performing at the gazebo with a friend of her son.
And it’s a really cute gazebo.
As you can see from the above snap, there weren’t many in attendance. There wasn’t even a place to sit. A couple of benches and a few rocking chairs would have been a welcome addition.
Crystal River has a lot going for it with the influx of tourists coming to see the manatees in the winter, scalloping in the summer, and fishing all year round. So why aren’t these visitors shopping at Heritage Village with all of its little shops, art gallery, and cafes?
Even our local newspaper reported that there was an exodus from Heritage Village to downtown Inverness. An article that was a coup for Inverness but very discouraging for Citrus Avenue.
I can only believe that it’s a marketing issue. While Heritage Village does have an updated website, I see little advertising elsewhere.
This is a really nice area and I love shopping here. I bring our guests here plus I’ve bought many unique gifts over the years (sometimes for myself). Now I’m concerned that more of these stores will be closing down.
We did a little shopping, listened to Paula, and then headed on to our next destination.
Which I’ll tell you about tomorrow.
Friday Meanderings
Okay.
It’s Friday.
My favorite day of the week.
I’m sure it’s ingrained from all those years of working those jobs where Friday meant HAPPY HOUR! (or sometimes happy lunch that just continued into the happy evening)
Let’s talk about how great the weather has been! This is the weather that makes our northern visitors move here. Or just stay all year round.
Fortunately that’s balanced with the heat and humidity and hurricanes of the summer. I’m calling them the 3H. Which scares the rest of the visitors away. I’ll take the 3H over the snow that the northeast has experienced this year.
Speaking of hurricanes. We have sirens here in Citrus County. They were originally put in to alert us about possible nuclear disasters. Yes, here on the NATURE COAST we had a nuclear power plant. But it’s being brought DOWN. Oh, wait, the official term is decommissioned.
The Citrus County Sheriff’s Office sent out an announcement on Facebook that they are no longer using the sirens and are removing them. What? I’m pretty sure those were also used when we had possible hurricanes. (And there’s also a fire engine that goes around and announces really loud that YOU NEED TO EVACUATE)
and how will I know that it’s noon on Friday without our official alert announcement?
Heavy sigh.
Here’s some flowers and a bee….
Just a reminder that it’s the perfect time to stick some flowers in the ground. I planted these a couple years ago. Never liked bush daisies but I needed some color in a new piece of landscaping. We were having a lot of guests (someone got married in our back yard). And these crazy daisies have been beautiful. I had to cut them all the way to the ground last year when they were looking scraggly. But they are back and beautiful.
Thank you bush daisies. You make it through 27 degree weather.
Unlike my plumerias. Almost all passed away after that one night of non-tropical weather. But I have one sturdy one that perservers.
Oh, I’m really meandering this week.
So let’s get to business.
What’s going on this weekend?
A lot.
Brooksville is having their Blueberry Festival. Inverness is having a taste of Inverness. Crystal River is having a beer and wine tasting hosted by Burke’s of Ireland.
But all of those cost money.
Our plans are to stop in Crystal River for Market Day with Arts and Treasures at Heritage Village. We have a friend that’s performing at the gazebo.
Free!
I think Paula starts playing at 11 am.
And I can do some shopping on Citrus Avenue. And support our local merchants. (Guess I gotta buy something to do that!)
Fun!
Have a GREAT weekend!
Kathy