My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

I’ve always considered myself fortunate. And as I near my 60th birthday, I continue to count my blessings.

Terry and I have four beautiful children.  All with successful careers and all happily married.  Eight beautiful grandkids.  All unique and wonderful.

And I have two friends, Donna and Yvonne, that have been with me for over two decades.  We started our relationship as co-workers.  We didn’t even work in the same office but somehow we hit it off and have been together ever since. My grandniece even asked once how exactly they were part of the family.  They’ve been with me through thick and thin.  

When Terry and I moved to Houston for a few years back in 1999, Vera joined the group.  A welcome addition.  Oh, and Vera and Yvonne had worked together.  As MERMAIDS at Weeki Wachee.  How much fun was that?

We used to celebrate every birthday and then it was just an adventure every quarter and then it turned into a party for every BIG birthday.  When I turned 40, it was trip in a limo to a really great French restaurant.  At 50 I held my own party and they showed up with a vintage glider.  They always know what I want!

So for 60, my birthday trip was to Big Shoals State Park.  Cause I’ve turned into an outdoors kind of person that likes to hike.

We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast in White Springs.  How do I describe the place?  Perhaps a little more shabby than chic. But our hostess was very nice and made us a wonderful breakfast the next day.  And she had a really cool dog with a bad paw that was a birth defect.  Kia Sedona.  We bonded.

kiasedona2 - Copy

Kia Sedona

The B&B owner suggested we go to Stephan Foster State Park.  Just to check it out.  And then she said, Oh, wait till dark and check out the lights.

What a pleasant surprise!

Stephan Foster State Park

So much I don’t know.  This place encourages makers. People that create things with their own hands and make music.

And they have a folk music festival in the Spring.

My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

Check out this old quilt.  Beautiful.

And all of these handmade banjos. Made out of unusual things.

Kia Sedona

My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

I did some caroling with the fiddler. My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

This dulcimer couple were playing in my new house.

dulcimer

Just kidding.  I tried to convince everyone that this was my new house.  They scoffed. Really, I could live here!

My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

The next morning, I snapped some pics of White Springs.

My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

And then on to Big Shoals State Park.

We were hiking to the rapids.  A 2.4 mile round trip walk.  We had some concern that since the Suwanee River was low, there wouldn’t be any rapids.  But we could hear them before we could see them.

My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

Very cool.

My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

Then we drove home.  But first we had to stop and get some photos of long-horned cattle, horses and mules.

My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

mules1 - Copy My Birthday Trip to Big Shoals State Park

And then the birthday trip was over.  Oh, wait, we did stop at Crackers for lunch.  And then I made it to the OHHC meeting.  And they sang me happy birthday.  Cause it’s my birthday!

And the party continues!

Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza

Renninger's Antique Extravagnaza

We made our annual drive to Mount Dora for the Renninger’s Antique Extravaganza on Friday.  I seriously look forward to this all year long.  

Although there are two more Antique Extravaganzas this season, this is the BIG ONE!  

And it was crazy busy.  We headed out of Homosassa at our typical time–it’s almost a 2 hour trip.  Got there at 9 am.  And the parking lot was already almost full!  What???  I think there were a lot more men treasure hunting, too.  

We walked in the gate and were greeted by this dead fox and dead damn squirrel.  Knew it was going to be a day of strangeness with a heavy dose of taxidermy.

fox and squirrel

Renninger's Antique Extravagnaza

All I can think is that this antelope or antelope relative once upon a time was leaping over terrain.  And now it sits with its fake eyes on some lovely wicker outdoor furniture.

Heavy sigh….Renninger's Antique Extravagnaza

Squirrel for rent?  Squirrel apartment?

Renninger's Antique Extravagnaza

A sitar!  Could this be one of George Harrison’s sitars.  Probably not….

Renninger's Antique Extravagnaza

More animals.  This time they are concrete.

Renninger's Antique Extravagnaza

On this treasure hunt, Connie was the winner. Typically she buys tiny things.  This year she filled up the back of my grammy van.

Renninger's Antique Extravagnaza

I was kind of disappointed that I didn’t find anything that “spoke” to me.  Everything I bought was new stuff.  Maybe I already have too many treasures????

But we had fun!

treasure hunters

The Intrepid Treasure Hunters, Michelle, Connie and Me!