The "Real" Florida has captured my heart, my soul, my entire being. I already miss the the Spanish moss-draped Live Oak trees that line sandy streets of small town neighborhoods, the shore birds everywhere, watching the tides go in and out, the slow-paced living, riding my bike for miles and miles and miles. I miss the ramshackle cracker houses of Florida's hardy original settlers and the restored Victorians surrounded by cottage gardens. I miss the rivers, lakes, springs, ocean, gulf and beaches. I even miss the little green and brown Anole lizards that are always underfoot.
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Our route this trip took us from Jacksonville and St Augustine to Cedar Key, then to Micanopy, Macintosh, Cross Creek, and Orange Lake (a cluster of small towns near Gainesville). I did come back with one regret, that we missed seeing any springs on this trip. We drove 75 miles out of our way to visit our favorite spring at Manatee Springs State Park only to find that the park was closed (as were most of the state parks with springs) due to major flooding of the Suwanee River.
My obsession with documenting every interesting and/or beautiful thing has become a bit overwhelming, evident by the almost 1,000 photographs that I took in just one week. So my first Florida trip post is a little taste of some of the lovely places I went last week. Future Florida posts will chronicle my visits to each area. There is so much I want to show you!
Above, pic #1 "Miss Clarabelle", an old fishing boat now sits outside the Cedar Key State Museum. Yes, that's me in pic #2, showing off my crazy out-of-control Florida hair. Bangs are not my friend in Florida. I just realized that's the first picture of myself I have ever posted, and it's of me minus makeup with frizzy hair in a bathroom. Lovely. Below: The restored Sinclair home on Cedar Key, next to the museum.
St. Francis statue at a tiny park with Live Oaks and Plams, nestled in a grand neighborhood of historic downtown St. Augustine. The scent of Jasmine was in the air.
Cool mod house numbers posted on a Palm tree in St. Augustine. Strangely, the house at #47 sat abondoned and in disrepair, with notices posted on the home and trees. Of course, I was dreaming of restoring this old home on the river to it's former grandeur.
One of dozens (hundreds?) of feral or semi-feral cats on Cedar Key. Surprisingly, most look very healthy. The locals and tourists feed them.
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The tiny beach at Cedar Key at low tide. Sailboat anchored off in the distance.
Close-up of a beautiful Egret who was a constant presence by our little rental cottage. I must have taken 50 pictures of her.
The back of an abonded home in charming McIntosh. This one was calling for me to restore it too.
Sunset at Cedar Key.
A taste of Florida's golden years: The Boy outside of The 50's era Orange Hut, which I believe was in Orange Lake (lots of little towns clustered together, so it may have been one town over). The oranges we bought here were the best I have ever tasted.
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That's just a little taste of "The Sunshine State". I will alternate my Florida posts with other subjects so that you don't start thinking of me as that annoying person who wants to show you slides of their vacation. I just know this is a special place that should be shared with the world.
Camping in Florida in record breaking 98 degree weather...
On lookout for bison, wild horses, and alligators at Payne's Prairie...
Teaching a nephew to ride a bike...
In addition to the desks, we also have some other gems that will be available soon, they just need a little cleanup (a fabulous 1960's Olivetti typewriter, a teak Dansk ice bucket, and more mid-century gems). I can't wait to catch up with everyone, please forgive if I'm a lurker this week, as I have a super-busy week ahead of me: Company in town much of the week - and the housecleaning that goes along with it - and I'll be in Nashville for a couple of days.
Brown pelicans are white when they are young juveniles, although what's interesting is that they are already large - almost the same size as their parents. They live in the trees, completely reliant upon Mum and Dad for food.
The birds on the beach shown above and below are Cormorans, which I had seen recently on Anthony Bordain's No Reservations. For many generations, Chinese fisherman have trained Cormorans to catch fish for them. They really seem to have to sort of special kinship with people. These are cool little birds! They often swim fully or partially submerged, with just their cute little heads sticking out of the water. It's almost as if they were putting on a show for us.
Baby brown pelicans in the trees.
A Magnificent Frigatebird in flight. These birds really are magnificent. According to our boat's captain/guide/wildlife specialist, it is a mystery as to why the frigates chose this area to live and mate. They are truly tropical, their closest other habitat being 400-500 miles south. The frigates can fly for four months straight without landing, as they have evolved to allow themselves to sleep while they fly, at altitudes as high as 2500 meters. There were a number of male frigates perched in the trees "displaying" their chests a bright red, a mating ritual.
The beach where the boat dropped us for about an hour. We weren't allowed on the interior of the island, or anywhere near the bird breeding areas.
Many of us were combing for shells, the good ones are quite elusive on this beach. My sister-in-law found a really nice one, and was carrying it one around. This rather large hermit crab popped out to greet her. The shell measured about 5" long.
My Dad off in the distance, taken from the "tail" of the seahorse shaped island.
Footprints (sappy, but don't you wish you were there right now?...)
More Cormorans, the cute little devils.
Next time I'm in Cedar Key, I'm just going to have the boat drop me on this little slice of paradise for the day.
Above, pic #1 "Miss Clarabelle", an old fishing boat now sits outside the Cedar Key State Museum. Yes, that's me in pic #2, showing off my crazy out-of-control Florida hair. Bangs are not my friend in Florida. I just realized that's the first picture of myself I have ever posted, and it's of me minus makeup with frizzy hair in a bathroom. Lovely. Below: The restored Sinclair home on Cedar Key, next to the museum.
St. Francis statue at a tiny park with Live Oaks and Plams, nestled in a grand neighborhood of historic downtown St. Augustine. The scent of Jasmine was in the air. 
Cool mod house numbers posted on a Palm tree in St. Augustine. Strangely, the house at #47 sat abondoned and in disrepair, with notices posted on the home and trees. Of course, I was dreaming of restoring this old home on the river to it's former grandeur.
One of dozens (hundreds?) of feral or semi-feral cats on Cedar Key. Surprisingly, most look very healthy. The locals and tourists feed them.
Close-up of a beautiful Egret who was a constant presence by our little rental cottage. I must have taken 50 pictures of her. 
The back of an abonded home in charming McIntosh. This one was calling for me to restore it too.
Sunset at Cedar Key.
A taste of Florida's golden years: The Boy outside of The 50's era Orange Hut, which I believe was in Orange Lake (lots of little towns clustered together, so it may have been one town over). The oranges we bought here were the best I have ever tasted. 
Beads, little girl's plastic hairbrushes, an odd old lady doll (which looks familiar, can anyone I.D. her?), old matchbox cars, those funny round disposable ladies razors, beads, beads, and more beads...
Pumps, Handbags, Jello molds, curlers....Oh look, you can make out the owner's phone number in this photo! I'm not brave enough to call, but maybe someone out there can find out the story behind this piece of car art.
I should have taken a detail pic of the 45's to see what this car was playing.
And the small flames by the wheel well are the perfect finishing touch. Fantastic!
This picture isn't even staged. This is just what this couple's campsite looks like. I want to visit and have fruity umbrella drinks with these people.
Too cute tiny camper in turquoise. Martinis anyone?
Classic Airstream. Stunning in its simplicity.
Yes, the sunsets really are this pretty in Cedar Key, no photoshop necessary. I love this tiny island, and that's why I'm getting married there.
