Saturday, February 28, 2015

Move Living History

Hi All,

Our week has been full of Living History experienced. Here are more cannon firing photos.

Carl ramming the charge home!

Moira fires the 3-Pounder

Today was the Kingsley Plantation Heritage Celebration. Sandy demonstrated butter churning and got students to help churn for some of the 35 minutes required.

Then, after squeezing it through cheesecloth, she added some salt to the butter. It was delicious. It is amazing what happens when you churn heavy cream for 35 minutes!
One of the other volunteers baked a bread for us to use with the fresh bread-Yum!

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Cannon Fire Training

Hi All,

Did you hear a loud booming noise about 1:30 PM today?

That was us; Ranger Moira and volunteers Sandy and Herb along with ranger Craig and Carl(not in photo) fired the Fort Caroline cannons.

The 3-pounder in the back was fired with one half pound of black powder. The 12-pounder Dahlgren in front was loaded with a full pound, equivalent to seven sticks of dynamite! The BOOM, FLASH and CONCUSSION was AMAZING.

We will be firing the cannon at Camp Milton, a Confederate Army base, next week. In addition, several reps were on hand today from Jacksonville's new NASL Soccer team. They might want us to fire the cannon at their home games. That would be cool!

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Friday, February 20, 2015

A Joy of Cold Weather

Hi All,

Though not cold compared to elsewhere in the country, the 25 degree overnight low here in Florida had one great benefit. The birds are eating like crazy to stay warm so they stay on the feeder longer.

Sandy took these great shots of painted buntings early this morning


It is hard to believe how colorful the males are.
Stay Warm

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Thursday, February 19, 2015

Fort Clinch State Park

Hi All,

With another sunny day off we drove up to Fort Clinch at the north end of Amelia Island. Built in 1847 and garrisoned during the Civil and Spanish American Wars, this large brick fort is very well preserved.

It protects the mouth of the St Mary's River between Amelia and Cumberland Island.


Simple quarters for enlisted men.

Looking for a few good men in 1861!

It was cold and windy so the fire in the kitchen was welcome.

The Quartermaster issued uniforms and equipment to the troops.

Three big guns of the main battery.

After the fort, we hiked along the Willow Pond Trail. Perhaps it should be called Green Pond!

This turtle obviously knows that alligators don't eat when it is this cold.
After the park, we had a great lunch at Karibo Grill in Fernandina Beach. Thank you Betty & Walt for the suggestion.

Stay warm & dry all.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Monday, February 9, 2015

Brunch & Birds

Hi All,

We said our good-bye to Millie this morning as she headed for work. It was great visiting with her.

We then met Roberta & Elliot for brunch in downtown Delray Beach. After a brief walk around town, we drove to the other great birding spot in the area, Wakodahatchee Wetlands.

Carl took this picture mostly so we would remember how to spell Wakodahatchee but decided to include it so people would not think we were making up stories of birding at sewage treatment facilities.


Wood storks greeted us.

We soon spotted this brightly colored purple gallinule

just before he departed.

This is a least bittern, usually very reclusive.

This is a female Anhinga. The yellow spot in the nest is a newly hatched chick.
Soon it was time to head back to Jacksonville. It was a wonderful visit and we will do it again in early April when we finish volunteering at Ft Caroline.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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Sunday, February 8, 2015

Mizdner Art Festival

Hi All,

Today we were off to Boca Raton for the Mizner Arts and Crafts Festival. Someone opined that everything would be too expensive but we proved them wrong.


Held in an upscale outdoor mall, it was a beautiful venue.

With Pablo's words before our eyes

we sought to rid ourselves of the dust.

Roberta and Sandy worked hard to wash away the dust.


Sandy finished the day without a speck of dust ;-).

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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Weekend trip down South

Hi All,

Friday we drove down to Boynton Beach, FL to visit some friends who long ago (20+ years) moved to south FL as well as many MA snowbird friends. This sure was a great year to fly away from the snow.

First stop was in West Palm Beach to visit Ak & Eileen Kates. We then drove to Boynton to stay with Millie Rosenberg who invited Roberta & Elliot for a wonderful Shabbat dinner.


After lunch we went birding at Green Cay. Here's a green heron

and a little blue heron

A purple swamp hen

and some wonderful friends.


Blue wing teal getting ready to make more little ducks.

Saturday evening Roberta & Elliot hosted a gathering of all of our MA friends wintering in FL. Jerry & Judy Schulze, Steve and Sharon Fradkin as well as Deedee & Marty Leafer, Millie and Jerry & Eileen Katz.
It was a delightful evening including special surprises like when we discovered that Judy Schulze and Marty Leafer were childhood friends. Thank you again Roberta & Elliot.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone
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