Hands are amazing

Have you ever stopped to consider the wonder of hands? 

They work hard getting dinner ready.

Picking the peas

 Useful for savoring the results.

Wonderful Pie

Yes, Lemon Meringue 

 Wash down that pie!

Necessary Water

Time for a little milk

Which always goes down better with a little...

Making music

Blues banjo

Driving the fiddle bow

Harping along

All recorded by the camera

Waiting for the next shot

Big Shoals State Park: Another look

How much we wanted to explore the state parks along the Suwannee River during this volunteer assignment at Stephen Foster Folk Cultural Center State Park; however, the rains that resulted in a mild flood and changed our plans.  

Flooded Suwannee River
near the peak flood for April 2014
Stephen Foster State Park

Well, the water has been receding, perhaps we could try Big Shoals State Park again.  I really wanted to view Florida's only Class III whitewater rapids.

Trail to the Big Shoals
High and Dry!

Delicate ferns along the trail

The woods are still a bit damp!

Yes, it was a good choice as many of the trails were dry.  And the timing was perfect as two days later another 6" of rain graced our already soggy ground!

Big Shoals
The river is still high and thrilling
We have yet to see the Rapids

A few of the many 'critters' we encountered along the way.

Quite a handsome toad

An almost invisible horned lizard

The adventure is great.  Join us for another trip to view the Big Shoals when the river is lower

Come walk with the gopher tortoise
along these beautiful trails.

Suwannee River - The tide is turning OR The flood recedes

Yes, it has been quite interesting to watch the Suwannee River rise and now fall.  In the past week the river dropped about 10 feet.  

Spring House in White Springs
5/10/15

You may say, "That is great", but part of the drop includes the rise from last weeks three rain storm.  Seems the fronts are stalling over the Florida panhandle and northern sections with results in a nice long soaking.

The Spring House in White Springs 5/15/2014
You can now walk to the stairs
Notice the lack of grass, only sand and mud

  
Well, the cleanup has been interesting.  Last Thursday morning (May 15th) we shoveled sand off the Spring House floor.  

Bill scraping up the sand
Spring House Walkway

Shortly after noon the rain returned for the second set of showers, a net rain fall of 6" in 24 hours.  By Friday you had to wade over to the spring house.  Luckily, this was short lived. 

Spring House Walkway
with piles of sand

Now, I discuss the Spring House as if you knew the history.  Let me back up a bit and share some  background from the Florida State Park History website... "Located on the banks of the Suwannee River, the spring was promoted as a health resort from the mid-1800s through the 1950s. Shops, dressing rooms and clinical examination rooms were built as part of a bath or springhouse beside the spring, which was enclosed by a concrete wall."  

For those of you who know the Stephen Foster State Park, another meaningful checkpoint is the Ann Thomas Gazebo. The Gazebo slopes and stairways have been white washed in a sea of sand. 

Mud on the stairs leading
away from the Gazebo

It was amazing how the sand covered everything.  I guess the river swept away the fallen oak leaves and spring grasses.

The fine white sand gives a fresh snow look
to the banks of the Suwannee at the Gazebo
in Stephen Foster State Park.

But Nature must like to redecorate as just up the hill above the gazebo the landscape is changing.  A 'herd' of young armadillos is busy landscaping the area to their taste.

Young Armadillos busily
re-landscaping the area.
Soon the flood will be history.

 

I will happily landscape
that flood silt for you!

Getting Ready for the Florida Folk Festival

From the Florida Folk Festival website

Successful festivals and events require planning and organization; the time and effort expand with the complexity and size of the event.  The Florida Folk Festival is one of those complex events, you know the type of event that sparkles and puts a smile on everyone's face.  It looks like magic but as any magician will tell you, "The dazzle just doesn't happen."  

From the Florida Folk Festival website

Now, we spent April and May volunteering at Stephen Foster Cultural Center State Park, where we worked full-time for the coordinator, Elaine McGrath.  As with other parks we worked side-by-side with the park staff and volunteers.  These pre-festival photos illustrate some of the outdoor preparations. 

Ticket Booth
The first stop

Folk Life Stage - Cultural History Happens Here

Heritage Stage
Dancing, Fiddle Contests, Demonstrations
For the larger audiences

Ranger Corey Cleaning the Amphitheater
Open all day
Location for the evening concerts

Ranger Pete at the Gift Shop
Manicuring the trees
Polishing the building

See you at the festival.

Sunday in Citra, Florida

Now you may ask, "Just where is Citra?"  And, I might say... "Between Gainesville and Ocala on Hwy 301." However, if you are unfamiliar with Florida this may not be helpful.  So, let's just say it is a small community in north-central Florida.  You can read a summary on Wikipedia, the people's encyclopedia.

Well, back to my story...

Kathy thinking about her guests

A week or so after Easter our good friends Kathy and Gary decided to hold a family gathering and invited a part of the Messer clan. Well, the clan was really just Carol and Gene, who live down the street, and Bill and I who live around the corner when we are in Citra.

Gene, relaxing

Everyone hoped the rain from earlier in the week would not dampen the event as the party was outdoors. Something must have worked as Sunday opened to a gorgeous day.

Empty Lot or "Park"
across from Kathy & Gary's

Knowing today's events included a brunch and later a dinner we had the time to appreciate this fantastic day. After walking the cat and organizing the house we departed White Springs, recall that we volunteer at Stephen Foster State Park, for Citra.

Lovely entrance to Kathy & Gary's home

Arriving in Citra, we spent a few minutes with Gene and Carol before walking down to the party. Now, Kathy and Gary have excellent kitchen skills. Gary is the master of delectable desserts and Cathy holds the record for potato salad and biscuits. Can't be late for brunch!

Getting ready for Brunch and Dinner

At brunch we were introduced to other family members and friends. As we visited the cast of characters changed as did the conversation. We chatted a bit more, walked around the area, and studied on Gary's cats. Gary tends to rescue strays, return them to health, and sometimes finds them a new home. Kathy loves animals but firmly states, “They all belong to Gary.”

Did you figure this out?
The cat is Slipjig
Location is Myakka River State ParkI didn't get a photo of Gary's cats

After a bit more chatting We brought out my banjo along with Bill's guitar for a short music session of Florida Folk Songs before dinner.

Ah you are paying attention...
From the Tractor Show and not Citra
...but it's close.

Yes it was a nice relaxing day filled with friends and family. 

 Sometimes life just doesn't get any better.

Carol hanging out with friends.

Big Shoals State Park: Little Shoals & Big Shoals

Trail towards the "Little Shoals"
Big Shoals State Park

A wonderful place to explore in White Springs are the Shoals which may be confusing because the park area is called Big Shoals State Park but the easiest access from White Springs is through the Little Shoals entrance. 

Previous visitor

Actually the park is onlhy part of “Florida Public Lands” as the 3919 acres are managed by the Florida State Parks, Florida Division of Forestry, Suwannee RiverWater Management District, and Florida Fish and WildlifeConservation Commission. This is not an uncommon situation in Florida as water becomes scarce, forests are threatened, and Tallahassee continues to cut budgets. The symbiotic relationship makes perfect sense.

Guess the resident of this egg has
Flown the Coop

Now we are really discussing Florida's only Class III White Water Rapids which are know as “Big Shoals” on the Suwannee River. The smaller rapids are “Little Shoals”. The park is named Big Shoals and with many trails between the main entrance at “Little Shoals” and the more round about entrance at “Big Shoals”.

Trees reflect on the high water.
Could not hike to the Shoals

Alright, enough of this. In either case you must hike from the entrances to see the shoals or paddle down the river. Since the water is high due to atypical rains paddling is not recommended so we chose to hike the trails and around the flooded areas to the river. 

High water this year 

 Normally you can also bicycle or horseback ride to the river – with the rain, mud, and flooded trails our boots were the logical choice.

It has been a bit damp as of late

The trails are well marked and scenic as you walk through beautiful north Florida forests along the river bank.

These are more than flat-woods
the trails cross hills and valleys
offering river access.

I look forward to returning for long hikes, off-road bicycling, and a paddle on the river when the Suwannee returns to it's banks.