Spring

I think it's here??

Dew Drops and Sunshine

I think Spring might finally be here. :)

Blue and Yellow

We were sittin', we were sittin' in the Strawberry swing,

Every moment was so precious.

~Strawberry Swing, by Coldplay

My, What big Teeth You Have

An American Alligator in the Jungle Gardens, Sarasota, Florida.

Ruins of an Ancient Land

Okay just kidding, it's the ruins of a sugar plantation in Florida.

Fluffy Flamingoes

I Wish I had a Creative Title, but I'm Listening to Beecake...

I was going to re-title this "Sunset in Paradise," but I think Beecake is awesome enough to stay.

Adventures: Part 2

February 17th, Sunday 2013

Well, we've had several more adventures today, and we're finally here!

This morning we got up, checked out, and were on the road by 8:30. In about a half-hour we crossed the Georgia-Florida state line. After driving for a couple of hours, we happened upon a state-park thing that we could drive around. It was the remains of a sugar plantation, Bulowville. After that, we drove into Daytona to take a look at the beach, since it happened to be along out route. We drove past the raceway next, (boogedy boogedy boogedy, let's go racin' boys! Go #48!) and we could here Tony Stuart running his qualification laps. We stopped afterwards for lunch at Subway, but we were able to get in and out without any emergency personnel showing up.

February 18th, Monday 2013

We got to take a tour of an orange orchard today. Florida grows oranges like Pennsylvania grows corn! Blue skies, cool breezes, and orange groves make me happy. :)

 

 

Adventures: Part 1

February 16, Saturday 2013

Wow. The past two days have been quite the adventure. Our family is currently hunkered down for the night at a Quality Inn somewhere in Georgia. Instead of leaving this morning, as previously planned, we left Friday evening and drove through the night. 

We started driving around 11:00 PM, and stopped at 2:00 AM. Then we drove until 5:30 and then stopped again. And we've been on the road pretty much from then until now. So basically, I've been in a car for... a little less than 12 hours. We're all pretty exhausted, but there have been some pretty cool (and scary) adventures along the way:

1. Stopping in a gas station somewhere in Virginia and hearing a Christian radio station playing

2. Going to Cracker Barrel for breakfast in North Carolina, and being greeted and waited on by sweet Southern-accented ladies.

3. Stopping at the EdVenture hands-on museum in South Carolina to look around and get some lunch. Most of the exhibits were for younger children, but I managed to sneak in and spell out the names of some elements on a magnetic letter board. And there was a huge (slightly creepy) statue of a kid holding a dragonfly that kids could climb around inside. It was set up like a series of slides, tubes, and ladders all forming various systems of the body. You could even hear the 500 lb heart pumping! 

4. Getting supper at Subway in Georgia. That was the most recent and most major adventure so far. Whenever our family goes anywhere to eat, it takes about fifteen minutes to figure out what to order, and at places like Subway, it takes even longer to actually order.

Finally, after joking around about the above (awkward) situation with the nice older couple waiting behind us, everyone was sitting down ready to divy up the spoils. Er, subs. We had to go through the ritual of finding everyone's sub, and then getting napkins and water. At last the chaos died down and everyone was happily eating. Other customers came and went.

Suddenly, just as everyone had about finished their meal, the young man who had served us popped around the corner and shouted something unintelligible. Dad understood him (thank goodness!). He had asked someone to call 911. What followed was both awkward and scary.

Dad called 911 as requested, and told them that one of the employees was having a seizure. (There were only two people working in the restaurant at the time, the young man and a senior employee). That was the scary bit. Then dad was asked to give a location to the dispatcher, so they could send an ambulance. That was the awkward bit. We had no idea where we were! Thankfully the young man was able to give us an address, and the paramedics were dispatched.

While waiting, dad was debating what to do. He didn't take long to decide, though, and went to help. The girl had collapsed against the door to the back, so dad had to jump the counter.

In no time, the paramedics were there and dad helped show them in to where the woman was. They were eventually able to get her moved so that a stretcher could be wheeled in. 

She was okay, but dad told us that she had had two more seizures after he had gone back to help.

That was quite an adventure.

There were a few other minor adventures that were interesting during the car ride.

5. Shortly after we crossed the South Carolina/Georgia border, a rainbow came out. It wasn't a weak one that you had to really look for either. It was bright and bold, and you could see both ends.

6. Seeing trees covered with Spanish Moss. 

Tomorrow the adventure continues at 7:30 AM. I'd better get some sleep.