Mardi Gras cat

Itty Bitty was being unusually cooperative for this special photo op.

Sweetwater

Ahhh, Sweetwater! I don't think there's any other place like it on earth. This is old Florida at it's best. A private spring on a meandering spring-fed creek in the middle of the Ocala National Forest. The cabin, built by the CCC in the 1930's, sleeps 12 in two bunk-bed dormitory-style bedrooms. And there's plenty of room on the grounds for tents, hammocks and sleeping bags. The spring has a little platform for jumping off into the cool, crystal clear, soul healing waters. Just a few dozen yards down the spring run, is Juniper Creek, fed mainly by Juniper and Fern Hammock springs. The creek has some of the best kayaking on the planet. It meanders through oak hammocks, grassy marshes and palm groves as it makes its way from the springs to Lake George. Trees bend low over the water in so many places that paddlers have to do the limbo to get under them. The current is strong enough that to paddle upstream is a great workout.

The picture above is John Moran's appropriately named "Paradise Found". That's exactly what it feels like when you are there. The rest of the pictures are from our trip there last year.

Some of our younger group brought hammocks which were strategically placed around the spring and grounds for convenient access to bliss. One of the hammocks was anchored to a tree that had a large active beehive. That was my favorite place to take my book and relax. Except that I rarely got any reading done there. It was too sedating to lie there listening to the droning of the bees.

Another hammock was hung from a huge oak tree that hung out over the spring. That oak tree dominated the views of the spring while providing shade and respite for the locals. What an amazing place! I can imagine that this must have been a favorite resting spot for native Americans who no doubt also enjoyed the cool, crystal clear, soul healing waters, quite possibly under the somewhat less extensive shade of that same magnificent oak.

Family Dinner Night

Once a week the family gathers. The core group is Wendell, Cheri, Nick and Erica, but usually we have family friends Crystal, Llu and Tom. And of course the four-legged family members are included: Itty Bitty, Vladimir, Moog, Alobar, and sometimes Vito.

The night of the week varies depending on schedules for classes, work, meetings, etc. Currently it's Monday nights, although tonight we have a special edition Sunday Family Dinner night.

There's always music of some sort, either homemade or as a minimum, something recorded. Sometimes both -- homemade, recorded music. This picture above is from last week when Tom was back in G'ville for a couple of weeks before his stint working at a ski resort. The highlight that night, I think, was playing hacky sack while listening to Hawaiian music by the great "Iz", Israel Kamakawiwo'ole.

The kids always pitch in and clean up after dinner. Here's Erica and Crystal happily washing dishes. (Contrary to the way it looks in these pictures, the guys do dishes as often as the girls - And the girls make music with the guys!)

Tonight we're doing something a little different with a West African theme: FuFu and peanut soup. We don't always get so creative, but I was inspired by my friend, Jesse, who I accompanied to an ethnic market last week.

Here, Nick is helping Llu restring her guitar, while Erica supervises.