Going to all the places - Homosassa Springs

                         

Visitors to Central Florida have been heeding this advice for around a hundred years, so Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park was a must-see on Linda's itinerary. 

It didn't disappoint! 

Here I saw so many animals, birds and mammals that I've never seen before, though the prize for the prettiest has to go to the American Flamingos, who entertained us with synchronized wing flapping, squawking, and running to and fro en masse, as if heeding a secret signal.

                      

                      

Those funky flamingos went camera-shy just as I was taking Linda's photo, which is ironic since she's their biggest fan! Seriously, who wouldn't love designs with these gaudy beauties on a quilt, a mug, paper clips, clothes, or in your garden?

 

There were pelicans, ducks and other kinds of bird life.

                      

A cheeky otter showed off for us, while the fox relaxed in the shade and the snakes (thankfully) stayed behind glass while glaring at us disapprovingly.

   

There was even an American eagle, displaying his very own patriotic flag.

 

The bobcat paced his enclosure, looking sleek and dangerous.

 

And there were plenty of these mean old alligators!

                      

                      

All the animals in the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park are native to the Florida region, with one exception, Lou the hippopotamus. 58 years old Lou is a former movie star. He needed a place to live out his retirement and the Park was granted special permission to house him. 

Like so many human retirees he enjoys the Florida warmth and spends his days enjoying the sun, occasionally slipping gracefully into the water for a dip. He doesn't sign autographs, but if you stand in a particular spot to take a photo of old Lou he might shower you with a different sort of gift, one requiring you to have your clothes dry cleaned!

 

The most popular attractions at Homosassa are the manatees, huge marine mammals that take shelter from the cold ocean waters during winter, and gather in the Sprngs. If I was asked to describe one I think I'd say a manatee looks part-sea lion, part-whale, part seal, and part-trunkless elephant, with a little bit of mermaid thrown in. They're sometimes called sea-cows. 

These pictures give you a little idea and, as you can see, people can even pay to go swimming with wild manatees. 

 

Better still, one of the recreation centers in The Villages has this beautiful manatee mural on the wall.

 

Here's a familiar looking manatee!

 

 We took a boat for the return trip to the park entrance, through a stunningly beautiful waterway.

 

These people were on a boat traveling in the opposite direction.

 

 

 

 Waldo the alligator, sunning himself on a pontoon, bade us a fond farewell. 

He was smiling anyway, even if he might have been thinking we'd make a tasty dinner.

 

THE END

 

 

 

Threads of friendship

Of all the amazing experiences I've enjoyed during my first week in The Villages, meeting a whole bunch of Florida quilters at two separate events has to be the highlight.

I was invited to give a presentation to the Central Florida Modern Quilt Guild on Monday evening, and the ladies couldn't have been lovelier to me. At the end of my "Meanderings of a (Moderately) Modern Quilter" their President, Karen, thanked me with this cute Pixie Basket of threads in really useful shades. 

Unfortunately the app I'm using to blog on the move on my DiPhone doesn't allow me to embed links, but if you'd like to make one of these for yourself you'll find the free tutorial here -http://fabricmutt.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-pixie-basket-tutorial.html?m=1 

I didn't take many photos on the night, but you can see how talented they are from their special Show and Tell of modern mini quilts.

I'd seen Karen's Metro Area quilt top (from Elizabeth Hartman's book, Patchwork City) on Linda's blog last year, so it was a treat to see it all quilted and finished.

 

You can read a full report of the meeting (with more photos) here - http://centralfloridamqg.blogspot.com/2017/02/feb-meeting-pre-quiltcon.html?m=1

The following day I gave the same PowerPoint presentation and virtual trunk show at Big Cypress Quilters.

Great fun followed, as I showed how to make my favourite cathedral windows style pin cushion, while Linda acted as my 'stunt quilter' doing the machining on her Bernina in between my demonstrating the steps.

I loved Mary Lou's enthusiasm!

 

There was Show and Tell here too, and I couldn't help but be amazed at these stunning Quilts of Valor, made for veteran servicemen.

 

You may like to read Linda's latest blog post for her perspective on the same events.

I'm so blessed to have met quilters around the world, and to have made firm friendships with some, initially through our common interest in quilting, but often finding we have much more in common, as Linda and I do. 

It's been a huge step for me to travel across the world on my own, and I've been touched by the hours she's spent, leading up to my arrival, making sure my days are jam-packed with incredibly exciting adventures, sights and experiences.

You can imagine how welcome I felt, then, to be greeted with a little group of gifts on my arrival - a Dunkin' Donuts Florida mug, a portable lamp to help my stitching, some quilt patterned pencils, and this beautiful Essential Wristlet (pattern by Dog Under My Desk) and Fabio Zipper Key Fob (by Lazy Girl Designs), the last two, of course, made by Linda herself.

That PINK and YELLOW fabric will always remind me of my holiday and the Florida sunshine we've been enjoying!  ☀️

The time of my life!

Sunrise on Monday found us here, at this beautiful nature reserve, looking to spot an alligator in the wild. The wildlife was plentiful, and noisy. Sandhill cranes, ducks and frogs provided a dawn chorus as Linda and I scanned the glassy lake for tell-tale ripple. In the end a v shaped ripple and a couple of head bumps were all we spotted, but I'm hoping there will be better 'gator sightings elsewhere (at a safe distance!).

I'm told we might even see them in the water at Sumter Landing, where the Villagers gather in the evenings for live bands and line dancing beside a picture-perfect lake with artfully placed row boats that never go anywhere. Such a pretty place!

 

 

I've had some delicious meals here, including authentic southern barbecued pork with corn fritters, a delectable strawberry and beets salad with goats cheese and almonds, and Mexican quesadillas. The very best, though has been Linda's husband, Dan's home made pizza on a base he makes from his own recipe. Cheese, sausage, mushrooms, peppers, onions, black olives ... oh my! Accompanied by a cold glass of Arnold Palmer iced tea and Jack Daniels, it's a wickedly indulgent treat.

 

Ive also been introduced to the delights of key lime pie.  

In case you think I'm on the slippery slope to carrying home 'excess baggage' ... I've taken up line dancing! Well, at least I survived my one hour Ultra Beginner class.

 

As you can see, I'm doing the 'full emersion' experience here at The Villages. More to come!

 

It's another beautiful day...

 

... in The Villages, Central Florida, where I'm enjoying the generous hospitality of my friend, Linda Hungerford (http://flourishingpalms.blogspot.com) and her husband, Dan. 

 

This truly is a picture-perfect part of the world, where the artifice of the built environment, combined with the genuine warmth of The Villages residents, has had me pinching myself with excitement since I arrived here on Friday night after a 30 hour journey. 

 

We were out early on Saturday morning shopping for fruit and veggies at the markets in the Wild West themed village square of Brownwood, and saying 'Howdy' to the locals. 

  

 

Stepping into the Sales office for this part of The Villages is like stepping right into a Western movie, with authentic decor including armchairs upholstered in alligator skin, distressed leather couches, steer heads on the wall and Tiffany glass ceilings.

 

 

 

The entrance to Brownwood is guarded by magnificent bronze cattle.

  

 

And look who I found! A bronze pup looking so much like Chester that I had to give him a hug.