Oly goes bananas

Even the hard working crew on Central Ave neew a break once in a while so we went down the street to the local, world famous waterfront dining establishment... The Three Bananas......... and Oly went Bananas :-)
It was a good day for the 3 Bananas... folks from allover came... it is Biketober Week in Daytona and the bikers make a special trip to Crescent City for an outing. You never know what they'll come on/in.... now is that a 57 Chevy... or is it some guys bike?
The fron door is reserved for handicap only so all other patrons are directed around the building to enter on the lake side.... or simply sit outside under the big oak trees and enjoy the aquatic view.
Boaters were coming and going the entire day.... many stopping in at the 3 Bananas for foode and drink. Notice they are service drinks right out there near the water from the old banana boat.
After hanging out for a while and sampling the fare we finally headed back .... and as you can see... it was not far to go.... yup there's the old place sitting right up there on high ground shining in the sun.
We're making headway.

Early Bird

to catch the sunrise ths time of year you need to be out there at about 7:30 .... that's not too strenuous .... but since you were not there I took these for you hoping you will have a better day for it. First we catch the warm glow. Look at the swirling cloud formation!
As the sun peeks up thru the clouds the fireball lights the sky and the water. the shot straight down the pier is a once in a year shot ... the sun moves dramatically this time of year.
finally we start backing off and go home ... one half block up the street.
What a way to start the day!

Sunrise today

What a gorgeous way to start the day! I never tire of the view I have from here. Same place every day. Different scene every day. Magnificent!
What files I store in my memory bank. These are the good memories that will linger on forever.
And you see those fishermen...... a common sight at the ramp. They are laughing and talking... filled with excitement as they head out for the day's catch.

Winding Down & gazing at the Lake

Yesterday my son, Oly, dropped in to geive me a hand. We had a great visit and got lots of work done. Moving and sorting out all this junk was much easier with 2 of us. It went a lot faster. He left last night about 7 pm and arrived home about 1:30.
This morning, before I get back to the task of moving, I strolled down to the lake to take another last look. What a beautiful lake... about 20 miles long and 15 ,iles wide .... plus or minus. ... I'm estimating ... it makes little difference to me while I stand on the shore. I am always inspired by the every changing beauty of it all.

A Favorite Spot

Fond memories of being here for 30 years ... this is sooooo typical. I love this place.... I will miss it immensely.
You see in the last picture my new trailer backed up near the door to load the few belongings that will leave with me.
The place is sold.... just waitng for the closing now while I remove the piles and piles of stuff clooected over the years.

Where are we?

The other day I went on another research trip to 3 more Flea Mkts. On the way across the mid-Florida highways I stumbled on to what was a rare sight for me.... dang if those aren't long horns..... they REALLY are LONG horns! I thought they were supposed to be in Texas... but there they are I thought you might like to see them too so I brought my little pickup truck to a screaching hault and whipped out the camera. There was a warning sign on the fence about how dangerous these critters are. I believe it. they surely do look mean... and they were not about to move into a good position for picture taking. They barely turned their heads for me. I had to hike around and put on the telephoto lens to get these. You enjoy.

The Mall in the Rural South

The flea Market depicts the typical "Mall" in the rural South. Ya gotta love this. Of course, the local Southern Flea Market really does have FLEAS .... and bugs.... and snakes ... and critters ... and sand. Hey, what else... why do you think they called it a flea market. Then there;s the stuff sold there... why you never saw such a pile of shit in your life... why wouldn't even a red-neck be ashamed to display that stuff ... there's Uncle Zebs old BVD's ... Bouzer's old dog dish ... a broken wrench...a 33 1/3 phonograph record that has so many scratches it looks like lizard skin...stuff that's been in the kitchen for 40 years ... we wish they had washed it all first. ..... but ..... thar's a bunch o' good ol' boys and gals sittin' 'round thar chatting ... and sippin' sumpin............ dang if that ain't a fine social gathern. In just a moment I spected to see Hank and Bubba com out from yonder tree pickin and singin.
I didn't get many pictures cus I was dodgin the crowd... heh heh .... I did get a picture of the main body of folks thar.
Finally I went on back home ... put more ads on Craigs list.....  met some fine folks who came over and bought some of my stuff.
Unocchio says "ya'll kin sell lots of stuff iffin ya kno how.... jis buy it for retail plu tax and shippin... hold it and store it for many years ... then sell it for pennies on the dollar. Dang if that stuff don't jis fly out the door"

Oh yea .... the beer signs are gone already ... but the bull still floats in the air.

Beer Signs and bull

Many years ago 3000 miles North and West of here, there was a place called the Brick Tavern. the TV series Norther Exposure was shot there, high in the mountains of the State of Washington. I was there. Also, when Jim, the illustrious proprietor, was cleaning out the basement he gave us some of the old beer signs that had been accumulating down there for many years. Soooo, how could I pass that up? Now many years later they are still here... safely tucked away. They are valuable old signs. Someone would love to have them. they can decorate your game room or wet bar. They can hang in a kid's college dorm room.

Believe it or not.... they are now being sold, given away or dumped (even tho my 98 year old mom volunteered to keep them for me in case I ever needed them).

See for yourself

http://daytona.craigslist.org/clt/1395188944.html

I am working hard down here. Everything must go (except for some tools and personal itmes I am dragging with me in a trailer behind my small pickup... small truck... small trailer. Can you really believe this?

today several parties are coming to pick up valuable things... like a hospital bed from WW1 era and some cabinet drawers and cabinte doors that I have had here for many years waiting for a couple projects to get started and completed.

Finally I am thinning out the stuff that has accumulated ... it is actually heading out the door! Amazing. And what a relief. I'm on a roll. Getting kicked out of the trailer in G'vill gave me some impetus and I have kept that energy moving. Feels good. Doc Schultz always said "get rid of 50% of everything you have every year"

I'm finally doing it. Feels good. I can't wait to finish. I will be living simple from now on.

We learn things no matter how old we are and no matter where we are

Before we get on to the lesson for the day you've got to take a look at Crescent Lake in the early morning (and you thought I got up at noon).
These are the views I have enjoyed for the past 30 years. I will miss them thoroughly.
(be sure you go to the end of today's blog to find out what I have learned while living here)

THINGS I LEARNED LIVIN' IN Florida





1) A possum is a flat animal that sleeps in the middle of the road.



2) There are 5,000 types of snakes and 4,998 of them live in Fla.



3) There are 10,000 types of spiders, and all 10,000 of them live in Fla.



4) If it grows, it'll stick ya. If it crawls, it'll bite cha.



5) Onced" and "Twiced" are words.



6) It is not a shopping cart, it's a buggy.



7) "Jawl-P?" means, "Did y'all go to the bathroom?"



8) People actually grow and eat okra.



9) "Fixinto" is one word.



10) There is no such thing as lunch. There is only dinner and then there is supper.



11) Iced tea is appropriate for all meals, and you start drinking it when you're two. We do like a little tea with our sugar.



12) Backwards and forwards means, "I know everythin' 'bout you.



13) The word "jeet" is actually a phrase meaning, "Did you eat?"



14) You don't have to wear a watch, because it doesn't matter what time it is. You work until you're done or it's too dark to see...



15) You don't PUSH buttons, you MASH 'em.





16) You measure distance in minutes.





17) You switch from heat to A/C in the same day.



18) All the festivals across the state are named after a fruit, vegetable, grain, insect, or animal.



19) You know what a "Dawg" is.



20) You carry jumper cables in your car-for your own car.



21) You only own five spices: salt, pepper, Tony Chachere's, Tabassco , and ketchup.



22) The local papers cover national and international news on one page, but require 6 pages for local gossip and Florida football.



23) You think that the first day of deer season is a national holiday.



24) You find 100 degrees "a bit warm."



25) You know all four seasons: Almost summer, summer, still summer, and Christmas.



26) Going to Walmart is a favorite past time known as "Goin' Walmartin" or "off to Wally World."



27) You describe the first cool snap (below 70 degrees) as good gumbo weather.



28) Fried catfish is the other white meat.



29) We don't need no dang Driver's Ed. If our mama says we can drive, we can drive.



30) You understand these jokes and forward them to your friends and those who wish they were from Florida!