The Rapture Will Be Paved.

 This entry is a bit of a mess.  It contains a little bit of everything for everyone and especially for those of you that enjoy asphalt, a little folk music and the supernatural.  Old Wire Road unpaved.

 Early one morning (well, not really that early, actually more like 15 minutes late for work) in October I was driving down Old Wire Road and I noticed that during the night a small fleet of earth moving equipment was dropped off which could only mean one thing...

 After unknown years Old Wire Road was to be paved.  I have mixed feelings regarding this.  Though driving three miles of dirt road everyday sounds romantic, less romantic is the dust and/or mud covering every surface of every possession.  

 I promised you asphalt and I deliver.  The entire project took about 6 months and during that time I learned about lime rock, dressing and those giant vibrating steamrollers.  I actually never knew that they could vibrate until now.

 My first entry of this blog in 2006 began with a photo similar to this, but unpaved.  Of course, last night we watched our first impromptu drag race that dissipated as quickly as it formed.  The deputy arrived approximately 1 minute after everyone left.    

 Giles contemplates walking at the grandparents house.  He still considers it a novel, though inefficient, way to get around.

Moss reading nonfiction, specifically about the letter B.  

 A sign of the apocalypse? I'm sure everyone noticed that 'the saved' didn't, in their actual physical body, ascend to a partly-cloudy well-lit Heaven on May 21st. There were some disappointed lunatics in Lake City that were circling Florida preaching the word.  I'm looking forward to the Rapture though (rescheduled for October 21st).  Ichetucknee Springs water clarity will be drastically improved and I'm assuming that Florida's bronze-age Gov. Rick Scott will be transported away (because he's against all those fancy ideas that college educated/rational people believe in) along with all his anti-intellectual disciples.
    

It was our first visit in seven years to the Folk Festival and it was great.  Moss danced and Giles pointed at every guitar and said "AH!".  He loves guitars.

I urge everyone to visit the Stephen Foster State Park if not for the lovely setting, then for the dioramas.  Each diorama (built in the 1950's) depicts a Foster tune.  This is 'Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair.'  The details are amazing and they often have subtle and creepy moving parts.  You can also cringe at the racial stereotypes and Steven Foster's view of the South in the mid 19th century.  

Moss staying cool during an intense session of peek-a-boo.

Five weeks, Nine Guests, Pure Madness

Giles performs his nightly post-bath/pre-pajamas dance

Nana and Papa's campsite

My father took the chalkboard to an entirely new level this year.  Topics included: trash picking, weed whacker repair, fried clams, donuts, a tornado, and our recently acquired 66 Airstream Caravel.

We had a picnic with both Grandparents at Stephen Foster State Park and looked at the antique tractors.  I think it's worth the price of admission just for the 1950's dioramas depicting Stephen Foster songs.  This photo is in front of Lake City's town hall (after a morning walk around the lake).

My father and I picked up the airstream in Daytona Beach and on the way home we stopped at Essex House Famous Fried Clams.  It seems that the owner is actually from Essex, MA.  It tasted just like Woodman's but the clientele was a bit different...

We celebrated my father's birthday with a full house.  The Yorks and our friend Allison spent a  week with us after my parents departed from their month-long stay on Old Wire Road.

For the man who has everything.

 

Yes, that is Ross in the back of 'Big Ooz'.  It wasn't enough that I brought the Yorks to the ultimate redneck activity in Lake City.  Ross had to enhance the experience by riding in one of the stock cars with his family.  I believe he is pointing at Charles, a gesture that means something like, "In your face/I'm riding in big ooz/what the hell have I done?" 

The Yorks return to the bleachers.  Soon after they left a small portion of the bleachers collapsed.  This seemed to briefly worry the large pink-blanketed wheelchair-bound man sporting a gangster bandana, but he was too busy laughing at me to let it bother him.   

Post-race conversation at the end of the driveway.

Full moon over Old Wire Road.

Sam is a young child expert.  The York boys actually helped us take care of our boys while they were here.  Thanks guys.

My father troubleshoots yet another problem.  The table saw had accumulated a little sawdust over the past year.  He also repaired my weed whacker and mower.

Lula sits with my father as Giles attempts to join them.

Pasture off of Old Wire Road.

Sam tempts Buckley and Lula with bacon.

My parents set off for Ajo after their month of service.

Ross displays his free diving skills as he explores the Ichetucknee head spring.

Giles and Moss attempt their escape from the Burley while the Yorks play some steamy hot badminton.

Lunch at Satchels in Gainesville.

Moss and Giles in camouflage.

Ross fights off a Giant Ground Sloth at the Natural History Museum.

Apalach/St.George Island

St. George Island, Florida.

With a mouth full of sand-encrusted mango Moss waves to his mother.

The modern world has finally caught up with my desire to relax on the beach without any sun exposure...the beach tent.

Giles had his first bite of ice cream (it was actually gelato).  His pleasure was suddenly snuffed out with an ice cream headache.  He wearily demanded more.

Within five minutes of arriving at our rental house Moss tumbled face first onto a bed frame sustaining an abrasion to his face.  He then fell face first onto the tile floor.  I prematurely declared the weekend a total disaster.  Things improved dramatically after the initial injuries.

Cirsium horridulum. Purple thistle growing in the yard of our rental on St. George.

Boss Oyster in Apalachicola. We had oysters raw in the half shell and the boys had cheese grits.  My father noticed that they were advertising 'oil-free seafood' (the BP oil spill was a few hundred miles away) and he asked if there was a deal on the seafood with oil.

   

Giles enjoying some crumbs while looking out on the Apalachicola River.

Dredging the Apalachicola River.

Commerce Street, Apalachicola.

Commerce Street, Apalachicola.

Cymande, Nana and Papa discuss chocolate.  Giles and Moss await a decision on the gelato.

Cottage on St.George Island  (this was not our rental).

Giles and Nana amuse each other while I prepare my famous pea, zucchini and cheese omelette.  The omelette is available in an edible version and also, a wearable version.

Early morning walk on St.George.

Moss distracts me from my vacation cable viewing (no cable on Old Wire Road yet).  I learned interesting things about gold mining in Alaska and how some guy named Bear eats unspeakable things in the rain forests of Borneo.

On our way back to Old Wire Road we stopped off at Wakulla Springs.  We sat around the lobby and pretended that we were staying at Lake Quinault Lodge or the Mt.Washington Hotel.

A boat-tailed grackle (Quiscalus major) over the Apalachicola marsh.