Little Free Library

Have any of you ever run across the Little Free Library?

The pictures above are of a tiny little free library in the Ortega district of Jacksonville.  We have seen similar libraries in other cities and as  far away as the Bahamas at Lubber's Quarters a very small island.  The Little Free Library was started  Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin in 2009 as a tribute to his mother, who loved to read.  He built a model of a one room school house, filled it with books and set it on a post in his front yard with a sign reading  FREE BOOKS.  The idea took off and there are now  approximately 25,000 little free libraries across America.   These mini libraries operate on the Take A Book/Leave A Book exchange idea which we have run across at almost every marina we have visited.  I think it is a fabulous idea. What do you think?  Could your neighborhood benefit from a Little Free Library?

Joy

A Little Free Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books. Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share.

Little Free Library book exchanges have a unique, personal touch. There is an understanding that real people are sharing their favorite books with their community; Little Libraries have been called "mini-town squares."

A Little Free Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books. Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share.

Little Free Library book exchanges have a unique, personal touch. There is an understanding that real people are sharing their favorite books with their community; Little Libraries have been called "mini-town squares."

A Little Free Library is a “take a book, return a book” free book exchange. They come in many shapes and sizes, but the most common version is a small wooden box of books. Anyone may take a book or bring a book to share.

Little Free Library book exchanges have a unique, personal touch. There is an understanding that real people are sharing their favorite books with their community; Little Libraries have been called "mini-town squares."

Manatees

If you could be an animal, what would you be?  Steve once told us he would love to be an otter. Why?  They swim around all day.  I won't tell you the fate of those otters who ended up in our pond eating the fish we had just imported. 

Me?  If I have to be an animal, I choose to be a manatee.  Why?  Because manatees are gentle, slow moving animals--I can do that.   They spend most of their time eating, resting and traveling--I am pretty good at all of those things.  

Click on the  link to these underwater videos of manatees from Blue Springs Park so you can see what I would be doing as a manatee.  (You may have to give an email address to view) 

I know this is a tiny post--I have been away--pursuing another interest of mine.  Details in a future post.  

What animal would you be if you could?  Don't be shy--let us know.

Joy

Reflections on the Ortega River

The Ortega neighborhood in Jacksonville is a peninsula  bordered on the east by the St. Johns river and on the west and north by the Ortega river.  There are at least 5 marinas on the Ortega--this area is known locally as marina mile-indicating the popularity of the river with recreational boaters.  The Cedar River and Fishing Creek branch off of the Ortega offering even more places for fishing and skiing.  Houses dot the riverside for a while but eventually the river wanders through a swamp.  

 Steve spotted the little guy below swimming across and decided to give him a ride to the other side

He jumped onto the camera as I snapped the picture below

The reflections of the trees, clouds and sky are mesmerizing 

Joy

The Cummer Museum

The Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens sits along the banks of the St. Johns River in Jacksonville.  The galleries were built upon what was at one time the home of Ninah and Arthur Cummer.  Ninah was active in many charitable organizations in the Riverside area.   It was her philanthropic attitude that led her to give her vast art collection and gardens to the city upon her death.  The home has been replaced by new buildings which house the artwork, but the gardens remain.  The reflecting pools of the Italian Garden and the Wisteria arbor of the English Garden are enchanting--I can easily imagine women enjoying parties and tea in these settings.  

The centerpiece of the garden is the Cummer Oak tree.  It is thought to be around 200 years old with heavy limbs that spread out like an octopus for over 150 feet.  The root system is so extensive that the art gallery nearest the tree was built on pilings.  Children and adults sat under the massive tree with their paint sets enjoying the day and receiving inspiration from the gardens. 

Resurrection Fern

The limbs of the Cummer Oak provide a home for the resurrection fern.  This curious fern has the ability to lose up to 75% of its water, dry up and turn brown during a drought.  It comes back to  life once the water returns.  Sounds like a great plant for Easter.   

It it still early for most flowering plants to bloom but I found a few--I am not knowledgeable on plant names but I do know a camellia.  Not sure but I think he other two are foxglove and tulip tree.  

My Favorite--Camelia

Foxglove?

Tulip Tree?

Awaiting warmer weather to enjoy more gardens!

Joy

Bird's Eye View of Jacksonville

The 617 foot sky scraper originally named the Barnett Center as it was the headquarters of Barnett Bank is the tallest building in Jacksonville.  It  changed names when NationsBank acquired Barnett and then merged with Bank of America.  It is now known as the Bank of America Tower. (Is it just me or do banks seem to change names overnight?) 

The building at 50 North Laura Street was completed in 1990 has 43 floors and 19 elevators.  A bank guard unlocked the elevator for our tour group --AdLib Tours--and accompanied us to the top floor for our bird's eye view of the city of Jacksonville.  It was quite a treat to see the rivers--St. Johns and Ortega--from above.  

Can you see friendship fountain?

The building with the orange roof is Jacksonville Landing, we have docked just in front of the Landing.

Joy

Tick Tock

The Crosby Clock also known as the Greenleaf Jacobs Clock

A close encounter with a bus in 1974  almost completely destroyed the Crosby Clock that had been erected in 1901 by Jacobs Jewelers.  The Jewelry store installed the clock at their original location on Bay Street after a fire that destroyed much of the city to symbolize Jacksonville rising from the ashes of a catastrophe.  Built by Seth Thomas of Connecticut in 1901 at a cost of $1200 the clock is one of 12 that remain out of the 100 that were manufactured.  It was moved from Bay Street to Forsyth Street and then again in 1930 to its current location at corner of Laura and Adams Streets.  

As a symbol of recovery from tragedy itself, there was no way that Jacobs Jewelers would allow the clock to go unprepared after the bus incident.  Thomas White, a restoration artist, was commissioned with the two year repair that required gluing hundreds of minuscule pieces together as well as making some improvements.  The repair process included new lights, new paint, a GPS antenna for more accurate time and a sturdier base for the 2.2 ton fifteen foot clock.  The clock is so impressive that I completely forgot to check out the jewelry in the window! 

Joy

The Secret Tunnels of Jacksonville

Jacksonville became a popular winter resort for the rich and famous back in the late 1800's.  Arriving by steamboat and by train, vacationers would enjoy the temperate weather of Florida in many of the grand hotels and resorts.   Along with their trunks full of clothing and warm weather gear, came their money, helping to make Jacksonville a banking hub in the state of Florida.  Headquarters of Atlantic National Bank, Barnett Bank and Florida National Bank were scattered on the downtown streets of Forsyth, Adams and Hogan.  A branch of the Federal Reserve was added in later years.  

In order to transfer cash money from one bank to another safely, the banks built a tunnel system underneath their buildings complete with vaults, lighted passageways and 18 inch thick steel reinforced walls. It is unusual for most Florida buildings to have a basement but the bluff on Forsyth, Adams and Laura streets is high enough for many of the buildings to have basements.  The tunnels on these streets connect five buildings.  Many of the tunnels have been closed but one is still used as a passage way between 121 and 200 West Forsyth Street.  

We visited the tunnels on Jacksonville's "Top to Bottom" Tour  by AdLib Luxury Tours and Transportation.  AdLib is running a special price of $15 for the two hour tour until March. 

Our tour guide pointing out a small vault--notice the ceiling

In the hallway leading to the tunnels is a pictorial history of the city

Canisters of water found in the vault indicate that it could have been used as a bomb shelter at one time

Items found inside safety deposit boxes

Joy

Clydesdales in Jacksonville

Almost everyone has heard of the Clydesdale horses that make an appearance in Super Bowl Commercials.  We were fortunate to see these horses at the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in Jacksonville.  The Budweiser Clydesdales make their home in a stable built in 1885 on the Anheuser-Busch Brewery in St. Louis and frequently travel throughout the United States to different events in their 50 foot tractor trailers.  

The Clydesdale was a farm horse back in the early 19th center.  The horses were given this name by farmers in Lanarkshire, Scotland along the River Clyde who had imported Great Flemish horses and mated them with their local mares--thus the Clydesdale was born.  

Membership into the elite Budweiser Clydesdale club is very steep.  A horse aspiring this designation  be at least six feet tall, four years old, weight between 1,800 and 2,300 pounds and a gelding.  The coat must be bay in color including four white stockings and a blaze of white on its face.  Both the mane and tail must be black.   

A Dalmation rides alongside the driver atop the beer wagon.  Dalmatians were once used as coach dogs because of their speed, endurance and dependability as well as their ability to run between wheels of carriages and beer wagons.  

Check out that toothy smile!

Beautiful horses, Beautiful day!

Joy