Seeking Warm Sunny Days

A new record was set this past week when Bubba and I travelled farther from home by ourselves than on any previous trip since we started camping.  And guess what....we made it there and back without incident!  Due to the cold and dreary weather we have been experiencing lately, we decided to go south in search of warmer temperatures and new adventures.  Silver Springs State Park was our ultimate destination via Rainbow Springs State Park for two nights.

Rainbow Springs State Park was very similar to Topsail State Park in Destin in that it was more like a private campground than a state park.  The sites were nice and big and they all had sewer.  Many sites were lacking the shrubbery that usually provides privacy between the camp sites in the state parks.  Fortunately our site was more private than most.  This park would be really hot in the summer because there was very little shade available.

The campground is several miles from the actual springs.

Saturday afternoon after getting set up we walked down to the river for a look around.  The actual spring head was several miles away so we waited until Sunday to go there.

Bubba is taking a break down by the river.

See, I'm wearing short sleeves!

On our walk back from the river we saw this hawk who actually 

sat so still he looked like part of the post.

Rainbow Springs is so clear and the colors are beautiful.  There were actually a few people swimming on Sunday.  It was a warm sunny day, but that water is really cold.  I don't know how they were doing it.  I noticed that they never stopped swimming while they were in the water.  I guess the exercise was helping them stay warm.

We had a delicious meal at a restaurant I discovered while surfing the web.
The Front Porch Restaurant and Pie Shop served the best fried chicken, mashed potatoes, green beans and corn bread that I've had in a long time.

Most of Sunday afternoon was spent soaking up the warmth and sunshine.  It's a good thing we did because the rest of the week was dreary and a little too cold to enjoy being outside.

Bubba and I honeymooned at Silver Springs in 1966. Ocala was booming at that time with Six Gun Territory, a Ross Allen Reptile attraction, and Silver Springs which had exhibits and animals in addition to the famous glass bottom boats.  Sadly, Disney World came along in the early 70's and Silver Springs began a steady decline.  Once a privately owned attraction, it finally went under financially about two years ago and was acquired by Florida State Parks.  Like many state owned facilities it is in desperate need of a facelift that will probably be delayed until the economy improves.

The Silver Springs campground was nice.  The sites were large and we were lucky enough to have a pull through.  We saw some deer there.  We hiked a trail down to the Silver River to get some exercise.

I had hoped to find some fresh citrus and strawberries in this part of the state.  On Tuesday we drove 40 minutes to get to a produce stand that I had seen advertised on the internet.  It was a huge disappointment.  Oranges were 75 cents each!  The strawberries were beautiful but also expensive.  I finally selected a half flat for $16 which was too high but it seemed like the thing to do since we had driven so far and we are enjoying them so I guess it was worth it.

We have learned a new way to find good places to eat.  We just watch for a restaurant with a lot of cars in the parking lot.  So far that is working well for us.  We stopped at Red's Restaurant while we were out searching for produce and were not disappointed.

   
On Tuesday the weather forecasts were predicting heavy rain beginning Wednesday night late through Thursday so since we had done everything we wanted to do, we decided to go home Wednesday and beat the bad weather.  As usual the weather forecasts were wrong.  We travelled all day Wednesday in rain but at least it wasn't a downpour.  When we came in Wednesday evening in the rain we just brought in the house what we absolutely had to have and waited until Thursday to unload it.

This was an enjoyable trip.  We did have one really nice day of warmth and sunshine.  It is very hard to get a reservation in central or south Florida due to the influx of snowbirds from the north. It would be nice if the parks would hold on to some of their sites for Florida residents.     

Even though we only had one warm sunny day, I'm counting this trip a success.  We went farther by ourselves, saw some beautiful scenery, ate at some good restaurants and arrived home safe and sound.  What's ahead?  We're looking forward to a visit soon with Amy, Darryl and Amelia.  This week I'm going to get to work on those AMAZING doll clothes I promised Amelia!  Bubba is working in the yard and it's beginning to look a little bit like spring.  Good days are ahead.

My Tribute

Fletcher Patterson will be 90 years old on Saturday, February 7!  I surely don’t profess to be a writer but I would certainly be remiss if I didn’t try to express my feelings about a man who has had such an impact on my heart and my family.

In spring of 1974, we began construction of our new home in this little neighborhood.  We had heard that the Patterson’s who had recently moved into their new home across the way from us had used the same builder we were going to use and we wanted to see if they were pleased with his work.  Amy was around eight months old at the time.  We timidly marched up the sidewalk and rang the bell.  The door was answered by Fletcher’s mother who was staying with them at the time.  We were cordially invited in even though unexpected.  We met Jo and Fletcher and they treated us to a tour of their home.  I can still remember Fletcher holding Amy in his arms as we walked around.  (She had on a little blue gingham sun suit.  Isn’t it funny the things we remember sometimes?)

Later as construction began in earnest on our house, a man with a head full of hair came up on a bicycle and chatted with us a while admiring the work that was being done.  Fletcher, for a while we thought that you and the bicycle man were two different people.  The men who were laying the bricks on our house were from out of town and had pitched a tent in the back yard to sleep in while they were there working.  One day Fletcher stopped by and noticed the tent and said, “Bubba, I’ve got extra bedrooms at my house.  There is no need for you to sleep in a tent.”  Bubba responded, “Thank you very much but that is not my tent, but I’ll be glad to let those men know that you have beds for them.”  Boy, did Fletcher get flustered.  That is one of Bubba’s favorite stories about Fletcher to this day.

As we began to attend church with Fletcher, Jo and Mike, they became our dearest friends in addition to the best neighbors ever.  Mike was a teenager way back then and was a member of our church youth group.  He was always so good, so respectful and so well mannered.  With all the “escapades” that some time took place with our youth, we could always count on Mike to be rock solid.  Through the years as we helped with young people at the church, Fletcher and Jo always supported our endeavors.  Many times they allowed us to use their home for fellowships.  In addition, Bubba and Fletcher served as deacons together.   They went through many trials and tribulations together trusting that they could share their feelings with each other.  For some reason they were always selected for the Pastor Search Committees.  Until you’ve served in this position, you have no idea the stress that this places on an individual as they try to do the Lord’s will and present someone to lead a church full of people they care about.

During the 40 years that we have known the Pattersons, we have enjoyed many meals together.  I was introduced to so many new delicious dishes at their home.  I think that they have always worked together in the kitchen.  Through the years we enjoyed Mexican Lasagna, Shrimp Casserole, Spaghetti and Meat Sauce, Fresh Apple Cake, Fresh Coconut Cake, Pecan Pie, and Coconut Pound Cake just to name a few.    During the year that Bubba had so much back trouble/surgery, he was confined to bed.  Fletcher would crawl through the azaleas at the bedroom window and visit with him every day. 

Fletcher has always loved his family, both immediate and extended.  He has always made the effort to be in touch with all his and Jo’s families.  Until the last few years, they seemed to constantly be attending a niece or nephew’s wedding or a family reunion of some kind.  To this day he knows where they are and what they are doing.

We all have fond memories of Fletcher Patterson, Church Organist and Musician Extraordinaire.  Has there ever been an equal to Fletcher on the organ?  He would take his place on that organ bench and hold himself so erect and dignified.  His hands would poise over the keys and his first notes would be “forte” (that’s loud) and the worship service would commence through his music.  “Great is Thy Faithfulness”, “Because He Lives”, “Amazing Grace”, “My Tribute” and many other favorites were played with such feeling that your very soul was touched.  Fletcher could also play the piano like no other and although he never sang a solo, if you ever sat in front of him, you know that he could sing as well.

The church came to a point where they desperately needed a new organ.  Fletcher had attended a conference at the new Blue Springs Baptist Assembly and admired the organ they had there.  The church voted to purchase an organ like that and Fletcher made all the arrangements and oversaw the installation.  I can’t even begin to remember how much we had to raise to purchase that organ, but it was done in a short amount of time mainly because of the congregation’s love of Fletcher and his ministry on the organ.

And this takes me to Fletcher Patterson, the loving and proud mentor.  In 1982, Amy started taking piano lessons.  Fletcher and Jo were there for her first piano recital and I don’t believe that they ever missed a one after that and believe me, there were a lot of piano recitals.  He put her on the organ bench when her feet did not even touch the pedals and encouraged her to play.  He always wanted her to play something for him.  He was always so encouraging by his presence and his words.  Amy became the church pianist when she was 14 years old.  She and Fletcher played for worship services, revivals, and special programs together until she left to go to college.  They played some duets that were just beautiful.  I would give anything to hear them again.  Fletcher and Jo were in Birmingham with us for Amy’s college graduation and they sat with our family at her wedding because we have always considered them part of our family.

And now, Amy has her own little girl and the cycle starts over.  We have been visiting the Pattersons with Amelia ever since she was a baby.  She always gives them a big hug and wants to go down to the dock to feed the fish and, of course, Fletcher grabs a bag of bread and obliges her.

Another tribute to Fletcher and, of course, Jo, is that they have two fine sons who are devoted to them.  We have known Mike since he was a teenager when we moved here, but in the last few years we have come to know and appreciate Pat.  Both “boys” are willing to do anything they can to help their parents.  For a while it seemed like every time I went to Walmart, I would see Pat and Lewana shopping for groceries.  Pat would have his mom’s list.  One day I remarked that I thought it was so sweet how they were helping out and Pat responded that he would not have it any other way.  Mike feels the same and is always there for them.  Isn’t that an amazing testimony in itself?

Fletcher, you probably don’t know this, but you recently were a topic of discussion on Facebook.  A comment made about you by Michele Martin Bailey received a number of comments and over 80 “likes” which basically means that a lot of people agreed with the complimentary things being said about you.

(Facebook comments were provided to Fletcher privately.)

So, in conclusion, let me wish you a very Happy 90^th Birthday!  You’re an amazing man and you’ve had a tremendous impact on so many lives and continue to do so.

Psalm 91:16 (NAS) "With a long life I will satisfy him And let him see My salvation."