This week Patti’s challenge is to show what Simplicity means to me.
“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.” ― Laura Ingalls Wilder
After three weeks of social distancing I have really come to appreciate the simple things – a phone call with my brother who lives on the other side of the country, a video of one of our granddaughters, social distancing outside with neighbors, and enjoying the little things in nature.
Here are a few of the simple things that brought me joy this weekend.
Sunset over the salt marshMorning walkWildflower on the side of the roadMorning Sky at sunriseBlanketflower in the gardenFirst Monarch caterpillar of spring
These days we are social distancing by staying home except to go to the store for supplies.
I grabbed my camera today to go outside in my yard in the glorious warm, sunny weather and capture a few of our first spring blooms. Enjoy!
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WordPress just reminded me that today is the 7th anniversary of the Wandering Dawgs blog. Thanks to all of you it’s been an amazing seven years.
I would not still be blogging if it wasn’t for you. I appreciate every one of you who follows the blog, reads the posts, likes a post, or leaves comments. You make it worth while to keep the blog going.
It’s been two years since our last visit to Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs. During that stay we did a lot of exploring around the park, the town of White Springs, and nearby Big Shoals State Park. I posted about those adventures at Way Down upon the Suwannee River.
We returned to the park this February. The carillon tower is a focal point in the park and one of my favorite things about being there is hearing the the bells from the carillon chime on the quarter hour and hearing Stephen Foster’s music throughout the day. Unfortunately, the carillon wasn’t working this year.
The carillon at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center
We didn’t visit the museum on this trip but there are interesting exhibits about Stephen Foster and his many songs.
Stephen Foster Museum
Even though it was only February there were some beautiful spring blooms. Gotta love Florida!
Dogwoods blooming at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center
Spring came early
February Azaleas blooming in White Springs
A splash of color blooming in February
One day we took a drive to Suwanee River State Park near Live Oak to check it out. High on the banks above the Suwanee River, we enjoyed a walk on an easy trail to the confluence of the Suwanee and Withlacoochee Rivers. Beside the trail were relics from riverboats that once traveled up and down the river.
Relic from old steamboat
Relic from old steamboat
Relic from old steamboat
We enjoyed wonderful views from an overlook at the confluence of the two rivers.
Confluence of Suwanee and Withlacoochee RiversBridges over the Suwanee RiverWithlacoochee River
After our walk we sat on a wooden swing overlooking the Suwanee River enjoying a picnic lunch. Doesn’t get much better than that.
Our first stop on our spring road trip was in Appling, Georgia at one of the Corps of Engineers Campgrounds on the shore of J Strom Thurmond Lake. For three nights we enjoyed the peace and tranquility of our lake front campsite.
Looking at Winfield Campground Site 10 from the lake
View of J Strom Thurmond Lake from Site 10 at Winfield Campground
The lake was just a few steps from our campsite
When it is springtime in Georgia the Wild Dogwoods and Carolina Jasmine add splashes of white and yellow throughout the woods.
Wild Dogwoods
Wild Dogwood
Carolina Jasmine drapes many of the trees
Wild dogwoods bloomed all through the woods
A small Wild Dogwood
Carolina Jasmine was in full bloom
We took a short drive to Harlem, Georgia to visit the birthplace of Oliver Hardy. He was born there in 1892 and moved to Milledgeville, Georgia with his mother after his father died. He attended the Military College of Georgia there and the University of Georgia for a short time. There are images of him all through town and in October the whole town celebrates with a Laurel and Hardy Festival.
Oliver Norvell Hardy was born in Harlem, Georgia in 1892
Even the water tower in Harlem honors Oliver Hardy
Laurel and Hardy Museum at Harlem, Georgia
One of the many displays in the museum
Mural of Laural and Hardy in Harlem, Georgia
Mural of Laural and Hardy in Harlem, Georgia
On Saturday we took a drive to Modoc, South Carolina to meet with friends Bill and Carol who are work campers there. We had a great time catching up with them and making some new RV friends.
