YULEE

David Levy Yulee was the the first Jewish member of the United States Senate. He was a sharp business man, serving as president of several companies. While living in Fernandina with his family, David Yulee founded the Florida Railroad Company and became known as the Father of Florida Railroads.

 Yulee served as a member of the Confederate Congress where his passionate speeches in support of Confederate causes  gained him another nickname: "Florida Fire Eater" .  These passions also gained him a 9 month imprisonment @ Fort Pulaski. 

He was granted pardon and has since been named a "Great Floridian" 

Princess Amelia

Amelia Island was named for Her Royal Highness Princess Amelia Sophia Elanor of Great Britain, from the House of Hanover, descendant of King George II. She loved to hunt and ride and in later life was a park ranger. She is known for commissioning a bath house, giving generously to charities and having a penchant for the truth. Lady Promfret described the Princess Amelia as:

"...one of the oddest princesses that ever was known; she has ears shut to flattery and her heart open to honesty."

To those who knew her well, she was known affectionately as Emily. 

Coastal Cousins

In a serendipitous turn of events various cousins from various corners converged on Amelia... I was delighted to be caught in the cross-hairs. 

Christian is my cousin Joni's baby boy- he's from Augusta. Fisher & Logan are mine. Charley is my second cousin Chuck's baby girl~ she was there with her momma, Donna (and a BOY!). They're all from around Waycross.  Tyler is Joni's oldest girl, also from Augusta. Riley is also mine. (Chandler was @ the golf course) 

We couldn't have planned it. 

But we have proof it happened... Once Upon Amelia. 

:)  

Pippi on Behaving

"I HAVE NOTICED SEVERAL TIMES THAT PEOPLE DON'T THINK I KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE, EVEN WHEN I'M TRYING AS HARD AS I CAN."  ~pippi

*Let's Get Graphic: Coffee4Lunch Design* 

The Nude Beaches Of Nassau County

While pulled alongside  a county vehicle recently, I discovered a lesser known area  attraction: nude sunbathing, apparently. 

Also, floating livestock & paper mills- but who doesn't have those? 

Nassau County- Coffee4Lunch will donate services whenever you're ready. 

ABC

 

From the drawing board to local print and koozies... one of my favorite parts.

Check out Amelia Boat Club  online (and in person!)

Coffee4Lunch helped with the web site too.

Borrow a boat or a waverunner while you're there and be sure to compliment their new image. :)

Flashback Thursday

Flashback Thursday today- because I feel like breaking the unspoken alliteration rule: 

Before we knew we'd someday call this place home...

Before there was Riley...

Back when Pompeo's was still opened...

I miss you Spaghetti Carbonara.

Fourth of July Recap (Part 1)

It has taken me so long to finally get around to sharing July 4th photos. I took way too many photos too...especially of our sand castle building.

The idea was to make a stop motion of the castle being built and then dissolving into the sea. What actually came of it was photo documentation up until about the mid point of the castle's dissolution (when my battery died). Which was not enough to make the stop motion but plenty to make picking photos to share a challenge.

A collage of castle building follows. What started out as a toddler's whim to build a sand castle turned into a group effort (sans the toddler, who found something more interesting to do about 15 minutes after we started)

Eventually, all that remained of our work was the ocean's floor. One thing that stuck out to me was how my boys kept building as the waves started rushing in... They had a vision they wanted to see completed. They worked against the tide to see it realized. Even as doom loomed, they labored on. When the castle did what castles do, they watched with a satisfaction tied to their work, not the dissolution of it's product.  I'll bet there's a lesson in there somewhere, if only we dig a little... ;)

Twirling with Leah

Leimbergs @ the Library

We stopped by the library for the first time in a long while the other day. While inside, rediscovering the joys of the library's "All You Can Read...and for FREE" buffet it began to rain... so we just took our time. 

Books were read, magazines too. 

Blocks were stacked. Puppets emerged. 

Hours passed. 

G.K. is one of my all time favorites... in the whole wide world. This is a children's title, but it is also a metaphor... check it out ;) 

When we were at the Circulation Desk signing up for Summer Reading, a couple asked us if they could take our photo for some library promo materials. Though I usually put up a fuss about being in photos, I was put on the spot and agreed so as to be, well... agreeable. 

So, we did what we could to help the library... these shots, we were informed, would go to make PSA Style posters to promote the library and her various reading programs (Great, I didn't even consult a mirror and they're going to make these photos poster size! Just Wonderful!) 

We were told they are often featured in the local newspaper too. (Double Great!) 

After our session, the couple rounded the library, holding more spontaneous photo shoots. As they snapped the photo of a family nearby, I over heard a librarian talking about what a wonderful and sorta famous photographer we had in our presence. 

When we crossed paths again, the photographer-who had won Riley's approval by talking about block stacking, passed us a business card and an invitation to drop an  email for a copy of the photos taken of our crew:
Steve & JoAnn Leimberg
@ Unseen Images
I checked out the website the following day and found beautiful pictures that tell stories. I sent an email to Mr. Steve and we exchanged pleasant conversation. He also shared with me the copies below. 

I love the library and all the kinds of folks that we meet there :)

(Thanks again, Leimbergs)

Signing up for Summer Reading

Notice Chandler's shout out to Carolina? 

Summer Readers