When ya' see ole homesteads like this heah, does ya' spin a story in yore haid about who must lived thar,' an' how they made they livin'? Who they loved, lost, or fought? I passed this beauty, an' afore I rode on another 5 miles I done writ a whole novel around this speck of history.
Inspired by Chicory's recent post with the marvelous photos of Florida by Clyde Butcher, I took mah camera along t'other day, when, once again, mah obsessive wanderlust demanded some attention. I'se doin' a bit of professional yakkity -yak in Florida city I doan frequent, an' I knowed I could take some interestin' back roads home. So I tossed the (awful!) new camera in the back seat fer the ride.
This ole' Victorian is fer sale--oh please! May it be sold to the soul wif' a heart fer restoration.
Wanderlust is part of mah DNA from Pappy Cracker.
When we wuz young'uns, up in Hawg Town Creek, Pappy took us each, one by one, "on the road" wif' him one week out of each year jes' to provide us chillen's wif some specialized daddy time. This were a rarefied looky-see into that mysterious world of grown-ups and bidness. We had to dress up, mind our manners, an' know when to keep quiet. We always seen a side of Pappy Cracker we din't never see at home--prized time indeed.
Now, this were afore the I-75 were completed so often as not, to git whar' we's goin', we took some back roads. Mayhap' thas whar' Aunty's penchant fer the road less traveled began. Ya' reckon?
Anyhoo--despite this frustrating camera, I offer y'all these scenes of lost Florida--somethin' the tourists never see. I know it is selfish of me, but I pray somehow "progress" will whiz right on by, leavin' these ole' country roads to us Crackers.
Hayseed's is guarded by this handsome yard art sentinel ( note to Chickory--ya needs one of these!)
A few blocks away from Hayseed's, this live bird scared the feathers offa me when he/ she shrieked.
Turn of the century architecture what ain't been victim of a wreckin' ball is rare. This village's library boasts a Civil War archive, so I reckon I'll be back to visit an' bring along some of mah own Civil War archives to share.
This beauty is fer sale in a quaint hamlet--sigh, I is tempted.
A giant live oak that ain't fallen to new roads or shopping center parkin' prairies.
Not much call fer a lawn mower iffin' ya do thangs right.
Few folks realize that cattle ranchin' is big bidness in Florida--over a million head of cattle --no wonder long views over ranch land dotted wif' live oaks is dear to the heart of Floridians.
Even those of agnostic bent is touched by ole' time clapboard churches in the woods.
An' I'se amused to see how many have gatherin' pavilions under the moss curtained trees
Head down a county road that ain't seen no stimulus money since it were built an' youse most likely gonna see the lairs of honest to goodness Dukes of Hazard cuzins.
Back along these windin' roads, I seen plenty of patriotism.
Seen a goodly number of roadside stands...an' I wonder, how long could ya go wif'out steppin' into a grocery store?
Plenty of pork rinds in this fella, heh.
Cypress knees at dusk.
Thanky fer takin' a ride wif' me.
