In Flagler County, natural coquina formations along the coast have been eroded by the surf, leaving interesting sculptures. This photo was taken one winter day years ago near Washington Oaks State Park. Stormy weather had kicked up the surf and blown sea foam across the beach. This beach is orange because it is more shell than sand.
The Okefenokee Swamp is a huge peat bog covering much of south Georgia and spilling over a bit into north Florida. It is the source for both the Suwanee River on the west and the St. Marys River on the east. The name "Okefenokee" means land of the trembling earth, because many of the islands in the swamp are large clumps of floating peat.
Winter is the best time to visit the swamp - especially if you don't want to deal with its more onerous inhabitants - bugs and gators. There is the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge and the Stephen Foster State Park along with several other attractions to capture your interest.
via youtube.com
Yesterday's storm left power outages, downed trees and flooded streets in its path. The last shower from that front just came through a few minutes ago, waking us up. Fortunately, it looks like we have a calm and warm weekend ahead of us.
NEVERTHELESS… there is a potential bonanza for book writers (or authors, as we pretentious types prefer to call ourselves) in the news that Amazon has gone into competition with the expected Apple tablet and, as of June 30, is offering authors and publishers a 70% royalty for their copyrighted work to be published on the Kindle.
The devil is hugely in the details on this, but this is something of a revolution and could be very good news for writers indeed, but not such good news for publishers. As a relatively established – and suddenly greedy – writer I’m thinking, what do I need a publisher for? Why should I split the 70% with those thieves? For what? Cover art? I can hire someone myself for peanuts (well, large size peanuts anyway). Publicity? I can bribe my fellow bloggers with a flat beer to promote the damn thing. And, okay, a few of those publishers are or have pretty good editors, but there’s always spellcheck and that weird grammar helper on Microsoft Word. (Does anyone know how to use that?) And now Amazon (and Apple) provide the distribution. I don’t even have to lick envelopes. Or pay my daughter to do it.
via pajamasmedia.com
The view from the sea wall in front of Saint Francis Barracks looking south. The flag pole on the right is planted in the parade field in front of the barracks. Today's forecast calls for thunderstorms, but for now things are calm.
The St. Augustine Lighthouse and Keeper's House are open daily to visitors. Climb the light to enjoy awesome views of the city and beaches, browse the museum and visit the gift shop for unique gifts. Learn more online.
Reminders of the Second Seminole War“The Dogs of War”.
By Geoff Dobson
On August 14, 1842 at Depot Key, General William J. Worth declared the Florida War, now known as the Second Seminole War, at an end. The war had lasted seven years.
The war had commenced with the killing of civilians at Fort King, present day Ocala, and the Massacre of Captain (Brevet Major) Francis L. Dade and his men at Wahoo Swamp sixty-five miles north of Fort Brooke on December 28, 1835.
It took several days for official word to be received by the army at Fort Brooke (present day Tampa). Unofficially, there was a realization that something had gone amiss when the dog of one of the three survivors of the massacre, Captain Charles Gardiner, reappeared, wounded, at the Fort. It was, perhaps, the only time when the military received word of a disaster in the field from a dog.
via historiccity.com
via amazon.com
The Lion & the Mouse is this year's winner of the Caldecott Award celebrating illustrated children's books. Randolph Caldecott died in St. Augustine in 1886 and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery. Learn more at The Graveyard Rabbit of Moultrie Creek.