Canopy Trail in Myakka River State Park

The set of stairs we climbed to get above the trees and enjoy the view!!

After our time in Orlando, we headed southwest to Sarasota, Fl where we are camping at Myakka River State Park. We have thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful alligator and bird refuge park!! We have seen more variety of birds than we have ever seen in our entire life, all put together. Plus, alligators are EVERYWHERE!! I will post picture of these cool creatures in the next blog...here I'll share pictures of the "forests" of Florida. We took a small hike through the forest and climbed up 76 ft up into the air to see the view from the top of the canopy. We are learning so much about Florida, it's ecosystems and it's unique wildlife!!

The forests of Florida...live oaks, palmettos and saw palmettos.

 

My tree climber!

 

The suspension bridge we crossed to get to the staircase.

 

 

View from the top of the tower...very green and beautiful!!

 

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"Happiest Place On Earth"

From Toy Story, Woody and Buz Lightyear

So we spent three days at Universal and Disney Land and sad to say that I don't have any pictures to show for it :-(. I didn't want to risk taking the iPad at the parks for fear of it falling out when we were riding the awesome rides or possibly getting stolen. So I only have pictures of us at Downtown Disney at the Lego store. Yes, all of these pictures have displays that are COMPLETELY made of Legos. To say the least, Luke was in HEAVEN!! As expected, we had a blast with our favorite travel friends at the "happiest place on earth", but we won't go back during the Christmas break/New Year time...it was a ZOO!! We were lucky to survive!!

Snow White kissing Dopey

High Ho, High Ho, It's off to work we go...

 

This was the most majestic mad-made Lego sculpture I have EVER seen, Prince Charming fighting the dragon from Sleeping Beauty

 

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St. Augustine, Florida

Our first of many stops in Florida was in St. Augustine...the famed "Fountain of Youth". We saw the location where Juan Ponce de Leon landed and claimed the land for Spanish and named it "Florida". We even tasted to famous water from the "fountain", (a stream really) and it was less than pleasant for sure...very high in sulfur, so you could imagine the aroma...yep, rotten eggs :-). This area was certainly beautiful and it is no wander why the Spaniards chose to settle here!! We only stayed one day here, as we were in a hurry to arrive in Orlando so we could meet our good friends who flew in from Abq. to ring in the new year with us. We spent the next week with the Melloy family and spent time at Universal Studios, the beach and the condo that we had rented. More about our Orlando adventures to come in the next blog...

The "fountain"...more like a trickle!!

Drinking to our health and youth!!

The explorer, Ponce de Leon

 

Lots of beautiful peacocks roamed the property

 

A pure white peacock...amazingly gorgeous!!

 

Luke wearing a metal, conquistador hat!!

 

The Lion King in a kingly hat!!

 

The beauty of St. Augustine

 

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Good Bye Savannah, Hello Florida!!

Notice the flag out straight? Is was SERIOUSLY windy the day we visited to fort...cold and windy as the powerful front was moving through.

We have thoroughly enjoyed our time in Savannah, the wonderful sights, shops, our camp ground (Red Gate RV Park), historic places and the FOOD!! We did manage to work in one more historic site after Christmas, Fort Pulaski near Tybee Island. This was a really cool fort that was important in the Civil War. It was a Confederate stronghold, designed to be unbreachable (kinda like the Titanic was unsinkable) with two sets of huge moats, massive man-made hills to be climbed as enemies approached, and MAJOR fire power with hundreds of huge cannons. Well, after a successful tactical plan Union forces, the fort did fall into Union hands in 1863 and helped to overtake the entire port of Savannah and further strengthen the North's hold on the South.

As all good things must come to an end, so must our time in Savannah. However, we get to head to the next good thing...Florida!! First stop, St. Augustine then Orlando, then Everglades National Park, then the Florida Keys. We anticipate being in this state for the entire month of January. We will keep everyone posted on our upcoming destinations and adventures. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and we pray for blessings for all of our family and friends as we approach a new year. Big hugs from the Lion Pride!!

The man-made hills that would hold off the enemy as they tried to approach on foot.

 

The outermost moat. There was another moat closer in to the fort.

 

Inside the fort. You can see some of the many cannons scattered throughout the fort...especially upstairs overlooking the massive brick wall.

Interior brick walls of the fort.

 

Posing by one of the many cannons.

 

The "hoist" used to move and place cannons.

 

 

A "parrot cannon" on the second level of the fort.

 

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Merry Christmas!!

Happy Birthday Jesus was celebrated by the Lionbarger family in Savannah, Georgia. We have so very much to be thankful for, but none more important than the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ!! Praise God from whom all blessings flow and Lionbarger blessings are certainly overflowing!! We love and miss all of our family and friends and we look forward to seeing all of you next year :-)

Lila had lots of fun things arrive for Christmas...wallet, purse, clothes, movie, Beanie Ballz, and an iPod...she is all smiles!!

Luke snagged some ping pong paddles, clothes, movie, paper airplane folding book and a DS game...and his favorite Dallas Cowboys cap!!

Paige made-out like a bandit with all things fashion...clothes, shoes, mustache belt, ear cuffs, purse, plus movie, gift cards and Just Dance 4 for the wii.

Madeline got great things as well...these snazzy, multi-purpose personalized blankets (all kids got them, she is just modeling it best) plus clothes, movie, books, purses, head bands, ear rings, Nook cover and cash!!

Fun things for John...Logo hat, clothes, ax for the camper, cologne and a watch.

I am so blessed...I received wonderful things for my kitchen (new cutting board and antique teapot set), several pieces of lovely jewelry and some napkins to match my snowflake dishes back home! It was a special Christmas!!

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Happy Birthday to Me!!

Paula Deen's restaurant on the corner...three stories high. We sat on the third floor.

Thursday was my 40th birthday and we celebrated in style...lunch at the Lady and Sons restaurant in downtown Savannah!! We had originally planned on having dinner there, but a severe thunderstorm warning for the late afternoon modified our plans slightly, so we went to lunch instead :-). The food was every bit as good as we had hoped for...fried chicken, mashed potatoes, creamed corn, collard greens, black-eyed peas (only Grammy ate those, but she said they were the best she had ever eaten), macaroni and cheese, crab cakes and my personal favorite of the day, hoecakes!! Everything was southern-style scrumptious!! I couldn't have asked for a better birthday! It really was a dream come true for me :-). Now we make preparations to celebrate the real reason for the season...Jesus's birthday!!

 

Paige's piled-high plate of Paula Deen's famous fried chicken...all of the rumors are true....it IS the best fried chicken EVER!!

 

My complementary gooey cake complete with candle and singing!

 

My double chocolate birthday cake that we all very much enjoyed in the comfort and safety of camper. We actually were still so full from lunch, that all we had was cake and a glass of milk for dinner...absolutely perfect if you ask me!!

 

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Touring Savannah with Grammy!!

We have had a WONDERFUL time touring Savannah as a family of seven...Grammy included :-). Over the last couple of days, we have done a couple of tours of the downtown area and parts of town where Paula Deen has made history over the last few years. It is such a delightful, old-fashioned town and we have had a special, memory-making time here in Savannah. I'm so thankful for my mama coming to visit...it has been so fun having her with us...a wonderful time of refreshment for me!!

One of the MANY beautiful, antique buildings in Savannah.

 

The park where Forrest Gump sat as he shared his box of chocolates and told his life story!!

 

Love these colonial-style brick buildings!!

 

The magnificent St. John the Baptist Cathedral in downtown Savannah...absolutely gorgeous!!

The inside of the cathedral!

 

The fountain in Forsyth Park

 

Totally love these paths, lined with Spanish moss draped live oak trees!!

The Whitefield chapel on the Bethesda Boy's Home that was founded by the Englishman George Whitefield. It was originally an orphanage and now it is a school and home for boys.

 

A cute bridge leading to the chapel.

 

The home of Paula Deen where it all began...her "Bag Lady" lunch delivery service and then ultimately her "Lady and Sons" restaurant then eventually her own cooking show and southern-cooking empire!!

 

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