Marianna Cemetery

As interesting as we found the soldiers at the Battle of Marianna re-enactment, we really found the cemetery at St. Luke's fascinating. It was the site for the main battle.

There are some very old graves in the cemetery. This is the grave of the former governor of Florida during the Civil War, John Milton.

This soldier died in the battle, as indicated by the date.

This sign chronicles the church buildings that have been built on this site.

The interior of the present church is lovely.

The Bible contained in this case was rescued from this church twice during fires. The first time was during the battle.

Mailbox Monday: Perched Pelican on a Post

150th Anniversary of the Battle of Marianna

B and I drove over to Marianna to observe the re-enactment of the Battle of Marianna. It had been 150 years to the day. The activity took place at the courthouse square and in the nearby park. When we arrived, the battle had already begun.

The local "boys" were on one side of the courthouse lawn and the Union troops on the other. 

Once the firing stopped, they all lined up together.

And they fired in unison, one last shot.

In the park, was a cannon. This fellow was manning it. We found he had a truly remarkable resemblance to one of our family members.

This woman was lecturing on the importance of salt and its many uses and thus the importance of the salt works along the coast here.

In a pavilion, a local community chorus sang songs from the Civil War.

It was a rather small celebration but we thought it was well worth the drive over from Tallahassee.

The Mermaid at Wakulla Springs

We enjoyed an outing to Wakulla Springs late in the summer. It is a beautiful, clear river fed by one of the largest springs in the world.  It was the sight for a few movies: Tarzan and The Monster From the Black Lagoon and others.

We carry our own binoculars but there are "happy faced" viewers for others to better see the manatees and birds.

We had to smile watching a young girl swimming in a mermaid suit.

Heads...

And tails came up and went down. (I think I might well drown in such a thing.)

What do you think the odds are she was named Ariel? Or maybe she has an idea for the next movie to be filmed there.

Mailbox Monday: The Tin Man!

Forest Capital Museum in Perry, Florida

We have spent most of our lives in this area and had never been to the Forest Capital Museum in Perry. We have talked about it for years and so finally on Labor Day weekend, we went down to check it out. It only took about an hour to see pretty much everything, but it was worth it. In addition to the interior hall displays of forestry history and products, the outside is the site for a little settler homestead.

The scuppernongs were begging to be sampled. They were the best I have ever tasted.

Mailbox Monday: Something Fishy