“The Crown Hotel” Inverness Florida

Oh how I love to photograph old buildings like this one with so much character.

And being able to research the history online is wonderful!

I even found a blog HERE with photos and lots of information. I thought this was interesting…

“Hotel's Origins A Mystery

By Jorge Sanchez

Citrus County Bureau

INVERNESS – If wall could speak, then perhaps the shroud of mystery surrounding the Colonial Hotel in downtown Inverness would be unveiled to reveal the true age and origin on one of the county’s oldest and least-understood landmarks.

There are no registered blueprints for the aged wooden structure. County records trail off near the turn of the century, after chronicling a half-dozen ownership changes. Some people who bought the hotel kept it for nearly 60 years, others sold it after 11 months.”

“The Crown Hotel has a long and time-honored history in Inverness. Originally called the Orange Hotel, the building was constructed in the early 1920s, according to Inverness city clerk Marilyn Jordan.”

I could spend hours on this blog learning about the old Crown Hotel.  Now it is an Assisted Living Facility.

I’m joining Monday Social HERE

AND Mosaic Monday HERE !

Historic Haile Homestead at Christmas

We drove out to this Florida cotton plantation last weekend for their holiday event.

It was a beautiful day and the house was decked out in natural splendor.

They used fresh greenery all through the house

and every window had a beautiful wreath.

The 6,200 sq.ft. home was completed in 1856 and the homestead was once a 1,500-acre Sea Island cotton plantation. (I know, it’s not what you expect in Florida!)

All of the people there were volunteers and they were dressed in period dress

 

and so helpful and friendly.

We had a wonderful afternoon and learned a lot, too.

My new banner was a photo taken there.

And don’t you love these sweet stockings?

They had 12 boys and 2 girls in this big family. (they lost one girl before they moved there)

For more information about the Haile Homestead click HERE.

Don’t you love to learn more about the history of our country and the area you live in?

I’m joining  Sundays in my City.

*Happy Holidays*

Photography Challenge “Windows and Doors”

We went for a drive on Sunday and I was keeping my eyes open for ‘doors’ and ‘windows’ when I hit the jackpot! We were almost back home when we drove through Williston, Florida and saw this old downtown street. (right across from the Ivy House which is the best place to eat in Florida!)

So we pulled into the parking lot and I got out and took a few photos. And I really mean…a few photos.

I’m going to show you just about all of the photos I took. (I still went over the limit for the challenge!)

And I chose to take only one of them to Picmonkey to play with different effects.

This was my FAVORITE,

the blue doors to Citizens Bank.

I think one of the keys to good photos is good light.

And here in Florida we have the brightest, most sunshiny days, the very best for taking photos outdoors.

I’m sending my best wishes to Donna and Jim…keeping them in my prayers this week.

Thanks for the challenge.

I found a street full of doors and windows to share!

I’m taking part in Donna’s photo challenge

and Weekend Reflections

and Anything Blue Friday.

I love the old downtown areas, don’t you? It always makes me wonder what was in all of these old stores.

This is the the tile on the floor just as you walk through the blue doors on the corner of the street. What memories old timers must have of this downtown street.

The Night Sky by Maria Sutton

When the author of this beautiful memoir contacted me and asked me if I would like to read her book and give a review, I was honored. But then I had a few reservations when I began reading. The subtitle is “A Journey From Dachau to Denver and Back” and I wasn’t sure I was ready to make that journey. Over the years I’ve read quite a few books about this time period and it is not always pleasant.

But once I started the book, I could not put it down. I won’t tell you the details because I hope you will buy this book, read it and be open to the surprise ending.

She searches for a father she’s never met. For years she searches, and as you read, you find yourself hoping for a happy reunion.

Of course when she sets out to solve the mystery of her father’s whereabouts and his life, more mysteries present themselves. My favorite part of the whole book was a mystery that she solved along the way, not involving her father at all.

She brought in the history of this time frame and I think the book was well documented. She traveled around the world and I enjoyed hearing about Poland, Germany and the Ukraine, and seeing the wonderful photos she included in the book. Of course my favorite photo is the one of her Grandmother, Maria Czeczerski taken in Krasne, Ukraine in 1915. It’s featured on the cover of the book. My other favorite photo was on page 193 but I won’t reveal what it is, only that it is a photo from a newspaper article.

I cried reading this book. I even stopped reading when I reached chapter 12. I waited 2 days to read this chapter. It was the ‘rejoicing’ chapter, I think. I sat down one morning to read this chapter and finished the book. When I read the last page, I cried again.

Thank you, Maria for allowing me the privilege of following you on this journey. You made some important discoveries along the way and many friends and family that you can enjoy for the rest of your life. It’s an important book and very well written. I felt like you were in the room with me, telling me the story.  I enjoyed your book and I know my blog readers will, too.

This book is available from Amazon...click HERE.

You’ll be glad you did!

(I just checked and there are only 16 copies left in stock on Amazon!)

Thank you so much Maria!

Follow me to Cross Creek!

Good morning! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

We had an adventure....to Cross Creek...the 'real' Florida!

 

First we watched the movie, (It's WONDERFUL!)

my hubby did some research on the computer...

and off we went to Cross Creek!

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings moved to this rural part of Florida in 1928.

Visit the website Marorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park for more info!

Other photos HERE !

This 72 acre orange grove and her Cracker neighbors were the inspiration for her writing. Her best known book, The Yearling won a Pulitzer Prize in 1939 and was later made into a movie.

We took the tour of the house and I just had to include a few photos of this!

Her writing table and a bed for summer time sleeping...on the porch!

I found it interesting that she had so many famous people visit her there, Gregory Peck, Margaret Mitchell, Ernest Hemingway and Robert Frost.

Her Bedroom and private bath had it's own entrance from the back porch! 

I love this linoleum! My Dad had this same pattern in an old cabin he owned in North Carolina!

I loved this sweet table in her dining room!

Her garden...

and a trail we hiked

to see the Cypress Knees (it was not swampy...which surprised me!)

My husband and I both have copies of the book Cross Creek from the library

and we are enjoying learning even more!

What a neat experience....to watch the movie, visit Cross Creek and take a tour of the house and then to read the book for even more stories and details! What a blessing to live in a country so rich in stories of the past!

I hope your week is filled with adventure!