Condos - Ormond Beach

Sunburst on the Florida Turnpike

Fishing in the Intercoastal Waterway

The Ivy House Restaurant - Williston, Florida

We posted a photo of the exterior of this restaurant almost four years ago.  A few months ago, we had the opportunity to enjoy a meal there.  There's a homey atmosphere and one is made to feel welcome.

The Ivy House has become quite popular.  It became so popular that not long ago, they opened a 2nd Ivy House right here in Ocala.  We have not visited that restaurant as yet.

Open soon?

Don't, as they say, hold your breath!

City Hall - Eustis, Florida

Itsy Bitsy Yacht - Amelia Island

Vultures' Roost - Suwannee River, north Florida

On Guard at Fort Clinch, Amelia Island, Florida

Paradise Church...

...in the forest, near Micanopy, Florida.

Christmas for sale in Micanopy, Florida

The "Doc Hollywood" hospital

The above photo was taken a couple of weeks ago in Micanopy, Florida.  This house, now an Antique store, was used as the Grady Memorial Hospital in the movie, "Doc Hollywood," starring Michael J. Fox.

You may find the following video of interest if you have seen the movie.

If you're interested in learning more about the movie, click here.

Entrance to the Town of Citrus Springs

Old storefronts in Williston, Florida

Williston, Florida is a small town northwest of Ocala. It's one of those places that time has passed by. Not that it's dying, but it will never be a great metropolis.

It's downtown area is partially deserted as is true of many small towns in our country. These two storefronts represent once thriving businesses. Hopefully, at some point they will come back to commercial life again.

Antique Shop, Micanopy, Florida: What Goes Around Comes Around

What Goes Around Comes Around

A heavy set woman of indeterminate age with blue silvery hair stepped around the table filled with boxes of old postcards. Her dress, a shimmering tent of pastel colors and shapes, moved with her, folding and unfolding with every motion. The other woman, older, but much slimmer and very tall, had long grey hair pinned up in a bun.  Clad in a burgundy jumpsuit, she paid the heavy set woman no attention, but thumbed through the old postcards, her head bobbing up and down like a puppet.

At the front of the store, the proprietor glanced their way every few seconds. Pilfering had become a plague which he feared might do him in. Antiques shops were not gold mines. He knew that age, sex or style of dress were all inaccurate methods of judging a shoplifter. At the same time he didn't want to make the women uncomfortable.

"Do you think Harold would like this one?" asked the heavy set woman, holding up an bedraggled sepia picture of New York City.

"Oh for god's sake, Lucy, he's got so many damn cards now. What's he going to do with another one?" replied the slim woman, peevishly.

"I didn't ask you to pass judgement, Mildred! You're so judgmental! Your brother's always loved New York."

"Buy it then. What do I care?"

"Maybe you're just hungry. There's a cafe across the street."

"That's your solution for everything, isn't it?  Eat, eat, eat!"

Lucy shook her head in resignation. She tried so hard with Mildred. They'd been friends for 35 years but what a pain she was! Too thin, probably. Creaky and weak bones. Most likely hurts to walk. She needs to add a little padding.

Mildred rounded the corner of the table, grabbed the sepia picture out of Lucy's hand and stomped up to the proprietor's old wooden desk, strewn with papers, pencils, tools, toys and other antique junk. She waved the photo in the man's face. "Can you tell me when this was taken?" she asked.

Startled by her belligerence, Roger Beacon, former Army intelligence officer, a stocky 60 something, stood up - all 5 feet 2 inches of him, his crew-cut bristling in the sunlight dappling across the front of the store.   His face contorted into what he considered his most shopper-friendly smile. He held out his hand and Lucy slapped down the postcard.

She said brusquely, "And do know where there's a decent restroom in this godforsaken town?"

Beacon did not reply, but pretended to study the postcard. He'd priced it at $1.50. It was from 1932 and was a photo of 5th Avenue looking south from Central Park.  Solemnly he handed it back to her. Then he sat in his old, rickety chair.

"How would I know anything about that?" he asked dismissively, picking up the newspaper he'd been reading when the two women entered the store.


Beacon thought about Lucy and Mildred a few weeks later when he read they'd been hit by a tourist bus while jaywalking in a larger town a few miles north. The paper said they were taken to St. Mary's Hospital, and while in critical condition, they were expected to survive.

For a second Beacon smiled, then said a solemn, silent prayer for the doctors and nurses at St. Mary's.

Seating Arrangement

It may look well used, but it still functions. What more can one ask?

Cruisin' Down The River (Suwannee River)

The Wall and Entry - Ft. Clinch, Amelia Island, Florida

Sculpture at Lake Eustis - Eustis, Florida

Old Florida Cafe - Micanopy, Florida

Landing at Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood airport

Waterfront at Eustis, Florida

Photo by Lois Anne.

Fort Clinch at Fort Clinch State Park - Amelia Island

Eustis, Florida - Waterfront Sculpture

Yacht basin - Amelia Island

Casting for fish or trouble?

This young lad was busily tossing a net into the water. He was alone down there. It appeared he would have difficulty getting back up to the bridge. But he seemed to be having a great time although it appeared very dangerous to us. Photo taken under the Intercoastal Bridge in Ormond Beach which leads to the Atlantic Ocean.

First Baptist Church - Weirsdale, Florida

Marina - Amelia Island, Florida

Olivia's Coffee Shop - Eustis, Florida

A few years ago, we posted photos of Olivia's Coffee shop in Eustis.  Since then, the shop has moved to a new, larger location across the street.  But it's still a funky little restaurant with real character, good food and fine service.  And at times, musicians and poets will offer entertainment.

Olivia's website is here.

Summer fun at Ormond Beach

Bar - Ruby Tuesday's, Gainesville, Florida

Peddler's Wagon - Eustis, Florida

The Peddler's Wagon, located in the chic little town of Eustis, Florida (about 1/2 way between Orlando and Ocala), is a fantastic gift shop, filled with all types of exotic and beautiful offerings.  The Christmas section, which takes up about 1/3rd of the store, has an incredible and extensive collection of items to help light up your Christmas with charm and color.

If you're ever in Eustis, stop by and drink in for yourself all this splendor, and say "Hello" to the man running things there, Kevin Jenness.

Swimming with the Manatees at Manatee Springs State Park