St. Augustine Alligator Farm

Today, Dan took the kids to the Alligator Farm in St. Augustine.  We love this place!  Unfortunately, I had to work...so they went without me.

They made it for "alligator feeding" time!  This can be quite disturbing to see...if you're not prepared!  It is nature at it's best!  Their usual is fresh muskrat and whole chickens!  The trainer throws in several raw pieces and it's truly a feeding FRENZY!  I'm not kidding!  Several VERY LARGE alligators tear at the meat.  You can even hear bones cracking and flesh ripping!

There are usually several people that can't actually watch this event.  I've been known to be one of them!
Anyway, they didn't get any pictures of that today....thank goodness!  These are just some random shots.

Amelia, Nathan & Olivia

Olivia & Amelia at the Kids Zone

My cute little Livie!

At the Mythbusters Sign

Mythbuster Episode Info

Have you ever seen Mythbusters?  This is a great show about....well....about trying to bust open the logic behind certain myths.  Recently one of their episodes had to do with busting the myth that you can actually run away from an attacking alligator if you can "zig zag" while you're running.  Well, I can't exactly remember the details about this episode, but I believe that this myth was deemed...."plausible".  Click here to get the info about this specific episode.

SR 13

I don't know about you, but my kids are going stir crazy. They are slowly but surely craving more structure and order. Those much needed summer days of rest and relaxation are slowly giving way to questions like, "Mom, when are we going to start school"? or "Mom, do you think we could sneak in some school lessons during the summer"?

After mass last week, we decided to get out of the house for a few hours and go on a drive. We had no destination in mind....just a leisurely Sunday drive. Our only goal was to maybe get the girls to take a nap.....ahem....NO DEAL.

Our drive took us south on State Road 13.  We passed cities like...Switzerland, Orangedale and Fruit Cove.

Florida truly is a beautiful state!  The only thing that I don't like is that the vegetation here doesn't change much from season to season.  Everything is pretty much going to be "green" and lush all year round.  I noticed that most of the pictures we've taken over the years of our hiking trips and visits to state parks....all look the same.  This is somewhat disappointing.  Perhaps this next school year, we will have to pay specific attention to animals and insects that DO change with the seasons.

Here are a few pictures...

My beautiful family

Reflection of the sky in the creek

Is this a sign of fall?

You gotta love living near the swamp.  Can you say MOSQUITOES?

Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens

Today, we ventured off to a new spot we've never visited before...Jacksonville Arboretum & Gardens!
What a wonderful place! Although the kids were still VERY tired from the busy day we had yesterday, we trudged off to a new hiking trail! Thankfully, it was only about a half a mile long...around a cute little lake.

The weather here in Jacksonville during the summer is...well....brutal to say the least! It's hot, humid and miserable most of the time. Today was no exception. I'm thankful for the huge oak trees that provide plenty of shade.

Here is some of what we experienced:

Lake Ray

Lily Pads

???? Does anybody know this one?

Lake filled with Minnows and Brim

Wildflowers

Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susans)

Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susans)

Perennial of some sort

Indian Blanket (I think)

Coreopsis lanceolata

Dragon Fly

Hopefully, there will be many more adventures like this as we navigate our newest adventure....called homeschooling!