Cumberland Island

Going to Cumberland Island has been a desire of ours for over a year.   The lore of wild horses, old mansions and beaches right in our Georgia backyard was too much to pass up.   We had to wait for a weekend where Randy did not work and we had a chance to plan ahead for our day adventure.

The ferry ride over was a highlight with the nice cool breeze and scenery.

Sabrina loved sitting up top.

On the road to the ruins during a walking tour.

In the distance Dungenous Ruins.   This mansion was built by Thomas Carnegie and his wife Lucy in 1884.   

At the height of activity, this mansion hosted senators and government officials who ran in the circles of the Carnegie Family.

This show the front drop off loop where carriages would have stopped at the step to unload the passengers.

Our guide was giving us advice regarding the wild horses.   These were used to people but should not be approached as they were wild animals.   Two stallions actually had a sparring match in front of us while we were looking at the mansion.

Grazing peacefully.

The fountain on the grounds would have been the center of the garden parties.

The ruins of the old rec house.   When the family went into financial crisis, many of the maintenance on outer buildings and then eventually the mansion became the norm.

The Boardwalk to the beach.

Sandy fun!

Dad and daughter much needed time.   These two love to wade in the ocean together.

The great oaks lined the road.

Someone wanted to climb them.

Runs of outer buildings.

Picnic with ruins in the background.

The fountain.

This vantage point overlooked the water.   It was here that a poacher was shot in the leg by the housekeeper.   Soon after the mansion was torched by arson and it believed the brothers of the shot poacher were the arsonists. 

The back stairway to the mansion.

The back stairway.

Back at the ferry dock for the return trip.

The ranger station where Sabrina earned her Junior Ranger Badge!

While waiting, horses came close to graze.

Looking up shore for the ferry.

Back on mainland, the newest Junior Ranger modeling her badge.

Harris Neck Wildlife

Just south of Savannah about 40 miles is Harris Neck Wildlife Reserve.   We absolutely loved this place as it was a haven for bird and wildlife watching.   Right outside this visitor center we spotted our first Painted Bunting.   What a treat with its bright blue and red feathers.   Unfortunately, getting a picture was an elusive activity.

We hiked down a path to a pond and were able to see this endangered bird, a woodstork.   He was much larger than we thought he would be...larger than a great blue heron.   This one was holding one wing out and then held out the other in what looked like the wings were being dried.

In the pond behind Sabrina were small alligators and the woodstork.  

Walking on another side of the pond we were able to watch alligators and see the birds in the center of the pond in the rookery.  Sabrina was holding up her blade of grass in a banner hold and trying to drive out the bugs.   Cute, but it did not work!

Large turtles hanging out in the pond.

On the edge of the path in the grass hid several smaller alligators.   They were the closest we have been to gators.   This one was about five feet long.   Some were a little bit smaller.   We were surprised by how close they got to the path.   On our way back they actually crossed the path.

A little bit closer view.

These amazed us.   Woodstorks and Great White Egrets nested on islands.   We were told that they like this spot as the gators protect them from raccoons who would eat the eggs in nests.   Sometimes a bird falls into the water and does become lunch for the gators.   It is all a balance of creatures in the food web. 

Sabrina loved the butterflies.

Coming in for a landing at the nest.

Before it was a wildlife refuge, this was a WWII air field and some parts were plantations.   

Woodstorks are endangered and so it was wonderful to see they fly and be free.

Landing with their friends.   We loved this place and hope to be back.

Easter Bunny and Quilt

Before Easter, Sabrina had been helping with the quilting project of making a teddy bear quilt for her bear, Flinx.   However, Easter morning Mr. Bunny arrived and the quilt quickly became his.   At night he shares it with Flinx.

Sabrina actually helped pin and sat on my lap as we sewed the nine block back of the quilt.   The fabric is happy fabric from different projects.   Snoopy was from a quilt for her bed at home and the butterfly and turquoise fabrics are from a pillow made for Gramma Joyce.

The front side of the quilt was fun to make nine blocks with sashing.

Mr. Bunny in his bed.

With his quilt.

It is reversible!