Don't like the weather--wait a few minutes!

We are noting that the weather here changes as much as our daughter changes outfits in one day.   In other words, it is very variable!   Most mornings are starting with clear skies, high humidity and temperatures in the mid 70s.   By ten in the morning it has reached the 80s or low 90s with some clouds forming in the sky.  We have found this a great time to go swimming as no one is in the pool and it is not unbearably hot yet.    Around noon, it reaches the unbearably hot- retreat to inside and sit under a fan or A/C stage.    Usually between three and five the thunder and lightning showers start.   Some days this is accompanied by tornado winds or flash flooding.    Last night the lightning was sheet lightning that lit up the entire sky!   And the rain was creating the need for cars that could double as boats!   I know those were invented and am wondering why they were not sold in the South!   They would be perfect!

Random photos from the streets of Savannah

Pink Oleander in bloom!   We learned this is a beautiful but deadly plant.   Leaves were boiled during the Revolutionary War, making a "Special Tea" for the Redcoats who forced staying with colonists.   They did not stay long!   

Another Oleander!

A great old oak!

Some nice iron work outside an antique shop.   Would be fun the fix them up and use in a garden.

A side yard with an old carriage house.

Our first Gnome siting in Savannah!

A nice railing with flower decor.

Along Jones Street.   The front doors are up stairs and most houses had flower boxes.

Stonework and fountains.

Walking tour #3 --Squares of Luxury

After blueberry picking, we drove to downtown Savannah to go on our self guided walking tour #3 of the Squares of luxury.    However, in route a thunder and lightning storm descended and we found ourselves talking a rest for about thirty minutes in the car.    The storm passed after dumping a ton of water everywhere and really giving quite a show.    The streets of Savannah were drying out but still large puddles could be found on every street corner.   Sabrina found these right away and soaked her shoes!   The Old Sorrel-Weed House was a social hotspot during the 1840s-50 and many prominent people were entertains here including Robert E. Lee.   Today it is a stop on the haunted tours of Savannah as one of the wives took her life here and is rumored to haunt it to this day.   

Green- Meldrim House was the original home of a wealthy English cotton merchant.   It was offered to General Sherman to use as headquarters while in Savannah.   This is the famed house where Sherman telegraphed Lincoln with the message that Savannah was being given as a Christmas gift.  Later the Meldrim family occupied the home who in turn sold it in 1943 to St. John's Episcopal Church to used as a parish house.  The church is right next door.

The Gryphon Tea Room- now operated by SCAD as a tea room on the ground floor.   This building once was occupied by Solomon's Drug Store, one of the oldest pharmacies in the country.  

SCAD- Poetter hall (c. 1893)  Constructed as the Savannah Volunteer Guards Armory, this is the first building purchased and renovated by the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD)   Now is is the offices of the current president of the school.   SCAD has been a huge contributor of preservation of historic Savannah and now occupies over 60 buildings in the area.

Julia Gordon Lowell used the carriage house at the back of the Andrew Low House as the first headquarters for the Girl Scouts of America.  

Lousia Porter Home-  Location of the first Girl Scout Meeting.   This house is diagonal from the Andrew Low Carriage House- Headquarters.

From the outside, the Cathredral of ST. John the Baptist did not look open as the building is covered in scaffolding.   Once inside we were dazzled by the windows and intricate painting which reminded us of a European Cathedral.

Originally, Catholics were not allowed in Savannah out of fear that they would be sympathizers with the Spanish in Florida.   However, the ban faded away shortly after the Revolutionary War and this congregation was formed around 1796.   The cathedral construction started in 1873 and ended in 1896.   In the fire of 1898 it was almost totally destroyed but was rebuilt in 1899.

The organ and Rose Window!

In all the squares are either monuments or statues.   LaFayette Square had a nice fountain.

Monterey Square features Pulaski Monument-  Casimir Pulaski   was a skilled Polish soldier who was given the title " the Father of American cavalry".   Pulaski's cavalry is credited for saving George Washington's life in the Battle of Brandywine.   Pulaski died of infection from a grapeshot wound suffered during the Siege of Savannah in 1779.

Forsyth Fountain-  Although the tour continued around the fountain and the park, due to the wetness of the grounds, we opted not to continue around the park.   Sabrina would have loved to play at her favorite park but after the major storm that occurred before we arrived, we decided it would have been a soggy option.  We will take in this part of the tour on a later dry date.

Blueberries for Sal or Sabrina

One of our favorite books is BLUEBERRIES FOR SAL.    In the story a mom and daughter, Sal, go blueberry picking.   Meanwhile, a momma bear and cub go eating blueberries.   Sal and the bear cub change places and they eat the berries out of the pale as the mom is picking the berries.   Our trip to blueberry field reminded us of this story.

Our little "Sal" was carrying the pale until we discovered she was eating them.   Then, Dad had to carry the pale.   It was a continual time of explaining how the berries needed to be in the pale until they were weighed.   Conclusion:   blueberries might be Sabrina's favorite food in the entire world and she could eat them continual until they are all gone.   We must plant more blueberry plants at our home to keep up with the demand for them.   

Attractions around St. Augustine

On exhibit for part of this summer is an old Spanish ship.   El Galeon was very interesting to see from the outside.

We walked around the downtown of Old Augustine and forgot to take pictures until we stopped at the "oldest wooden school house in America".   We will have to return to take more photos of the downtown.

Looking over the river.   From here we went on to the beach and played in the ocean and sand.    Fun and relaxing day!

Perfect Castle Model- Castillo de San Marcos

For Father's Day we all gathered in the car and took an early trek to St. Augustine.   There we explored the Castillo de San Marcos which was the oldest fort in the United States.   Originally, it was a dirt floored fort used for men used to train into soldiers, learning how to fire muskets and cannons.   After being invaded by pirates, St. Augusta citizens decided they needed better protection.   Thus the walls to protect the entire city were built so that the citizens could live inside the fort.   In 1702, the English attacked this Spanish city and about 1,500 soldiers and civilians were packed in the Castillo for about 51 days!

On the approach, a photo of Randy and Sabrina...the humidity was a little high which shows on the camera lens.

The Spanish flag.   The walls were not super tall.

Soldier guard post on the corner.   Small windows each direction gave the soldier view up and down the river as well as protected from enemy fire.

Sabrina loved running around.   Julie spent most of the time making sure she did not climb walls or run.

The intricate carving on the cannons.   Amazing!

The view from the top of the fort.

A view from a cannon.

Looking down into the courtyard of the fort.

The courtyard, again.

Posing by a Spanish cannon.

The old moat is now grass.

Looking down on the courtyard.

Another sentry station along the river side.

Cannons guarding the river.

This ranger gave a talk on all the types of balls and weapons shot out the cannons and their purpose.   Amazing how warfare has been specialized for so long.

The ground level of the courtyard.

The interior of one of the rooms

Sabrina looking through an old cannon.

The walls were made out of shells and softer material which absorbed shock from cannonballs.

Cots where soldiers would have slept.

Drawbridge over all moat.

After touring this fort, it occurred to us that this really had all the elements in tact of a model castle.   Not only does it look like a castle, but it functioned as an old time castle would have and protected not only the military but the people surrounding it.