We have a little garden club which is really a social club. There are monthly gatherings in our front yard and I publish a little newsletter when time permits. This is this fall's-
UP THE CREEK
Fall, 2023
You may have noticed that our Rattlesnake Creek
Garden Club has not met in months. I've been busy on many projects. Maybe in January we can begin our gatherings again. And speaking of gardening, do all of your cold weather plant prepping today. Bring in all of your "cold kills me!" plants inside in the next 24 hours. Cover (and possibly heat) the delicate ones in the ground (like our mango tree).
By sundown tomorrow (Friday) it'll be in the high 30's, freezing by 8 and it is expected to plunge to 23 by morning. Break out the long johns too, we'll have four days of freezing weather.
Sadly, skies will be clear and there will be no White Christmas.
Here's Francesca with an "ice plate" taken from the top of our bird bath last year
ONE MORE DAY OF "A CHRISTMAS CAROL"
A bunch of us went to the Hippodrome Theater to enjoy their annual production of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol". It's always a special holiday treat for young and old.
The star ("Scrooge") is played by our friend, Gregg Jones. You may know him as one of many stars in our Halloween parade. Tickets are still available. Take the whole family.
37th ANNUAL PEACE CONCERT
We were happy to be joined by many neighbors at the December 17th's Peace Concert at the Unitarian Church. The annual affair, sponsored the our local Veterans for Peace group, raised over $14,000. The funds will be used for scholarships and to promote non-violent solutions to our planet's many problems.
SECRET PARK
Rattlesnake Woods is a very special place. Just a walk away you can enjoy a quiet wood with nary a house in sight. You can cross a rainbow bridge and now, purchase a tiny ice cream cone from our resident elves (if they let you see them).
We're making a strong case for make believe, a quality that keeps many of us forging ahead. I'm happy to see many free-range children heading to the woods on bikes these days. No doubt they're having a marvelous time.
If you're new to the area, the woods -about three acres- is mostly privately owned. An acre is public land. It is two 55-foot wide right-of-ways that plunge into the east side of the woods at the ends of NW 12 Rd. and NW 14 Ave. Our UPNA neighborhood association is trying to have this public land officially designated as a public space.
Of course, we can improve our unofficial "wild park" ourselves buy doing things like removing exotic plants and installing another bench or two.The fairies say they're okay with that.
TAKE THE RIM WALK
And speaking of wild, take advantage of the weekly Payne's Prairie guided hikes. One is being offer every
Saturday morning at 10 a.m. at LaChua Park. A Paines Prairie park ranger will take you on a 90-minute journey that loops around dozens of deep sinkholes as he/she points out the many wonders surrounding you. Near the end you reach an amazing look-out 60-feet above the prairie. It's free, it's incredible...GO!
DR. FAUCI TURNS 82 ON CHRISTMAS EVE
I thank all of you who helped us to honor Dr. Fauci (and all essential workers) when we had our Dr. Fauci
Look-Alike Contest seven weeks ago. "Tony" even wrote to thank us. He retires next week after 54 years of public service.
WE EVEN "CAROLED" A CAR
Three days ago we went Christmas caroling on the east end of Florida Park. There were 18 of us singing "Jingle Bells", first to empty houses, then, to empty houses with dogs, then, to houses with actual people in them. Two gave us fresh cookies. Near the end a family-filled car drove slowly by. We surrounded it and sang to them too.
In our repertoire the "Twelve Days" song was reduced to five. It became, "Five skeeters stinging, four grumpy Trumpers, three growling gators, two turtle necks, and a bison from Payne's Prairie".
That's all the news that fits this morning. Stay warm and,
MERRY CHRISTMAS from our
hen house to yours.
Glenn, Francesca, Cleo, & Patra
