A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....09-17-03....Florida~The Sunshine State

dansangel

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear, Aquamarine ~

~The "Sunshine State"~

Florida became the 27th state of the Union in 1845.

To me, Florida is the most beautiful and compelling state in the United States. Of course, I'm just a *tad* biased. Although I wasn't born there, I consider myself a Floridian after spending most of my adult life there. After this current (and definitely temporary) leave of absence, I intend to make Florida my home state once again.

The Florida peninsula itself boasts approximately 1200 miles of coastline (source: NOAA). Factoring in the coastal area of all of its islands and keys, this total grows to over 8,000 miles (source: the U.S. DEA). From Jacksonville in the north to Key West at its southernmost tip, Florida is packed with history and rare beauty.

Are you a history buff? Take a trip to St. Augustine. Located in northeast Florida, it is our nation's oldest city. On March 27 1513, Don Juan Ponce de Leon sighted land while sailing towards the "New World" from Spain. He claimed this land for Spain, naming it "La Florida," meaning "Land of Flowers."

In 1564, the French succeeded in establishing a fort on the St. Johns River, threatening the safety of Spain's treasure fleets. In 1565, Don Pedro Menendez de Aviles arrived off the coast of Florida. Eleven days after the Feast of St. Augustine (August 28) he founded the city of St. Augustine and set about reclaiming the territory from the French. With the help of a hurricane, he defeated the French, destroyed their fort and fleet and began building the city of St. Augustine.

Today, St. Augustine is a popular tourist spot due to its many museums, its lighthouse and, of course, the oldest house and the oldest schoolhouse in the country. With more than 4 centuries of history to share, St. Augustine is a must-see on any trip to Florida.

Key Deer

The Florida Keys comprise the southernmost portion of the Florida territory. Stretching out over the ocean beginning just south of Homestead, the keys serve as a gateway from the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. From Key Largo to Key West, all of the keys connected by 113 miles of U.S. Highway 1 boast their own beauty and attractions. Key deer, no larger than a large dog, can be found on Big Pine Key. Swim with tame dolphins off of Islamorada. Or, visit Ernest Hemingway's house in rustic and festive Key West. The sunset viewed from Mallory Dock off of Duval Street is like none other viewed anywhere else in the world.

Florida Everglades

Finally, the Everglades and their own delicate and unique ecosystem is described eloquently by Jeff Ripple as found on the Florida Everglades Website:

"The Everglades and the Ten Thousand Islands is a rare and beautiful place. It is one of North America's unsung wild places - a beautiful, rugged, subtropical landscape experienced by a relatively few adventurous souls each year. Many who appreciate the unique qualities of this wilderness will argue that it is a place better kept secret. Perhaps, in my quest for solitude and a deeply personal communion with nature, I might ordinarily agree. But I also feel that it is a resource important not only for its natural heritage and spiritually enriching powers, but for its commercial and recreational values as well."



The peace and serenity in the Everglades is beyond description. Once you venture out, it is difficult to return to civilization. We have a duty to preserve the delicate balance of flora and fauna so that generations to come will benefit from its beauty.

There are many other points of interest in Florida not mentioned here. From the white sands of its pristine beaches to the protected habitats of the Everglades, Florida is definitely one of those places where, once you visit, you may just want to call it "home."

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 09-15-03 Military Monday 09-16-03 This One's For You T Man

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' The guy's good, folks!

Thanks, Mixer!

1) Click on the graphic to open the Calendar.
2) Once there you can click on any month and even click to the right to go into next year. Once you are in the month that you joined FR you will need to click on the number in the calendar and then an add item screen will come up.
3) In the next box enter your name in the "Calendar Text" field and then click on submit.
4) If any of the screens fail to load simply click on refresh in your browser and that will usually fix it.
5) If all else fails or simply if you want me to do this for you send me a FReepmail and I will gladly do it for you. ~Mixer

God Bless Our Military

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Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; Aquamarine and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon..son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.....................nephew ValerieUSA................2 sons Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................activve duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty StarCMC......................brother Atomic Conspiracy...........half-brother Atomic Conspiracy............niece, nephew

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa................husband MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Diver Dave................niece deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort..2 daughters,son-in-law Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son kimmie7...............brother Tiffee4Bob.............boyfriend Explorer89............brother TexKat...........son and stepson

[dansangel]

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well, (((((lonestar)))))

Lots of folks are sick at my workplace. Must be the change in weather.

[dansangel]

Ack! I looked at your post and all I see is a line of dreaded red x's!

What were they supposed to be?

[yarddog]

I am back home in Florida after living away for most of my life.

My family can trace their ancestry to at least the mid 1700's in Walton County, Florida. I guess we are late comers since the state was settled in the early 1500's.

Something not many people know is that Florida's First congressional district (the panhandle) has been rated as the most conservative in the nation. I once read that in a book by ex-congressman Earl Hutto.

I always thought the panhandle was really country until I spent a Christmas vacation on my Uncle's orange grove in Polk county. That place was even more redneck than the area I grew up in. BTW those rednecks (or crackers) are among the finest people on earth.

[lonestar]

Tonight, make yourself a very strong Hot Toddy before you go to bed

I would love to but I don't have any Toddy! Does rum count?

[Billie]

Thanks, shaggy. :) Freezie did the DC thread - it was great, wasn't it?! Her very first one to design, layout AND post! I love her colorful, free and easy style!

[Billie]

Oh, thank you for that "message in a bottle". Did you see the movie? I thought it was good - a sweet and romantic one.

[dansangel]

(((((((shaggy eel))))))

I know you will not be disappointed if/when you travel to FL. Your country is so beautiful in its own very unique way - FL has its own unique array of curious critters and beautiful sights as well!

So good to hear from you! :-)

[dansangel]

*Optimism* is our friend - LOL!!

[Calpernia]

"I aint no bovine!"

[dansangel]

What a beautiful picture of a conch shell (((((((Colleen)))))!

You've been all over my favorite state. The Keys are where you can find some wonderful conch shells by snorkling - or sometimes just by walking the beach! What a wonderful memory that you have shared with us.

[dansangel]

Ahhh....so it was Miss Maggie that caused all the little x's....LOL!

[dansangel]

((((((((Temple Owl))))))))

So sorry to hear of your 'puter problems. Sure can knock the wind of your sails. Glad you are back up and running!

[shaggy eel]

,,, the DC and Florida threads are both superb. I hope you put more States under the spotlight as I'm learning quite a bit from them. I have friends in Grosse Pointe, MI who go to FL each year, particularly Orlando. They reckon it's a great spot.

A friend of mine (a Kiwi) who now lives in Concord, CA, told me when he was near Cape Canaveral, his tour guide told them all to be careful not to stand on the grass near the side of the road because rattlers could be sunning themselves! That's something that would take some getting used to for me.

[dansangel]

I laughed, too, Dansy - he called that a POEM?! Next time, please try to remember to insert a typo or something, so we won't have to suffer another of these. :)

I hear ya, boss. I don't know what came over me this morning. Of *course* there will be typos in the future!

:-)

[dansangel]

Thank you ((((((Mama_Bear)))))))

Key West is a really neat place to visit, but I don't think I'd want to live there. I like some of the lower keys that are less populated. The water there has colors and hues unseen anywhere else.

You don't exaggerate much about only being 2 feet above sea level. I seriously don't think it's much more than that!

[humblegunner]

I have nothing against Florida, I'm sure it's a nice little state.
If Florida had a cattle industry 500 years ago, good for them, that was
pre-NAFTA which has all but ruined the American cattle industry.

As regards "cracker cattle" allow me to elucidate:

This is a cracker.

And these are cattle.. Herefords more specifically..

We are fortunate enough to have both.
I hope this clarifies things! ;-)

[dansangel]

Humph! Hoping I tossed and turned all night for yesterday's thread. :)

It beats hoping that you'll choke to death. :-(

:-)

[dansangel]

We are fortunate enough to have both.
I hope this clarifies things! ;-)

LOL!!

I smell a *confrontation* in the wind....what say you, LadyX?

:-)

[dansangel]

Mama_Bear will be showcasing more of our 50 states. She has done a wonderful job thus far and will continue through the coming weeks.

It's true about rattlers. When I lived in Sebastian, about 30-40 minutes south of Canaveral, I had a Coral snake in my front yard (which met its untimely demise - *very* deadly and not welcome on my property!) and a pygmie rattler in the bedroom that my now deceased cat Ralph took care of (Ralph isn't deceased due to that encounter, though).

Sometimes it's *challenging* - but I know you have your challenges, as well. I remember seeing a program about deadly spiders that reside "Down Under" that love to hide in people's shoes. Eek!

[shaggy eel]

I remember seeing a program about deadly spiders that reside "Down Under" that love to hide in people's shoes. Eek!

,,, you're thinking of Aussie. We have a native spider here called the Katipo - cousin to the Black Widow. It's bite can kill but I've only seen them in the museum. We don't have snakes here BTW.