Life in the Forest

Who would have ever guessed, after three years on the road we would take to the forest. But that is exactly where we have been the past month. In an effort to spend more “real life” time with our granddaughter, instead of cramming our annual visit to see her into a week or two in and around her spring break, we looked for a volunteer opportunity in close proximity to where she lives so we could extend our stay. We’re only about 30 minutes from her as we made our home in the Ocala National Forest (near the Lake George Ranger Station on Hwy 40). We’re actually in a “gated community.” More accurately, we are in what’s called the Lake Bryant Work Center. There’s a forest fire station, carpenter’s shop, storage building and conference room, and lots of big trucks and stuff. We’re tucked in a corner where in

three directions we have pretty decent forest like views. It’s very peaceful, for the most part. Strange as it may sound the noise level at night is what’s unbelievably loud. I would have never believed it, if I didn’t hear it with my own ears. Bill tells me it’s mostly a variety of frogs and bugs. Maybe some birds. But mostly frogs. It’s really quite amazing. I sometimes feel like it’s a personal symphony for me from God. HalleluJAH!

Ya wanna hear something else amazing. Share’s running a drill press and is also using a ratchet driver. I’m using muscles I didn’t know I had. Oh, wait…I didn’t have. I’m definitely building muscle and using more Ibuprohen than on pass projects. Our job is to complete 50 picnic tables. Bill made the jigs so I could drill the holes for the support pieces for under the benches and table tops. Now Bill is cutting and putting all the pieces together.  At this writing we have finished 30 tables with the help of another couple. More than half way done and we still have five more weeks to go. We’d be even further along but we keep running out of material and there are many channels one must go through to get additional materials. Remember, this is a government agency we are working with. J J J So, we’ve had a few short work days (like yesterday and this afternoon…as I write this…we could be working IF we had the materials needed.) The good news is I’m getting this blog done way earlier than usual.

An earlier day, when the materials ran out, we took a driving tour of the forest areas with the couple that brought us to the forest. It’s quite expansive, beautiful, bumpy, and interesting. I’m still astounded at God’s amazing creation and how He continues to bless us with more and more to see and experience.

Now for the reason we’re at the Ocala National Forest:  Our granddaughter. We’ve already had some really wonderful times with her. She has stayed with us for a couple of weekends and we attend her twice weekly softball practices. (I intended to have a picture of her playing but I’ve been to intent on watching her and she got rained out last night, so no pics, yet.)  I did manage to get a photo of where we go after practice. It’s great just being able to be a part of her daily life. We always take her shopping for her past Christmas gift and an early birthday present. This year she picked out a giant bear

and cleet shoes for playing softball. Then there are times spent playimg Five Crowns or Yatzhee. We took her to the Natural Science Museum (she says, she loves museums; I think it’s the interactive stuff kids love…me tooJ) and then to a University of Florida Gators baseball game as guests of the vendor I used to work for at EAA whose headquarters are in Gainsville.

We’ve been feeling rather guilty knowing so many of our family and friends have been housebound due to all the snow and cold up north and we’ve been travelling around in above normal temperatures here in Florida. I’m not a fan of weather in the 80’s but I don’t dare complain. J 

 

One Saturday, we went to the Gulf Coast and visited the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge where the manatee go when the outer waters get too cold. Another time we went to the Atlantic Coast and spent time with Bill’s son, Matt, in Port Orange. We returned to the Gainsville area ourselves to see a really old and large sinkhole at the Devil’s Millhopper State Park which is a National Natural Landmark. Unfortunately, we were unable to walk down into the sinkhole as the boardwalk and the 232 steps down into it were damaged during Hurricane Irma and still being repaired. We did manage to finally enjoy a couple wineries in the area after being led in the wrong directions down some mighty winding, deadend, and bumpy roads by our misguided GPS. Good thing that was before the tasting! J

So we went west, and east, and north; so it wouldn’t be fair not to head south. On one of the most beautiful sunny warm days (sorry northern friends and family) since we arrived we went to the charming historic village of Mount Dora. Lots of shops and restaurants. Bill wasn’t real thrilled but it was just a stopover on our way to visit some EAA friends who live in the next town or so over.  Speaking of EAA friends, that is how we ended up here in the Ocala National Forest (ONF).  Last year when in Florida to visit our granddaughter during her spring break, we visited some other friends who we knew and volunteered with at EAA. They are volunteers in the carpenter’s shop at ONF and lived on site. Well, since that time they bought a house in the area and invited us to take their spot at ONF when we told them we were looking for volunteer opportunities in this area. Praise the Lord. He always makes such good connections. It’s great having a couple who have volunteered here for many years to work alongside us and show us the ropes of volunteering for a government agency. Oh my! It’s rather different than volunteering for nonprofits but we still love it! HalleluJAH and it’s great being able to connect with folks we generally only see at EAA.

Besides all the jaunts we’ve taken north, south, east, and west, we have spent quite a bit of time travelling into the heart of Ocala (still enough of a jaunt as it takes at least 30 minutes to get anywhere). I am so not a big city person. Too many people. Too many lanes. Too many cars. Too many options. We did enjoy an afternoon walking tour of Ocala’s Historic King Street. A total of 27 houses from the 1800’s and early 1900’s. That’s one of my favorite things to do AND it was a beautiful sunny (almost too hot) day. Of course, we had to pop in at what is now one of Bill’s favorite spots: Infinite Ale Works which brews one of Bill’s all time best tasting brews: West Floridian. Not sure what’s so special about it…you’ll have to ask him. J  But then again, I don’t like beer all that much.

I always thought northern Wisconsin was heavily treed. (Is that a word? Well, it is now!) Oh my goodness, the area we are in is one forest after another. Good thing we find trees/forests quite beautiful. It’s also very very dark on those country roads, so Share doesn’t do any night driving. She’s not even that fond of day driving on the winding roads. Yes, I still have issues whether I’m the driver or the passenger. Sorry, Bill!

Some really good news is that we found a great church. Even better, it is the one where our granddaughter attends the mid-week youth group gathering. This church is so much like our big church back home that we can’t wait to attend each weekend. Powerful praise and worship in singing, great Bible teaching and application, and, although a very large church, a very friendly and warm atmosphere. Share is trying to connect with a few of the women there as she does miss the fellowship. Pray on that, would ya please. (Thanks.)

One month down, one month to go. And it looks like we’ll be back next year as it has really worked out well seeing our granddaughter nights and weekends and volunteering during the week day.  We’ve been invited back and we’re pretty sure we’ll continue living in the forest, at least, until our granddaughter graduates from high school. Oh my gosh, that’s only four more years. Time flies when you’re having fun and we sure are…be blessed and be a blessing!