Mission San Luis

Mission San Luis was a wonderful find when we visited Tallahassee, Florida in January.

The pamphlet describes it this way:

"A visit to Mission San Luis transports you back in time to a 17th century community where Apalachee Indians and Spaniards are drawn together by religion as well as military and economic purposes.  Experience life as it was centuries ago as you tour the Apalachee council house, Franciscan church, military complex and more -- on 63 beautiful acres of north Florida."

This is a living history museum.  "Mission San Luis was the western capital of Spanish Florida from 1656 to 1704.  Today the Mission is reconstructed on its original site and brings the past to life with guides in period dress, colonial buildings, exhibits and archaeology."

Below is the roof of the Council House - a huge structure.

It sits on the outside of the circular plaza where Apalachees warriors played a deadly game and Franciscan priests installed the stations of the cross.  Quite a mix of two cultures.

Below is the church which is opposite the Council house on the plaza.

Inside the Council house a guide explained what the house was used for.

Special quarters for the Apalachee elite and visiting guests ringed the perimeter.

A fire was always burning necessitating the smoke hole in the roof.

Samples of the food sources.

A reconstruction of a Spanish house was quite a contrast to the native lifestyle.

This guide explained his home and the work he did.

The smith was working.

Palisades around the military barracks.

On guard at the armory doorway.

The Franciscan priest, one of two living with the Apalachees in the late 1600s.  He explained that he didn't survive the attack by the English in 1704.

He was responsible for teaching the boys to read.  Apalachees boys were included.  The hand method taught singing.  The church had a boys choir.

The church was undergoing pest remediation so we couldn't visit inside.

Mission San Luis sits on a hill in Tallahassee.  A surprising feature of this mostly flat state.

If you go, it is very reasonable: $5 for adults and $3 for seniors.  Its closed on Mondays.

Joining Tuesday Treasures.

A Mix of Random Items

Daylight savings time starts tonight.  We always change the clocks on Saturday morning so we have the weekend to get used to it.  It's easy when there isn't anywhere special we need to be.  More difficult when we have to be somewhere at a particular time.

I'm writing this at 10:30 and look what the clock on my desk says. 

Just finished a great, engrossing book.  "War Brides" by Helen Bryan.

[I read another book that she wrote after this one that wasn't quite as good: "The Sisterhood".]

If you like historical fiction, you'll like this one.

My husband has started drinking probiotic drinks because he read its good for digestion.  The only one I like so far is mango coconut.  It definitely is an acquired taste because of the fermenting.  We can only find these at Whole Foods.

For Christmas I got a bonsai jade plant.  I have trouble keeping it moist.  The soil has a crust on it so the water rolls off if I pour too fast.  Today I plan to replace the soil with new soil.

With Spring on its way time to pull out the psyanka eggs.  I bought some jumbo sized eggs to make some more decorated ones.  Maybe today.

My husband finished the oil painting he has been working on since we moved to our two bedroom apartment.  He posted about it on his blog this morning.  Check it out and leave him a comment.  He will be thrilled.

Walk to the Library

Thursday was a lovely day, perfect for a walk.  Since I had two books on reserve for me at the library that's where I walked to.

Left Vantage House by a back door, walked through the neighborhood park where there is this Little Library.  I've often taken books from there to read and have donated some there too.

Daffodils and crocuses are blooming all over the place.

Even in the woods.

No leaves on the trees yet.

There's a nice pathway system in Columbia.

The path I was on brings me to Lake Kittamaqundi, in the town center.

Come warm weather there will be paddle boats to rent.

The trail splits and I took the high choice to pass the restaurants.

The white building was the Rouse Building.  Jim Rouse was the visionary behind Columbia.  The building is now a Whole Foods primarily.  The Rouse Company is no more.

The fountain there is lovely when its running.  The amphitheater hosts music and movies in the summer.

There will be big celebrations this year as Columbia turns 50.

Symbol of Columbia is the People Tree.

Here's the library.

This branch of the library was closed for renovations when we moved to Vantage House last summer.  It reopened in the Fall, but when I stopped there previously I was also going other places so used the car.  It's just a mile down the road from me and such a pleasant walk.

On my return trip I found a shaded bench to start reading one of the books and enjoy the warmth of the afternoon.

Others were doing the same - feathered ones too.

Can someone tell me what these little ones are?  They would all dive together.

Glad I walked yesterday.  Today is wet, and getting colder.  Possibility of snow too with another storm coming next week.  Winter isn't quite over yet.