Sunday, February 26, 2012

Finishing Up Yesteryear Village

We really enjoyed our visit in Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds.  They had so many interesting exhibits.

I attended a two-room schoolhouse very much like this one, in the Missouri Ozarks, when I was in 3rd and 4th grade.  They closed it after that and made everyone go into town for school.

I actually sat in desks just like these with holes for ink bottles.

According to the sign, this is the only desk known to have survived the 1928 hurricane in the Glades.

This was an old motor inn.  Instead of the porch they have added, you would park your car under the roof between the rooms.  I'm pretty sure I've stayed in motor inns like this one as a child when my family was on vacation.  My Dad would first inspect the room to make sure it was clean, and bug-free, before making the commitment to stay there.   No hotel chains then!

A distinctly Florida phenomenon is the hunting shack out in the swamp.

How would you like to share your bed with these creatures?

All the comforts of home.

Hubby was particularly intrigued with this stylish police car from the 1930's.

Of course, no village should be without a fire engine.

We finished up our tour with a visit to this small farmhouse.

No starched aprons in this kitchen but it still has everything you need to turn out a meal.

I'm so far behind with my blogging!  Since we visited Yesteryear Village in January we have been to Kennedy Space Center and taken an air boat ride at Okeechobee.  In a couple weeks we'll be cruising to the Bahamas for my birthday.  Life in Florida is very busy!


Monday, February 20, 2012

Yesteryear Village - Part 2

We really enjoyed visiting Yesteryear Village at the South Florida Fairgrounds.  They had several houses in the village that illustrated how people from all walks of life lived in Florida 100 years ago.

I particularly enjoyed seeing this beautiful house.

It's always nice to have a little background information.

I wouldn't mind having that couch in my Arizona living room!

Upstairs were three bedrooms, including this child's room.

My grandsons would enjoy playing with these toys!

I guess this would be considered the master bedroom.

The lady of the house would get dressed here.

She was very fashionable.

I really enjoyed the small display of dresses.

I'd wear this today!

Pretty, but functional, too.

Here's the third bedroom.  I actually got rid of a bowl and pitcher stand like the one in the corner because I had no where to put it.

Back downstairs, those aprons were used in the kitchen.

A woman's work is never done.

Those aprons would have to be ironed too!

The dining room finished up our tour of the Riddle House.  I have my grandmother's sideboard in my dining room in Arizona.  It looks very much like the one in this dining room.

Next time I'll show how people lived that weren't so well off!




Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Yesteryear Village in West Palm Beach - Part 1

Happy Valentine's Day to everyone!  One of the things my Valentine and I enjoy doing is visiting museums and learning more history.  I'm glad we have so much in common with each other!  While we were at the South Florida Fair we had the opportunity to see Yesteryear Village.  It's located on the fairgrounds and only open during the fair or for tours with large groups, by appointment only.  It consists of historic buildings transported here from all over the state of Florida.

One of my favorite buildings was this General Store.

Naturally, I had to do a little shopping for the grandsons.

One building was dedicated to the history of phones.

I couldn't believe how many phones they had on display.

I laughed out loud when I spotted this orange phone - just like the one I gave to Ceekay for Christmas!

There were several early Florida homes to explore too.

I wish I had this bathtub in my home in Arizona!

However, I prefer the sinks I have at home now.

The bedroom was small but comfortable.

And the kitchen was well-equipped.  I actually have a turkey platter like the one on the wall.

Storage on the back porch.  See anything familiar to you?

All the modern conveniences!

Every village needs a church, and the fair even had gospel singing going on all day long inside theirs.

There were so many wonderful places to see in Yesteryear Village I'll have to continue another day!  Meanwhile, I'll go back to working on my Valentine Day's dinner for Hubby.


Thursday, February 9, 2012

Back at the Beach and The South Florida Fair

When we arrived in Juno Beach, back from our month in Arizona, we found the RV Park packed full of snowbirds.  There's not one more space to be rented!

We have new neighbors all around us - very active neighbors.  With everyone here for the winter, there is a calender full of activities in which to take part:  water aerobics, volley ball, game nights, billiards, golf, line dancing, bar-be-ques, darts, shuffleboard, and lots more!

Block parties are held every Wednesday evening so everyone can get together to eat, socialize and have a fun time.  Last week, the neighbors on each side of us hosted the event, so it was held right in front of our trailer.

Someone even brought along a keyboard for a "sing-along."  A good time was had by all!

Despite all there is to do here right now, we continue seeing everything we can while we're living in Florida.  So a couple weeks ago we drove "Pie" over to the South Florida Fair, in West Palm Beach, to see how they do fairs in this state.  One thing we don't see on the way to the fairgrounds in most states is this particular airplane.

It was parked on the tarmac at the Palm Beach International Airport. 

Hubby even turned Pie around so I could get a better look before continuing on to the fair.

The South Florida Fair had the normal Midway where you can try your hand at games and rides.

Then, there was an exhibit about Florida cowboys.  They call them "Crackers" here in Florida though.  They got the name from the bullwhips they used in herding cattle through the thick brush.

There was even a sea lion waiting to put on a show.

Somehow, I always find myself drawn to the livestock barns at any fairground!

Who can resist those little calves?

We spent most of our time at the fair in a section of the fairgrounds called "Yesteryear Village" but I'll have to post about that next week.   It's going to take a lot of pictures!

Meanwhile, we're back at the Beach and on to new adventures in Florida!