A whole mess of family members gathered to celebrate my father’s 75th birthday in Bushnell, Florida. Bushnell is northeast of Tampa and where my uncle Charles lives. Charles and his wife Barbara hosted the party. Their son, Charles, Jr., and granddaughters Kim and  Lindsay were there. As were my Aunt Nickie and Uncle Connie from Tampa. Sandra’s father drove down with Sandra and I to join the festivities.  As for art for this entry there’s:1) the cake in the shape of ’75’ by Publix. 2) Whoever sculpted this marker at the Dade Battlefield historic site in Bushnell. Sandra and her father, my father, brother Jeff and myself went to the battlefield site and roamed where Major Francis Dade and his men were ambushed by indians in 1834 continuing the path to the start of the Seminole indian wars. The markers were placed for significant members of Dade’s crew who were killed. Here is Robert Smith, Sr., Jeff Smith, Sandra Friend Smith and her father Phillip Friend. They stand next to the monument of where Major Francis Dade fell. After this battle Dade’s name soon was given to the county that Miami is in. 3) Here is a very quick sketch of clothing worn by the Seminoles during the time of the wars in the 1800s. Drawn from a mannequin in the museum at the park.

This was a great ride through literary yuletide fun! 500 pages of stories by Rex Stout, Ellery Queen, G.K. Chesterton and Dickens, of course.  Most of the stories are British based. I don’t believe this is available anymore. It was published back in 1984. This was a find at an old bookstore in Daytona Beach a couple months ago.

Dig the Gahan Wilson cover! His illustrations are peppered throughout the book.

Guess what I did New Years Eve?

My brother, Jeff, father and myself took a trip to Silver River State Park. Above is the ever fascinating roots of the cypress. Below is the VERY unusual photo of my father and a natural setting. Thinking about it, I can’t recall there being another such photo of him EVER taken.

After Silver River State Park we had lunch at Wolfy’s in Ocala. Here’s a bit of lighting from the restaurant.

Lots of gifts were exchanged at the house.

Later Sandra, my father and I had dinner at the restaurant in the Hilton hotel, “Arthur’s” (Whoever “Arthur” is). Here’s a fellow that was at a nearby table having a Christmas dinner with family.