Rockin' Downtown Disney

         Our family has lots of birthdays all in a row. Mine is on the second of December, my mom’s is Christmas Eve, my sister’s is in January, and John’s? Well John’s birthday was the sixth and my parent’s got him an amazing gift.
         Josh Turner’s Haywire Tour was making a stop close to us this weekend. John and I’s song is “Your Smile,” and Josh Turner easily claims my favorite musician so the ticket’s my mom and dad got us were not only a gift to John, but also a huge gift to me.
         The House of Blues in Orlando, Fl is a small venue that has a maximum occupancy of 2,100 and I wouldn’t be surprised if they had squeezed all of them in that night. There are two floors, and the top story has a balcony looking down at the stage. It is a personal concert atmosphere due to the size of the venue. It is in the nature of The House of Blues to be standing room only, so unless you get there early and claim one of the bar stools on the second story be prepared to stand for a while.  It was opened in 1997 but the style of the building’s architecture would lead you to believe that it was older. There are lots of small details that make the venue feel like a unknown hole-in-the-wall club, when in fact it is the opposite of that. The House of Blues is famous, and this particular one is in Downtown Disney. 

The Stage

         Downtown Disney is only two hours from our house. Unlike what most folks think Disney is not in Orlando, it is in fact in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Downtown Disney is open to the public and does not have an entry fee. It has a variety of shops, such as Harley Davidson, Hoypoloi, and TrenD, as well as many restaurants, like T-Rex, Bongos, and Portobello. Downtown Disney is also home to an AMC, La Nouba, and Disney Quest.
         This weekend was the first John and I had spent without the kids since we got them. My parent’s were happy to babysit for us. At first I was worried but then I remembered how good they were at soothing my nightmares and kissing my forehead. I knew the biggest problem we could have would be coming back to very spoiled twins. Still, when John and I dropped them off we left the pediatrician's number, and I kissed the twins goodbye with a little pang of worry.
        We arrived at Downtown Disney two hours before the concert and walked around to some of my favorite shops. I have been to Disney countless times because my mom was a travel agent before she retired (and my Dad loves the parks.) Our first stop was at Ghirardelli, for some chocolate and snacks. They have delicious chocolate ice-cream but I needed a real dose of caffeine so I ordered my second favorite dessert- a frozen mocha coffee. I guess John needed a little dose of energy too because he ordered a scoop of espresso chip ice-cream on a waffle cone (which was huge!) I liked John’s ice-cream a little more then he did and stole quite a bit of it! Luckily he didn’t care and was happy to share. 

Yummy Late Night Snack

         Next we went shopping for souvenirs for the kids, which was tons of fun! John and I went into a lot of stores, but we only purchased items at two of them.  At World of Disney we got Hunter a Pirates of the Caribbean Play set, which he loved. It has a stuffed parrot, a sword, an eye-patch, and even a little pirate flag. For Amy we stopped at Littlemissmatched and bought a set of their famous socks. They come in packs of three, none of them matching. I feel kind of bad for encouraging her to wear non-matching socks but she looks so cute with them on! We got her toe-socks that go up to her knees, with little penguins on them and bright colored stripes.  
         We dropped everything back off at the car then headed into the concert. We stood only 20 or so feet from the stage. My heart began to race as the lights went down and they announced the opening act, Jill’s Cashbox. Jill’s Cashbox was formed in Orlando and they were pretty great.  They had a great drummer and the room was reverberating with the beat. All it took was one song to make my ears start to ring. After they finished playing there was an intermission.

Jill’s Cashbox

         Finally it was time for Josh Turner! He walked on stage in a cloud of smoke, and began singing “Firecracker.” I couldn’t help but look at John and grin. He had a huge smile on his face as he sang along to every song. I was overwhelmed with happiness and love as I stood close to him and swayed to the melody of every song. My voice went raw from screaming, my legs numb from standing up for so long, and I couldn’t even hear the people next to me but it was wonderful! On top of being a great performer, Josh Turner sounds exactly the same in real life as he does on a CD. He is extremely talented and knows how to play to the crowd, which was 70 percent screaming females. Josh Turner sang all of my favorite songs and even more! John was having the time of his life when he sang “Lovin’ You On My Mind” and so was I. One thing I really found neat is that Josh Turner brings his wife on the tours with him, and even introduces her to the crowd. You could see the love on his face when he looked at her. 

Josh Turner

         John and I danced together as Josh Turner sang his final song- “Why Don’t We Just Dance”- and after it was over I still wanted more. We stood in a long line to buy his CD then headed back home. John drove, and chatted excitedly as I tried hard not to drift into a slumber. When we climbed into bed that night I could still hear “Your Smile” ringing in my ears.

The Album

Cost-
Tickets- 53 dollars each
Admission into Downtown Disney- Free
Parking- Free
(Optional) Bring money for souvenirs!

         It was one of the most amazing concerts I have ever attended and if you ever get a chance to watch Josh Turner live I would encourage you to go!

A Day At Dudley's

         It was Veteran's Day, a holiday celebrating those who came home from war. Celebrating our nation’s heroes. Veteran’s Day has always reminded me of my great grandfather, who fought in WWII and was in Hawaii during pearl harbor, and of my granddad, who was shipped off to Vietnam. 

         For the holiday, every year, the Florida State Parks are have free admission. Its a great deal for families, because there is no school on Veteran’s day in Florida, and what better way to celebrate our Vets than getting the whole family together are getting some fresh air?

         Normally John and I go out to lunch and then we would go to St. Augustine, but this year we decided to do something different.

         The morning air was crisp and smelled of freshly cut grass when I dragged everyone out of bed. Hunter and Amy looked at me sleepily and John was still groggy (needless to say he was cranky to be woken up before noon) when we pulled out of the driveway.  I was determined to get an early start on the day.

         We were heading to Dudley Farms, a nearby historical state park. Originally owned by Erastus Dudley the farm was built in 1844. The 640 acres of land were farmed and lived on by the Dudley family until 1991 when the last remaining family member died and donated the land to the North Guilford Volunteer Fire Company. The fire company decided to restore and preserve Dudley Farms. In 2002  it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, and it has been an authentic working farm ever since. 

Dudley Farms

         It was just a quick fifteen minute drive from the house to the farm, and by the time we arrived everyone was wide awake. Something about the chill seemed to make the world brighter. The sunlight glistened off of the dewy grass under our feet as we stepped out of the car. 

         The homestead consists of 21 historical buildings and 325 acres. They have farm animals such as chicken, free roaming turkey, cattle, sheep,and horses. The farm has sugar cane, corn, banana trees, and they even have a small herb garden.

         The kids were especially interested in looking at the animals, and one employee gave us some feed to give to the chickens and hens. Amy went especially crazy for the horses, who were close enough to pet. They were mild mannered and she was wide eyed when they let her touch their manes.

Amy’s “Pony”

         Personally I enjoyed the family garden, which the guide told me is seasonal. The Dudley’s grew onions, carrots, and sweet potatoes. They lived off of the land and their own work. The Dudley’s had twelve children!  (I suppose that means they had plenty of farm hands.) I love the way the freshly turned soil smelled. We had the seasons first frost the day after, but on Veterans day the plants were still bright green. I stopped and talked to a woman who was in period clothing (all of the park’s staff are) and she told me all about the process of making syrup out of the sugar cane. We chatted until John got impatient and dragged me away. He wanted to watch the demonstrations and Hunter was anxious to play with a few old time toys.

Bumblebees in the garden

         There are a few trails available but we decided to eat at the small picnic table area that is available to the park’s guests. The day before I had packed up some lemonade, the makings of hot-dogs, and a bag of chips so we could eat at the farm. The farm’s picnic area is nice, they have a few grills available, and John grilled the hot-dogs to a well cooked perfection... very well cooked in fact.

As the day was nearing it’s end we wandered into farmhouse. When you look into the “parlor” room you cant help but be taken back to simpler times. The sight of the original 1840 furniture summons images of a family sitting together on a Sunday morning, reading or perhaps singing around the piano. The rest of the farmhouse is bedrooms and a place for the family to eat. The kitchen was in a separate building nearby- apparently they were worried about a fire.

         The last thing we did was visit the gift shop. They have neat arts and crafts from the period and made by hand as well as books about Gainesville  Florida and Dudley Farm in the 1800-1900’s. Sitting outside was an elderly gentleman, John and him started talking and all of the sudden he started reminiscing about traveling the United States. He told us a story about his motor home breaking down in New Jersey-  a state trooper stopped to help, and ended up on his hands and knees underneath the vehicle's undercarriage with a flashlight. The gentleman remarked on the way we never hear the good stories, and then he said something I will remember for the rest of my life... He opened his mouth and in that slow southern drawl of his he said “You know, you have friends all over that you just haven’t met yet.”  Well, to my friends out there: I can’t wait to meet you!  

At the entrance

Cost-
Entrance Fee: 5 dollars
(Optional) Cash for the giftshop

         All in all it was a great day out! Normally the farm is only five dollars a car, a steal when you consider the quality time it gives you with the family. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful! Wandering through Dudley Farm is like stepping though a door into the past, it was a great place to stay in touch with my southern heritage, and I would recommend it to anyone visiting North Central Florida. I left the farm with an almost nostalgic longing to go back to simpler times- and while Antebellum south had quite a few flaws (lack of hospitals, civil rights, and universal suffrage) that world is one I would like to visit again one day. 

In a few weeks John and I will start our rambling journey, but until after Thanksgiving (which we want to be home for) we are going to “warm-up” with day trips to local places, like Dudley Farm! Thank you all for your well wishes and prayers. I can’t wait for the real trip to begin!

How it all began..

There are many secrets people keep in life- their age, their beliefs, their truest loves, their innermost thoughts- but not me. I will be like an open book, if only to you, if only to my readers. I was born on a chilly December night in 1991, I am 20 now and still love those types of nights. When a chill permeates the normally warm Florida air. I was raised Christian and baptized when I was still a child, my mom raised me to walk the narrow path and to see God in all things good.
I am one of the few lucky people who find their true love in youth, and even luckier to have been allowed to keep him. My Husband, John, and I married right out of high-school, we were (and still are) young but love keeps us together through all the struggles we have gone through. Our biggest struggle came in the form of great tragedy.
John’s brother, David, was driving home from his best-friends wedding when a drunk driver sped through a red light. It was midnight when we got the call. We waited at the hospital all night, but he didn’t make it through. Last June David left his children without a parent, their mother had died a year before after a battle with cancer. We were the little one’s godparents.
When we first took them in the twins were quiet, and introverted. I suppose it comes from losing two parents right in a row. At three it was hard for them to understand that their father wasn’t coming back. Hunter and Amy both have dark straight hair and solemn brown eyes. I am afraid they have seen far too much sadness in their lives, but they are sweet. Hunter loves hockey, just like his uncle, and Amy is an artist at heart.

It was a hard adjustment to make, going from being young, in love, and free to do whatever we please to being parents but John and I are starting to get the hang of it.. I think.  

I know what might be on your mind right about now- you know about my family and about my life but what is my name? Why, my name is Ida May. Ida May Clarkson.
I was named after my grandmother, an inspiring women and my hero. She was a modern women, before being a modern women was in style. Spirited and always impassioned for a cause. She went all over the country, to countless cities and towns, spreading her ideas but moreover she spread her passion for life. Everywhere she went she was greeted with welcoming smiles. She was on the road for more then a year straight, and she met my wonderful grandfather on her journey. Travel was her entire life. Ever since I was a child I aspired to be like her- to fight for a cause, and to explore the world.
John and I were planning on running away, going on the adventure I had planned for my entire life, when David passed away. Amy and Hunter are a blessing, but at first I feared they had stopped my dreams.
One night I gathered all my maps, all my hopes, into my arms and tossed them into the garbage. That is where John found them. He picked them back up, dusted them off, and promised me that we would make our journey.
Soon we will load the twins into our mini-van and drive, we will follow the road map I drew up when we were 16 and 17, and we will go across the country- visiting all the locations my grandmother did, and perhaps even more.
Hard times and good times are in store for us and I hope that you will follow us on this journey. Learn about new places, read along with our adventure, and help us keep going