A recap...

40th Annual Tour of Homes "Christmas Traditions
On Sunday, December 7th, 2008, the weather was sunny, temperatures in the mid 60s and a perfect day for a walking tour.

The Garden Club of St. Augustine presented The 40th Annual Tour of Homes “Christmas Traditions”. The tour started at the COA Coastal Community Center (or actually anywhere along the route as long as you had a ticket). Complimentary shuttle service was provided by The Red Train. The tour also included an Afternoon Tea and an opportunity to browse through the Unique Boutique and Elegant Elephant sponsored by one of the garden circles. The six homes on the tour were lovely and, of course, beautifully decorated. Many thanks to the homeowners who opened their homes. If you missed this year’s event, you can see photos at http://www.gardenclubofstaugustine.org. Click on Photo Album, Tour of Homes
Remember also, that each year on Florida Arbor Day (third Friday of January) trees have been given to the public by the Garden Club as a “Thank You” to the community for their support of the Christmas Tour of Homes.

Arbor Day 2009 is January 16th and the Garden Club will be giving away bare root trees at three locations this year. For us, the closest location is the St. Augustine Beach Pier Parking Lot.

The Lunch Bunch
The Lunch Bunch, 21 of us gathered at Palms Grill on December 10th at 5:00 PM. It was also a special occasion since Chef Thomas was celebrating a significant birthday. We started out with a salad, main entrée of either shrimp and mahi mahi with rice, or chicken with alfredo sauce over fettucini and homemade cookies for dessert. I can’t speak for anyone else, but I did enjoy everything.

Van Johnson Dies
December 12th, 2008 - Actor Van Johnson died at the age of 92. Even at my age I remember watching him in many of those 40’s and 50’s films. He was a very versatile actor who was as much at home in comedies as he was in war movies, musicals and drama.

Messiah Sing-Along
This was the first year for a one-hour Messiah Sing-Along that took place at St. Anastasia Catholic Church on Saturday, 12/20/2008. This Sing-Along was an opportunity for anyone who enjoys singing Handels’ oratorio (the most well known part being the Hallelujah Chorus!) or just listening to the music provided by professionals and amateurs. You couldn’t beat the price of admission which was a donation of non-perishable food. The event was conducted by Joe Colsant, Choir Director of Holy Family Catholic Church in Jacksonville. An ensemble of student musicians from the St. Johns County Center for the Arts and St. Augustine High School accompanied the sing-along. What a beautiful gift to our community from so many talented and gifted people. Thank you!

Christmas Party
Everyone that attended the Dec. 20th Treasure Beach Christmas Party held at the V.F.W. on US1 South enjoyed a good selection of food on the buffet, and a chance to dance to music provided by a D.J. Many left with raffle prizes. This once a year event is a great opportunity to meet new people and spend some time with your neighbors, family and friends.

One of the nice things about the Christmas season is that ordinary people can do incredible acts of kindness. This year the Sand Bar Santas (led by Dennis) and his numero uno elf, Jeannie, did their annual trek throughout St. Johns County (from Armstrong to Hastings to Flagler Estates), delivering gifts and food to homebound seniors in need. This was the seventh year for this event. Words cannot describe what a humbling experience it is in singing carols and garnering smiles and hugs from surprised elderly recipients. Money was raised for this event by holding a fish fry about two weeks before the date with Joe, Gus, Edison, Mike and Melvin (the celebrity bartenders) entertaining the crowd and donating all of their tips to make the gift-giving possible.

New Year's Eve
This article appeared in Lifestyles, in the St. Augustine Record on January 4, 2009...
This is the first year that we decided to venture out on New Year’s Eve by attending the St. Augustine Beach Blast Off 2009. We decided to drive to City Hall and catch a shuttle bus to the pier. If we go next year, I think it will be easier to use the Winn Dixie parking lot at Anastasia Plaza. Wow! Thank you St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce of Commerce South Beaches Area Council. What a spectacular fireworks display from any vantage point near the pier. We met a very nice couple from Quebec, Canada who had decided to stop in St. Augustine for one night before they headed for the West Coast to meet up with friends. They’re looking for a place to spend five months in Florida. Maybe their first impression of St. Augustine will bring them back again. The fireworks started on time at 8:30 p.m. and exploded over the beach with plenty of colors, shooting stars and lots of boom…boom…boom! And then, to quote Chad Smith from the St. Augustine Record, “the show was over, slipping by as quickly as the past 365 days.” I know that we were home in plenty of time before Midnight to watch the crystal ball countdown in Times Square.

Limelight Theatre's Production "Women of Country
Another first for us in 2009 was attending the Limelight Theatre on Old Mission Avenue in downtown St. Augustine. On Thursday evening, 1/01/2009 we were lucky enough to see ‘Women of Country’, an all-female country music revue. Congratulations to talented singers Kristin, Stephanie, Alyssa, Cathy, Rachel, and Kate for a trip down memory lane with songs by the Judds, Loretta Lynn, Patsy Cline, Gretchen Wilson, Carrie Underwood, Tanya Tucker, Trick Pony, Dolly Parton, Reba McEntire & Kelly Clarkson, Shania Twain, Nancy Sinatra and Leanne Rimes. The ladies, along with Jennifer and Rae, danced to Sin Wagon by the Dixie Chicks. If you have never visited this little treasure of a place, please put it on your “to do list” in 2009. For more information you can also go to http://www.limelight-theatre.org or call Jeanie at 904-825-1164.


Here are some Florida Fun Facts
(source: http://www.great-florida-vacations.com/florida-funfacts.html)

Did you know?
The oldest continually inhabited city in the USA is….St. Augustine, Florida founded in 1565.

Palatka is derived from “ferry, ford or crossing” since it was a major trading post on the St. John’s River

The phrase “cool as a cucumber” originated in Florida

Go here, go there, but no matter where you are in Florida, you’re never more than 65 miles from the ocean (as a crow flies).

Jacksonville is Florida’s largest city (in square miles). It pretty much takes up all of Duval county!