December 23, 2011

• Birthday date

   Every year for Kyohei's birthday, I try to surprise him with a great dinner date.  This year I heard about the Festival of Lights at the Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park, which displays more than 4 millions lights.  Kyohei and I drove an hour into the heart of North Florida to see the spectacle.  It was great!

  Someone took a not-so-great photo for us.

  

  The Folk Museum.

   

  What I didn't know is that there a museum to Stephen Foster there.  As I walked through the display, I thought.. wait a second.  Do you mean to tell me this is the guy who wrote, "O Susanna," and "Camptown Races."  Indeed he was.  A fellow Pennsylvanian, Stephen Foster is known as the father of American music.  Though he never lived in the South, he also penned "Swanee River," which became Florida's State Song, hence the cultural center.  Thanks for the info, Wikipedia.

  Here is a sample of the Appalachian Dulcimer music that I heard.  I really liked it-- this instrument is very cool

  

  The bell tower all aglow
  

   

    I'm the black spot in front of the tree

  

   

   

  A very Florida Christmas with the Palmetto's in lights

   

  One of the events was a "snow" flurry.  Here some kids in the South get to have fun in snow, even though it was warm enough to go around in short sleeves.

  

  Gingerbread village-- for free hot chocolate, popcorn and marshmallow roasting.
  

   

  Our traditional post-birthday dinner photo together. My leopard print wrap ($2 at a thrift store) makes this my favorite.

  • 11:58 am
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