A Great House to come Home to

When I was a young girl growing up in Miami, at least once a year my parents would pack up the car, and we (mom, dad, older brother) would drive 6hrs up hwy 27 to Ocala to visit my Norwegian Grandmother and my Swedish Grandfather (better known as Hoppie). They had a really cool silver “Gulfstream” trailer. That is where they liked to visit when the Miami summer got too hot. They settled in the “Ocala National Forest”. My Grandmother and I use the take a long walk through the many trails that the park has to offer. She would tell me ghost stories about an abandoned house or a special tree. I would get so scared and excited. I always wanted to explore these places. I imagine she told me these stories to discourage me and my adventurous spirit. Well, it backed fired. The one thing that always quenched my adventurous spirit was to go to the “Juniper Springs” swimming hole in “The National Forests”. The whole family enjoyed it. We all went swimming in the clear cool water, took long walks down the wooded walkways, and cooked out making the perfect picnic. The park came out of President Roosevelt’s “New Deal”. It is an extremely special place. Years later after both of my Grandparents passed away I was lucky enough to get a permit and become an official photographer for the Park. Best job ever! Now, whenever my husband and I have free time we pack up the canoe and a picnic and have new adventures. There have been some great one