Memorial Day means Mucho Up North in The South. @VisitWakulla Wakulla County Florida

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

Many of you have questioned Babushka as to why she would leave Miami, her familia, to come up to Crawfordville, a little rural town in Florida's panhandle. Bueno, it's been almost 15 años and BB doesn't regret the decision at all. Es mas, now The Eldest has brought her clan here too.  Perhaps after this post you'll understand mejor part of the charm.

A true example of small town America, one feels the calm of community. And the power.  The Memorial Day service was a perfect show of both.  In the middle of town, in front of our courthouse was held the ceremony. With bowed heads, we all joined an invocation for paz and appreciation for the day, it's meaning, and for our country.

El amor de comunidad, the joining of past history, and the importance they hold to the citizens of the county. We make sure those beliefs are still held high here and are quick to bring them to mind lest one forget.  A proud patrulla who knows, the backbone of greatness is honoring those who came before and try to follow their examples. And we don't forget. Nor do we let them be forgotten.

We teach our children the importance of honor,civic pride, loyalty and good citizenship.

And as adults we make sure to show that honor too.

Vietnam, Korea, various and vast are our veterans.

Gracias to WCTV for sharing our celebration/rememberance/memorial.

Apparently this was a newsworthy event. Sadly there aren't enough of such memorials still going on.  Thankfully Babushka lives in a county that still believes in its importancia.

And in the importance of gatherings de comunidad- and comida.

Quee?? BB last in a county where they don't know celebrations must have good food?

JU SO FONII!!!

Gracias to local sponsors, 

hotdogs with all the fixin's, bottled water, iced tea and cake were given to all.

And In memory and Gratitude from All.

Babushka Besos a todos. Cuidensen.

Quarters in Crawfordville Go A Long Way!! #Charity #SmallBiz #ShopSmall

HolaHolaHola Beautifuls!

Hoping everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving with mucho to be grateful for. Babushka por her parte added my community of Crawfordville in her lista of blessings y bendiciones.  This isn’t the first time BB’s written about the generous souls here, but it’s been awhile and this event was special in sooo many niveles that it’s más que worthy of a post. Not only is it a novel idea, but tambien it’s the kinda twofer Babushka loves- shopping while giving back. Now you know that deserves a great big ESO!!I So what exactly was the novelty? A “Quarter Auction” for charity. Not sound like mucho verdad? Bueno Beautifuls, you’d be surprised how it adds up. A quick explanation.

“Guests purchase one ($2) or more ($1) bidding paddles when they arrive. They spend time visiting the vendor booths, networking, shopping for holiday gifts, enjoying snacks, registering for door prizes, and having fun. When the auction starts, vendors take turns introducing their businesses and showing their auction items up for bid. The vendor tells the audience how many quarters it takes to bid for each paddle held up, in the amount of 1 – 4 quarters. If they choose to bid on that item, guests and vendors drop their quarters in the bucket and hold up their numbered paddles. If the number drawn matches the number of an auction paddle being held up, that person wins that auction item. It is fast-paced, generous, and fun! All funds raised are shared between Education Enrichment Council scholarships and the charity chosen for each auction.” En Noviembre, the charity partner was Operation Santa, another wonderful local nonprofit that helps local families who need a little help celebrating the holidays.

And they even fed us!! Special shout out to yummy Mae's Southern Delights.
 Babushka's Paddle.  Lucky double number.

And the auction begins!!

It was a night of winning on so many levels. Do you know how much was raised Beautifuls?  Entre peseta por peseta, a quarter at a time, in a little under 2 hours over 2 thousand dollars were raised!!  Increible pero cierto. And it was only their segundo time having an auction!  Not love my little town??  JU SO FONII!!! A noche of community spirit, fun and good times for two great causes. 

Babushka's Win. A Bella set of  Lilla Rose hair accessories!
Gracias Jodi, BB will be back for some hair sticks. ; ) 

Por supuesto, but of course, it would have been imposible without the great volunteers and vendors. Gracias to Nancy Floyd Richardson for putting together this lista. 

Veronica Forns Wold - Effortless Travel
Cyndi Rasberry Dotson and Shaina Dotson - Rodan & Fields
Nancy Floyd Richardson - Thirty-One
Heather Houser Gray, Yese Reyes, and Melinda Lee Porterfield - Young Living Essential Oils
Kim McMillan and Suzanne Pope Leigh - Plunder
Lisa Latimer Scott - MiaBella Creations
Debbie L. Drum-Smith - LimeLight by Alcone
Nance Nadeau - Scentsy
Cyndi Dewey McKuhen - BeautiControl
Thadra Palmer Stanton - Pampered Chef
Tracy Spencer Britton - Damsel in Defense
Jodi Crone McIver - LuLaRoe
Casie Knight Arciaga - Premier Jewelry
Jodi Franklin - Lilla Rose
Lois Wise Abbott - Noonday Collection
Brandie Oscar - Tupperware
Lola Harrell Pouncey - Magnolia and Vine
Jessica Johnson - Southern Threads
Darlene Roberts - Omnitrition
Sara J. Marchessault - Joyful by Design
Trisha Lee Strickland and Jessica Balchuck Goldin - Fight Like a Fish for Augie
Toria Schmookler - Ornaments for Orphans and Fair Trade Chocolates
Rachel Ogle - Beach Body
Ann Spano Fulghum - A'doorn by Ann

Donations:
Libby McFalls Stewart - Photography Session
Emily Irvin Manley - Usborne Books and More
Angies Marine Supply
Tractor Supply Store
Shannon McDermott - The Garden Center by Gatortrax
Alix Kalfin - Wildtree

Magnuson Hotel

A wonderful time was had by todos. Who are the vendors/small business owners in your comunidad? No se about y'all, but these are the type of people worth helping,buying from. BB gives to those that give from el corazon. How about you?

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.

Quiet, Quaint, and Quirky- Crawfordville Florida, My Home town

HolaHolaHola My Beautifuls!  

Many of you wonder where exactly BB lives. 

Does Babushka truly live in a rural little town?  

Come join me in a tiny toquesito of my home town, Crawfordville Florida.

Azalea Park

 One of the things that endeared me was the park right smack in the middle of the town.  

Truly, it was one of the deciding factors of my move.

On the town's main street (for most of it there are only 2 lanes) is this charming park, stopping any road rage or work worries and instantly calming the soul.

Of course if you want something a little livelier the park can supply you with that too.

Hudson Park

Activities Pavillion- some great shows have been put on here!

Walking Trail where Sweetie and I met for our first date.

At first I thought it was a rural salute to Stonehenge, but then I saw-

Quee?? JU SO FONII!!!  BB had no idea what the round was for.  

In my defense, if they had to put up signs then Babushka wasn't the only one.

And speaking of signs...

leashed dogs are welcome to use the walking trails too.

Of course there are other animals in the park 

No se, don't find these so cute since I heard they're called the Rats of the Forest.

But you know what really is cute?

Town/Park Mascot

Donated to the town, this statue is painted by volunteers.  We never know what he'll be from one month to the next. Usually he's painted to match the season or an upcoming holiday or event.  Some will hate it, some will love it, but he's done with the heart and we all call him Ours.  

Crawfordville, you've seen the quiet and quaint, now for the quirky. Quee?? No, No My Beautifuls the Lion-dressed-as-a butterfly isn't it.  Having moved from Miami this rural little town is my vacation place, my place to relax and just enjoy. Y tu sabes where my fav vacation place is right?  Disney World of course and Crawfordville has  in BB's mind many similarities, and I've even found a real life homage to Disney right here.  I call it-

MATER MILE!!

Babushka doesn't believe in coincidences/casualidades.  

You've got (Tow) Mater Mile and (Doc) Hudson Park

And our own Rodent (of the Forest) too!!

Viste?

  Disney's Up North in The South .

; )

Quiet, Quaint, and Quirky- My Home town of Crawfordville fits BB to the Q.

Y'all come up and visit us sometime oyeron??

Babushka Besos a todos.  Cuidensen.