Every year, during the first weekend of December, the my favorite holiday event occurs: Cracker Christmas!
Held at Fort Christmas in Christmas, Florida, artisans, crafters, re-enactors and musicians gather around the fort to kick off the holiday season! It's a time for shopping, visiting, eating and laughing under the big oak trees and tall long-leaf pines.
This year I was lucky enough to spend the day hanging with Leslie P., my favorite Park Ranger, introducing my friend Leslie H. and her mom to the event and catching up with my buddy Patti.
As always, there was lots to see (and buy!) on a warm, sunny Sunday morning:
Woody - adorning one of the many bright red vintage tractors.
Old license plates displayed on the bed of an antique truck.
Blacksmiths creating their wares on the spot.
My favorite soap lady making soap and telling stories about her Scottish grandmother who taught her how to make the soap. (The ladle she's using is called a squirtle. She bought it from a little lady named Mrs. McCurtle....or so the story goes!)
Door mats made from upcycled ship ropes.
Pickin' and grinnin' music!
And of course, kettle corn! Yummy!
