I never got around to posting this… sorry.  Back in January…or was it February?…. Lisa, Lori and I loaded up the kiddos and went to the State Fair in Tampa.  We wanted to ride rides but mostly, we were heading to “Cracker Country”.  Now… non-Floridians may get a smidge offended by this so let me explain.

A “Florida Cracker” is the original term for the cowboys that used  roam the state, herding cattle, etc.  They were called “crackers” because of the cracking sound made by the whips they used.  As Florida is still a major cattle state, we still have some of these cowboys here, mainly on cattle ranches to the south.  As time went on, the term “Florida Cracker” came to refer to native Floridians.  In other words, Lisa, Lori and myself are all Florida Crackers.  Non-natives get taken aback by this term but we wear it with pride.

Cracker also became associated with building styles, food preparation and, most notably, houses.  A cracker style house is a house with a high pitched roof that allows the heat to rise and escape.  There are doors and large windows on every side, allowing for cross breezes and the kitchens were usually detached or way in the back to prevent them from heating the house.  Finally, a large porch wraps around every side the house giving you the opportunity to cool off by sitting outside or…even sleeping outside.  In other words, it is a way of building a house that does all it can to let owners reasonably deal with the heat in the years before air conditioning.

So…that is the end of your history lesson.

We took the kids to Cracker Country.  Older, cracker style houses, general stores, a church, etc  have been saved from the wrecking ball and moved to this little nook on the fair grounds.  The kids (and us adults) got to tour each of the buildings and it was very fun.

Friends for Life

AG and Isaac operate the honey extractor (with the help of an actual beekeeper).

Anna Grace and Isaac check out the John Deer.

Anna Grace works the water system.

Anna Grace enjoyed some rides too.

As the only pregnant girl on the trip, I have to inform you of the culinary adventures as well.  There were corndogs and fried oreos and fried butter and fried peanut butter cups and fried dough and and and….. it. was. fabulous!!!!