Did you read "The Yearling" when you were younger? How about "Cross Creek"? Chris was booked in Gainesville over 4th of July so we decided to go out to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Saturday. 
This photo is one of the first ceiling lights she had put in the house. Since the whole idea of electricity inside was new, she had no hanging lampshades, so she had a carpenter drill holes in wooden mixing bowls. Very creative, don't you think?
I really loved this quote at the front gate...all about having a special place to go "away from it all and create. Apparently when she bought the home in 1928 she wanted to do just this - "get away from everything". And I must say she was successful, because even now, 60 years later, the home is out in the middle of "nowhere" Florida. Cross Creek is really beautiful but even though its not far from Gainesville (a rather busy area) you really feel like your in rustic Florida. That's actually something I love about living here, Florida has such an interesting mix of "modern/ slick / cool" and "rustic / everglade-y".
Anyway, her home is very interesting. Still can't figure out how she managed to write so many fantastic novels, including one that one a Pulitzer Prize..all in a house with NO air conditioning!! Sorry, I couldn't do that without my brain melting. Apparently "Miss Marjorie" as the locals still refer to her was quite a hoot. Kept a liquor cabinet during Prohibition, had one of the only cars in the area, was the first to have indoor plumbing in the area and was the first to have electricity in the area. The electricity thing is pretty funny too.
