Making My Home A Haven is important to me. Sharing homemaking skills. Recipes and food. Bible Studies. This is a treasure chest of goodies. So take a seat. Have a glass of tea and enjoy. You will learn all about who I am.
From Sarah: Danny and I are back in the Dade City Area filming trains. We are filming between the museum and Vitis Junction at Richland.
We found a place just a half mile from the tracks. A wonderful mobile home.
More to come.
The following was over Christmas vacation 2019.
It was closed but we were able to watch trains there.
The mobile home sits on an acre of land.
The Black Eyed Pea. A family owned DOWN HOME SOUTHERN COOKING Restaurant.. It was so good.
Be thankful the video is short. The trains were long.
My N Scale Christmas Train and Part of my Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Rail Road with a Denver Rio Grande Car.Zephrhills Airport
December 2019
Danny and I picked up lunch at The Black Eyed Pea in Dade City. Then headed to the Historical Museum. 3 trains so far.We got to see the inside of the museum. It’s closed but they showed us anyway.We also found out : They are the ones who BOUGHT THE LAKE WALES HO TRAIN SET. Not sure about the scale set.THE one Danny and I were part of.I inventoried everything.More in another post.
From Sarah :
This Little Road Trip was the HIGHLIGHT of My Christmas Day
Christmas Day WAS REALLY HARD FOR ME.
I was an emotional/hormonal wreck.
Plus Danny was in a
“Rail Fanning” state of MIND. He’d already received more Christmas Gifts from Me than he should have. AS far as he was concerned :
CHRISTMAS WAS OVER.
For me : THIS WAS CHRISTMAS DAY
THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST.
NO, IT WAS NOT OVER.
Danny had PROMISED ME : NO TRAIN WATCHING ON CHRISTMAS DAY.
I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN HE WOULD BREAK THAT PROMISE.
I SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED IT WITH GRACE.
NO, I WAS IN A BAD MOOD. A VERY BAD MOOD. ALTHOUGH I REALLY TRIED NOT TO BE.
I WAS MISSING FAMILY.
This little excursion wasn’t planned.
It was a good release for me. Would have been better if he had driven the 35 miles an hour he was suppose to and not the 50 miles an hour he did.
Location
12449 Withlacoochee Blvd.
Dade City, FL 33525
(352) 567-0264
Hours of Operation
Open 7 days a week from dawn to dusk.
Park Information
This wilderness park consists of 406 acres, however, the Withlacoochee River runs through the park with an abundance of wildlife to see such as Bald Eagles, Swallow Tail Hawk, Red Tail and Red Shoulder Hawk, Turkey, Great Blue Heron, Red and Gray Fox, Florida Panther, Bob Cat, Alligators, Gopher Tortoise, Black Bear, River Otter, Snakes, Owls, Raccoons and Wild Hogs. If you are looking for some peace and tranquility, this is the place for you. You can hear the sounds of nature all around you. Whether you want to go fishing, camping, biking, kayaking or have a picnic, this park has it all. Opens a New Window. .
There is an 1840’s replica of Church, soon to be made into a nature center, a Pioneer Cabin with electric and air conditioning (sleeps six and may have one tent on site and a small cozy cabin with electric and air conditioning (sleeps four and may have 1 tent on site).
Climb up the Observation Tower to view the entire property from above and observe the wildlife and natural beauty of this land. This park has a 3 1/2 mile perimeter nature trail, a 1.7 mile all-purpose paved trail and other trails totaling 13 miles. The paved trail can be used for bicycles, rollerblading or walking. There is also a GPS Orienteering Course that you can track.
*No pets allowed at any cabin camping. *Must be 21 years of age or older to make a reservation to camp.
Fishing and Boating
There is a canoe/kayak dock right on the Withlacoochee River where you can launch your canoe or kayak or cast a line from the pier and go fishing. You will appreciate the peaceful setting. We hold our annual Fall Family Fishing Festival here where you can get fishing tips, learn how to cast, meet others that have the same interest and we also provide lunch and door prizes. It’s an event the whole family can enjoy. Fishing is permitted along the river. You must be 16 years old and above to have a valid Florida fishing license, which can be purchased at most sporting good stores or at any Pasco County Tax Collector’s office.
The Vitis Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in CentralFlorida. The line runs from Vitis (near Richland) to Lakeland for a total of 19.7 miles. The Vitis Subdivision serves as a connection between CSX’s two main lines in Florida, the A Line and the S Line. Its connection with the S Line (which is a detour of the original S Line) at the north end is known as Vitis Junction. The connection with the A Line at the south end is known as Lakeland Junction.[1][2]
The tracks that are today the Vitis Subdivision began operation in September 1885. They were built by the South Florida Railroad as part of their Pemberton Ferry branch (CSX’s detoured S Line from Vitis Junction north to Lacoochee is also part of the Pemberton Ferry branch). CSX’s A Line was originally the South Florida Railroad’s main line. The line was narrow gauge when originally built. It was fully converted to standard gauge on August 7, 1891.[3]
It’s been a busy afternoon for us. This is a continuation of a post I wrote a few hours ago. 2 almost back to trains.
Richland and /Vitus Junction
Another railway dropped by. Gave us some great information. Really good charts. Scanner information.At the same time, a mom stopped by….saying she has see us in various spots this week. She was curious. Gave her both our information.Will update.
The Vitis Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in CentralFlorida. The line runs from Vitis (near Richland) to Lakeland for a total of 19.7 miles. The Vitis Subdivision serves as a connection between CSX’s two main lines in Florida, the A Line and the S Line. Its connection with the S Line (which is a detour of the original S Line) at the north end is known as Vitis Junction. The connection with the A Line at the south end is known as Lakeland Junction.[1][2]
The tracks that are today the Vitis Subdivision began operation in September 1885. They were built by the South Florida Railroad as part of their Pemberton Ferry branch (CSX’s detoured S Line from Vitis Junction north to Lacoochee is also part of the Pemberton Ferry branch). CSX’s A Line was originally the South Florida Railroad’s main line. The line was narrow gauge when originally built. It was fully converted to standard gauge on August 7, 1891.[3]
Vitus Junction ANA Vitus Subdivision.
The track divides.
This is is Vitus Subdivision AKA Vitus Junction. Train lingo.It’s where the track divides. One going South to Miami and one going West to Tampa.
From Sarah: I would have rented this place again but I found one just a half mile from the tracks and a lot closer to Dade City.
The following was from
Christmas 2019
The last 3 days have been full of highs and EXTREME LOWS.
I just handle them better. (Over all). We are staying in Zephrhills, Florida. Northwest Of Plant City. That’s where we usually go .
We are staying in a wonderful Module Home (Mobile Home) With a huge screened in porch with a large enclosed laundry room.
The wreath,The Lighted Graceland and the towel are mine. So Is the KEURIG Coffee Pot. Danny loves his Cappuccinos and I love my Chai Tea Lattes. No coffee for me.I brought a lot of “Goodies”. Danny really enjoys them. I just like the color RED. LOLThis photo will make us laugh in years to come. It has to do with the PASSWORD here.
This is where we are right now. 4242 Allen Road, Zephrhills. I brought a few things from home to make it feel like Christmas.
More to come.
LOVE AND HUGS,
SARAH