Food and Fun Without Leaving the Park

Saturday February 14 and Sunday February 15, 2015
Koreshan State Historic Site
Estero, Florida

 

 

SATURDAY, February 14

Since we try not to leave the park on week-ends, especially in urban areas, we spend our last two days inside the park.  Well I do.  More on that later 

I take Mary’s park tour at 10:00 and it is 1000% better than the one I took earlier in the week.   So if you come, find out when Mary’s tours are.  Take Mary’s Tour.  She’s a hoot as well.

Since I’ve already posted pictures from my first tour and of the grounds several times (see this one and that one),  I’ll just show some of my on grounds favorites like the African Tulip tree in full bloom outside the Art Building.   I found some blossoms on the ground and picked one up so you could see how big they are.  Really beautiful.  So glad we got to see it in bloom.

On the tree behind it a night bloom cereus is growing.  I’d love to see it in bloom but not badly enough to stay until July.

 

 

 

The tulip tree was at the beginning of the tour and the Planetary Court House was at the end.   the two story porch wraps all the way around the house.  Only the main floor is open to the public.

 

 

Don’t you love the mosquito netting?  I wonder if it worked.

 

Don’t try to buy a nightgown like this now unless you are prepared to spend BIG bucks.

 

Actually the last stop of the tour was in the machine shops where on Saturdays they start up all the engines.  The guys could hardly wait.  David didn’t take the tour but he made sure he was there for the engine demonstration.  LOL

 

<the following is per David.  It was all greek to me>
The man on the left is standing in front of an enormous 1929 model 2 cylinder diesel engine.  The big red fly wheel is used to position the starting cylinder 10 degrees past top dead center.  To the right is a small vintage putt putt gasoline engine which powered a compressor to build up 180 lbs in two large tanks, out of the picture to the far right.  To start the engine they would release that pressure to the cylinder previously positioned.  And another man standing at the back of the engine block heads would insert a lit handmade glow plug into the cylinder to ignite the diesel fuel for the first rotation.  Then he closes the hole and the engine runs on compression alone.  Each cylinder compressed the air and fuel to such an extent that it ignites without a spark.  No spark plugs necessary

 

The overnight temperatures having been cold for the region, the belts were slipping on the pulley so this man helps the belt along until it warms up so it will not burn a spot on the belt.

 

 

Jokingly they tell us that if we can pick up the cylinder head in front of David and carry it out single handedly we can have it.   The inside diameter of the cylinder head shows the diameter of the piston.

 

 

The longer belts transfer the rotational force created by the engine from one device to another.  The size of the pulleys that the belts run on are adjusted to increase or decrease the speed of rotation to suit the target device.   These belts are used to run the generator for the Unity’s electricity.  This was the first power plant in the area and served the Koreshan and some of the surrounding community.   They rang a bell 30 minutes before shutting it down for the night so you could finish whatever you were doing.  

 

 

The handmade glow plug is made from paper dampened with water and saltpeter.  It is lit and dropped into the cylinder head at the right time to cause the first firing.

 

 

After the tour, we head back to Winnona for lunch before returning to the art building for a blue grass concert.   As usual there are  numerous zebra long wing butterflies flitting around on the side of the trail.

 

 

The group performing today was a duo.   When they play together they call themselves Paddle Faster.  They are Scott Ritter on the acoustic guitar, the steel guitar and the mandolin and Karen Batten on the guitar and banjo.  Each also belongs to another larger blue grass group.   They were very good and we really enjoyed them.   Hats off again to Mary who brings in all the music for the Saturday and Sunday Concerts.   There was nearly a full house today.   This park has an amazing amount of “extras”.

 

 

 

 

 

Back home David makes up the blueberry dump cake which is significantly better than the pie.  That’s parchment paper lining the baking dish so we don’t have to oil the dish.   This one will get a replay and we think we might add oats to the mix and cut back on the flour.

 

 

 

 

SUNDAY-February 15

 

If it’s Sunday in Koreshan it’s time for the Farmer’s Market.  I did a more detailed post on it last week especially the fruits and vegetables so this week I thought I’d show what else was there although all we bought was 15 pounds of vegetables for $21.

 

 

 

 

Landscaping plants for your south Florida garden.

 

Quits and hand made bags and hats for the ladies.  Why do people gasp when you are taking a picture and they happen to be in it.  I waited quite a while for her to start moving and finally gave up.  Of course as soon as I put the camera to my eye she turns around and blocks the quits hanging behind her.  Oh well….you get the idea.  Nice hand work.

 

 

Antique toy metal cars for the guys.  check out Betty Boop!

 

 

A store for guys of all ages.

 

I didn’t realize Playboy was an antique.  I know Hugh Heffner is.

 

 

Cars of all sorts.

 

Here are David’s two favorites…..cars.

 

Trucks anyone?

 

Here’s my favorite.  I’m sure they are really missing me since I gave up potato chips in favor of lower cholesterol.  I was one of their best customers any time my life had too much stress.

 

 

I was thinking maybe we needed this but then determined that the amount of money we spend at Publix on their organic foods couldn’t be saved in this little bank.   But it’s cute anyway.

 

 

 

Back home we fiddled the afternoon away. I talked with my Dad in Denver and with my friend Pam, read and worked on the blog.  David had to go out for a beer run for fear there would be nothing near by next week. After he came back, he went over to see the larger Blue Grass Band playing at the Art Hall.  I was talking with my dad so I declined.  He didn’t’ take the camera.

The most interesting things we did………….   I cleaned the pomegranate so we can use the seeds in salads and cereal.  Aren’t they gorgeous.  Food of the Goddess.  But throw out the skin and pith.
David made a fabulous pizza for dinner.   Yes those are anchovies on my half.   It was SO delicious.  Seriously best pizza I’ve eaten and no meat (only those little fish)  and no oil except whatever was in those little fish.  David’s side was squeaky clean - his home made tomato sauce, mushrooms, onion, garlic, kale.

 

 

 

Tomorrow we head further south for two weeks at Collier-Seminole State Park south of Naples.  It’s the first time we’ve been there so we aren’t sure what we might get into.  Any suggestions for things to see or visit in the area please send them on.