LIVE OAKS AND THEIR ACORNS, OH DEAR!

WEDNESDAY, February 13, 2019

Travelers Rest Resort

Dade City, Florida

60F, rainy day, but the sun is trying to peak out from the clouds

We forgot about the acorns. A large southern live oak (Quercus  virginian) tree casts a shadow over the cabana and every two years it sheds its acorns. Guess what. Whether raining or not, the acorns fall and fall and fall on the cabana. The sound is inescapable at night despite earplugs. I am sure any reader of this blog gets the idea of what that sounds like on a metal roof. Even the raindrops cause a not so gentle sound. TK and I are in great moods when we don’t sleep. Ha!  I did learn that they are called live oak because their leaves remain green throughout the winter, but that reminds me, the leaves make a noise when they fall on the cabana too—believe it or not.

Perhaps the sound will eventually lull us to sleep over the next six or so nights, who knows?

Since it was raining and cool, the four of us decided to go to Ybor City in Tampa for lunch at the Columbia Spanish Restaurant (www.columbiarestaurant.com) established in the Cuban community since 1907. The tiled exterior with twisted columns were exquisite details that beckoned us inside. Because the restaurant is known for its authentic Cuban food, I ordered a half Cuban sandwich, ham, roast pork, salami, swiss cheese, and yellow mustard, and the Cuban black bean soup. TK ordered the same sandwich with Columbia’s original 1905 salad (pork, ham, lettuce, tomatoes, Swiss cheese). Before our order was delivered, each of us was given a big hunk of fresh Cuban bread, toasted, with butter. Thank goodness carbs are my friends because I easily polished that bread off –so did Mary Lou, Scorchy, and TK by the way.

Mary Lou and Scorchy at the Columbia

The sandwich and soup were delicious but I should have asked for the mustard on the side—not a fan of yellow mustard. This is a Dijon mustard kind of girl! For dessert TK and I shared the best bread pudding (thick La Segunda Central Bakery Cuban bread)—the serving was so large I do not see how one person could eat the whole thing. My all time favorite bread pudding is served at Oceana Restaurant in New Orleans, but this dish is my 2^nd all time favorite!!

1/2 Cuban Sandwich and Cuban Black Bean Soup

Columbus arrives in the New World, exterior, Columbia Restaurant

Bar area, Columbia Restaurant

Front of the menu

Exterior

It wasn’t hard to convince TK to stop at the Tampa International Mall—his sister wanted to go too. Dillards, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and so much more—what’s not to like? I made two rounds, while TK walked with Mary Lou and Scorchy. Lots to see, but only a few purchases.

Back at TRR, it is quite cool, more like 54F. We took a quick walk around the garden area, but hopefully tomorrow we can take a more leisurely stroll.

A small section of the TRR garden

And I thought cruise ship Internet was bad. I have been on a neighbor's signal as well as TRR and it is painful. Photos will have to wait another day.  I can always buy TK a tank of gas and sit in the truck with his wifi!