Foto Friday . . . vacation part IV

"A vacation trip is one-third pleasure, fondly remembered,

and two-thirds aggravation, entirely forgotten."

- Robert Brault

Okay, we can't be the only family that has been met with vacation aggravation. Or should I say

vacation expectations, in which course I am sooo guilty!! It had been so long since we as a family

went on vacation that it led, for me, to many expectations. Yeah, expectations just spell danger for me, and

aggravation for my family. I guess that's why I do better with spontaneous exploration...

it's all a surprise, there is no room for disappointment and everybody's happy. Win, win.

So, one day we decided that since Tallahassee was only 2 hours away and we are on a quest to visit all

the state capitols, that we would take a little road trip (we only have about 40 to go). Welcome to the Florida Historic Capitol Museum. Yep, this building is what is left of the original structure completed in 1845 and then expanded on several times through the years, with the addition of the dome, several wings and the House and Senate Chambers. In the 1970's when they built the Florida State Capitol Complex they had decided to demolish this historic building but the Floridians saved and renovated it.  They had settled on restoring it back to its 1902 appearance and I guess somewhere along the line of additions it lost its dome. But lucky for them when they were tearing down walls they found all the original glass that had been in the dome in the walls and were at least able to match the colors along with the help of pictures to restore the design as close to the original as possible. Remember that show "If Walls Could Talk"? Makes me wonder what else is hiding in all our historic places, well just old places in general.

I'm pretty sure this was the House Chambers.

The office attached to the Governor's office...

And the Governor's office....

And what's a vacation without the character cutouts.

Parentals on the left, and kids on the right.

{ Photograph life foto Friday - eyes }

And we sure did have fun in the Senate, deciding on some important familial things like where to eat afterward!

{ Project Alicia - summer daze }

Oh and that nice blue sky in the very first photo, was no longer blue but gray and with storm clouds and thunder when we came out. Yes, we were about to get yet more rain and so we decided to just drive on back. This might be where some of that frustration set it. It's hard to see so much history and be thwarted by a thunderstorm, again. But as we were driving away I spied this cemetery and was able to hop out and capture a few shots before the rain came. Oh, how I really wanted to get inside...but it was all fenced off and I had to actually shoot through it. I probably could've stayed here for the rest of the day shooting. All the Spanish moss lined trees and the thunder really added to that spooky feeling, and not that I like spooky, but there were just so many photo ops.  It's the oldest public cemetery in Tallahassee, also segregated, where slaves and planters, governors and store clerks, veterans of war and victims of yellow fever are all buried.

 { Old City Cemetery }

  { French kiss stonebrush and Pixel Dust Art craquelure }

[Photo Art Friday, Shoot.Edit.Submit]

And last but not least my submission to Flower Art Friday . . . and Photo Friday.

If you want to know how I got this shot you can go here.

 { Kim Klassen texture Peony and Happy heart }

"When we put down ideas of what life should be like,

we are free to wholeheartedly say yes to our life as it is."

-Tara Brach

That is so true, isn't it. And for me, I should have exchanged the word life for vacation. Maybe

I'll make that into a t-shirt for next time, lol! Why is it that you finally get in vacation mode and it's the last day. . . that's next week!

Have a wonderful weekend - I'm hoping for a little sunshine as it has been raining alllll week!

Love, Kim

XO