On April 6, 2022, The Colonel and I hosted a family picnic along the banks of the Fisheating Creek in Palmdale, Florida. Yam took the day off from work to join us and my sister Jennifer and her husband Jim came up from their home at Ave Maria. This was a "last hurrah" before Jennifer and Jim, who are snowbirds, were getting ready to head back north.
Fisheating Creek is known as Thlothlopopka-hatchee in the Creek Indian language. It is translated to mean "creek where fish are eaten".
Early people, the Belle Glade people, were mound builders. They built mounds and other earthworks along the creek around 1000 and 500 BCE. They netted fish, harvested turtles, snakes and alligators as food sources. The creek was a canoe highway to Lake Okeechobee for the Belle Glade people. We saw about seven alligators and a couple of modern canoers in the creek the day of the picnic (we did not see snakes, YAY, or turtles).
But, before we could have a picnic, we had to have some food for said picnic. The day prior, The Colonel and I made some Puerco Pibil (slow roasted, seasoned pork). It is a recipe I got from the movie, Once Upon a Time in Mexico.
I cut up some pork loin (I used loin this time because I wanted it very tender and easier to cut...no bone to mess with). I also ground all of the spices and then blended them with the wet ingredients.
Once the spice mix was well blended, I poured it over the bite-sized pork loin.
I covered the pan with foil and baked the dish at 325 degrees for four hours. Once done, the pork is very tasty and tender.
We opted to make tacos with our puerco pibil. We packed the meat, all the taco fixings and two kinds of beans up to take to the picnic. We also had chips and salsa and of course drinks. Jennifer brought macaroons for dessert.
The Colonel wanted to break-in our new camp stove/oven. He, Yam and I arrived at the campsite early for set up and get the stove/oven on. Jennifer and Jim showed up not too long after. Our picnic table was situated in a beautiful spot along the creek.
Once the food was warm, we fixed our plates and sat down to eat (while keeping an eye on the alligators in the creek).
The food was delicious, the company exceptional, the campsite and weather beautiful but there was still more to come. Jennifer and Jim did not know about the surprise awaiting them.
It was time to paint our beautiful surroundings. We were going to paint plein air. I had packed everyone a painting kit. It contained brushes of various sizes, a canvas board and a paper plate for a paint palette. I had packed several colors of acrylic paints to share. We had toted some water too and plastic cups to clean our brushes with (also plenty of paper towel).
Jennifer and Jim were pleased with the picnic's extra curricular activity. Everyone picked out a spot, and began painting.
Everyone was quietly creating their works of art along the banks of the creek. It was peaceful, sunny, warm and there was a lovely breeze. It was the perfect place to have a plein air, artistic experience. We all had an enjoyable time. Below is a photo of our paintings.
This is a close-up of my painting. It is supposed to be the view I had across the creek (I am more of an impressionist painter...that is my story and I am sticking to it).
It was a lovely day. We all had a great time. It was the perfect "last hurrah" before Jennifer and Jim headed back north. The Colonel and I will have to begin thinking of something fun to do for next snowbird season.
