Coon Hollo Corn Maze, Micanopy Florida

Coon Hollo Corn Maze Rules for use.

Corn Maze Entrance

The Corn Maze is not really corn as this Yankee understands it. Only the outside row around the maze was actually corn. One in the crowd opined that the corn maze was probably sorghum. Whatever it was, it was thick

The path leading in, it's about 30-36 inches wide.

My grandson aka Beanie is leading the charge of our group. He is actually trying to catch up with his older brothers as we go into the maze.

A few minutes later his mom wants to take his picture. You can see concern on his face. Since he doesn't talk yet, we can't tell whether he wants his brothers or he does not like the maze.
More anxious and exhibiting more concern.

By now he is not having a good time and he wants out of the maze.

Looking for the exit. It wasn't as easy to find as one might think.

A John Deere tractor parked as an exhibit and a photo opportunity for kids and adults alike.

Another grandson, aka Wil using his best photo face for his mother.

A shot of Wil while he has lost focus on the camera.

An Oliver Row Crop 60 Tractor on display.

A vice mounted on a post in a field. I suspect it could be moved and used for on the spot field repairs of equipment rather than trying to get the equipment to the barn for repairs.

A very large and I'm sure very heavy anvil.

An old General Motors Truck set up as a display.

A Diamond T truck also on display.

A Farmall 360 Tractor on display.

A kids ride made up of plastic barrels being towed by a small tractor. Each barrel can hold an adult and small child or perhaps two children.

A bull rider or bronco buster ride operated by all of your friends. The rider mounts a barrel and by swinging/pulling the ropes, your friends attempt to help you off.

Beanie in a good mood and having fun.

Wil airborne as he jumps from one hay bale to another.

Dad and son, aka Gus posing for mom to get their picture.

A paintball gun range. It seemed to be very popular. It certainly held my interest.

How do little people climb a mountain of hay?

An unnamed someone has just spotted a camera pointed in his direction.

Another shot of someone trying to sing or maybe whistle a song.

I am no farmer, but I'm going to say that is a Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig.

The Blushing Bride having fun watching her grandchild and his mom.

A budding amateur photographer, you saw it here first folks.

A genuine leap. Beanie is jumping from a bale of hay into a small pile next to it. The drop was probably a little more than one foot. I asked him if he wanted to jump into the hay pile and he did.

As we were leaving the hay pile, Beanie discovered a slide which he started to climb.

He was a little nervous on his first slide but Nana and Cheez agreed to hold his hand so away he went.

Dad is holding his hand in this shot while Cheez takes his picture.

The slide ride went on for more than twenty minutes, one slide down after another. He only stopped if someone else came along so they could have a turn. When they went down, Beanie was right behind them. I think this was his "hit of the show".

This setup was so you could learn how to milk a cow.

A pumpkin display between Nana's Store and their ready to eat food store.


A display leading into the corn maze.

All in all, I think most of us had a great time. We left about 6:00 pm when it was starting to get chilly. And on the way home we also stopped for some great pizza.

New Mossberg Project

Mossberg 152, a 22 LR with a 7 shot detachable box magazine. The barrel is 18 inches in length. The rifle weighs 5 lbs. It has a Monte Carlo stock with a pistol grip and a hinged forearm that pulls down to form hand grip. The rifle has a Mossberg No. S109 front sight and a Mossberg No. S108 receiver sight. This model was made from 1948-1957.

Original sling swivel mounted on left side of the stock.

Left side of the action showing the detachable magazine and the S 108 Receiver Sight.

The right side of the action, the trigger card is scarred but whole.

The bluing is worn, with surface rust and pitting. The S 109 front sight is whole with some dirt, rust and paint on it.

The stock finish is marred, scarred and the finish is flaking and chipping. However, the stock appears to be walnut and has no observable cracks. The inside is dirty with powder residue from shooting lots of ammo.

The original forearm sling swivel is still in place and the forearm spring for the hinged forearm is still in place and functional.

The action appears to be functional when manually cycled but it is very dirty and will need to be completely disassembled.

The receiver sight demonstrates the patina of older blued firearms over time. There is also some surface rust but the sight is complete.

And the buttplate while scarred and marred is complete and uncracked.

Pound Puppy 2009 Update 2

Shasta is an EATER. She gets 3 cups of good food three times a day. However, she does not get excited if someone is around her bowl while she is eating. She will also steal the cats food if there is any opportunity. Thank goodness she seems to be housebroke and so far goes outside to do her thing.

This picture was taken about one week after she came aboard. She does not look so knobby, her ribs are less distinguishable and her backbone and hips seem to be filling in.

Berthing is not as good as it could be. We were set up for a large dog, not an extra large dog. The kennel and blocks of foam we have do not fit well when you sprawl. However, the digs are much better than what she had at the pound.


We have learned a lot about dog food, however she eats it so fast I'm not sure she can taste it. Right now she is getting a mixture of Science Diet Adult Advanced Fitness Dry and IAMs Puppy Chow. In 40 pound bags it costs more than some people food.

Each day her personality changes, we think the starvation and pound experience had her personality somewhat flat lined when we brought her home.


Yesterday afternoon when The Blushing Bride went to school she put a gate up to keep Shasta out of our bedroom and away from the cat food in the master bath. This is what I saw as I entered the kitchen. As I rounded the bar, I saw Shasta leap over the gate in the bedroom doorway; she had been in there laying on our bed.

She gives the term couch potato new meaning. We now cover the couch and now also the chairs to keep her on the floor. In her earlier life, she certainly had to be a house puppy. The first vet said they thought the dog was about five years old, our vet guessed three years old. As her personality changes she seems to be still somewhat of a puppy.

PS, Tonight a neighbor called me to let me know there were two coyotes standing under the persimmon tree in my neighbors yard across from the end of my driveway. One left as I came out but I could see the other standing there watching me. I barked at him and he /she ran off. That also got Shasta barking, she was in the driveway but I'm not sure she had got wind of the coyotes yet.

Pound Puppy 2009 Update

Shasta is now being fed three (3) cups of Science Diet five (5) times a day. That generates a tremendous amount of crap daily. However, the amount of crap is slightly overwhelmed by the giant methane generator now sleeping on the living room rug.

So far, no accidents. However she is fed outside so she gets plenty of chances to cover the yard. Zoie, our female cat is keeping a low profile and Crash, our junkyard cat, gets snarly and huffy but Shasta really seems to pay no attention to either of them.

She has woofed a couple of times but does not seem to be a barker. We have had a miniature schnauzer and are familiar with barkers - a somewhat undesirable trait. Since we live somewhat in the country a WOOF may be a good thing.

We put out a wicker couch by the curb for anyone that wanted it. When a neighbor knocked on the door, Shasta was right there to see who it was. Not pushing, not barking just all 60 pounds looking out the door. That is a good thing.
When ever I sign up a dog, I explain to them they are the "sacrificial dog" but Glock is their backup and will be right behind them.

Another news update: In the last month we have seen a "fox" twice during our morning walks around the neighborhood. Turns out that fox is a coyote. In fact this section of Florida has many coyotes. according to Wikipedia, coyotes are found North into New England on the East Coast.


The coyote we see has more red highlights than this one. The bad news is, hungry coyotes will eat family pets. They are probably easier to catch than squirrels.