tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955844379699946887.post8928429505279187729..comments2024-03-13T16:33:53.563+00:00Comments on <b>Dr Tony Shaw</b><br>: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings in Cross Creek, Hawthorne, FloridaDr Tony Shawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07565448709541046337noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955844379699946887.post-82655980000899093902015-04-02T14:02:40.303+01:002015-04-02T14:02:40.303+01:00This is a very interesting comment, and then there...<b>This is a very interesting comment, and then there's the story about her killing - and eating - a neighbor's pig that was running riot among her petunias: she loved flowers more than animals, I think. Rawlings, I seem to remember, created an enemy in this act - the man was very attached to his pig and refused financial compensation in return for the Rawlings' meal at her neighbor's expense!<br /><br />We found Key West Cemetery crawling with iguana-sized lizards, but which were much more timid than the handsome African rainbow lizard that had no fears about posing for me at Coral Castle, Homestead - in fact, I'd say the little monster was positively preening: fourth photo down: http://tonyshaw3.blogspot.co.uk/search?q=coral+castle.</b>Dr Tony Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07565448709541046337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955844379699946887.post-88007645744032879422015-04-02T01:47:56.715+01:002015-04-02T01:47:56.715+01:00My introduction to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was mo...My introduction to Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was more than 50 years ago, when I was just a young boy. My mother gave me a book of Snake Lore, as I was a snake nut, and one of the excerpts was by Rawlings.<br /><br />She was phobic to snakes rather than sharing my fascination with them, and as a general rule was ready to kill snakes on sight as all too many do, but one time was dismantling a heap of something and unearthed a Coral Snake. She was enthralled by its beauty but eventually killed it to make a decoration for her riding crop, which I thought was pretty mean.<br /> <br />She quoted one of her neighbours (?) saying something like "The Lord looks after fools and children!"<br /> <br />The Coral Snake is of course quite deadly if you get a bite, but very few do, even if they handle the snake, which Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was sufficiently injudicious as to do.<br /> <br />After surviving an ordeal inflicted entirely by her own ignorance, she reverted to her previous intolerance of serpent-kind. So another time, she encountered a (presumed) Cottonmouth, and killed it with a book which she snatched off a shelf. This happened to be one of her own works, and when she recounted the incident afterwards the response from her (neighbour, employee?) was:<br /> <br />"It sho' do come in handy to write books!"<br />Snatch51https://www.blogger.com/profile/10892372914963273478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955844379699946887.post-21937109753257258632015-04-01T17:02:53.559+01:002015-04-01T17:02:53.559+01:00Thanks so much for your comment on Rawlings's ...<b>Thanks so much for your comment on Rawlings's farm - it's well worth a visit if you're ever in the area. But you'll certainly be able to see the San Carlos Institute (or Casa Cuba) at 516 Duval Street where the Martí plaque is, and where there's a small exhibition. Don't get me wrong though - we really enjoyed Key West, it was just a bit in-your-face in places.</b>Dr Tony Shawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07565448709541046337noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8955844379699946887.post-23162006624423255152015-03-31T04:23:18.797+01:002015-03-31T04:23:18.797+01:00I read all your posts on Key West. I have been th...I read all your posts on Key West. I have been there twice before but not for long. We are going back for 10 days this time at the beginning of June. I know it is touristy, but I still like this town. I like the fact that you can walk in it. I am so tired of having to drive everywhere. I also think that, as in any city, there are areas that are touristier than others. I’ll make a note of all the writers your mentioned. I already visited Hemingway’s house and twice his gardens (mostly to see the cats) but I may go back again. We are flying so won’t be able to go to other places in Florida this time. The Rawlings property must have been a lot of fun to visit – it was a lot of fun to see it on your post.Vagabondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774109692564954568noreply@blogger.com