my florida views

from the moment of our arrival in florida...we were having nonstop fun.

abbey's first full day with renny and lessons.

on everything from grooming...

to proper etiquette with a horse...

even brad shows her how it is done...

...until a fine horsewoman/girl is made.

getting to play around with the mini's was great...

from driving the cart...

to just messing around with them....

and riding bareback.

i knew i was leaving abbey in good hands...so off i go to meem's house.

we took in a tea room in plant city.

there's nothing like some down time with your sis.

we had lots of catching up to do.

we strolled down the streets...

did some antiquing...one of the things we both love to do.

after a couple of days at meems i head back up to check on

abbey's progress at the farm.

all is well and everyone is having a great time...playing in the sprinkler,

trail riding, beach going, puppy playing, birthday parties, watching pups

being born...what more could you ask for.

dahlia's are in bloom there...

grace is captivated by their beauty.

and their petals.

after checking in and making sure abbey was doing well...i am off

to meems for the evening in her garden.

every vantage point in meem's garden is spectacular.

she is the queen of caladiums...and has hundreds maybe more.

since i have been back home i planted these beauties(miss muffet)

in a large black glazed pot. the ones above are hers mine just got

put in the dirt.

i hope my look half as good as hers.

as most of you know from visiting hoe and shovel

these gardens are lush and full.

there is no reason for me to compare my 2 year old garden to her 30 year old garden.

there are sweeping circular views...full to the brim with every tropical plant you can imagine.

it is breath taking...

i was focusing on the individual beauty of many of her blooms.

even the newest arrivals to hoe and shovel are thriving.

she has an artist's eye when it comes to the garden.

one of my personal favourites are the magnolias.

the veggie garden is on it's way out but i am

intrigued by it non the less.

we have different climates, different planting schedules,

different blooms and foliage but the same love of the garden.

so we talk endlessly about what each of us is doing this year.

her sunflowers are out and brightly blossoming.

mine are still waiting in the wings to show forth blooms.

we are able to plan some well needed time off at the beach for some glorious sunsets.

some bird watching...and of course photographing.

meems is ever on the watch for getting some wonderful captures.

we had a regular little visitor outside of our cottage room.

he let me get quite close.

night after night of beauty.

the things you can see at the beach are so special and unique.

lots of long walks and talking going on.


so many beautiful tropical plants/blooms.

and just like that...in a flash our beach time was over...

now it's just a memory...so we head home and i know it is

going to be a while before i can get back to the beach.

it has been great (where time sped by at an alarming rate.)

what a wonderful vacation for me with you meems. thanks.

meems and i did manage to make a trip to her two favourite nuseries on my last

morning there...i might try to post about those later.

i am off to pick up abbey and see how she is getting on with

her horseriding lessons with her big sis, esther.

abbey proudly shows me how she is now loping.

this is a summer that abbey will always remember...thank you

esther and brad for making abbey feel right at home...for giving her

valuable life lessons. she will have fond memories forever of this summer with you guys.

all is well and time has gone...we head home for the hills of tn.