Wellington, Florida Environmental Preserve

We visited the newly opened Wellington Environmental Preserve, located at 3499 Flying Cow Road.  Its a great place to take a walk, watch the birds, and get back to nature.

 We hiked out to the lookout tower (about a mile each way). It was easy to climb and the views were great.

The observation tower

View from the top



Judy & Sarah pause for a photo op




Native Sabal Palms and Dahoon Holly planted in the 365 acre preserve which also serves as a storage area for storm water runoff.



Chanukah Cookies



Sugar cookies, rugalah, and poppy seed cookies.



One of my favorite holiday traditions is to get together with my sister, Judy, for a bake-athon.  This year we combined cookie weekend with my parents 60th wedding anniversary, and baked Chanukah cookies.  The recipe for the poppy seed cookies came from my grandmother.

Sarah helped decorate the sugar cookies.   We pack up tins of cookies and give them away as gifts.  So glad we could have a cookie-weekend this year.

Floral Designs for an Art Show

I was invited to create a floral design for the desert table at an art show in our community.  I used the traditional Fall plant material - cattails, mums, safflower in a contemporary design.

My friend, Christine, made this floral design for the wine and cheese table.

The evening was so much fun - sipping a glass of wine, looking at the art, and meeting neighbors.

Serenity Garden Tea House and Cafe, W. Palm Beach, FL

What a great place for lunch or afternoon tea - The Serenity Garden Tea House in West Palm Beach.

Its located at 316 Vallette Way, near Flamingo Park.

There is a beautiful garden as you enter the restaurant

I always loved these flower bicycles.

We started with a tomato basil soup, enjoyed tea sandwiches, scones, and delicious deserts.

Each table is set differently - all are so inviting.  You can bring a crowd (we had 34) or go alone.  Can't wait to go back.

Visit to Tropical Garden in Flamingo Park, W. Palm Beach, FL

Buddah in the garden

African Land Tortoises

Tropical Plants have so much texture

A Seat by the Pool

The Front Garden




Coconut Towers

 


Crinum Lily Flower



Spooky Halloween Brunch

Katie outdid herself once again with a delicious Halloween Spooky Brunch

My favorite desert - Dirt From The Graveyard

Sarah made fossil cookies inspired by the November issue of  Martha Stewart Living.  They came out great!

Pumpkin Puffs - Taste as good as they look

Seven Feet Under Dip - had to go back for more...

My Spooky Family

I wore my spider ears.

Stevie looks good wearing the spiders too!

Thanks Katie, Our Spooky Cook

Happy Halloween!

The Colors of Fall



The Island View at Sunset



The Penninsula

Fall Never Lasts Long Enough

Asters - The Last Fall Flowers

The last flowers to bloom in my garden in the fall are asters.  I put yellow chrysanthemums nearby. 

Vegetable Lasagna - Using the harvest

Here is a dish I made to use the vegetables I grew in the garden this summer.  It has plum tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, swiss chard, and zuchinni.

French Mountain, Rome, Maine

There's a new loop trail on French Mountain

I love bringing people here - everyone loves it.



Beautiful views for an easy, short hike.



It's Apple Time at North Star Orchards, Madison, ME

Judy in front of the store with the pumpkins and mums

Sisters in the apple orchard

It always seems to rain whenever we go to get apples.

In search of the view - it was too foggy to see much

You can try different varieites.  We all bought Mac's.  Definitely the best apples I've had yet this year.

Raf wanted to drive the tractor

But he ended up pushing it instead.

We got to take this fun tractor ride.

Common Ground Country Fair, Maine

A wonderful way to celebrate the fall is with a trip to the Common Ground Fair

You can buy all kinds of good food.

Lots of people wear Sweet Annie Crowns.

They wear all kinds of fun things.

We took a wagon ride.

More funny hats.

The kids always have a good time.

My favorite - the llamas!

Katie & Raf enjoy the strawberry cream puffs.

I always try some of the lamb.

Judy likes to check out the wool.

And the yarn too.

Judy and I sampled the Apple Pie Cones.  Delicious!