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Time to break out the turkey roaster and get going on Thanksgiving preparations. The last few years Lee and I have been putting up our Christmas Decorations before Thanksgiving. We find that having the decorating done affords us extra time to spend with each other and to enjoy the season.

The longer we live in Florida the more we realize how lucky and thankful we are to live in such a pretty place and how non-traditional our Holidays have become. As our families have moved to different states, and the children have grown, we find our desire to prepare and host large Holiday Dinners has changed. Instead of preparing and cooking for days and hosting twenty or thirty guests we now enjoy a lovely dinner and focus on spending time enjoying Florida and the life we have built in our Southern Home. A few of the wonderful options for Thanksgiving in Florida are below:

• Enjoy a few days in the Nation’s Oldest City as it decorates with millions of lights during the Annual Night of Lights Celebration that starts the weekend before Thanksgiving. The City of Augustine is charming and really puts on quite a show. A great way to start the season.
• If driving up to St. Augustine seems too much of a challenge, Enjoy a Disney Adventure. Mickey, Minnie and the gang always dress up to celebrate the holidays and not only do they play dress-up, but the park dresses up too, and adds lights for sparkles. If the grandchildren are in for the holiday, think Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, it is held in the Magic Kingdom during select nights starting around Thanksgiving. It is a special ticketed event; and is a ton of family fun.
• After enjoying Your Turkey Dinner, put on your bikini and head to one of 14 pools in Solivita. They are all heated, beautiful, and most of the time surprisingly quiet.

Whatever you do on Thanksgiving Lee and I wish you fun, love and good health. We will probably see you at the pool.

We recently entertained friends from up north and spent a few hours at the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg browsing the surreal masterpieces of this world-famous artist. Wow, did we enjoy the afternoon, the Dali in St. Petersburg houses the biggest collection of Dali’s art outside of Europe. Dali’s Works are housed in a modern museum on the waterfront and the museum was constructed with a glass atrium. A lovely building in the daylight, but in the evening, the entire building is illuminated and shines on the waterfront – a real showstopper. We signed on for a tour and were glad we did. The Docents genuinely enjoy sharing their knowledge of each piece and the symbolism embedded in each work. Cheers to the beautiful modern museum, the art, and the docents who share the life and times of Dali with you. It was an insightful day, full of fun, discovery and we left the museum with a new appreciation for Salvador Dali and Modern Art.

Following the Dali Museum, we enjoyed a walk in the quiet of the Sunken Gardens in St. Pete. It was cool under the canopy of trees and we were happy to enjoy an hour in the serenity of the gardens. The Sunken Gardens are four acres of well-established botanical gardens in the Historic Old Northeast Neighborhood of St. Pete. These gardens have existed for more than a century and are one of the oldest roadside tourist attractions in the U.S.

St. Pete is just a couple of hours drive away and is a good day trip; but is also a great spot to spend an evening or a few days. Lee and I did not have the time to spend a night away, but if we did, we would have been happy to enjoy an evening at the Vinoy Renaissance in St. Petersburg. The Historic Hotel is at the Marina in downtown and has a lovely courtyard with a pool, great public spaces, a wonderful restaurant and a small section in the lobby devoted to the Vinoy’s colorful past. Lee and I are adding this hotel to our list of must dos next time we have a few days away.

Solivita does put on some wonderful entertainment, and both Lee and I enjoy Solivita entertainment, but in Central Florida, we have so much good entertainment around us it is hard to choose a bad show. Recently we caught a show at the Ritz and had a blast. So do not despair if you are too busy to see a show in Solivita, there are lots of other venues near us to enjoy.

The Winter Haven Theatre and The Ritz can be found at the following websites:

https://theatrewinterhaven.com/

http://ritzwinterhaven.com/

Catch a show at the Winter Haven Theatre or at the Ritz. The Ritz is in downtown Winter Haven, near the center of town, the restaurants, and the bars. Back in the day, The Ritz was originally a Vaudeville Theatre and later turned Movie House. Recently the Ritz Theatre was refurbished, it is a small, but a very nice venue, with good acoustics and is a great place to catch a concert, a comedy show, or a play. We caught a great comedy show and laughed our way through the evening. Lee and I know, if you go, you will enjoy an evening out at either of these venues.

You can visit https://centralfloridatix.com to see what else is going on around us too.

Lee and I always look forward to a fun night of mischief and laughs on Halloween. When we lived up north, Halloween was always a dress up night with the doorbell ringing off the wall. Children, neighbors and friends would knock on our door to visit, get treats, and party with us. Halloween in Solivita is quieter, with no children in costumes to knock on our door, so every year Lee and I plan something fun. This year we are going to see the One Night Only RAT PACK UNDEAD Show at the Osceola Playhouse. Although Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. are dead, on Halloween 2019 they will rise again and perform on stage for a few hours. We will be transported back in time as the cast croons their hearts out for one night only in Kissimmee. We are Looking forward to seeing and hearing this show, it has gotten some great reviews and sounds like a fun way to spend the evening. Dinner with family and friends first and then on to the main event. Happy Halloween to all our friends, family and clients. We wish you a Sweet, Fun Evening filled with mischief of your own making.

Solivita Fall Festival

Don’t miss the Fall Festival in downtown Solivita. The Festival is always a great day, entertainment, food, great crafts, plus talented artisans exhibit and market their goods, while music and fun fill the air, plus it is the perfect time to start shopping for the holidays. Last year we purchased beautiful framed photos by Solivita Resident Photographer, Linda Moffat. We also purchased Solivita handmade jewelry, and handknit sweaters for the grandchildren. Seems to me that there is something at the Festival for everyone. Even if you choose not to buy anything, our clubs are out selling food and it is a good day to visit with friends, bring the children out for some fun and enjoy the cooler weather we have all be waiting for. If you would like to visit Linda on the web, you can see her photos at www.lindamoffatphoto.com.

Epcot’s International Food & Wine Festival; August 29 – Nov. 23, 2019

The festival runs from the end of August through mid-November. The event is marked by wine tastings, Disney and guest chefs cooking up culinary delights, and the popular Eat to the Beat Concerts. Entrance to the Festival, plus select wine and beer seminars, cooking demonstrations, culinary exhibits, concerts and all attractions are included with regular Epcot admission. Specialty events require reservations and separate event admission.

Fantasy Fest in Key West; October 18 – October 27, 2019

Put on your greasepaint and let the good times roll for ten days of celebrating that can only be described as zany, bizarre, and hilarious. Fantasy Fest participants take to the streets of Key West in a somewhat raucous style with circuses and sideshows like you’ve never seen before. Nonstop activities include parades, masquerades, street parties, and more. From what we have heard, If you’re prone to flamboyance, this event is better than Mardi Gras. There is a scintillating 2019 Fantasy Fest Schedule online so if you have time and love to party this could be the fest for you. The theme for 2019 Key West Fantasy Fest is “In Tune but Off Key: Celebrating 40 Years of Fantasy” having never been to Key West during Fantasy Fest, we hear it is very busy during this time of the year, so don’t go without being assured you have a place to stay, but if you go, buckle up and be ready for a wild time. https://www.fantasyfest.com

It may be too late this year to book Fantasy Fest but now you know when it is, put it on your calendar for next year and book 2020 at least 9 months in advance. Fantasy Fest is always about the same time every year so start looking on the website for the exact dates and plan your escape to Fantasy Fest 2020.

Apalachicola 56th Annual Florida Seafood Festival; November 1 & 2, 2019

The Florida Seafood Festival is a two-day event annually drawing tens of thousands of visitors to the historic town of Apalachicola in scenic Franklin County. The Festival is held at the mouth of the Apalachicola River under the shady oaks of Apalachicola’s Battery Park in downtown Apalachicola. There are events for just about everyone. The Festival features delicious seafood, arts and crafts exhibits, seafood related events, and Musical Entertainment. Some of the notable events include; Oyster Eating and Oyster Shucking Contest, Blue Crab Races, Photo Contest, a parade, 5K Redfish Run, the Blessing of the Fleet, History of the Festival Exhibit plus lots of fun and people watching in a beautiful place on the river.

This is always a fun festival held in a beautiful old town in Florida. Dress casual and comfortable, put on your flip flops and have a blast enjoying the freshest seafood around.

Great visits start with great planning. This time of the year Lee and I start planning for our holiday house guests. We try to limit the number of out of town guests per visit so that we have time to spend with each of our guests, and comfortably accommodate them all.

We love to have family and friends stay at our home and we find if we have planned the visit well, we are sure to have fun. We keep an air mattress on hand, spare sheets, extra pillows, blankets, and towels. In our guest baths we place baskets containing extra toiletries, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lotions, etc. In the guest bedrooms we like to leave a local guide to events and attractions, a few bottles of water, and a few small bags of snacks that our guests can take with them when they venture out. We also print instructions on how to use the coffee pot, washing machine, etc., and instructions on where to find the supplies. Since Lee and I are out working, leaving instructions frees us up, and provides our guests with the ability to care for themselves.

We let our guests know that they are welcome to relax and enjoy their stay by leaving paperback books, fresh flowers and some note paper in each of our guest rooms. We also leave a calendar with a schedule of breakfast and dinner times so that our guests know ahead of time what we have planned. We do not always stick to the plan, but we find it helpful to have a plan and be prepared. I make a few items ahead, muffins, granola, hard boiled eggs, a quiche, simple items to make breakfast easy. We leave lots of fresh greens, cheese and fruit in the fridge, so our guests find it easy to make lunch or a snack. Dinner is up to you. We generally cook one or two of the nights during a visit and dine out with our guests, and we always encourage our guests to venture off to enjoy dinner on their own. We have even enjoyed a pizza night while guests were in residence. We find it fun to entertain, and if you make the visit easy it will be fun for everyone. No one wants to spend their vacation doing dishes and as a host we find if we make the visit too much work for us, we are too exhausted to enjoy the company. So have fun with your guests, be kind to yourself, and enjoy your guests in Solivita style.

When I know company is coming, I make the following Muffin Recipe. These muffins can be made in advance and frozen.

Lorraine’s Company’s Coming Muffins

1 ½ cups Whole Wheat Flour

¾ Cup Sugar

½ tsp. salt

2 tsp baking powder

1/3 cup oil

1 large egg

1/3 cup buttermilk

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp allspice

½ tsp nutmeg

Mix and Stir in

½ cup walnuts chopped or

½ cup raisins

Mix Dry Ingredients. Mix Wet Ingredients. Mix Wet Ingredients into dry. Do not overbeat. This should be done with a spoon. No need for a mixer. Spoon into greased muffin pans. Bake 375 till toothpick inserted in center is clean. Let cool, remove and serve

Bella Verde Realty is proud to sponsor The Third Annual One Plus One Giving Program. Our commitment to Osceola and Polk County’s children is simply to give these kids the best holiday possible. Bella Verde Realty will match every gift donated: you give one, the children get two! Ages for children in the program range from infant to 18 and all gifts are greatly appreciated. GAL advises that the younger children in the program get the most support, although all gifts are appreciated, gifts for the older children are greatly needed. Currently over 500 children are enrolled in the Guardian ad Litem Foundation of Osceola Inc. Children’s Program and gifts at this time of the year are especially appreciated. Kindly bring your unwrapped gifts to the Bella Verde Office from 10/15/2019 to 12/3/2019.

Our Christmas Tree is already decorated, and the Bella Verde elves have been busy gathering gifts. Together let’s make this a happy holiday season & show these children we care about them. Stop by our office, pick up a flier, drop off a gift, and help a child have a happy holiday.

I’ve achieved ‘the American dream.’ I feel it’s my duty to help others achieve their vision, too – especially the youth.

― Joe Frazier

Congratulations to Lorraine Valdes and Bella Verde Realty! Lorraine Valdes was chosen as one of the TOP Producing 500 Realtors in the Orlando Area, which is a wonderful honor and a true tribute to her knowledge, abilities and the many accomplishments Lorraine has achieved. Lorraine and Lee were guests at the Dr. Phillips House in Orlando at the Real Producers End of Summer Celebration. Lorraine was the only realtor to win this prestigious award in Solivita and is thrilled to be honored for her hard work, total sales, and devotion to her clients. Photos of the event are on the website. Lorraine and Lee report that it was a grand evening filled with music, dancing under the stars, champagne, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, awards, fun, and to end the evening, an ice cream truck.

Good Solivita friends of ours rented a house in Matlacha (MAT-la-shay) for a week, right on the water, with a pool and a dock for fishing and crabbing. Sounds like a peaceful, quiet spot on the Florida Coast. Where is this spot you ask? Matlacha is a tiny town west of Fort Myers and it is tethered to the mainland by the “fishingest bridge in the U.S.A.” over Matlacha Pass – according to the tourist info. Now I am very interested, this sounds like an ideal habitat for fish and anglers, but also for kayakers, hikers, and seekers of peace and quiet. A Perfect Spot for a few days.

After all, there are only so many days I can stay away from the action. Lee could probably stay a few days longer, as long, as he had his golf clubs, but me, I love the action of selling Solivita and helping folks find their perfect place in the sun. They report they relaxed, enjoyed each other’s company, ate fresh caught crabs and fish, plus nightly witnessed Spectacular Sunsets. If you are a birder, this is a great place for you too, as daily our friends enjoyed osprey, egrets and the dolphins play in the water. Now where to stay, well I can’t tell you their secret hide out, as they wouldn’t tell me, but I have tiptoed through the literature on the area. From my research, I know Lee and I would love the Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island, about 8 miles from Matlacha. It looks like a great place to visit for a few days. The Lodge is on the water, has a full-service restaurant, and a very nice menu. You see, I am not into fishing but, I am into relaxing in a pretty place with a lounge chair and a good fish restaurant on site. The Lodge does have some history, rumor has it that Jimmy Buffet wrote Cheeseburger in Paradise while hanging out at the Tarpon Lodge. We have not stayed here yet, but we surely will next time we have a few days away. Another destination to add to my Florida Bucket List.