Tuesday, 30 October 2012

Sandy and Willow Beautiful Fog and chrysanthemums

Sandy took the Weeping Willow down early this morning

Amanda purchased these beautiful enduring flowers to decorate for dinner two weeks ago

Sandy broke the Willow here

This beautiful fog tree survived looking great

Sunday, 28 October 2012

Amanda revisits 4th line, garden,grave et Duimstras

On the Fourth Line

Burning  Bush at Front

At Katharine's Grave

With Scott and Laliana

With Duimstra and their Grand Kids

Chaffeur Mandy for dinner and trip to Airport

Saturday, 27 October 2012

Amanda vincit dinners, fab 5, goodbye party

At Will and Colleens'

Home with Janice, Gus, Donna, Bev and Fred

Gus and the Fab Five Mandy, Jen, Amanda,Tracey and Ami

Fab Five and the Kids


With Jacques in Guelph

Sunday, 7 October 2012

Lake Helen and Herons, were we Yankees??

With a little time to spare, attracted by the sign of Historic Lake Helen, we made a small side trip to discover a small villlage rather than historic than bypassed by history. Here is part of the history:


Lake Helen became incorporated in the summer of 1888. The village was the brain-child of Henry DeLand, and he named his new village, Lake Helen after his daughter.
Lake Helen was originally a winter retreat for northeasterners and with the addition of two hotels, the Harlan Hotel (after his son and pictured right), and a little later the Granville Hotel, became a destination spot for New Englanders anxious to retreat from the harsh winters.
Lake Helen flourished. Citrus groves were planted and thrived, a sawmill and the Bond Brick Company were established. It was an arduous journey early on by steamer and horse or mule wagon from the St. Johns River, but it 1887 the railroad came to Lake Helen.





Later on a frosty winter ruined the citrus crop and set the village on the path to oblivion, it still has several churches, some houses friendly and helpful people, but when we bought two single scoop ice creams at two dollars apiece we thought we had been taken for Yankees as these were so small- see pictures.

The Magic Kingdom

Space Shooters


Cinderella

Big Ben


Pirates of the Caribbean


The Magic Castle

100th Blog, Processes in place for next 100 blogs



At the 100th blog these are the Main Aims for the remainder of 2012 and part of 2013 to be reviewed at the 200th blog.:

To have visits from my two lovely daughters.

Complete house and property renovations by mid May 2013 in order to have first open house by end of May 2013. Complete marketing program and sales literature for sale of house and property by end of April 2013.

Attend Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary semester September through December 2013 as required for Petroleum engineering degree.

Complete two or three more degree courses by distance learning prior to attending SAIT.

Visit Karen in the Commonwealth Thanksgiving, Christmas 2012, Easter and Summer 2013

Move to Paradise village in the Promised land.

Based on the difficulty I encountered and tine taken in writing my first German blog, to proceed with German blogs starting with simply sentences and words and gradually upgrading. Before the end of 2013 to add French blogs.

To move weight closer to weight at 17, 170 lbs and maintain Tai Chi base forms 

Friday, 5 October 2012

Disney World visit

Arrival at the Dolphin Hotel


one of Dolphin pools

Dolphin Lobby