Small herd…OR look what is on my wall...

very small herd

 

Papered in French…dessiner des figures bizarres…

Aren’t he purty??

Temporarily housed…looking for a proper home in this casa

‘I ask people why they have deer heads on their walls. They always say because it's such a beautiful animal. There you go. I think my mother is attractive, but I have photographs of her.’

~Ellen DeGeneres

YOU deserve to stay here….you really do.

   I don’t know about you….well, actually…I think I DO know a bit. Love that.

But me?  I LOVE old    I love ancient    I love vintage….I love cobblestone streets   I love sandy lanes.

I love meandering.

I love beautiful landscape. I love being connected through history in my houses and my towns….even

maybe especially…in my people. 

I live in Florida.

cue:: screeeech :: coming to a halt::

Ok…I love Disney as well as the next. No, wait, NO I don’t.

Indeed…there ARE gorgeous corners that aren’t Disney~fied in this state.

I LOVE finding them…and  love when they find me.

And when I do….I sigh a little sigh….and breathe a little deeper.  I just do. Sorry Goofy. I do.

When I can….I love finding a local hotel…Not the chain which  CAN be  wonderful and consistent.

But I love different, unique…some history…often boutique.

Boutique is maybe a misnomer…doesn’t have to be fancy, posh…I don’t need wine coming out of the walls

 but HAVE stayed in one such place… here. Oh My. Go if you can.

  Gaudy, wacky and Small works well for me.

And I search for it. Spooky is even ok…Like this place…My kids SWEAR it was haunted.

 

Enter: Winter Park, Florida. At the fringes of all that is Disney, in Orlando.

But oh so much more.

This past weekend we had the lovely experience of spending time in this cobblestone clad town.

We chose to stay at the vintage Park Plaza Hotel….

smack in the middle of the town…surrounded by, and above many  great unique stores and restaurants…

Speaking of stores…I Loved this place…you get to taste a bounty of different oils and vinegars….

Me? I brought home Red apple white balsamic vinegar to pair with sage mushroom olive oil.

Fall. sigh.

The streets are old cobblestone. There are also regular stores…cloaked in vintage architecture…

 

Restaurants galore….and small parks

and train stations…

And art. lots and lots of art…and relaxation.

The hotel was everything I love….ancient  for Florida standards

creaky wood floors…brass key fobs…valet parking

Robes….

and breakfast in the morning on your balcony overlooking the main street

The room was a touch mysterious…small doors leading…   where?  But perfect for us.

Other rooms  there are only 28  have original brick walls.

and…maybe we invited a FEW too many friends to join us

…as we enjoyed our breakfast

 

 

Whatev.

The more the merrier.

No?

If you are near….Find Winter Park. Stay at Park Plaza.

Because.

Peace, Love and Pumpkin Spiced Latte…

The streets of Brazil…

Happy Sunday!

Orange ya glad it’s fall?

I lost my battery charger for my camera

how does one do that?

Roast in the oven  not that it is cold out…but it is rainy.

And these swedish Hasselback potatoes. I phone photo, sorry folks.

Loving this orange laundry room door.  yes I am…

…and these are kinda kicky

 

See my theme?

I don’t.

Humor me. Carry on.

click on images for recipes and credits

Bringing the indoors…out.

The key Lime Chandelier…

Has found a new home in the jungle… back yard.

Now that is full circle, eh?

 

Deb from  fave local boutique Decorative Arts in the background…

Image by Charlotte…who BTW, has a delightful etsy store showcasing her designs.

Go see.

Morning stroll in the yard…

Why do two colors,

put one next to the other, sing?

Can one really explain this?

no.

Just as one can never learn how to paint.

~Pablo Picasso

Bird of paradise Strelitzia reginae

Bromeliad aechmea fasciata

Pink and Crimson Mandevilla vine

Screw Pine Pandanus

Joe.

In these parts…

We don’t necessarily say

Goodbye summer…

 

We kinda say…

Hello Summer 2.0… sigh

 

Happy Labor Day

Don’t toil too much.