After the indulgences of the Festive Season it’s sometimes a good thing to go out and enjoy the fresh air with a brisk walk.  That’s exactly what we did on the Sunday after Christmas Day.  Having eaten and drunk far more than we should, it was time to retrain our bodies into a stricter regime of exercise and healthy diet.

Our normal festive tradition is to visit Pinewood House at Bo9k Tower Gardens before Christmas, but this year, we had missed that, so we made a plan to go there afterwards, and on Sunday 26th we did exactly that.  It was a chilly day, with a strong breeze coming from the Artic, so we bundled up into warm clothes and set off for the 20 minute drive through the orange groves to Lake Wales.

The groves are full of fruit at this time of year, and set against the dull brown of the dying grass, they look green and colourful and full of bright orange globes of tangerines, oranges and clementines.  Later on in the year the groves will show the grapefruit and the lemons and limes that  grow so readily here in Central Florida.

From the road that we took, the Bok Tower stands against the skyline for almost the whole of the journey, and is well signposted from the highway.

Once we turned into the main entrance and paid our entrance fee for both the Gardens  and the tour of Pinewood House, we drove through more citrus groves along the ridge.  Bok Tower stands on one of the highest  points in this area, and you can look out over the groves to the towns and cities in the distance.

Arriving at the car park – not many people about today! – we walked towards the main entrance.

The main entrance to Bok Tower Gardens

Entering the building our eyes were drawn to the sight of the magnificent decorated tree in the center of the room.  Being greeted by members of staff, shown  the historical story of the gardens,  and having received our maps and directions, we left and walked out towards the gardens themselves.  The sun was shining fitfully, and the brisk walk did much to lift our spirits and energise the body.  There are still many things to see, even during the winter months;  the gardens themselves are through the woods and have secretive grottoes, hidden corners, statues, both modern and old, and even  flowering shrubs, in particular the camellias which were blooming.  There is also a light perfume in the air, and we assume it is the scent from the citrus fruits and the camellias.   Squirrels scamper among the leaves or drop down to the feeders that are strategically placed for guests to see them.

Suirrel feeding center

Pinewood House itself is a 1930 Mediterranean style home commissioned by Edward Buck for his winter retreat.  Built before the days of air conditioning here in Florida, this house is a prime example of how the air flow was managed dur9ing the summer to keep the house as cool as possible.  With large double doors and window on opposite sides of the long ground floor, that can be opened for a cross flow of cooling breezes, surrounded by old oaks trees for shade, and with deeply set back windows on the second floor,  one can imagine just how naturally air conditioned this home would have been.

Once inside we were amazed at the decorations this year.  Each year, this home is decorated for Christmas by various volunteer groups who each take a room and decorate to a theme.  The theme this year was Victorian Christmas, and according to the docent, the Victorians used whatever was in their homes as decor.  They also tended to go over the top, so as one walked into the entrance hall, the view from the drapes lace and ribbons, along with assorted nosegays and fans intertwined through light fittings, and around mirrors can be somewhat overwhelming.    From there we were invited to take a look at the pantry, which was beautifully showcased with decorations, but where there was a good deal of old fashioned cooking equipment and products that would have been in use when the house was built.  Moving on , we entered the dining room, again, elaborately decorated for a Victorian Christmas meal.  In almost every room there were decorations that really spoke to the season, and one of those was in the loggia which was themed with Father Christmas .

the Father Christmas room

My other favourite was the Music Room, which was set up with white trees and various instruments. with music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra playing in the background; this room was part of the main living room with its fireplace and sofas facing the other tree in the corner.

After the music room, one is directed up a small winding staircase to the bedroom area, and again, many beautiful decorations transform the landing and the children’s bedrooms into a wonderland.  Other bedrooms are decorated to various themes, and in one bedroom called  Lucy’s bedroom,themed A Child’s  Dream, it is absolutely chock-a-block with toys from the Disney films and parks.

the main staircase

the urn and poinsettias

Having made our way back down the main staircase, we exited through the front door into the gardens again, past the poinsettia displays along the path and back out into the chilly wind.

Offered a shuttle ride back to the main entrance, we declined and walked up to the top of the ridge to view Bok Tower itself.  Silhouetted against the pastel sun, and surrounded by the towering oaks and palms, and framed by the pool where the swans were chasing food thrown by the other visitors, it was extremely difficult to photograph.     There was one photo , however, that did show some of the detail around the top of the tower.   The carillon concerns take place on a regular basis, and according to each daily programme, there will be carillons during your visit.

From the top of the ridge and the stunning views we made pour way back to the car park and the welcome warmth of the car.    A mug of hot chocolate completed our trip today.

Bok Tower

You can find more details on www.boktowergardens.org;  tel 863 676 1408

Do make the opportunity to visit these gardens whenever you are in Central Florida;  they are an oasis of peace and tranquillity.

Traveling with dogs

If you own a dog, like me, you’re always looking for places to visit, to stay and to enjoy along with your pet.  Because  I too try to find suitable accommodation for our family and our pet, we find ourselves in the same predicament as many loving pet owners.  Where can we go, where can we stay, where can we eat outside and where can we take our dog for walks.??

That’s why we have great pleasure in being able to offer pet friendly vacation homes! The biggest advantage of staying in a home rather than an hotel is the sheer ease of settling in with your pet.  Dogs are far happier in a home than a hotel room – there is less unfamiliar noise, for one thing.  My dog has a habit of barking at unfamiliar noises, like other guests passing along the corridor outside our room.  She hates the sound of vacuum cleaners, so that’s another problem;  they’re always cleaning the hallways of hotels.  And in a vacation home, we can bring her own bed, blankets, and food bowls.  The outside is easier to access, so taking our pet for a walk is less stressful; most homes are in quiet developments with sidewalks, and open areas that we can walk to and from.

Florida has just been confirmed as having one of the top five dog friendly areas in the United States.  We are fortunate enough to have Fort De Soto beach on our doorstep.  It takes about 2 hours easy drive from Central Florida to reach the famous Fort de Soto doggy beach, where dogs and humans mingle happily on the sands and in the calm Gulf waters.

Jilly on Fort de Soto beach

There are two fenced dog runs for off leash play;  one for smaller dogs and one for the larger breeds, complete with water bowls and showers to wash the sand and salt off.  Shaded seating areas for owners are also provided.

With miles of sandy beach to run along, and soft and gentle waves, dogs of all ages and sizes have great fun .  Obviously all dogs must be kept under control, and sometimes if the larger dogs appear to be too boisterous we tend to walk further along the beach to provide ourselves and our little one some peace and quiet.

The end result of a trip to Fort De Soto is a happy and tired pet, with a grand vacation home to return to, with all the comforts of home.  Their own blanket, doggie bed and food bowls.  What more could a pet on vacation want?

This is our Jilly

We are the proud and loving owners of  a  Jack Russell terrier called Jilly.  She is affectionate and stubborn and totally frustrating when she is chasing squirrels or searching our garage for mice that may have some in out of the winter cold.  However, she is an important member of our family and spends her days with me in the office and her evenings  curled up on the sofa with us.

So for this very reason, we cannot possibly conceive of putting her in a kennel if we want to go away.  Therefore, for us to take a vacation means finding accommodation that will take our pet.

There are a  few pointers to safely and comfortably taking your pet on vacation with you.  Firstly make sure that the place where you want to stay is happy about your dog or cat.  Some accommodations have restrictions on weight or size, or even breed restrictions.

Most of us who intend to have our pet with us already know that our beloved dog or cat is house-trained and fully vaccinated, but the owner of the accommodation might need to be reassured on that count.  It’s also useful to check for local pet stores in the area where you are going so that you can get Fido’s special treats, or Kitty’s toy mice, should you happen to need them.   Here are a few pointers that may help to keep you and your pet safe and comfortable on your vacation.

Hey, we're coming too!

1. Firstly you should assess your pet’s traveling capabilities. Very old or very young pets can be affected greatly by the experience of a long trip. If your pet has any illness or injury make sure to be informed about his or her condition and whether it will complicate during travel by asking your vetinarian.
2. You should also talk with your vet about where you will be traveling, how and for how long. Be sure to ascertain about any ticks, fleas or heartworms that can harm your pet at any of the places that you plan to go. If your pet has any problems while traveling such as motion sickness ask your vet about treatments or medication he could prescribe.
3. Ask your vet if your pet has all the necessary up to date vaccinations and obtain a health and rabies certificate. This is especially important if you will be traveling by plane since airports require that you have the certificate issued no earlier than 10 days before you take off.
4. Make sure to buy the appropriate crate for your pet’s travels, this includes: sturdiness, plentiful ventilation, a door that securely locks, an interior free of affliction possibilities and above all plenty of space to move around. You should also get one that can be grabbed easily from the outside where the animal can’t harm.
5. Put tags on your pet that have all the current information such as owner’s name, a phone number, an address and proof of vaccination. As an extra security measure you might want to get your pet micro chipped which will make it very easy to find him or her in case you become separated.
6. Before you depart make sure to clip your pet’s nails so that he or will be easier to restrain as well as diminish the prospect of causing unwanted damage. If your pet has fleas or ticks make sure to apply the proper treatments so that he or she doesn’t infest their new environments.
7. For the worst case scenario in which you and your pet become separated you should come with a list of helpful information regarding him or her as well as a recent photograph. Among the information included you should have the breed, call name, age, coat type, color, characteristic markings and microchip number.
8. You should always have plenty of fresh water at your side. Don’t introduce food to your pet that is very different from what you ordinarily feed him to avoid any complications. If you can’t find your dog’s brand of food you should introduce him or her to a new type gradually and be attentive to any changes due to diet.
9. You should bring with you a strong leash, sheets for your dog to lay as to make sure he is not sitting on furniture or bedding, plenty of pet food that may not be available, lots of water, your pets food and water bowl and make sure to wash them regularly, and toys for them to play with for some stimulation.
10. You might also want to bring with you tweezers for removing unwanted creatures or objects, baby wipes to clean them off, waste removal bags, first aid kit (especially if you’re traveling somewhere remote), a flashlight for walks out in the dark, comfortable bedding, disinfectant spray may come in handy and also carpet cleaning items.

This list might at first glance seem like a lot of things to worry about, but traveling with children requires very similar needs to be filled.  OK, perhaps not the rabies certificate or the pet crate but…………….

One of the fun things to do with your dog are the walks together;  this is Jilly on Fort de Soto beach; she actually dislikes getting wet, so rather than running into the sea, she ran alongside the little ripples of breaking waves, barking madly.  Cleverly, I thought, I rolled up my trousers, and went into the sea to my knees, beckoning and calling for her to come in with me.  No chance!  so when I had had enough I turned to look out to sea.

There was  a huge splash, and the back of my trousers were soaked through.  Jilly had launched herself into the sea, well beyond her depth and now was panic stricken and swimming wildly towards me.  After that she reverted to running along the sand.  No way was she going to do that again.!

Fort De Soto is on the Gulf Coast of Florida and is an interesting place, not just because it has a full length dog beach, and a dog park.  The dog park is fully fenced, and has two sections, one for small dogs and the other side is for larger dogs whose boisterous play may scare some of the smaller or elderly dogs.

There is also an actual fort, a beach for humans to swim and sunbathe , a fishing pier, cycle hire, canoe hire and picnic areas, as well as walks through the woods .  The best time to visit Fort De Soto is early in the year;  as the weather warms up it can become rather crowded, and during the height of the summer it may even be too warm for you and your pet.

There are many dog friendly parks in the Central Florida area;  Orlando, Kissimmee, Winter Park, Wekiva Springs and other towns in the area, have Off-leash parks for pets and their owners.  As well as the dog parks, there are many outdoor restaurants and cafes where you can sit and eat or drink with your pet.  That’s the pleasure of having a  sunny and warm climate.   We always carry a bottle of water with us as it can get very warm when out walking.  Celebration in Florida is a great place to walk our dog;  there is a good long walk around the lake, there’s a Farmer’s Market to visit on Sundays, tables and chairs outside most of the restaurants and coffee shops, and lots of other people with the same idea, so socialised dogs  are very welcome.

Many of our smaller towns and cities welcome your pet and have specialised pet shops where you can buy  clothes, bakery goods, jewelled collars  and so on – all for your dog or cat.

Cannonball!!

As you can see, we enjoy our time with  Jilly, and we know how important that pleasure  is to other pet lovers, so if you decide to visit Central Florida call us – we have pet friendly vacation rental homes waiting to give you and your family pet  a vacation that’s not to be sniffed at !