Officials also plan to to nearly double – from 8 to 15 – the number of daily performances of the Jedi Training Academy -  the interactive children’s show staged next to Star Tours.

Hollywood Studios hours have also been extended on the planned opening – May 29th - the day that the new simulator tide is scheduled to debut.    The park will open at 8.00 a.m. instead of 9.00 a.m. and the park’s closing hours will go back from 9.00 p.m. to midnight.

One of the  reasons the park’s management were reluctant to change the Star Tours ride was that Hollywood Studios has fewer rides than most,  ( it has more shows) .  The main reason they finally decided to go ahead with the re-design of the Star Tours was due to the success of the highly popular ride Toy Story Mania! which proved to be so popular that they needed another big ride elsewhere in the park to even out the flow of the crowds.

Polk County’s Marketing group are getting excited about the soon- to- be- opening of the brand new Legoland Florida park at Cypress Gardens. Specifically designed to provide   interactive experiences for children between the ages of 2 and 12 years old, the park will be appealing to families, from toddlers to grandparents .

A new member of the Central Florida Visitors and Convention Bureau is Julie Casey of My Kid’s Plate fame, who will assisting businesses near the Legoland park how to prepare for the onslaught of the pint sized visitors.

Busch Gardens has had two new additions to its collection of animals this spring – a baby cheetah was born and having been abandoned by its mother, had to be hand reared, so to keep the baby company, a labrador puppy was brought in to be its playmate.  The public was asked to choose names for the pair, and photos of the little ones can be found on the Busch Gardens website.  The brand new Cheetah ride will open on May 29th and this will make the seventh Coaster ride at Busch.

Disney is moving right along with its building of the new FantasyLand at the Magic Kingdom.  Scheduled to open in 2012, the Beast’s  Castle ( from Beauty and the Beast) will tower over the rest of Fantasy land.

An artist rendition of the entrance to FantasyLand.

Polk Outpost27 recently hosted a group of local artists giving demonstrations of their painting prowess.  Visitors to Outpost 27 were invited to try it for themselves, and children were particularly involved with some of the works of art on display.

The local Kiwanis Club of Davenport Four Corners will be holding their Annual Charity Golf Tournament on Saturday 14th May;  come along and support the event.  It’s being held at Hunters Creek Golf Club in Orlando, and starts at 1.30  that afternoon.  At 6.00 p.m. there will be a Helicopter Ball drop and the ball closest to the pin will win first prize.   All proceeds from the event will go to help the children of the area.

Mothers’ Day will soon be here, so take the opportunity, if you can, to celebrate Mothers all over the world.

We shall be watching with the rest of the world the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton on the 29th of this month. Let’s wish them a wonderful day and a happy life together.

On April 10th , 1912,  Titanic, the largest ship afloat, left Southampton harbor on her maiden voyage to New York

City.  A legend even before she sailed, the White Star shipping line had spared no expense in making her the most luxurious liner ever.  Her passengers were a mix of the world’s wealthiest basking in the elegance of first class accommodations and immigrants packed into steerage .

Four days into the voyage, the Titanic hit an iceberg at 11.40 p.m. on the night of April 14th.  The collision was fatal  and freezing water poured into the ship.

Because the great liner had been touted as the safest ship afloat, and “unsinkable” , only 20 lifeboats were carried – enough to provide safety for only half her 2200 passengers and crew.

It was obvious that many would not be able to board a lifeboat . Each passenger was issued a life jacket, but life expectancy would be very short in the icy conditions.

Passengers scrambled to save themselves as the great ship sank slowly beneath the freezing waters.

The next morning the liner Carpathian rescued just 705 survivors.  One thousand, five hundred twenty passengers and crew were lost. On the 12th April 1912 the Titanic was crossing the Atlantic on her way to New York on her maiden voyage. All seemed to be going well on the voyage. A group of eight people gathered in the first class smoking room to discuss the meaning of life.

One of the group was William T Stead , the English journalist and Spiritualist. As the evening progressed Stead began to tell a ghost story which would open the flood gates to legends and myths surrounding the Titanic and her sinking for decades to follow.

He boasted that he was not superstitious as he pointed out that his story began before midnight on the 12th April and ended shortly after midnight.

The story concerned the finding of an Egyptian Mummy and the translation of the inscription on the Mummy’s case. The inscription warned that whoever should verbally recite the inscription would meet a very violent death.

The seven other members listened with sinister curiosity. Could Stead have been serious? Was there such a curse? Where was the Mummy – surely not onboard the ship they were travelling on?

Seven men out of the eight went down with the ship, including Stead himself although he had already had a premonition about his death some time before. The only survivor from the group was Fred Seward , who later when asked about the Mummy story told them that he would never dare retell it.

Over the years there have been many different accounts of the Mummy’s curse but after careful research the answer seems quite clear.

Before I can conclude it is important to retell the Mummy’s curse as frequently told from various sources.

The Mummy’s Curse

The Princess of Amen-Ra lived some 1,500 years before Christ. When she died, she was laid in an ornate wooden coffin and buried deep in a vault at Luxor, on the banks of the River Nile.

In the late 1890s, four rich young Englishmen visiting the excavations at Luxor were invited to buy an exquisitely fashioned Mummy case containing the remains of Princess of Amen-Ra.

They drew lots. The man who won paid several thousand pounds and had the coffin taken to his hotel. A few hours later, he was seen walking out towards the desert. He never returned.

The next day, one of the remaining 3 men was shot by an Egyptian servant accidentally. His arm was so severely wounded it had to be amputated.

The third man in the foursome found on his return home that the bank holding his entire savings had failed. The fourth suffered a severe illness, lost his job and was reduced to selling matches in the street.

Nevertheless, the coffin eventually reached England (causing other misfortunes along the way), where a London businessman bought it.

After three of his family members had been injured in a road accident and his house damaged by fire, the businessman donated it to the British Museum.

As the coffin was being unloaded from a truck in the museum courtyard, the truck suddenly went into reverse and trapped a passer-by. Then as 2 workmen were lifting the casket up the stairs, 1 fell and broke his leg. The other, apparently in perfect health, died unaccountably two days later.

Once the Princess was installed in the Egyptian Room, trouble really started. The Museum’s night watchmen frequently heard frantic hammering and sobbing from the coffin. Other exhibits in the room were also often hurled about at night. One watchman died on duty. Other watchmen wanting to quit. Cleaners refused to go near the Princess too. When a visitor derisively flicked a dust cloth at the face painted on the coffin, his child died of measles soon afterwards.

Finally, the authorities had the Mummy carried down to the basement figuring it could not do any harm down there. Within a week, one of the helpers was seriously ill, and the supervisor of the move was found dead on his desk.

By now, the papers had heard of it. A journalist photographer took a picture of the Mummy case and when he developed it, the painting on the coffin was of a horrifying, human face. The photographer was said to have gone home then, locked his bedroom door and shot himself.

Soon afterwards, the museum sold the Mummy to a private collector. After continual misfortune (and deaths), the owner banished it to the attic.

A well-known authority on the occult, Madame Helena Blavatsky , visited the premises. Upon entry, she was sized with a shivering fit and searched the house for the source of an evil influence of incredible intensity; She finally came to the attic and found the Mummy case.

Can you exorcise this evil spirit? Asked the owner. There is no such thing as exorcism. Evil remains evil forever. Nothing can be done about it. I implore you to get rid of this evil as soon as possible.

But no British museum would take the Mummy; the fact that almost 20 people had met with misfortune, disaster or death from handling the casket, in barely 10 years, was now well known.

Eventually, a hard headed American archaeologist (who dismissed the happenings as quirks of circumstance), paid a handsome price for the Mummy and arranged for its removal to New York. In Apr 1912, the new owner escorted its treasure aboard a sparkling, new White Star liner about to make its maiden voyage to New York.

On the night of April 14, amid scenes of unprecedented horror, the Princess of Amen-Ra accompanied 1,500 passengers to their deaths at the bottom of the Atlantic. The name of the ship was of course, the R.M.S. TITANIC .”

Some accounts of the story go on to say that the American collector bribed the crew of the Titanic to put the Mummy in a lifeboat and was smuggled onboard the Carpathia when she picked up the Titanic survivors and landed safely in New York.

In America the Mummy continued to bring tragedy to those that handled the coffin and so it was shipped back to Europe on the Empress of Ireland which then sank with the loss of 840 passengers on the 29th May 1912.

Somehow, the Mummy was saved again. The collector decided to ship the coffin back to Egypt on a third ship, the Lusitania. The ship was torpedoed by a German submarine. What happened after that is not known.

FACT OR FICTION

Was the Mummy of the Princess of Amen-Ra onboard the Titanic and did she sink her?

In short NO to both questions.

The whole story is nothing but an elaborate ghost story created by two over-imaginative minds of William Stead and Douglas Murray .

They actually made up two distinct stories. The first concerned an acquaintance of theirs who acquired an Egyptian Mummy and displayed it in his drawing room. But the morning after setting it up all breakable items in the room were smashed up. Each time the Mummy was moved all pieces of breakables were broken.

The second story followed a visit to the British Museum. They saw the coffin lid of the Priestess of Amen-Ra and imagined a coffin whose picture on the front was one of sheer terror and anguish in the face depicted on it. The coffin’s original occupant was a tormented soul and her evil spirit was loose in the world to bring misery to those who got in her way.

Stead and Murray sold their story to the press who were not bothered about publishing the truth.

]]> http://premiervacationhomesorlando.com/the-curse-of-the-titanic.html/feed 0 http://premiervacationhomesorlando.com/golf-day-at-bayhill.html http://premiervacationhomesorlando.com/golf-day-at-bayhill.html#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 14:16:35 +0000 MarilynP http://premiervacationhomesorlando.com/?p=365 We had the great good fortune to be able to go to the Arnold Palmer Invitational Golf at Bayhill last week, and it was a great experience.  I can fully recommend it.   Being relatively local meant that we were able to drive and thanks to some very helpful friends, we could actually park in Bayhill itself.

Walking from their home to the main concourse, and seeing the crowds gathering around the practice putting green to watch some putting and then we wandered over to the practice range to watch Ian Poulter and a couple of other golfers ( names escape me), setting up their tee shots.   Two things occurred to me at that moment – one, what a poor golfer I am, and two, these guys are a lot more slender than they look on TV.

The concentration is intense, and it needs to be , with the throng of people moving around behind and alongside the course, and even with the marshals requesting stillness and silence, the hum and buzz of ongoing conversations  is palpable.

Cameras and cell phones are not allowed except on the first day of the tournament, but I did manage to sneak a couple of photos when the stewards weren’t looking.   This view was of the scoreboard as Phil Mickelson was teeing off.

Following the major players , of course, were large crowds of supporters who alternately groaned when their heroes missed a shot -  or cheered , whistled and clapped when they sank a putt, or made a particularly long drive.

Coming from the UK as we do, I found the whole event very reminiscent of the Badminton Horse Trials; beautiful weather, being out in the country( even in Orlando), shopping ( lots of golf equipment and clothing to shop for) and happy crowds walking the course and enjoying themselves.

Colin and I had a couple of jokey photos taken………….      oh, the wonders of Photoshop – take a look …….

me with friends!

We did meet with Mr Arnold Palmer as we were walking out of the event, and we bumped into Bubba Watson ; however, security was very strict around them, and I didn’t have a chance to pull my camera out, so these pictures are the best we can do!

If you are in this area next year, this is definitely an experience not to be missed. Take a sun hat, sunglasses, sun cream, money and wear comfortable clothes and shoes.  There’s a lot of walking if you like following your favourites, and when the sun shines, there’s not a lot of shade.  The players are to be congratulated for keeping their cool in what was close to record heat throughout the tournament.

Although the  150 acre park is still a construction area, it is easier to see where some of the various displays will  be, and we are told that the infrastructure has almost been finished and that the rides were being put in, buildings were being redesigned and they were beginning to really get a feel for the resort.

The 150-acre resort will feature attractions designed primarily for children aged 2 to 12, with mild roller coasters, car and boat attractions, Lego-building areas, a ski stunt show and small-scale versions of cities made of Lego blocks. Even though much of what we saw was mostly dirt and concrete, much of the Miniland USA will be in place ,as will many of the rides, by July of this year.

Miniland USA will be complete with the state of Florida in miniature as well as mini cities of Las Vegas, Washington, D.C., and New York City. Miniland USA will also feature Florida landmarks, including the Daytona International Speedway and Kennedy Space Center.

The park is located in Winter Haven and is approximately a 30 minute drive from most of Premier Home Management’s vacation homes.    Legoland will be a very child friendly park, aiming at children between the ages of 2 and 12, and will have gentler rides for the little ones to enjoy. Currently they are offering a discounted annual pass for $99 and that ticket will be good from when the park opens and through the end of 2012 but purchases have to be made by April 30 at Legoland.com.

Adrian Jones, General Manager, with the map of Legoland

Sales have been going so well that the the annual-pass price will go up to $159 for adults and $129 for children ages 3-12 after that date so you need to act quickly.

There are several very good reasons for that;  one , I live here, so I know how many things there are to do and see.  Two , our weather ,which  is really not that bad.  Sure, we have cold weather during the winter months, but is is definitely not as bad as many of the other states or countries.  Yes, it can get hot and humid throughout the summer season, but we have air conditioned homes and air conditioned vehicles.  We also have golf courses, fishing, bird watching, bike trails, horseback riding, zip lines, eco tours, air musems, all sorts of sports – the list goes on and on.   We have wonderful vacation homes, and knowledgeable staff to help our guests enjoy their vacations.

This blog has come about because of my recent experience on our own vacation.  We paid for a suite ( 360 sq.ft instead of 290 sq.ft)  on a well known cruise ship so that we would have a good size cabin, and some extra special treats like fresh fruit in the cabin.

The service that we received could not be faulted, our waiters, bar staff and cabin staff were excellent – friendly, efficient and professional.  However, it was obvious that the cruise line were doing what so many businesses are doing nowadays – that is, cutting some of the costs by reducing the size or value of the goods that are provided.  In this case, the food was not so good, and the entertainment was somewhat lower standard than we had been accustomed to.  Prices were high, and excursions were more expensive for a shorter tour, or for a less labour / product intensive trip.

And that brings me to the point of this particular story;  which I was reminded of when I tried to buy a bottle of household washing up liquid.  Without many of us being aware of it, the sizes of many of our regular purchases have been reduced, and it would seem that manufacturers, like our cruise line, are reducing the sizes of product because they don’t want to put the prices up.  Check this for yourself; when you next go to your local grocery store;  look at the size of the product , then look at the price.  The product size will have shrunk, but the price will remain the same or slightly higher.  Now, I know that everyone is in business to make a profit, and if that is the way that manufacturers see as being their way forward, so be it.

My bank seems to have embraced this lower standard – they change staff so frequently that they are mostly only half-trained.  And those staff do not seem too happy in their jobs;  are they there only because they have to be, and are they also affected by this sense of loss of pride in work well done.

But I personally would rather pay a little more for good value than pay a lesser amount for a lower standard of product -  care -  call it what you will.  And Why?  because I want to have a good experience, not a mediocre one, and it seems to me that we are expected to put up with mediocrity, poor service, lower standards.  Why has mediocrity became the new way of life?   Yes, many people are struggling to juggle their lives and their money to ensure that they have food on the table, and there are stores and places for them, but what of the others.  The people like myself who have worked hard all year, who have saved hard for a once a year experience, who want to go away and relax – are we expected to put up with lower standards.

Irrespective of your earning power, surely we all work for a sense of pride and satisfaction in doing our jobs well; in making sure that the people we deal with in our day- to- day lives are treated with respect, and that we show our job satisfaction by providing excellent service to those with whom we work.

Can we go forward to better days when service does not come with a frown or  a scowl, and is instead proffered with a  smiling face and happy attitude

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.

Just when you thought being on vacation here  couldn’t get any better, Winter Fun has arrived in Central Florida.

From the new ICE! exhibition at Gaylord Palms Resort to SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration, there is something for everyone.

There are some changes to ICE! this year, and in addition to the ICE! exhibition, smaller children can have fun in the SNOW! display

This year, forty tons of real snow will fill an all-new SNOW! A North Pole Carnival attraction, where everyone can have a personal snow day — making snowmen and snow sculptures, taking aim at a snowball target range and build igloos.

ICE! is housed in what is laughingly known as the Florida Fridge; where the temperature is kept at 9 degrees, so warm clothing and closed shoes are a must.  Parkas are provided for visitors

This year’s exhibition is based on the Christmas poem”Twas the Night Before Christmas” and verses from the carol are the basis for each part of the displays.  So the visitor will be greeted with family style Christmas scenes

Not a single ice-carved Christmas trapping will be missed as visitors arrive in the Grand Hall, walk up an ice stairway to the second floor and then take a slippery slide down one of four two-story ice slides.

In its eighth year, “ICE!” will feature the return of its signature scene, a life-size Nativity carved completely of crystal-clear ice. It is undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking depictions of the birth of Christ and along with its stirring narrative track gives guests a moment to pause for reflection on the story behind the season.

A warming cup of Cocoa will be very welcome after freezing your “noses and toeses”!

SeaWorld’s Christmas Celebration offers the visitor many different things to see and do; certainly  not quite such cold experiences as ICE!

SeaWorld’s season offers Shamu’s Christmas – Miracles,  killer whales and seasonal music to thrill everyone’s hearts;  Winter Wonderland on Ice, a sparkling ice skating show of ice, jewels and light ; Festive Holiday Dining, and of course the Famous Polar Express.

A little further afield, Bok Tower Gardens holds its Annual Christmas At Pinewood Holiday Home tour where you can capture the holiday spirit by seeing how this mansion is transformed into a glittering holiday showcase of “Christmas Memories”.

Every year the decorations are different and it’s amazing what can be seen here in this 1930′s winter retreat.  If this tour doesn’t get you in mood for decorating your Christmas tree, nothing will!

Haines City holds its Glitter, Glisten and Snow Holiday Festival on Saturday 3rd December;  this is held in Lake Eva park, and is a snowfall event for the kids as well as the grown ups.   Strolling carol singers, Arts and Crafts and Santa are there to entertain the families.

December 4th brings “Carols in the Park” in the centre of Winter Haven; this event is in its 23rd year, and is popular with residents and visitors alike.

Celebration holds its nightly SnowFall each evening , and the “ice-rink” is open in the centre of Market Street.

Many of the smaller cities and towns have their own festival celebrations, and one of the interesting things to look out for are the different Christmas street lights;  each town has its own “brand”; so , for instance, Haines City at Christmas is known as the City of Angels – all the Christmas street lights are of angels.  Winter Haven is the City of Poinsettias – their Christmas decorated lights are in the shape and colours of Poinsettias.  Lake Wales, Lake Alfred and Auburndale each have their own distinctive style. Take a trip around some of these cities and make a guess as to what their Christmas decorations mean.

And don’t forget that from now on, a drive through some of our streets will give you sights and scenes of the private homes that are decorated for the holiday season.   It’s quite fantastic to see all the lights around the gardens and the houses.

Drive out of Haines City towards Lake Alfred – why would anyone take the road for Lake Alfred, I hear you ask.    Well it’s the easy way to Auburndale, where there’s a huge weekend Flea Market for one thing;  it’s also the back road to Lakeland if you don’t fancy the road trip along the Interstate.   What I like about this route are  the views across the lakes  on the way , and the fact that I can drive  on peaceful and quiet roads  enjoying the views, and relaxing in knowing  that there’s no-one behind me pushing me to faster and faster speeds.   The Interstates are great for getting somewhere fast, but you’re on vacation; who needs it??

Just two miles or so outside Haines City on the Lake Alfred Road you’ll come across a small white building with a sign outside saying Lang Sun Country Groves. Just pull in there – plenty of car parking spaces, and if the road spaces are full, pull up into the grassy area at the side of the building.  You might see a few folks sitting on the shady veranda sipping coffee or iced tea.

This could  give you a clue that Lang’s is not just a Citrus grower.  

Take a walk inside the gift shop and you’ll be amazed; everything from soft toys to citrus wines!   There’s citrus honey from the bee hives used in the groves; there’s fresh orange juice; there are cuddly toys, souvenir teaspoons, candies, and all sorts of goodies to take your fancy.  What’s more, there’s a cafe; and this is well worth the visit.

On my way to the order counter I passed two ladies who were eating  an orange and vanilla soft scoop icecream each;  the look of pure pleasure on their faces made me stop and ask if they were enjoying it  “Oh, Yes” , came the answer, “you should try it.”    Not for me this time;  I was after the Ruby Grapefruit Pie that Lang’s Taste of Florida is famous for.   However, I could have had all sorts of delicious dishes; from freshly made salads to  Croissants filled with a variety of fish or meats, to Soups and Wraps , and of course, Desserts!

So the Red Grapefruit Pie for me this time……………. and since I was on my way elsewhere, I took it away with me.  The tables are covered in blue gingham cloths, with handpainted chairs ready for the seated diners, or guests can have their lunch or snack out on the veranda, either to take a shady seat or to enjoy the autumn sun.

The Grapefruit Pie has been mentioned on TV and in several Food Critic’s writings, and is well worth a visit just for that.  However, there’s a fascinating history to this pie and to the Taste  of Florida anyway.

I spoke to the current owner, Debbie Lang Brozio , who told me that her Grandmother had developed the recipe for the Grapefruit Pie, and it was Mary Lang, her grandmother ( 1913 – 2008) who had originally shipped the first box of fresh citrus 57 years ago to a customer who had received a hand written postcard from Mary.

Mary Lang’s speciality was cooking with citrus, and I have been fortunate enough to have copies of some of her recipes.  Before I get into the recipes though, I want to remind you that not only is the Taste of Florida somewhere to have a delicious lunch, it is also a great place to choose boxes of citrus fruit to send to your friends.

Incidentally, no, I didn’t share my Pie   it was absolutely yummy and definitely all mine!!

One important point, though,  about this well kept secret;  you’ll only find it open during the fruit season; so from 1st October to May will be the only months when you can sample some of Mary Lang’s own recipes, and find a special gift that shows you have visited the Real Florida.

Here’s one of the recipes from Mary Lang’s own recipe book, along with the story from Debbie.

“Growing up in the Lang house, we spent many happy hours in the kitchen.  The family would meet every Sunday and this was an event you didn’t dare miss, nor did you want to.  Grandma Mary was an amazing cook and working from her recipes written on scraps of paper usually scattered about she would spend half the day cooking.  Spending time together with her in that kitchen are my fondest memories of her.  Today at my house we all gather in the kitchen , everybody gets involved and we have fun.”

Fuzzy Navel Pie

1   6oz graham cracker pie crust

1.5 tablespoons melted butter

1.5 cups Lang’s Navel orange sections ( approx 4 or 5 medium oranges

4 oz Cream cheese, softened

half cup sugar, plus 1.5 tablespoons sugar, spearate

2.5 tablespoons corn starch

half cup plus 2 tablespoons water

half cup plus 2 tablespoons orange juice

1 (3 oz) package peach flavoured gelatin

whipped cream

If using a purchased pie crust , pre heat oven to 300 degrees.  Brush purchased crust with melted butter and bake for 10 minutes.  leave to cool.

Beat cream cheese  and 1.5 tablespoons sugar together until creamy.  Set aside.

In a saucepan, combine remaining half cup of sugar and cornstarch.  Add water and cook over medium heat till thick and clear. Remove from heat and add orange juice and gelatin.  Stir until gelatin is completely dissolved. Set aside.

Add half cup gelatin mixture to cream cheese mixture, beating until completely incorporated. Refrigerate for 15 minutes or unitl mixture starts to thicken.  Spoon cream cheese mixutre into prepared pie crust.  Refrigerate for 15 minutes or until it sets.

Arrange orange segments in patter on top of the cream cheese layer. Gently pour remaining gelatin mix over the oranges, and refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours or until  set.  Top with whipped cream

Enjoy; and make yours a  favourite for family Sunday .

Quite apart from the main attractions like the various theme parks, and all their new shows and specialities, there are many other smaller events going on around us.  This weekend is Halloween, a big weekend event for the area, and if you look out for places to go, there are many localities offering Haunted Hay Rides,  Halloween Costume events, parties and many other Haunted Happenings.  Lakeland has several events going on, from Halloween Thriller Monster Mash  to a Trick or Treating children’s event at Lakeland Mall.   there’s a Harvest Hoedown in Dundee today;  many of these events are free or for a nominal ticket fee.

Celebration will be holding it’s  Halloween event today, with parking  available outside the main area, and free buses to take you into the centre.  Get there early to grab your place.  Costumes welcomed.

Fall Festivals also take place in a lot of the smaller towns this weekend,   Lake Wales will b e holding its Annual Pioneer Days this weekend;  if you are interested in seeing how the early settlers and native Indians lived in the region, this a most interesting living exhibition.  Cooking over open fires, making weapons for hunting, dressing in period costume, and an exhibition of Native Indian dances performed by local Indians provide an insight into how the area was settled and farmed.

There are Fall Art festivals going on;  an investigation into Paranormal activity being held at Fantasy of Flight; Water Wings and Wild Things Polk Naturefest at Circle B Bar reserve – whatever holds your interest, you will be able to find something to do this weekend, and at the end of the day, you’ll wish you had more time to see it all and do it all.

Enjoy this wonderful weather and take time to enjoy all that Central Florida can offer.

Outdoor sports are pleasurable, whether you’re a golfer, fisherman, hiker, horse rider, cyclist or motorbike enthusiast.   And, it’s still warm enough for sunbathing and swimming.   Local farmers’ markets are full of fresh autumnal produce;  craft shows abound in local towns and city parks.

It’s also Orlando’s Magical Dining Month, and Polk County’s Culinary Celebration;   this is the opportunity to find out which of the better restaurants you enjoy eating at.  All the featured restaurants offer special pricing for this month and you can enjoy unique dining experiences at affordable prices.

As the cool weather increases and the daylight fades, here are a few ways to warm up your home.

Use the change in the seasons to move photos and artwork around in your rooms.

Brighten up a room with colourful throws and cushions;  change a lampshade or two into warmer colours.  Match or contrast your existing colour range with items that make the room “pop’ visually.

Make use of white;  fresh white paint on woodwork;  a vase of white flowers; a white bowl filled with red or green fruit; white bedding – white makes everything look crisp and clean.

Chnge your lightbulbs; regular lightbulbs have a yellowish tinge to them which can make your  rooms look dull and dreary; change them for halogen bulbs that are designed to emit a pure, white light.

Hang mirrors on walls opposite windows;  they will reflect light back into a room, making it look larger and brighter.  The larger the mirror the more light will bounce back.

Battery operated “candles” that give a cozy glow to a room, without the risk of fire from being knocked over by energetic kids or pets

Halloween is almost here with all its thrills and scares for adults and children alike, depending on their likes and dislikes.  For those who really enjoy being scared half to death, Universal’s Halloween Horror nights is the place to go, while for the little ones, Mickey’s Not So Scary Party is more suitable.

Enjoy this season, when  our Florida woodlands show some changes in leaf colour; when the wild turkeys flock onto the golf courses, and when many of our gardens develop swathes of colour from plants that enjoy the slightly cooler and less humid air.