Easter - a little late but still worth a visit

Easter festivities at Florida Grande were ably documented by Sandy Gallup and, although there were only twenty or so coaches on site, there was a high turnout for the traditional dinner.
For a display of more magnificent millinery click here.

I found my thrill...

On Blueberry Hill... 

For all those folks who have left the resort for the summer here is a reminder that life goes on without us. A bevy of beauties snuck out to a local farm where, like kids in a candy store, they spent a happy morning satisfying their gathering urges. This report just in from Special Correspondent Marty Whitney.

"Boundless Blueberries" 

Dateline Center Hill, FL. May 4, 2011. "Greetings from "hot as blazes" Webster and FGMCR! 

About 10 or more of us went out to the Center Hill Berry Patch this morning. I'm sure Sandy will be writing you about it in a newsletter ...but it was lovely. Each of us made very little effort to fill our pails with about 6 lbs. of the most gorgeous varieties of blueberries - and now we are faced with the task of putting them in our freezers and baking such goodies as blueberry buckle, blueberry muffins, blueberry cobblers, and the list goes on! I've even got a recipe for blueberry balsamic vinegar (sounds yummy, doesn't it?) Acres of blueberries, blackberries and homegrown beefsteak tomatoes - blackberries and tomatoes will be ready in June and most of us will probably have left by then.

Things have slowed to a snail's pace around here but we love it that way. I really labored over what color flip flops I would wear today. Decisions! You can't imagine what the local merchants start offering when the snowbirds depart. Oakwood Grill has a special you wouldn't believe! No, it isn't healthy, but with Mother's Day, we have to celebrate something.

Yes, we are going to celebrate Mother's Day at FGMCR! Think a brunch that includes eggs Benedict, homemade hollandaise sauce, Canadian bacon, something blueberry, of course, and maybe mimosa's. Y.....ee.eeesss.! Sandy is in the planning stages right now, but there are hardly any of us around to attend.

We've all seen more wildlife appear since everyone has left. Wild rabbits, owls, cougars, and I can't remember what else. There are STILL shore birds, so that's good news. There are still ducks, so that's good news as well. Frogs smaller than your little finger are hopping all over the place and we're hoping all these things just fall in order and they eat each other so we don't have to worry about them too much.
The landscaping is still beautiful, thanks to the Ausley's. We've all enjoyed seeing everything take over and now there are plenty of birds enjoying just about every tree that was planted. The yards are still beautiful and they are working to keep everything weeded and watered.

Marty Whitney - Lot 7"

A true professional, Marty had her camera crew along with her (Sandy G.) who documented the day's activities. Check here for more exciting scenes from this adventure.