Saturday, March 26, 2011

Florida pictures

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Its "Snowbird Season" in Florida!
We gladly joined the flock & spent 6 wonderful weeks
in the warm sunshine.

I'd like to share some photos of our vacation with you.


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Just look at that sky!
So different from the cold, grey of Ohio's winter.


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This is where we spent MOST of our time,
outside on the lanai, relaxing by the pool & hot tub.
It felt so good to just bask in the sun!


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We stayed in this lovely home,
which belonged to friends of ours
that have, sadly, passed away.
Their children graciously allow us to use it each year.



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I'll take you on a little tour of the main parts of the home,
saving the bedrooms for another day.



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The is the living room you enter into from the front door.
She loved anything Oriental & her home is
filled with beautiful objects from all over the world.

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This china cabinet is just full of Meisen porcelain, Llradros & Imari pieces.

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Check out the leopard chair....don't you just it?!






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This darling little 3 tiered shelf held a collection
of beautiful teacups.
I was afraid to even touch them,
for fear of breaking one.



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This is the family room & adjacent kitchen,
where most of our time was
spent, when we were indoors.



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Lots of vibrant, strong colors...so different from my home
with its cream & beige & pale blues.


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The huge Oriental chest, below
is FULL of Waterford crystal,
candlesticks & vases.


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This little seating area off the kitchen was ideal
for breakfast & lunch.
The wrap around bench on one side
will accommodate several people.


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We had good friends join us for supper
shortly after arriving.
I used a tall apothecary jar, full of seashells
as my centerpiece, in lieu of flowers.


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The everyday china is Franciscan Desert Rose pattern.
I loved the big PINK flower salad plates!!


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She has a wonderful assortment of all the pieces.
Look at that darling coffee & tea set below.

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These are just one of her MANY sets of dishes.
(I think I counted 6, total)
She was a true dishaholic!

I'll show you more in my next post,
as well as some shots of the bedrooms.
Now, lets sit down & eat!

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I'm joining The Tablescaper for her weekly meme,





I hope you'll visit her & all the other participants to see some lovely seasonal displays.

Thanks for stopping by The Gazebo House.
Our doors are always open for you,
no matter where we are!

fondly,
Photobucket


EDIT: After publishing this post, I learned that Sunday, March 27th is Shell May's (The Raspberry Rabbits) birthday & Donna (Brynwood Needleworks) & Jillayne of A Fine Seam are hosting a virtual cyber birthday party for her! What nice bloggy friends!

All they ask is that you include a bunny rabbit somewhere in your post, link up to the party & then go wish Shell May a very "Happy Birthday" on her fun blog, The Raspberry Rabbits.



Here is my bunny picture for her!





28 comments:

  1. Rett,

    How lovely. Your friends had lovely taste and I love all their colors!

    I am still trying to find time to sew = too busy on the computer stuff.

    Looking forward to the rest of the pictures.

    Carol

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  2. Lucky you! We were trying to book a family trip for this summer to Alabama, Florida cost. We waited most houses we looked at were already booked. Lovely place.

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  3. I'll take the pool area...you can have the rest. LOL No wonder Ernie is so much better. Just looking at that sunshine with no snow makes my heart sing and you both were living there. Lucky, lucky!

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  4. Hi Rett:
    What a beautiful home they have...and how generous of their children to have you fill their home with love and laughter again.

    The Franciscan pattern is one of my favorites. I have tea cup sets of this (I've used them for my Alice in Wonderland Dormous pincushions), but would love a set that I could use!

    Sorry you're too far away for us to continue our weekly lunches, but look forward to our visits again next year.

    Love always,
    Donna

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  5. Such a beautiful home, and how very thoughtful of the children allowing you to continue visiting. That just makes me smile!
    Hope the warm sun is soon shining in Ohio!

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  6. That's a heavenly spot for a holiday. Warm outside and cosy inside - just beautiful.

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  7. What a beautiful home, so nice that you get to enjoy it:@)

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  8. Fantastic place. Great photos.

    Darryl and Ruth : )

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  9. Rett, I'm so glad you showed their home. I think their home is lovely and I'm glad you had the chance to get away and enjoy the sunshine. Beautiful table - I too like Desert Rose. My m-i-l had Franciscan Apple. Have a wonderful weekend!
    Blessings, Beth

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  10. I want to be a snow bird when I grow up. I don't know how many more Ohio winters I can handle.

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  11. Hi Rett,
    Your friends have a perfect home for a "snow bird" to fly to! How nice that their children share it with you. I think I would spend all of my time poolside too!
    Your tablescape is so pretty ~ you can set a great table any where you are. How fun!
    I hope your skies are starting to turn blue in Ohio. I know this has been a brutal winter for you northerners. {My sister lives in MN and they just got more SNOW}
    Happy Spring.
    Sue

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  12. You are one blessed snowbird! I loved looking at the house with all it's treasures, especially since I'm a lover of dishes.

    My favorite room was the eating area off the kitchen.

    I would love that lanai too!!

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  13. Rett, what a lovely home for you to enjoy while in Florida. Love all the blue and white. I've recently pulled out my blue and white collection and have it in the living room. I wanted something fresh for spring. Still tweaking things a bit.
    Hope you are enjoying a nice weekend. ~ Sarah

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  14. what a nice post, so many pretty things, specially the bunny!

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  15. Hi Rett,
    How wonderful for your friends to share their house with you and what a beautiful house it is. My MIL has that same china, the original, that you used on your lovely table. Thanks for you kind comments on my blog. I'm going back now to look at the rest of you blog. Dianne

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  16. Hi Rett~ We just returned from a week trip to Florida enjoying the sunshine! How nice you still have a place to enjoy when you visit!

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  17. how delightful that you spent time in Florida away from Ohio...so nice to stay warm. wonderful that your friends children share their parents home in this way. she had such lovely things.

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  18. Lovely pictures of your home!
    The porcelain rabbit is so pretty - love the eye details!

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  19. How lucky that you got to stay at such a wonderful home!

    It's wonderful to have you be a part of Seasonal Sundays!

    - The Tablescaper

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  20. thank you for stopping by my blog and the great tip on the external hard drive. I will have to start shopping for one, sounds like the ticket! Love your winter digs. How lucky to be where it's warm. Snowing again here, I wonder if spring will ever arrive?

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  21. What a beautiful place! Oh wow!
    Thanks so much for the bunny photo and birthday wishes!
    xx, shell

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  22. Rett, I enjoyed my tour of your lovely vacation home.Your friends a wonderful taste and so many pretties. I would have loved the sunshine just to set where it was warm. I am enjoying the pictures and looking forward to seeing more. A Missouri Friend.

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  23. This has to be the perfect vacation home...beautiful Florida home AND six sets of dishes! Thanks for sharing your lovely design. Cherry Kay

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  24. HI RETT!!!!!
    SO glad you are back home and blogging!!
    I MISSED you SOOOO MUCH!
    Actually I was quite worried about you!!
    The home you called home for 6 weeks is fabulous!!
    NEXT year, I will have to plan on being in Orlando during that time and we could spend a day at a disney park!!!!
    The home is fabulous, what a home filled with treasures!!!
    I will catch up on more of your posts later.
    many hugs,
    jamie

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  25. I saw your comment on another blog and it hit me how long it has been since I "talked" with you. I don't know how that happened. I so hope to be a snowbird one of these days. My dream is a home in Florida and maybe spend the summer months in a cottage on lake Michigan. Of course, that is just my dream...who knows how it will turn out.

    It looks as if your friend had many unique and special treasures.

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  26. Hi Rett!

    What a terrific treat. So many beautiful pieces in the home. I especially love the china cabinet. Sorry to hear about your friends. It is wonderful of their children to invite you to continue visiting and staying there. Love the dishes. Thank you so much for sharing.

    xoxo
    Julio

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  27. Rett, what a wonderful home to get to use in the winter. I know you enjoyed every minute of it.

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  28. Hi Rett! Oh, did you say 6 weeks of vacation? Wow! That must have been wonderful and what a gorgeous home you stayed in! I think it would have been hard to leave! It's so lovely! I have those Old Francisan dishes too but I don't have the tea pot or coffee server.
    Thanks so much for popping in to see me,
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;)

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Thank you so much for leaving a comment. I read them all & each one is so very special to me & I try really hard to return the visit!

fondly,
~Rett~