11/8/09 (Sunday): This will be a short blog because it's too pretty outside to be sitting inside on a computer. We're thinking about taking the kayaks to the beach (it's going to hit 80 degrees today).
A couple of weeks ago, we went on a walk to benefit various projects in Haiti supported by St. Margaret Mary's church. Wiley Sr. came along in a wheelchair. Mag, Cathy and Katelyn walked with us. It was a beautiful day in Winter Park and we enjoyed three miles of scenery and socializing. The high point for me was seeing the resident eagle on its nest.
The next weekend, we took the Dykes gang to a great Volusia County park near Oak Hill. We caught crabs, but no fish. David took the kayak out.

We're really enjoying our campground (Sugar Mill Ruins Campground in New Smyrna Beach). There's lots of gorgeous tropical vegetation and the people are great. We have a TV lounge, game room and recreation hall. The back end of the park features a salt water lake, complete with crabs and fish (including a very large tarpon). Of course, you can guess where Wiley is every morning! It's also close to shopping and historic downtown New Smyrna Beach. Part of Wiley's family were among the original settlers of this area. They came as indentured workers with a settler named Turnbull who wanted to start a sugar plantation. We're having fun exploring.

Okay--I'm off to enjoy the day. I hope everyone will have a great Sunday!

11/1/09 (Sunday): Hello--is anybody out there? I haven't gotten any comments on my last blog. Where is everyone?

We're back in Florida (New Smyrna Beach--check out the map) and will be at this campground until at least the end of March. We're not working for the campground, but we may find somewhere to volunteer in the area just to keep busy. It's a nice campground with a large pool, lots of tropical vegetation, a fishing pond and plenty of good shopping and beaches nearby.

I've got a few leftover pics to share from our Upper Peninsula/Boone adventure.Here's Wiley hiking the trail on Elk Knob. The higher we got, the more snow there was. Gorgeous, but I'm still glad to be back in Florida!
We took one last ride on the Blue Ridge Parkway to admire the foliage. Spectacular!

We also drove out to see Chimney Rock. Lake Lure lies at its foot. We decided that we didn't want to spent $14 just to drive up to Chimney Rock, so we just saw it from a distance over the lake. Maybe next trip.

On the way back to Florida from Boone, we stopped in Dahlonega and Helen, GA. We enjoyed the museum in Dahlonega (site of the first gold rush in the U.S.) and did a little Christmas shopping in Helen, GA. Google Dahlonega to learn some history you probably didn't know. Here's a link to one interesting site: Dahlonega History.And, of course, we continued to admire the gorgeous autumn foliage.

Okay--we're up to date now. As soon as somebody tells me they're still interested in reading my blog, I'll post again! (Just kidding. You all know I like blogging as much as you like reading it.) Belated Happy Halloween!