Wednesday was a day I was really looking forward to. Terri had set up a lunch date with several mutual blog friends. We had a 2 hour drive to get to the Cracker Barrel in Ocala where we were meeting. Terri took the back roads instead of the highway which was nice because we avoided crazy traffic, but it also gave us a chance to see the real Florida. I was surprised by all the cows we saw. When I think of Florida, I think of oceans and beaches, but Florida is one of the top producers of beef. I grew up on a farm, and always appreciate seeing cows and farms!
Here's a few photos from our drive.
From left to right:
Bob and I,
Terri from Your Friend from Florida
Barbara and husband Gary from Journal Memories and in the back -
Pamela and husband John from Closed Doors, Open Windows
We had a such a nice time talking in person. I've met several blog friends in person and always find that they are exactly as I know them from their blogs, and these friends were no exception. The husbands laughed at Gary's talk of the men being "blog fodder". We missed Linda of Just Linda, who lives in Ocala but was unable to come this time. It was a delightful afternoon and soon time to begin the drive home.
Pamela brought a gift for us that she ordered from her son Benton who is a talented woodworker. It's something I'll display with pride and good memories!
It's this Easter display of the tomb with the cross behind it. On the bottom, the stone is in it's place and on the top photo, I've shown how it will look at Easter when the stone is rolled away. Thank you Pamela - this is a treasure.
We got back to Terri's and had pizza for supper. I told her I needed a photo of this spot where we shared such lovely meals and times together.
I have to share this photo of one of Terri's cats. This is Casper. She also has Vinnie, who wasn't hanging around for a photo op. We enjoyed them and Bob tried unsuccessfully to get them to sit with him!
We had to get to bed on time this night, because we were heading home the next morning and had to be up early to get to the airport. It had been another wonderful day!
29 comments:
Wonderful trip!
Dear Mari, not sure if either yourself or Terri knew Lowell, a very kind gentleman who lived in Ocala. Sadly, he passed away in 2019, so yet another fellow blogger 😢 told me.
I remember him from my old blog that I had from 2012 to 2017.
He and I followed each other's blogs.
Your photos are beautiful, it sounds like you had a nice leisurely drive to Ocala.
Casper, Terri's cat is gorgeous.
Your photos are beautiful.
This was a fantastic trip. I loved it all.
What a wonderful trip meeting up with wonderful friends! I love that Easter wood carving of the stone rolled away from the tomb. That is beautiful! What a truly memorable event. I'm so glad that you and Bob could make this trip! IT was fun to see all the things you did. Florida is beautiful! I think that it needs to be on my retirement destination list!
I had no idea there are cows in Florida! The road with the arch of overhanging oak trees is stunning! The tomb is a true work of art.
Hi Mari, I enjoyed reading about you trip to Florida and meeting up with blog friends. The road with all the oaks reminded me of Gone with the Wind. Thanks for sharing your adventure!
Oh, I love this so much, Mari!!! How fun! All the pictures are beautiful. That gift that Pamela's son made is beautiful. What a treasure.
Thanks for sharing, it's great that you can make good friends through the blog. The cat is beautifully colored.
I am so happy you had a great time...and the thought here is this--I was raised here in Ocala, and it used to be the Horse Capital of the World...now, not so much. Most of the land is being sold for development and its sad. sigh. Ocala is growing leaps and bounds and the majority of us citizens think enough is enough. Yep, I said the quiet part out loud. LOL
I love Pamela and Cracker Barrel.
Oh, Mari, and WE enjoyed meeting YOU and Bob! What a blessing and treat that was! Yes, we thank Terri for making it happen! She's a great hospitality/travel agent! LOL. I'm glad she showed you some of our beautiful places in "old Florida", the way it used to be and still ought to be. It's sad that many of our cattle ranches and orange groves have been turned into more houses and tourist attractions (traps). Those of us who grew up here remember it the way used to be, and we'd love to see it that way again, or at least put a stop to all the growth before there's no horse farms and live oak trees left to see. Thank you for the shout out for we Florida bloggers. I'm glad you are enjoying the Easter Tomb display. I know it helps me to remember the true meaning of Easter.
Have a blessed rest of your week!
So much fun! I'm so glad that the two of you were able to make the trip and had such a wonderful time. Now we will all want to go visit Terri. :)
So glad you got to visit Ocala and meet more blogger friends. That is awesome. Yes the backroads through the area are very different than most people would think. There are a lot of farms and ranches in a good portion of the state. Glad you got to see that side too.
I also imagine Florida with sun and beaches… and air boats and alligators! But it is different and a nice place . I am glad that you had a nice time with your blog friends.
I'm glad you had such a wonderful time!
It is always wonderful to meet blog friends in person. I have also met quite a few myself. Would never have met these friends if not for my blog. What a wonderful time you had with all of your blog friends. My Bob's sister lives near Ocala so I knew that Ocala is horse country. Did not know about the beef though. I do think your Bob should be getting some residual payments for those barrels. :-) Janice
I have been to Florida many times, but always to the beach area. Happy to see these pictures of the countryside. The back roads is where we can find so much beauty and your photos sure cast a lot of it with the green pastures and the horses.
I love all of your photos, Mari!! Thanks for your sweet words about Lakeland and our beautiful Florida! I hope you can return, stay longer, and we will venture out further! It was so fun having you and Bob here!! xo
Thank you for sharing such wonderful photos of your stay with Terri. You take really wonderful photos.
So glad that Terri took you all on those back roads so you could see the real Florida, Mari. You got some amazing photos! Of course, thanks for sharing the group photo of all of you. So fortunate to have friends that we've come to know through blogging. Blessings!
There's nothing like meeting blog friends in person. It's always a treat! The horses are a bonus!!
If this had been a few years ago, I would have driven to Ocala and joined you, since I know you and Pam and of course her Bog Fodder hubby. ha ha.. My Bob says keep you hands off HIS cones/barrels. ha ha your gift is stunning
What a lovely trip! I'm so glad you got to meet up with so many blogging friends too. What a beautiful area and I love how they have farms, like here. Yet such beautiful old trees that are so romantic looking with the moss in them. What a lovely gift by Pamela. It's a beautiful and perfect Easter carving. 🙏🏻💗
What fun to see your photos of north-central Florida, Mari. We lived in Florida for 40 years, in six different communities, but all on or near the east or west coasts. Those photos of the horse farm look like Kentucky, with such lush grass. And what fun to meet up with blogger friends! I've had opportunity to meet two face-to-face. Two more are members of our church!
Special time meeting fellow bloggers. Sound like a wonderful trip.
What a great time you had ... I've enjoyed all your posts and photographs as you've shared your trip with us.
All the best Jan
I love how you met each other in real life. Whenever I read about bloggers meeting up in real life they always say that people are just like they are on their blog. I love that blogs bring people together!
It sounds like you had a very special time.
The photos of the trees and farms are beautiful, and I love the Easter display of the tomb with the stone you can roll away.
Fun shots of the horses. Love the pizza table. Nice size to have friends over for a good meal. That rocks.
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