We had a great time driving down to Florida and doing some exploring along the way. Having Emily the golden retriever with us meant we got to meet people all over the place - she has such a magnetic personality ;-)
We took a western route through Pennsylvania, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Georgia. Here we're just about to get onto the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia. I was excited to see a sign for one of my favorite groups.
The mountains were really pretty and colorful. (Not New England colorful but still nice.)
I liked how there were open fields as well as wooded areas.
We stopped to see this mill.
I think this was something like a sluiceway.
Of course this looked interesting - it looks like natural dyes.
In North Carolina we went to see the Biltmore Estate - pretty fancy. Can you see the gargoyles sticking out?
Can you believe this is in North Carolina? It looks like it should be in Bavaria or someplace like that.
The lion tried to run away but we held it back.
It's hard to see but there are horses going by on the grassy area. If I ever go back there I'm definitely going on a trail ride. The setting is gorgeous!
View from the back terrace
This lady jumped into my picture!
Pretty conservatory
I found some plants I liked.
Then we went to Savannah, Georgia. I've always wanted to spend some time walking around there. It was fun looking at all the Spanish moss and picking out which house we should buy.
This is a giant live oak in Forsyth Park.
Pretty gate and garden
There were lots of beautiful houses.
I love these little gardens.
I liked seeing this person in his seersucker suit. He even had white bucks.
Florida was about 30 degrees warmer than Georgia. Here's more Spanish moss - on cypress trees this time.
This park is part of the Everglades. I love to go walk around the boardwalk. No alligators this time.
A quick visit with Mom and Dad - then back home again.
haha - we fit in a lot for a week!
We also made these delicious raviolis.
The little helper - he looks so innocent, like he'd never try to eat my yarn.
Another one of Katie's favorites - tapioca pudding.
And this is one of my favorites - a baked apple pancake. Yum!
Maybe not the traditional Christmas foods but they were all fun to make.
This one was from inside the car. (Don't worry, Nathan took the picture while I was driving.) It really looks like we live in the great white north.
I can appreciate it so much more if I'm not shoveling. :-)
Then one day there were four and more buds still. It's so nice to have flowers in January.
Happy New Year!!!
By the way here are a couple of pictures of Katie with her delicious challah bread.
The mountains were really pretty and colorful. (Not New England colorful but still nice.)
I liked how there were open fields as well as wooded areas.
We stopped to see this mill.
I think this was something like a sluiceway.
Of course this looked interesting - it looks like natural dyes.
In North Carolina we went to see the Biltmore Estate - pretty fancy. Can you see the gargoyles sticking out?
Can you believe this is in North Carolina? It looks like it should be in Bavaria or someplace like that.
The lion tried to run away but we held it back.
It's hard to see but there are horses going by on the grassy area. If I ever go back there I'm definitely going on a trail ride. The setting is gorgeous!
View from the back terrace
This lady jumped into my picture!
Pretty conservatory
I found some plants I liked.
Then we went to Savannah, Georgia. I've always wanted to spend some time walking around there. It was fun looking at all the Spanish moss and picking out which house we should buy.
Pretty gate and garden
There were lots of beautiful houses.
I love these little gardens.
I liked seeing this person in his seersucker suit. He even had white bucks. 
Florida was about 30 degrees warmer than Georgia. Here's more Spanish moss - on cypress trees this time.
This park is part of the Everglades. I love to go walk around the boardwalk. No alligators this time.
A quick visit with Mom and Dad - then back home again. 
haha - we fit in a lot for a week! 
Raf found a good sausage place.
Sweet potato ruffly fries
I really love the big horses and oxen. We had to jump out of the way when they started bringing the draft horses into the barn.
There were so many cow photo ops.
Comfy friends
One of my favorite buildings - quilting and crafts
I don't ride the rides but I like to go see them - it's so wild there.
Next year I'll have to get a picture of the apple crisp :-) 
