ISO Palm Tree Sandals

Venus Palm Tree Heels

 

My favorite thing about Florida is the palm trees. They fill the landscape, my garden and my home. I also have a great pair of palm tree earrings. The palm tree shoes above are a collaboration of Frances Valentine with J.McLaughlin. I would love to add a pair of palm tree sandals to my wardrobe.

January

Winter in Florida

The DC area (where I lived for many years) is expecting 15 inches of snow or more this weekend - predicted to be one of their biggest snowstorms in years. The last snow total that large in DC was 17 inches in the famous blizzard of January of 2016. I remember my late husband heard on the news after that storm that you should clear the snow off of your heat pump and he suggested we do so. We did not have a heat pump but rather a gas furnace in the basement and we had been living in the house for 16 years - LOL.

Christmas Lights on Palm Trees

Christmas Lights on Palm Trees

I love palm trees in Florida decorated with Christmas lights for the holidays. They are so dramatic. Lots of communities decorate the palms at their entrances with white lights. We do where I live.

Skeletons Florida Style

CCC

 

Skeletons abound at CCC - mermaids, alligators, frogs, and scorpions! More fun than scary.... My alligators are a big hit with the neighbors. Perfect for Florida.

Orange and Black @ CCC

CCC

 

Both my powder room and my guest bedroom at CCC are orange and black. Both rooms are perfect for the autumn (and Halloween). The leopard print above by Caitlin McGauley hung in my dining room in Alexandria, Virginia and now in my powder room here in Florida. 

Lilly Pulitzer for the Home

Lilly Pulitzer

Happy Labor Day and first day of September. September here in South Florida means that temperatures have finally dipped down into the eighties. A gorgeous day here today.

Hurricanes, Halloween, and Fall in Florida

CCC

With no fall foliage in South Florida, fall decorating is especially important to me. I am not complaining, I'll take palm trees and no leaves to rake any day!

Setting the Summer Table High/Low

Serena & Lily Palm Tree Napkin Rings

The thing I fell in love with first about Florida was its palm trees. I love them and am fortunate to have many in my garden. I also really enjoy decorating with palm trees indoors - I have a 10 foot palm tree inside as well as other palm tree decor.

Parrots & Gracie

Scarlet McCaw

 

Yesterday, my next door neighbors, who are snowbirds and not in town, had someone working at their house. The entire time he was there a Scarlet McCaw rode on this shoulder including as the man went up and down large ladders. Keep in mind these parrots are about three feet in length. It's Florida....

Ally the Alligator

CCC

 

One of my favorite television shows was Ally McBeal. Last year at this time I had a 10 foot alligator at CCC and I named him/her Ally. Then on Monday I posted on this darling alligator plate I found on eBay and it has arrived.

China Pattern Search

Mystery Alligator Plate

 

I came across this place setting image and loved the alligator plate and decided to try to find it. When I looked closely I realized the alligator has five legs - clearly AI created since they don't have five legs normally - LOL. Even though this is clearly computer generated, I went on a little search to see if there is anything like it out there.

The Ten Most Expensive Neighborhoods

Hose Beautiful/Zillow

 

I am not vouching for the accuracy of this list, but according to Zillow data, 7 of the 10 most expensive neighborhoods in the country are here in Florida. I was surprised that New York and Texas are not on the list.

The Alligator Brooch

Frances Valentine

 

I love this new alligator brooch at Frances Valentine. This would be so fun for Florida or vacation.

Happy New Year!

Sarasota's Annual Pineapple Drop

Happy New Year! This is the annual pineapple drop at midnight NYE in Sarasota. So fun and tropical and unique. 

Outdoor Christmas Decorating in Florida

Amanda Lindroth

 

I am almost finished decorating CCC for Christmas inside and now my thoughts are turning to outside. I always struggle for exterior inspiration, because in the heat here, fresh wreaths and garlands simply do not last. Even the beautiful wreaths pictured above made of palm fronds would start drying and yellowing immediately. Faux traditional wreaths and garlands would work, but don't seem very tropical.

Setting the Thanksgiving Table

Tuckernuck

 

It will be a bit of a stressful day here at CCC - I have a massive oak tree right behind my home being removed today that was damaged in the last two hurricanes. I am happy it is coming down because it is aging and falling apart and poses a serious risk to my home. It is not one of the beautiful live oaks that ages well and fares well in storms here in Florida. It is a laurel oak and they start decaying from the inside out as they age and come apart in storms. But it is massive and towers over my house and I will be glad when the process is over. 

Reboot

Venice, Florida

I was so very fortunate. I got power back in less than 24 hours. By the time I retuned from Miami, the house was 72 degrees, internet, water, and cell phone back. I have a full tank of gas. My gardeners came and picked up the entire yard yesterday except for the downed tree which my HOA will pay for since the tree is from the preserves and not my property. At least Florida really does know how to respond to hurricanes.

The Black Watch Cape & Back Home

Black Watch India Cape

 

I made it back safely from Miami yesterday. I do not see any damage to my home, thank God. I'm so incredibly relieved. My garden is a hot mess, including a massive oak tree that came down from the preserves in the back but did not hit my house. If it had, it would have been catastrophic. 

Pray for Florida

Hurricane Milton 2024

 

I took off at 6 am yesterday and drove to Miami with my friend and pups. We are safe in a lovely hotel in downtown Miami. Miami is filled with thousands of evacuees. I have no word on whether my house was hit with storm surge or trees and such. I know winds there were horrible for hours. 3.2 million in Florida without power including me and could take weeks to restore. 

Hurricane Helene

NOAA - Hurricane Helene

All is well here at CCC. My pups, my home, and I are all fine. It was a long day however. Helene was a massive storm and pushed an enormous amount of water with storm surge the biggest issue. There is catastrophic flooding in many places. Thousands and thousands of people's homes are flooded with many feet of water.