Exploring Mt. Dora

BubbaLou and Popsaroo set out for a comic book convention Saturday in the hopes of meeting Star Trek's one and only "Spock." This of course left me out, so Popsaroo handed me $40 dollars and instructed me to take Mums to lunch. This made him feel better.

I called Mums, and laughingly told her our instructions and she came up with a better idea. She wanted to go exploring. Now, back at Christmas, I told her that I wanted to take her to Mount Dora as one of her Christmas presents. Mums decided that this was the day to take me up on it.

But, seeing as I only had $40 dollars in hand, and had not really budgeted to have a bunch of spending money, we decided to window shop. Plus, there was much to see in Mount Dora, they even have a lighthouse.

With map in hand, Mums and I headed out to this little town north of Orlando with high hopes of what we might find. We found it to be a beautiful day for a drive, and the terrain even changed as we turned off the interstate in a northerly direction. The land became downright hilly, which for Florida is strange. We couldn't decide if the land was really hilly, or it was really low with fake hills. Whatever it was, it was pretty. Looking at beautiful scenery proved to be a perk since we had to keep handing out money for tolls.

We finally arrived, and found that the hills were real, we even parked on one. Mount Dora is at an elevation of about 154 feet if I remember correctly. It was also adorable. Mums and I were very taken with it as we walked around exploring shops and sites of really neat houses.

As we made our way down to the docks by the yacht club, we heard real live church bells. It was beautiful. That by itself, was reason enough to drive 2 hours to experience. I miss that so much!
I truly believe, that if more churches had bells that rang through out the day, their would be more happy people in the world and less crime. Kind of a reminder from God that all is in His care and that He is watching over all of us all of the time. Peace.


Mums and I saw a couple of paintings as we entered the first shop of the day. Mums commented immediately, "I love that painting, it reminds me of a church up in Tennessee." I said, "I love this one! Look at the old mill with the dogwood blooms in it." They both were framed in farm wood type frames with a trim of rusty barbed-wire. They had price tags of $90. Too bad we were window shopping. Mums kept going on and on about that painting. She decided it must be one that AuntyDot had shown her in Cheathum county. Then the store owner announced that he was having a cash only sale and everything was 50% off. Sale of the day. Mums looked at me with a twinkle in her eye, and said," I am going to get this one, do you want that one as an early birthday present?" -"Well, Yeah, are you sure?!"

Needless to say, we had the guy wrap them up. The church and the mill turned out to be one that we had seen many times in Tennessee. In Cades Cove. Wow, talk about a flash back to many a vacation in Gatlinburg. We had the man hold on to them until we finished shopping and would be heading back to the car.


We continued to walk up and down the streets going in and out of shops. There were little alley ways with little nooks and crannies, fountains, and shops. We stopped and ate lunch at The Gables restaurant. The food was good and we ate plenty. We sat outside and watched as people walked by. We watched some people board the train for a ride while others rode by in horse and buggy. It was a busy place perfect for relaxing, watching, and talking. It was a beautiful day.



Mount Dora seems to be a haven for dogs. Both big and small. Shop owners had the resident dog sprawled in the floor sleeping the day away or padding around checking all the shoppers out. Many people were walking their dogs. I even saw a lady come around with a baby stroller, I looked down to see the baby, and there were two little dogs in that stroller. "What a cute..what cute little dogs!"I said, a little stunned that I was looking at dogs and not a baby.


We met Oscar down by the water. He was quite the jolly fat dog who wanted to be my friend. I kinda thinks he wants to be everyone's friend.

All in all, we had a great day. Mums and I did well to see and do as much as we did. We even stopped by the little park with the lighthouse. We saw an alligator, a turtle, and some geese. By no means did we do it all. There is a huge antiques and flea market that we have yet to hit. It is in slightly a different location from where we were. We are saving that for another day.

Popsaroo had the gall to ask,

"What could you have possibly done that took you that long?"

Tears and Hope

I have been thinking much about time and loved ones recently. Memories of loved ones are crowding my mind as I remember the time that I spent with them. I have come to discover how much their personality's have shaped my own. I have discovered how much I miss the presence of their laughter and humor in the day to day of my life. Things are just never the same.

Mary and Martha's lives changed when they knew Lazarus lay sick and dying. Their dear brother was suffering and they wanted Jesus to heal him, but he was away. Their hearts were breaking. Memories swept through their minds as they wept. Thoughts of memories never to be surely flashed by as well. Lazarus died as his family wept for him and for themselves. Their hearts broke.

Jesus knew that Lazarus had died and he knew what he was going to do about it. He went to the grave 4 days after Lazarus had been there. Jesus wept with Lazarus' family and then preceded to tell Lazarus to come out.

Lazarus lived again, yet his life was changed.

Mary and Martha would never be the same.

Those who witnessed it were changed and made choices because of it. Some placed their faith in Jesus, others reported his deed to the Pharisees who in turn met with the Sanhedrin. A plot to kill Jesus had begun.

Lazarus lived, but Jesus would die. Jesus would overcome death, rising on the 3rd day, so that each and everyone of us would live again and things would never be the same again.


We so want our loved ones not to suffer, but yet we don't want to part with them either. It is a strange mix of emotions as you sit and weep for a loved one as they pass from this earthly world. We long for them to be their old self, yet it can never happen in this world. As much as we want it, things will never be the same and we can only hope.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain...

Revelation 21:4