A SWEET CELEBRATION

“You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” 
Psalm 16:11

Mount Dora, Florida was the destination for this years’ celebration of another year of marriage and another year of life.  We have made it a tradition to spend our anniversary at a Bed & Breakfast for over 15 years and thanks to a Groupon, we chose this Carriage House at the award winning Magnolia Inn Bed & Breakfast on 3rd Street.  What a great get away!

After checking in, we began our exploration of this quaint New England style village on a lake by having lunch at Cody’s on 4th – a homemade crustless quiche with fresh fruit.  It’s a good thing we chose a healthy lunch, because there was an abundance of sweet treats calling our names along Donnelly Street.  However, we didn’t indulge until we turned the corner on 5th and found Cupcake Delights! 

 

 

Chocolate Raspberry
&
Cream Cheese Chocolate

 

 

 

 

A little more shopping including picking up our complimentary gift at NONI @ The Olive Branch for our 1st stay at the Magnolia Inn . . .

 

 

 

 

. . . and a couple Stash Tea samplers at The Gourmet Shop then back to Cupcake Delights to pick up our after dinner treats for later that night!

Key Lime, Carrot Cake, Red Velvet,
Choco-Decadence, Strawberry Cream, Peanut Butter Lovers!

 

From two recommendations for dinner we chose Pisces Rising in hopes of seeing a sunset on the lake out of the wall of windows, however the weather didn’t cooperate – too cloudy.  The dinner didn’t disappoint though – we enjoyed crab cakes and steak in their elegantly casual atmosphere.

A stroll down to the lake followed and we discovered a map of  Harris Chain of Lakes!  Then back to our private escape to share those tasty treats with a cup of tea.

At our homemade gourmet breakfast the next morning of fruit, yogurt & cereal plus stuffed French toast with bacon, we had a great conversation with one of the Innkeepers – our favorite part of staying at a B&B! 

         

 

We also enjoyed these touches of “tea time” which inspired some new uses for my tea ware and also were a preview of what was ahead for our day!

Off to shop the streets we missed, we found some favorite shops on this side street . . .

 

. . . where Dave had some fun

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and I got these for my next tea party at Ka Dee Kay Gourmet Kitchen Products.

We also found some gifts for friends at Willoughby’s & Co.  But our best find was this tea set at Hospice Hope Chest complete with three “blooming” teas!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our grand finale was afternoon tea at The Garden Gate Tea Room for my birthday!
             

 

 

 

 

Five courses of specialty cuisine . . .

 

 

Baby Greens Salad with orange ginger vinaigrette, Heavenly Salmon Soufflé and fresh fruit

 

Fruit Sorbet with Mint

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tea Sandwiches:
Egg Salad Round, Chicken Salad Puff,  Apple Walnut Heart, Carrot-Raisin-Nut Square and Grilled Asparagus Finger

 

 

 

Cran-raisin Scones
with strawberry jam
and clotted cream

 

 

 

 

 

Sweets:
Swan Creampuff, Chocolate Dipped Strawberry, Lemon Curd & Fruit Tart and Brownie Wedge

 

 

 

Served with Garden Gate Herbal Tea (a combination of cranberry, hibiscus and rooibos) . . .

 

 

 

 

 

. . . in such a sweet setting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now you know why this was such a “sweet” celebration!!

 

                                                                                                   Joyce