Fall Fun & Halloween Décor in Orlando, Florida

Truth be told, our trips to Orlando aren’t necessarily about the theme parks (unless we have visitors with kids in tow!). We’re just as excited about the city’s Chinese food scene, its growing selection of Asian restaurants, and the super HMart, a popular Korean supermarket that opened here not too long ago.

We had also heard about Lake Eola in downtown Orlando and decided it was time to check it out. As we drove around looking for parking, we stumbled upon the charming neighborhood of Thornton Park—and what a delightful surprise! We were thrilled to discover some spectacular Halloween decorations that made the neighborhood feel extra festive.

Linton E. Allen Centennial Fountain on Lake Eola with a view of the Orlando skyline

Then there’s Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of Orlando that we had been wanting to visit for some time. This week’s fall temperatures in the low 70s made for perfect weather to explore the gardens and stroll over to the magnificent Singing Tower. The picturesque landscapes, colorful blooms, leisurely walking paths, and enchanting melodies of the tower’s bells made this a memorable fall outing! Whether you're a nature lover, history enthusiast, or simply looking for a relaxing getaway, this hidden gem in Central Florida is well worth a visit.

The Singing Tower and its reflection

This scene reminds me of Monet's famous lily pond!

Here are some of our favorite dim sum picks from Ming Garden!

stuffed eggplant

Beef with rice noodle

Chive dumpling

Wishing everyone a wonderful fall and a spooktacular Halloween!

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday. 

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Tour of Monet's House and Garden in Giverny, France

Backyard Bliss, Even in the Drought

June brought us hardly any rain, yet our Florida backyard continues to thrive. Even during the drought, nature has found a way to flourish. Every day brings the cheerful songs of birds, the graceful flutter of butterflies, and the sweet reward of homegrown treasures.

Zebra Longwing and Monarch butterflies dancing around. 🦋

Zebra Longwing butterflies love this firebush plant

bleeding heart

Bluejay and rabbit

My aunts' four mango trees are absolutely loaded with fruit this year. My own mango tree, on the other hand, had a much smaller harvest, producing just ten mangoes. The tree is the Thai variety Nam Doc Mai, prized for its rich sweetness, smooth texture, and thin pit. Something—most likely squirrels—helped themselves to two of them (sigh!), but we were able to enjoy the remaining eight, and they were incredibly sweet. Moments like these are a reminder that even during a Florida drought, nature still offers delightful surprises.

cherries and strawberries are store bought

The two mangoes on the left are from my tree

Our mango tree has a story of its own. About ten years ago, when we bought our house, my aunt gave us a young mango plant she had started from a pit. It was only about three feet tall at the time, but with a little patience, it has grown into a beautiful tree.

For much of those ten years, we were living aboard our boat, so we rarely had the chance to enjoy its harvest. Now that we've sold the boat and traded our sea legs for gardening gloves, we finally get to savor the fruit of that little seedling.

The mango tree in 2016

Blue skies after the rain—a happy mango tree (2026).

Not many mangoes this year, but every one is a treat.

While we're looking forward to the return of Florida's refreshing summer rains, I'm grateful for the life that continues to fill our backyard. Even in the stifling heat and dry conditions, there's still so much to appreciate—from colorful birds and butterflies to the simple pleasure of picking a perfectly ripe mango straight from the tree.

Just thinking about those sweet, juicy mangoes is making my mouth water!

How's your summer harvest coming along? I'd love to hear what you're growing this season, Stay cool and enjoy the rest of your summer!

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday and Through My Lens.

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Tour of Monet's House and Garden in Giverny, France

I’m so grateful we visited France in early May. It’s hard to imagine navigating the massive crowds and long lines at the country's most popular attractions in the intense heat Paris has been enduring this week.

Summer heat in Florida is expected, but temperatures nearing 100°F are far more unusual in France, where air conditioning is not nearly as common there—only about one in four homes is equipped with it—making extreme heat much more challenging.

The Eiffel Tower and the Louvre even closed early for three straight days because of the extreme temperatures. Looking back, I feel incredibly fortunate that we were able to experience France in the beauty and comfort of spring.

The Louvre

the closest we got to Eiffel Tower (as seen from Galeries Lafayette)

The Galeries Lafayette Dome. The crowd was unbelievable!

Coffee break at the historic Samaritaine department store

Watching the world go by at Tuileries Garden  

Savoring Angelina's famous Mont Blanc pastries.

Thank goodness the lines to Notre Dame moved quickly!

beautiful Notre Dame

our cousin lighting a candle

We began our trip in southern France, exploring the charming cities of Montpellier, Avignon, and Grenoble—each deserving its own blog post. Cold, rainy weather canceled both a tour and a train, but Plan B worked out rather well thanks to France's efficient transportation system. We refused to let the weather dampen our spirits. 😊

By mid-May, we arrived in Paris, where the weather remained cool, gray, and unpredictable. Since our main goal was to spend time with our cousins who live nearby, we weren't in a rush to check off tourist attractions.

stairway to Le Train Bleu, the legendary restaurant at Gare de Lyon

When they suggested a day trip to Claude Monet's house and gardens in Giverny, about 90 minutes northwest of Paris, I was all in. I'd wanted to visit on our previous trip. Assuming the gloomy weather would keep the crowds away, we skipped buying tickets in advance—a decision we quickly regretted.

We arrived 15 minutes before the ticket booth opened and found ourselves at the end of a very long line. As the wait stretched on, our patience wore thin, and more than once we considered giving up. Thankfully, our cousins persuaded us to stick it out—we had come all that way, after all.

This was one third of the line, and it moved at snail pace

Irises

Poppies

Three hours later, we finally reached the ticket window. 

The entrance to the ticket booth, after lining up for 3 hours!

Just as we stepped into Monet's gardens, it started to rain—hard. We, along with hundreds of other visitors, made a mad dash back to the gift shop for shelter. Thankfully, it was spacious enough to accommodate the crowd. Browsing the beautiful books, art prints, and unique souvenirs kept us happily occupied until the rain finally let up.

Introducing our friend's favorite Monet painting

About thirty minutes later, the rain eased, and the sun actually appeared. Almost instantly, the gardens seemed to come alive with color. The flowers glistened with raindrops, and the fresh scent of spring filled the air. 

Iris

Peonies

Monet's house

Geraniums

looking at the garden from the house

Strolling through the gardens, it was easy to see how this enchanting setting inspired some of Claude Monet’s most celebrated works. From the vibrant flower beds and winding pathways to the iconic Japanese bridge arching over the water lily pond, every corner felt like stepping into one of his masterpieces.

Monet created more than 250 paintings in his beloved Water Lilies series, drawing inspiration from the ponds and gardens he so lovingly cultivated. Despite the grueling three-hour wait and the crowds, experiencing the beauty of this landscape firsthand was truly magical—a chance to step into the world that inspired one of Impressionism’s greatest artists.

Would you have waited three hours to experience Monet's gardens?

If you'd like to learn more about Monet's home and gardens, here are some interesting articles:

The Last Living Monet

5 Fascinating Facts about Monet's Water Lilies

This post is shared on Skywatch Friday and Creative Artiste Mixed Media challenge #128, and Happy Now.

 
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