From Wauchula to the Keys

             Our second week in Wauchula was wonderful.  There were several campground activities scheduled, all based around Halloween and fall, of course.  On Tuesday we went to a pumpkin carving event, and I carved one pumpkin to look like a cottage and painted another with a black cat.  Mia carved her pumpkin with a witch's hat and stars.  We loved our pumpkins, but so did the squirrels.  They nibbled my cottage windows from arches to circles, and chewed on the bottoms of our pumpkins as well.  Another day we did brick painting, which was so fun.   My mom and I looked up beginner painting ideas online and were happy with the results.  Mia did her own style, which was so cute and creepy at the same time.  One night they hosted bingo, and my dad won the first game.  We made our own scarecrow another day, and Mia drew the face.  We won a $15 gift card to Subway for Most Realistic Scarecrow, which was all thanks to Mia's facial details!  On Halloween day we got to make our own caramel apples, which were delicious-- and messy. 

My mom's beautiful brick 

 I love cacti, so when I saw the picture for this online, I knew I'd found what I wanted

Mia's brick was perfectly Halloween-y 

Our scarecrow, Linda

My caramel apple

            On Wednesday we made a trip to Myakka State Park and packed a lunch.  We ate in a pavilion designed to look like an old schoolhouse.  We had a really funny lunch, and it was one of my favorite parts of the day.  A squirrel found our picnic and came up, hoping for a bite.  My dad named him Paco, and though we didn't give him anything to eat, he was quite persistent.  My favorite part of Myakka State Park was on one of the hiking trails. It had a observatory with a hanging bridge, nestled above the treetops. I loved the bridge and tower, but it was a bit frightening; because when people would walk around below us on the tower it would shake. A sign promised the shaking was normal, but it was still a little nerve-rattling. 

Mia in the pavilion where we ate lunch

My mom and Mia ahead of me on the hanging bridge

    

The height at the top of the observation tower

  There were several staircases we had to climb to reach the top

    This bird reminded me of an old man, just observing nature

            

            My mom and Mia and I visited Amazing Grace Tea House in downtown Wauchula on Thursday, and we had the best time.  We got two pots of tea: White Coconut Tea and Apple Spice.  Then we got salads for lunch and ended the meal with fudge brownies and peanut butter balls that were to die for. The tea house was old-fashioned and so quaint.  I loved it.  The tea house was actually part of a ministry called Lydia's House, which was a home and program for women coming out up addictive and destructive lifestyles.  The ministry had helped many women, including our waitress. She was so nice and shared her testimony with us.  It was truly moving.   We loved the tea house so much that we went back on Friday for more tea and brownies.  After visiting the tea house, I decided that I would like to start a similar ministry someday. 

                                                        

            

            The night before Halloween, Mia donned her Rey costume and we went to the festival in downtown Wauchula.  It was pretty much like pre-Halloween trick or treating.  There were lots of booths with games, plus a face-painting booth.  I chose a full cat face, which went great with my outfit, so I was a cat for Halloween!   Mia did a fairy and rainbow, which was super cute.  The festival was really fun, and we all had a good time.  On Halloween night, we went to a church Trunk or Treat. 

Archery on Halloween night at the trunk or treat

            The day after Halloween, we packed up and left for Big Pine Key, where our next campground was.  The campground, Sunshine Key RV Resort and Marina, had been rebuilt only a few years ago since it had been destroyed by a hurricane; so everything was new.  It was a very nice campground, and our site was only three rows over from the beach. It was the best beach access in the campground, and we have gone there many times.  The weather wasn't great after our arrival day, so we had some at-home days; then on Friday we went to Key West.  It was a really fun day, and we were glad to get out of the RV.  We ate lunch and dinner at a restaurant called The Cafe, which had tons of vegan-friendly options, including barbecue tofu wings, coconut cake, and a breakfast wrap.  The food was super good, and we all loved it.  After lunch at The Cafe, we walked to the Southernmost Point, Ernest Hemmingway's house, and the 0 Mile sign.  Before the sun set, we went to Mallory Square,where we were able to watch the sunset and street performers.  Mia was called up with one of the performers, and it was so fun watching the performer interact with her.  

Mia on top of the huge sand pile at the beach

The ocean 

Mia being silly with a grapefruit peel stuck over her teeth

After days of rain, the roads were flooded

   The coconut cake at Key West

Barbecue tofu wings

Breakfast wrap

Chickens are everywhere in the Keys

A beautiful mermaid statue at one of the art studios in Key West

This bar had money stapled all over its rafters and posts

I found this sign in a shop and it cracked me up

The sunset on Mallory Square

         The Keys are such a beautiful place, it is like a tropical paradise.  There's lots to see, with things both man made and natural.  I'm so glad I got to come here, and so far, I'm loving the life of an islander.