Most of you know we moved to the Carolinas from South Florida…in which we resided there for 9 years. Being from Buffalo New York where YES the winters are long cold a blustering snow, I always knew I wanted to leave there someday. Well South Florida was never for me. Never had that warm fuzzy feeling in a home that I so desired. Homes basically all looked the same. We had a lovely home there, and really tried to make it unique. While visiting a close friend in our old neighborhood I managed to sneak over and take some pictures. Jack my youngest was a little sad. I could understand, as that was where he was born and grew up until he was 5 years old. We miss our friends and family very much. However, never have had ONE day of regret….we absoltely LOVE the Carolinas…this is home:)
We where the only home in the entire community with a water feature such as this one….I can’t get over how big my crown of thorns grew. Funny everything is in the same exact spot as when we left it….like that blue planter you see….and a hanging orchid in the tree.
This was our pool that we had built. We planted all the landscaping along the perimeter for privacy…looked like it grew a lot in four years.
OK this was a shock when I walked back there….funny thing when the young couple bought our home they had no children….since then they now have TWO boys….do you think I left my boy energy there? Well they have certainly utilized what little back yard there was.
Now this is hilarious…..Mike always wanted a Magnolia tree. Here in the Carolinas they are of abundance and HUGE I might add. We planted this tree atleast 7 years ago, it is smaller than when we planted it LOL!
How about I show you just a little more of the vaca….next up is my favorite South Florida home decor store….called Andeans….that is where I purchased my kitchen table and many other unique pieces. I only took a few pictures as it was too hot, and honestly I was not impressed with them anymore…there where still the same things as when we left.
Very colorful!
How about I show you the hotel we stayed in…so much fun!
Taking a drive along the ocean A1A
Out to dinner one night with the family…we have four generations here.
My BFF Michele over for Dinner one night at her house….check out her cool fat Boston terrier Buster, my husband adores this dog
Jack stitches and all at the beach……
Hey I told you before I left I was hoping to spot a hottie at the beach….well I did!!~ Have a great day everyone and hope you enjoyed your tour!
http://asoutherndaydreamer.blogspot.com
The home is pretty if you like the beach. Even though I grew up on Long Island, NY – I'm not a big fan of the ocean. It's nice to visit though. If I had my way, I'd be in a cabin in the mountains by a lake -or right here where I am in the Carolina's!
We just came back from a vaca from Anna Maria Island, FLa and it was nice to visit and very beautiful but not for me.
Beautiful shots Debbie. I love looking at houses and I do go back and look to see what's up at our old house (I only live a few minutes away though).
You vacation looks like it was so nice. I'm still working on my vaca posts..almost done. Enjoy your summer!!
heather
Your former home is lovely!! And that fountain…Wow!! Did you design it yourself?? Wonder if I could copy & if it would survive Michigan winters??
Fun post!!
Gorgeous…I have never been to the South of FL! Love all the fun colors! I just moved to Buffalo area a month ago…East Aurora…love it here! But I'm so afraid of the winters! People are really nice though! Any shopping tips for Buffalo area you can share?
Wonderful pictures, Debbie! I miss the beach from my days in Texas but I like having the 4 seasons here in Missouri. Your right that it was a pretty house but it doesn't have the charm and character of your house now! How great to see family and friends!
Fun to look back but always better to move forward. You sound happy you live in the Carolina's!!
Hi Debbie!
So glad you had a nice vacation. Where do I start? You shared so many neat pictures. I loved how you made your S. Florida home your own. Your water feature was absolutely gorgeous. You are a great landscaper.
I thought the pictures of the exterior of your hotel were lovely; the pastels reminded me of the Caribbean.
Vacations are fun, but nothing like home sweet home, right?
:)Erin
Hey, I spotted a rooster!!! Great pics! I especially love the whole energy/boys comment and the magnolia tree!! Maybe they think it's a bush(kind of looks azalea like?) Woo!check the hottie! Glad you took that one on home with ya, aren't you?
well it was good to see the old house .They look like they are happy there.the fountian didt look like it was on i remember all the work i did to get it running lol:)Looks like great photos But i love the homey ness of the carolines no hussell and bussel
Hi Debbie. Looks like fun. Hwy A1A always makes me think of Jimmy Buffet!!
Your previous home is so pretty. That's too funny about the magnolia tree! Looks like you had a great visit. 🙂
I love going back and snapping pictures of our old home and seeing how much its "not" changed! Did the people who live there see you? Great beach pics and everyone needs to take a pic of a "hottie" , did you get permission to take his picture, ha!
That's funny about the couple…. When my ex and I sold our first house, we warned the newlyweds who bought it that it was FERTILE ground and they chuckled. And when they showed up for the closing, they announced that they were pregos. 🙂
I've lived in Louisiana all my life so Florida was the regular vacation spot. I LOVE the beach but don't know if I could LIVE there. Gritty sand gets old fast.
Beautiful home, but I know what you mean about not "feeling" it was home. I still stalk the house I used to live in and it is not far from where I am now! lol
Love teh vaca photos! ADORE A1A!! I am not sure where you were, but we always used to vacation in Crescent Beach, which is right on AIA and right outside St. Augustine, which I love!!
I am a beach girl big time, but even I don't think I could live there year round. But I sure do LOVE to visit!
Lou Cinda 🙂
Debbie thanks for the trip down memory lane, when I saw your old house I gasped….it is the style and color of my home….when we moved in the house was pink, so first thing we had to do was paint, it reminded me of cocoa and whip cream….ours has faded and after seeing this picture I am going to get those painters back out!
aww i love FL and the beach but I do agree the Carolinas are the best!
Those are great pictures, Debbie!
Love the picture of Buster with your husband. They both look very happy. 🙂
Glad to see Jack smiling. I'm so happy he didn't get hurt any worse.
I like to visit the beach, but I wouldn't want to live there.
I lived in Altamonte Springs, FL for a year. I was so glad to move back to Virginia!
Do you mean to tell me girl, we only lived about 40 minutes away from each other!! I've SO close to Fort Erie Ontario! I have MANY relatives that live in Buffalo. What a small world!
Oh how fun is that to see your former home!! The magnolia tree is hilarious! Love all that Talavera pottery there too. We really want to get down there, but just have not had a chance. Hopefully soon. Glad you had a great trip!!
Loved looking at your old house. The owners must have liked the outside so much they didn't need to change anything. Did you love color before you moved to Florida or do you think you were influenced when you lived in Florida? From my visits there, it is a pretty brightly, vibrant colored state 😉
Your pictures are fabulous. I love your 'old' home.. the color, the great water feature. Isn't it nice to know a family is enjoying it?!
The Crane looks like a great place to stay…very Florida~ish! I love the colors there, too and at that great outdoor shop. Neat pots.
You look beautiful in the picture with your friend.
xoxo
Jane
Great pictures Debbie! Too funny about that magnolia tree!
Mary Ellen
The house you had in Florida is pretty. Thanks for sharing your vacation with us – great looking family. That is one fat dog! 🙂 I have not been back to So. Florida, since I moved from there many years ago. I looked up my old house on vpike and it looks the same, except it has a lot more trees.
Great photos! It must feel so strange to go back and see your old home. I might get a little angry if I ever saw that someone has ruined my hard work 😉
interesting post and we have a Boston Terrier too!! We love him so much! They are great dogs and great with kids.
Your old home is pretty but I love the Carolina's. It is always comforting to find your place. olive♥
Debbie, I love reading your posts more and more each day. Its like talking to a girlfriend on the phone. I had no idea you moved up to Carolinas from Florida (if I did I forgot) but you do know I have been blogging that we are planning a move south. It was originally Rock Hill but I think we are going to SE Florida (Port Saint Lucie) maybe you can give me your point of view on Florida and how funny that your originally a New Yorker…thats why we are so similar Jersey girls and NY girls are like peas in a pod when it comes to the rest of the world. lol I have to hit that store in Florida, the pottery is amazing, I noticed you got a rooster in that photo (woohoo). Your home was really nice too..love stucco. You have a beautiful family, hopefully one day I'll get to meet you, it would be a blast. – Melanie
Great post~ wonderful vacation photos and shots of your family! It is weird to visit our old homes again, but fun, too!
haha, moving from Louisiana to just next door Texas. Everything grows so slow here!! Absolutely love the hotel you stayed in. Very Florida! We still ride by the houses we once owned. It is always very sentimental.
Looks like a fabulous vacation! Love the water fountain at your old home. They must have had to do some major pruning on the magnolia for it to be that small after four years! As for Florida, I absolutely love it here!
~ Tracy
That looks like a great vacation. Wonderful photos. Love that hotel, very beachy! Thanks for stopping by.
Sherry
Ah very cute vacay photos! Looks like you had a great time! I love the looks of that house and pool! Of course I would want more yard too! I think I would enjoy that place you liked to shop they definately have some colorful pots! It really saddens me to go back and look at my old house that we built! I drew up the plans myself so it was my baby! It was the right house, wrong location! I'm glad you feel so at home though, here in S.C.! We are glad to claim ya! LOL!
I am originally from Jersey and grew up in South Florida. I have to say I loved it, I was in Sunrise. Later when I got married, we bought our first home in Boca. But even with our families there, we had to go North to Tampa to raise our kids! I know I made the right choice but I miss the beauty and uniqueness of So FLo! If you don't mind, where in So Flo did you live?
Hey Debbie, my name is Melanie! I know so funny we comment back and forth and I guess sometimes I forget to sign my comments. lol I appreciate all the info on Florida and SC was originally our first choice because we vacation in No. Myrtle Beach in the summer. We are heading there 1st week in August so maybe we will check around Rock Hill and see the neighborhood. lol I would so miss the fall, its my favorite season. I need my pumpkins and cornstalks on the porch and what the fall without pumpkin picking at the south jersey farms. lol I dont the oranges will work for me. Ugh so back to prayer and see where he leads us. lol
Such a lovely house, the fact that nothing has changed just goes to show how much your creativity was valued.
Ahhh Deb! I sooooo love that you take us touring every where! This one, in particular, I soaked up every minute detail of! Splendid!
Great photos deb.. thanks for taking us on a tour.. you certainly had a beautiful home. I too like to see the ocean every few years but a cabin in the mountains is my dream escape spot..
Hugs
Sonny
Your old house was beautiful! And I can't believe how tiny that tree still is! That is so funny!
It is always kind of a melancholy feeling looking at an old home isn't it? Hottie……Hubby
Carol
Hi Debbie, Very beautiful South Florida home, it's nice that you got to go back and take a peek at your old house. Love all you vacation pictures looks like you all had a great time!
Hugz,
Kim
I am going to LA next week and I always go see my old house – I loved that house even though it is smaller than where we live now. My son was born there…memories. It is always bittersweet. You really take great photos.
I missed this post. Must have been when I was out in the yard. Your former home was beautiful. I didn't know you had a pool. We did on our last house, too. Looks like a fun vacation with family and friends. Nice hottie, too.
Gorgeous photos Debbie! You are beautiful! 🙂
It looks so colorful in South Florida. That magnolia makes me laugh because it looks just like the one I planted here 2 years ago. It has not grown but I am happy as long as it is still alive there is hope. I am glad you had a nice family vacation, Debbie…Christine