Merry Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!

We are spending the day with my mom and her partner Greg this year. Victor, Brittany, Mark and Brandon will be joining Vic and I also for moms yummy turkey dinner with all the fixins.

I hope that you all have a blessed and peaceful holiday.

xoxox
Holly

Day 10,11 and 12 in the 30 days of thankful

Day 10: I am thankful for technology.

Day 11: I am thankful for Mother nature

Day 12: I am thankful for music.

Cassadaga , Florida

I think it was around July that I first heard of Cassadaga FL. I was out to dinner with a group of friends and we were talking about Mediums when one or two of them mentioned Cassadaga. I knew it was somewhere that I wanted to go but I just filed it away. It was still to fresh off of losing my dad to really be in a mind set of thinking about reaching out to him that way.

A few weeks ago Vic recorded a documentary or something on Cassadaga. It was fascinating and I knew that I really wanted to make the trip up there..and soon! 

This past weekend we did it. We packed an over night bag because we planned on hitting Mount Dora and didn't want to have to drive back too late (It's about a 3 hour drive from our home)   

We took off around 8:30 . I took Hersch with us. I had an open mind but I really wanted the medium to mention the bear. 

We pulled into Cassadaga and drove around for a few minutes before we found a parking place near the bookstore. Vic mentioned a feeling of peace immediately that stayed with us during our entire day. The people that we encountered were very calm and welcoming. Vic described the woman that helped us in the bookstore as ethereal. On the show we watched I had learned that there would be a dry erase board with the Mediums names and numbers on it and you would call and set up a reading if you wanted. As Vic walked around the bookstore I was drawn almost immediately to the board in the back. There were about 10-12 names on the board. The instructions to the right of the board said to go with your instinct, keep an open mind thinking about the person you want to come through. The first name on the list was Pauline Gold. I looked at her name but felt strange about calling the first name I saw. Under the board was a collection of many business cards for the Mediums. The one I happened to pull out first was Pauline. That was enough of a sign for me. 

I tried to get Vic to call her but she felt it was something I needed to do. I wanted this so much that I wasn't going to argue or waste anytime. I picked up the phone on the table next to the board and called her. She was available and told me where to find her. With nervous energy we walked down to the Harmony House where she was and sat down. It was $65 , I'm not sure how long we were with her. Everytime I've told the story about what she told me I have later remembered more. There was just so much information given that my head is still spinning. I'll tell about the reading at the end of this post if you'd like to hear about that part. 

 After my reading we walked over to the Cassadaga Hotel and had lunch at the little Italian restaurant inside called Sinatras. The hotel is old, and kind of beautiful/creepy to me. Lunch was fabulous! I had calamari, Vic had Cassadaga Chicken (Grilled Chicken breast,spinich,Italian ham and mozzarella cheese). We both left full and happy. On a side note, the bathrooms are gorgeous ..there are pretty black vine type scrolls painted on the walls with beautiful quotes and sayings painted everywhere.  The restaurant was playing Eva Cassady which we both loved.(G

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 Something we noticed while looking at the gift shop at the Hotel was that some of the Mediums or Healers used things like tarot cards, crystal balls, etc. The Bookstore is not affiliated with the Cassadaga Hotel and does not believe in those things. The Mediums that are in connection with the Bookstore are all certified and have to go thru four years of classes, etc. and prove their gifts. (At least this is what the tour guide told us when we took a tour of Cassadaga arranged through the bookstore). I have read some not so positive reviews but I choose to keep an open mind . If this is not your thing I respect that. I personally believe and feel so much more at peace after yesterdays visit. I have always believed that there are spirits among us, I just understand on another level today.

The side of the Cassadaga Hotel

creepy clown dolls inside the Cassadaga Hotel 

Vic and I wandering the halls of Cassadaga Hotel, hoping to pick up some Orbs

Brigham Hall 

Harmony Hall-where I went for my reading 

Local dog and cat..they were adorable!

A house we passed with many dolls on the porch and yard

I found out later there was a teddy bear drive going on

The sunflower is used as an emblem of the philosophy of Spiritualism. The sunflower is likened to the life that surrounds a person. The figures that surround a sunflower are coincide with what surrounds a person. Sunflowers have seven branches that stand for the seven days in a week and twelve leaves for the twelve months in a year. Each of the branches also usually gives life to three sunflowers, which are believed to stand for the Holy Trinity. And each of the sunflowers has 52 yellow petals, which stands for the 52 weeks in a year. And at the center of each flower, there are 365 seeds, just as there are 365 days in a year.

The sunflower’s very nature also reflects something that Spiritualist believers should do, which is to turn to the light. Every sunflower faces towards the east when the sun rises, which symbolizes how people should turn to the light of God. The flower sends across the message that God can meet our very needs, just as the sunflowers survive by looking towards the east, if we just face His light.

We purchased this beautiful rainbow dream catcher. The Medium told me that my dad comes to me in my dreams and if I have questions for him then would be a good time to ask him.

MY READING:

I told Pauline nothing when I called other than I wanted a reading. I asked if Vic could come with me. She didn't sound like she wanted both of us at the same time but said if we were wanting to communicate with the same spirit it was ok. 

We walked down to her space , it was a two room office/apartment in the Harmony Hall. There was not much furniture in the space. In the back room that we went and sat down there was a metal table and three chairs. A futon sat in the other side of the small room. 

There was a pad of paper, a pen and a box of tissues sitting on the table. She sat across from me and immediately began talking. I wasn't sure where to look or what to do with my hands. I was very uncomfortable. I just held my hands in my lap and listened. When she was right about something I said Yes, or nodded.

The first thing she said was that it was a gentleman coming through. A glass is half full type of man. Even if he wasn't doing well he would say that he was. He didn't want people to worry about him. Ok that is pretty impressive I thought. You could not get more accurate when describing my dad.

The other things may not be in the order she told me..as I mentioned above things have been coming to me all day as I have been thinking about it. I'm so glad that Vic was with me so we can help each other.

From what I gathered from Pauline, my dad was having a conversation with her and showing her things about his life, showing pictures, telling her stories, memories, or things to let me know that he was around me.

She mentioned a family gathering coming up that did not have anything to do with holidays. I let her know it was just passed;my nieces wedding. He told her that he was there. He heard us talking about him, and he was there watching the day with us.

She mentioned him showing her a picture of him in a hat, fishing. I have this picture and will have to go find it now.

Also him being serious playing cards, and a photo of us at an amusement park or something on a ride. I think that one is of us on a sled. 

Other things she mentioned: very responsible, always on time. Not one to take risks and didn't like it much when people he cared about took risks. She felt like he was friendly and wanted to make everyone comfortable. Love of music, Talked alot about my dogs, he wasn't really around the dachunds much but he nailed their personalities and proved that he is at the house watching over us. He mentioned that he walks now, and can breathe, he no longer had the physical body, he's more like a bird and flies all over the place. Family is very important and he checks in on all of us. he travels to places he has never been as well as places he has. He doesn't stay in one place very long. He checks in on those family members that have passed but he doesn't stay with anyone person or persons for very long. 

he never saved much money. He wanted to but just didn't work out that way. He is surrounded by animals and has a special connection with them. As well as children. He is a trickster. He loves music. She mentioned a close male figure like a brother that he was really bonded with (no idea who this may be..he did not have a brother or a best friend that I know of) she said he didn't like to sit still , was very creative and liked to work with his hands. She smiled alot and said  he was very joyful and full of joy. He showed her roses, I told her that he gave me a rose bush for mother's day and that we both loved and had roses. 

Vic asked her to ask him if it hurt for him to pass. He said he was conflicted inside because he didn't want to leave everybody but the light was there and he decided that it was time for him to go. It was peaceful and not painful and a decision that he was in charge. 

She mentioned that his parents were from up north. he was showing her dark furniture and a lot of dust collectors. The words she used was stuff all over the house that needed to be dusted. I told her that he called that dust collectors and he was probably talking about Cyndi and all her decorative stuff all over the house. 

She saw him on water on a boat. Loving nature. I know that I am forgetting things..I'll add to this as i remember. :)

Mount Dora Florida

We had such a wonderful weekend! We showed up in Mount Dora around 5pm and the town seemed pretty busy. Vic had looked up an Inn online before we left home so we knew what to look for. We were lucky that they still had around four rooms left at the Lakeside Inn. Our room was in the Gables Building. We were on the Lakeside but did not have a lake view or anything. The Historic Inn was build 130 years ago and is the longest contentiously run Inn in the state of Florida.  The part we stayed in was built in the late 1920's early 1930's. We  paid $139 before taxes and fees and got a $10 coupon off breakfast or dinner and a $5 coupon for the GateHouse giftshop. We took advantage of the breakfast deal this morning but sadly didn't buy anything at the gift shop. The prices seemed a bit high to me and there was nothing screaming out at me to buy.

After arriving last night we took a stroll around the town and found that most of the shops were closing so we sat down and had our first dinner at The Lost Parrot. We made the mistake of saying we wanted to eat inside vs on the patio area. A large, very loud group sat right behind us. Vic's dinner (Pork Steak , baked potato and salad) showed up with mashed potatos but the waitress was quick to switch it out for a baked potato. Only one problem..everything was cold. The waitress was very kind and took it off of our bill since it sat uneaten. Thank goodness for the ice cold Blue Moon beer! :)

I had a unique dinner of jumbo shrimp, battered and coated with coconut flakes, deep fried and served with a pina colada dipping sauce, It was very delicious! I loved the hot shrimp dipped in icy cold pina colada . I would order this again in a heart beat! 

We then wandered around the quaint town and took some pictures. 

The road near our Inn was closed down for the night. We asked later why and found out that there was suppose to be a car show but only two cars showed up. We saw them when we got there but didn't put it all together I guess..who would, with only two cars? lol

We came across carriage rides and took a wonderful historic tour around Mount Dora with the coolest horse named Maximilian (Max for short) 

 The company is called A Hitch In Time. The cost was $20 per person and the tour lastesd about 45 min. to an hour. We learned a lot and got to sit back and relax on a beautiful night. The weather was pretty perfect..I think it was in the high 60's. 

After our adventure with Max we stopped at another charming little place called Merrills. There was a live band. They were still serving food for another 15 minutes when we got there so Vic tried again and got a ceasar chicken wrap and I ordered chips and salsa. The food was wonderful! The chips were freshly made and the salsa was chunky and very tasty..A ton of food for just $5! Vic's wrap was the best Chicken Ceasar Wrap she'd ever eaten. It was loaded with chicken. And another big plus..more Blue Moon Beer!  Even thou it was only 10:45 after a long day of walking and traveling it felt like 2 a.m. to me. Sadly for Vic I wasn't up to dancing it up and continuing on the night life. We walked back to our room, which was just across the way. As it turned out we were not in our room more than 15 minutes when the music stopped anyway and the place closed down for the night. 

 After a good  night sleep we woke up and walked across the road to have breakfast on the veranda. With our coupon the hotel gave us it came to less than $9 before the tip. Can't beat that! The food prices in Mt Dora were very reasonable to us.
We went and explored the shops during the day  light this time. There were many cute places with lots of local flair from local artists.

 After all that walking Vic was getting thirsty so we stopped in the Lost Parrott again for a some water/tea/beer/pie! We got there just in time to  hear the live music. Denny Buckler was playing and we were sitting right next to him. He was really good and it was just a perfect end to our afternoon in Mount Dora!

Before we headed out of town we stopped at Renninger's Flea Market..it was HUGE. The biggest flea market I've ever been to. Unfortunately I can not report that I was impressed. It felt dirty and cheap. I'm just not a big fan of that many people..or puppies/birds being sold at flea markets. Oh well..it was an adventure :) 

Until next time.....

Day 7, 8 and 9 (30 days of Thankful)

The end of the week was kind of hectic for me. I started helping out at our Venice office and had to adjust to new duties, new hours and it ate into my blog time.

Day 7 I am thankful for nice people in the world. People that pay it forward. :)

Day 8: I am thankful for growing up in the small town that I did (Moberly, Mo) There is just no way to duplicate the things you learn when you grow up with the whole town knowing your business, Everyone knows your parents, grandparents and every screw up you've ever done.  I think the best part about it is moving away, seeing the world and then going back from time to time and still feeling "welcome" and like it's held a part of your heart no matter how long you've been away.

Day 9: Vic!!! I am so very thankful for my partner, my lover, my best friend. I can only describe our relationship as being heaven sent. I honestly believe there had to be powers greater than us driving us together. We lived on other sides of the country yet managed to run across  each other on Myspace and start chatting and building a friendship. After a year of that we  took the plunge to actually meet in person and that just confirmed what we thought we knew;we HAD to make it work and live closer. We did lists of pros and cons of   each of us moving. It ended up that my list "won" with more pros. I was in need of another hip replacement surgery and my doctor was here in FL. My family was here, I worked for them and there would be a place for Vic. Those were the biggies. I've never looked back  and am reminded  almost everyday how very blessed I am to have Vic in my life.

Day 6: Thankful to be born in the USA

On my 30 Days of Thankful I am thankful that out of anywhere in the whole wide world God had me be born in Dickenson, North Dakota in the USA!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q65KZIqay4E

Day 5: Thankful for Divorce

After almost 13 years of marriage today I am thankful for DIVORCE! We have been separated for the past 7 years so it's about time!

Here is to a much happier, healthier future! 

Jan 22 2001- Nov 5 2013  R.I.P. 

Day 4: My Job

On this 4th day of my 30 Thankful Days I am thankful for my JOB.

I am very blessed to have a job that I love and to be able to work with my partner, her son and my family. I am an office manager for Home & Condo Rentals and Property Management Inc. in Siesta Key Florida. My older sister is the Broker for the company, my mother is her partner and is a property manager in our Venice office. My brother in law handles the maintenance department. My Partner and her son are the agents in the Sarasota Office. We all work very well together and enjoy what we do.

I'm very fortunate to have almost always loved my jobs. I truly believe that life is too short and you spend too many hours at work to be doing something that you don't enjoy.

Day 3: my pets

Day three of the 30 days of thankfulness.
I am thankful that I have always had pets in my life. Each one has very special places in my heart and memories.